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Mariam shares the history of Kentucky’s Separate Coach Law, and Lexington’s second African American attorney, J. Alexander Chiles, who took the fight to the US Supreme court multiple times in the 1890s and early 1900s.
Advisory Board
Alex Garcia is originally from Los Angeles, California. He attended the University of Kentucky in 2004 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology in 2008. He then attended the University of Kentucky College of Law and earned his law degree in 2012. After graduating from law school, he began his legal career working at the Fayette Commonwealth’s Attorney Office prosecuting serious felony crimes such as murder, robbery, kidnapping, and assault. He then joined the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office as a Special Prosecutor in January 2020 and now focuses on complex criminal cases statewide. Alex also has the honor of serving as an Officer in the United States Army Reserve and serves as an attorney for the Judge Advocate General’s Corp (JAG). Alex has been a member of multiple local organizations in Fayette County and he currently sits on the board of Partners for Youth, a non-profit organization, and the Fayette County Bar Association. He enjoys promoting and observing positive youth development within the Lexington community and believes in surrounding our youth with a positive community and providing mentorship to those who are at-risk.
Mariam and Wayne talk about the history of Lexington Public Library spaces, from its beginning as a subscription library in 1795 to the building project for the new Marksbury Family Branch (formerly Village Branch) now in 2022.
Mariam interviews Terry L. Birdwhistell and Donald A. Ritchie about their January 2022 book, “Washington’s Iron Butterfly: Bess Clements Abell, an Oral History.”
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Wonderful podcasts and walking tours have been created by our staff. Please enjoy!
Erin guests to tell the story of one of Lexington’s oldest unsolved murders – the killing of Alexander T. Hays in October 1846.
Erin guests to talk about bloodhound Nick Carter and his handler Captain Volney Mullikin, who together searched for and found over 600 people in Nick Carter’s career as a tracking hound.
Mariam and David discuss the sordid life of John Wilkes Booth before his assassination of Abraham Lincoln, including his visit to Lexington during the Civil War as a theater actor. Some listener discretion is advised.
Mariam and David discuss Charles Dickens’ visit to Kentucky in 1842, with readings by Bill Widener from Dickens’ work “American Notes.”
In the final part of this series, Wayne takes us through the murders of the Barnes Family, the murders and shootings in Falmouth, KY, and the aftermath of the crimes. Listener Discretion is Advised.
Mariam talks with Kentucky author Jayne Moore Waldrop about her first fiction work, Drowned Town.
Mariam interviews Fred Mills about the history of the Kentucky Theatre and his 50 year tenure as the theatre’s manager.
In this two part series on the Barnes Family’s murder, Mariam interviews guest Ike Lawrence, whose father notified Mrs. Barnes of her family’s murder, and later, Wayne discusses the start of the crime, with the two killers escaping the custody of the US M
Brenna guests to share her research on three of Lexington’s Black enclaves, founded by formerly enslaved persons after the Civil War. She highlights the history we know, and points out that much of the history of these hamlets and their residents are lost
Jennifer and Erin have combed through the summer’s most anticipated releases lists, and discuss the ones they’re looking forward to the most. Erin interviews Doug Tattershall about the library’s gallery spaces.
Jennifer interviews best-selling thriller author Lynn Hightower about her new release The Enlightenment Project. Erin interviews Kelli Parmley about the library’s summer programming.
Jennifer hosts a staff discussion of the Lexington Public Library’s Community Read, The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee. Erin interviews AnnaMarie about DEI at the library.
Jennifer welcomes back Lynn Hightower to discuss more about her book The Enlightenment Project and her own experiences with the supernatural. Lynn closes the podcast with a reading from The Enlightenment Project.
Jennifer talks with local author Kaitlyn Hill about her debut YA novel “Love from Scratch” and her journey in publishing. For Behind the Scenes, Erin talks with Amanda Wheeler and Bryan Klausing about the library’s experiential learning spaces and program
Jennifer sits down with local poet, essayist and educator Savannah Sipple about her writing and career. In Behind the Scenes, Erin talks with Lori Davis about the Library’s workforce development programming.
The Lexington Public Library has made an effort to ensure that all of our digital collections are public domain, or that we have gotten approval from the copyright holders to display their work. Most - but not all - of these collections, to the best of our knowledge, have no known US copyright restrictions. Some items in the collection are under copyright but qualify for online display by libraries under Section 108(h) of United States Copyright Law. Some of the collections provided in the Library's Digital Archives are made available under an assertion of fair use, which does not necessarily apply to an individual's use of them.
Board of Trustees
Jennifer Bird-Pollan is the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and the Judge William T. Lafferty Professor of Law at the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law. She has a B.A. from Penn State University, a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Vanderbilt University, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Jennifer moved to Lexington with her husband and their two children in 2010. At UK Rosenberg Law she teaches a variety of courses in tax law and policy, and she practiced law as a tax attorney at a large law firm in Boston before moving to Lexington. In addition to her service on the Lexington Public Library Board of Advisors, Jennifer serves as the Chair of the Board of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. When not talking about tax policy or law school administration, Jennifer loves to read fiction, ride her electric bicycle, and play with her dog and her houseplants.
The Lexington Public Library receives most of its operating funds from an Ad Valorem property tax. By State law, the Library receives five cents for every $100 of assessed property value in Lexington and Fayette County.
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Friends of the Lexington Public Library, Inc.
Jamie tells an abridged history of Russell’s Cave, Fayette County’s largest cave.
Mariam and Wayne discuss the 1970 shooting on Kent State’s campus, and how protests against the shooting, including the ROTC building fire, on UK’s campus led to curfews and lockdowns by Kentucky’s Governor.
Mariam interviews Peter Brackney, author of the 2014 book Lost Lexington, and creator of the blog The Kaintuckeean.
Mariam interviews Rand Dotson, the Editor in Chief of LSU Press, about his research into the political rivalry between Armistead Swope and William Cassius Goodloe, which culminated in a deadly fight in the Lexington Post Office.
Mariam and Wayne discuss the Code Duello and several nineteenth century Kentucky duels, including duels fought by Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, and a pair of doctors from Transylvania University’s School of Medicine.
Mariam interviews local author and attorney Peter Brackney about his latest book, The Murder of Geneva Hardman and Lexington’s Mob Riot of 1920.
Stories of Lexington's history told through the Kentucky Room archives.
Jennifer and producer Erin introduce Lexington Public Library’s brand new podcast.
