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The True American was an anti-slavery newspaper started by Cassius Marcellus Clay in June 1845. He ran the paper in Lexington until August of 1845, when he published an article deemed so incendiary that at court injunction was issued against his printing, and his press shipped to Cincinnati. An advocate of the right to a free press, and his right of free speech, Clay continued printing the paper through 1847 in Cincinnati. The paper was distributed in Lexington. While focused on advancing the cause of emancipation, Clay also published poetry, agriculture, labor, and commercial news. There are also marriage and death notices from the surrounding area, some national.
The Lexington Public Library believes this item is in the public domain and has no known US Copyright restrictions; however, it may be subject to rights of privacy, publicity, or other restrictions.
Use and reproduction restrictions Though not required, we would greatly appreciate our collection users to credit us as the source. Please use the following statement, "Courtesy of the Lexington Public Library," and provide a link back to the item or collection on our Digital Collections site, www.lexpublib.org/digital-archives. Doing so helps us track how our collections are used and helps justify freely releasing more content in the future. Please contact the library at elibrarian@lexpublib.org for permission questions, collection information, and higher resolution image requests.
The True American was an anti-slavery newspaper started by Cassius Marcellus Clay in June 1845. He ran the paper in Lexington until August of 1845, when he published an article deemed so incendiary that at court injunction was issued against his printing, and his press shipped to Cincinnati. An advocate of the right to a free press, and his right of free speech, Clay continued printing the paper through 1847 in Cincinnati. The paper was distributed in Lexington. While focused on advancing the cause of emancipation, Clay also published poetry, agriculture, labor, and commercial news. There are also marriage and death notices from the surrounding area, some national.
The Lexington Public Library believes this item is in the public domain and has no known US Copyright restrictions; however, it may be subject to rights of privacy, publicity, or other restrictions.
Use and reproduction restrictions Though not required, we would greatly appreciate our collection users to credit us as the source. Please use the following statement, "Courtesy of the Lexington Public Library," and provide a link back to the item or collection on our Digital Collections site, www.lexpublib.org/digital-archives. Doing so helps us track how our collections are used and helps justify freely releasing more content in the future. Please contact the library at elibrarian@lexpublib.org for permission questions, collection information, and higher resolution image requests.
The True American was an anti-slavery newspaper started by Cassius Marcellus Clay in June 1845. He ran the paper in Lexington until August of 1845, when he published an article deemed so incendiary that at court injunction was issued against his printing, and his press shipped to Cincinnati. An advocate of the right to a free press, and his right of free speech, Clay continued printing the paper through 1847 in Cincinnati. The paper was distributed in Lexington. While focused on advancing the cause of emancipation, Clay also published poetry, agriculture, labor, and commercial news. There are also marriage and death notices from the surrounding area, some national.
The Lexington Public Library believes this item is in the public domain and has no known US Copyright restrictions; however, it may be subject to rights of privacy, publicity, or other restrictions.
Use and reproduction restrictions Though not required, we would greatly appreciate our collection users to credit us as the source. Please use the following statement, "Courtesy of the Lexington Public Library," and provide a link back to the item or collection on our Digital Collections site, www.lexpublib.org/digital-archives. Doing so helps us track how our collections are used and helps justify freely releasing more content in the future. Please contact the library at elibrarian@lexpublib.org for permission questions, collection information, and higher resolution image requests.
The True American was an anti-slavery newspaper started by Cassius Marcellus Clay in June 1845. He ran the paper in Lexington until August of 1845, when he published an article deemed so incendiary that at court injunction was issued against his printing, and his press shipped to Cincinnati. An advocate of the right to a free press, and his right of free speech, Clay continued printing the paper through 1847 in Cincinnati. The paper was distributed in Lexington. While focused on advancing the cause of emancipation, Clay also published poetry, agriculture, labor, and commercial news. There are also marriage and death notices from the surrounding area, some national.
The Lexington Public Library believes this item is in the public domain and has no known US Copyright restrictions; however, it may be subject to rights of privacy, publicity, or other restrictions.
Use and reproduction restrictions Though not required, we would greatly appreciate our collection users to credit us as the source. Please use the following statement, "Courtesy of the Lexington Public Library," and provide a link back to the item or collection on our Digital Collections site, www.lexpublib.org/digital-archives. Doing so helps us track how our collections are used and helps justify freely releasing more content in the future. Please contact the library at elibrarian@lexpublib.org for permission questions, collection information, and higher resolution image requests.
The True American was an anti-slavery newspaper started by Cassius Marcellus Clay in June 1845. He ran the paper in Lexington until August of 1845, when he published an article deemed so incendiary that at court injunction was issued against his printing, and his press shipped to Cincinnati. An advocate of the right to a free press, and his right of free speech, Clay continued printing the paper through 1847 in Cincinnati. The paper was distributed in Lexington. While focused on advancing the cause of emancipation, Clay also published poetry, agriculture, labor, and commercial news. There are also marriage and death notices from the surrounding area, some national.
The Lexington Public Library believes this item is in the public domain and has no known US Copyright restrictions; however, it may be subject to rights of privacy, publicity, or other restrictions.
Use and reproduction restrictions Though not required, we would greatly appreciate our collection users to credit us as the source. Please use the following statement, "Courtesy of the Lexington Public Library," and provide a link back to the item or collection on our Digital Collections site, www.lexpublib.org/digital-archives. Doing so helps us track how our collections are used and helps justify freely releasing more content in the future. Please contact the library at elibrarian@lexpublib.org for permission questions, collection information, and higher resolution image requests.
Join us for a special musical journey led by our community's brightest young pianists!
Try It Yourself!
First, we'll have keyboards available so that school-age kids, teens, and adults can?try out the program for themselves! This is a great opportunity to get hands-on experience with music.
Student Performances
Monday-Thursday: 9:30am-7:00pm
Friday: 9:30am-6:00pm
Saturday: 9:30am-5:00pm
Sunday: 1:00pm-5:00pm
2197 Versailles Road
Lexington, KY 40504
The Central Library Gallery opens its new exhibit, "Stories Told: Mixed Media by Raymond Papka," featuring shadow box assemblages using found and repurposed objects by this modern surrealist. Plus music by Jonathan and Jessica Carlisle.
This month features Trio Risoluto, with Sila Darville on violin, Luke Darville on cello, and Madeline Rogers on piano. They will perform music by H. Leslie Adams and Edward Elgar. Classical Music Sundays presents live classical music the third Sunday of every month, September through May, with EKU music professor Bernardo Scarambone as emcee.
Join Sunday Classic Movies for another year of great movies!
For 2026, we'll start with the Academy Award Winning Braveheart!
Classical Music Sundays presents live classical music the third Sunday of every month, September through May, with EKU music professor Bernardo Scarambone as emcee.
Lift your voices! Come sing together in this ensemble-based voice class for all skill levels.
What does it take to escape your destiny? Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their Mississippi hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.
The Youth Class will be for those 7 years of age and older. Participants will be given basic drawing and painting instructions. Then they will be able to create their own piece of artwork to take home.
Come experience the voices of the Library's New Hip-Hop & Poetry Club as members perform original lyrics, rap verses, and spoken-word pieces. This showcase highlights their work in writing, recording and performance skills —all coming together on one stage.
As part of the Central Kentucky Concert Band's celebration of its first fifty years, a saxophone trio, composed of CKCB members, will present an hour-long program at the Marksbury Family Branch Library at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 11, 2026. The ensemble has a large repertoire of classical and traditional tunes, most of which were custom-arranged or composed specifically for this trio.
As part of the Central Kentucky Concert Band's celebration of its first fifty years, a saxophone trio, composed of CKCB members, will present an hour-long program at the Tates Creek Branch Library at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 25, 2026. The ensemble has a large repertoire of classical and traditional tunes, most of which were custom-arranged or composed specifically for this trio.
Enjoy a 45-minute Creative Movement class exploring rhythm, locomotor, and non-locomotor movement as well as story-dancing. Open to 10 children ages 3 - 5. Presented by Bluegrass Youth Ballet. Wear comfortable clothes and socks.
Community Reads is our Lexington-wide book group. Connect with your friends and neighbors by reading the selected book, joining in a book discussion or related program, and attending a book talk with this year's featured author.