Good morning, readers!

If you have a child who needs a fun place to go for winter break, we’re hosting a camp from January 2 to 5—and registration is now open.

One style of activity we use at camps is something called free play. And since free play principles guide all my work with kids, I’d like to shed some light on them.

Free play is child-directed play that equips kids with the materials and the permission to play however they want. There is no agenda: there are no expected learning outcomes. And this freedom from adult expectations creates space for all sorts of meaningful outcomes. Some folks misperceive free play as messy and chaotic because it allows for noise, energy, and movement. But taking a closer look reveals the remarkable work and focus involved. Extraordinary things are going on!

A camper plays in flow state at the Frazier, 2023. Credit: Frazier History Museum.

This photo from a recent camp may seem basic: a child holds a piece of tissue paper. But zoom in. She carefully holds paper in both hands. These are her prize chickens. She is giving us a tour of the farm she built. If we could see her face, we’d see pride and affection. She fashioned a fence to enclose her pink, orange, and white livestock. She built an open barn for shelter and water and food troughs. She cut doors so the animals can move in and out of the larger structure (second photo), where she organized zones and areas that are meaningful and specific.

One thing we can’t see: these photos were taken ninety minutes into playing. The campers were in flow by that point, which is where we all aspire to be. That’s another thing we can’t see: the twenty other kids. They are all engrossed, hiding, building, and playing.

Campers demonstrate teamwork and sharing at the Frazier, 2023. Credit: Frazier History Museum.

Like in this photo, where two kids are writing together. A third player dashes by. There is evidence (the tape, the litter) of the refining work they’ve been doing. I know from being in the room that the younger running kid played a game of stealing materials, and that the older kids played along and allowed for it. So here is evidence of teamwork, construction, decoration, and sharing—kids from different age groups playing together and accommodating one another, with unique rules for different “territories” being established, refined, and followed.

Play is a way to cultivate healthy young people. It builds executive functioning skills like problem-solving, planning, self-control, attention, and flexible thinking. Moreover, it encourages social skills, teamwork, conflict resolution, and decisiveness. All these skills increase our sense of agency and empowerment and diminish feelings of helplessness and anxiety.

Lucky for me, these philosophies align with what the Frazier’s education team already does. Campers start and end each day by selecting items from the activities library, a cabinet full of games and materials. We offer camps and field trip groups multiple opportunities to build, play, and make art—activities that give kids the materials and the permission to explore. I believe the fun we have is a testament to how well these ideas work.

We hope you come to see for yourself at Winter Break Camp!

This Week in the Museum

Frazier to Receive Award at 2023 Southeastern Museums Conference

This week, the city of Louisville is hosting the 2023 Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) Annual Meeting!

Museum professionals from a dozen states have come to town to gather at the Galt House, tour the SEMC expo, and attend the panels and roundtable sessions—some of which have been organized by local museums. These attendees have come to not only learn but also see our wonderful state and everything it has to offer, from museums and attractions to restaurants, neighborhoods, and parks. You may see these folks touring downtown, taking bus and walking tours of the West End, and heading east to the Saddlebred Museum.

As the first host of the 2023 SEMC evening events, the Frazier Museum opened its doors yesterday evening for attendees to visit, explore our galleries, and network. In addition to hosting, many of our Frazier team members are participating and leading important panel discussions on issues, programs, and practices impacting museums.

A young visitor looks at the Civil War soldier case in the Frazier’s *Commonwealth* exhibition, May 2022. Credit: Mary Helen Nunn, Frazier History Museum.

At this year’s conference, which ends Wednesday, the Frazier will receive the Silver Award for our exhibition The Commonwealth: Divided we Fall. The Exhibition Competition received twenty-nine entries from twenty-seven institutions around the southeast this year. We are honored to be recognized among the other institutions that are working toward best practices and professional standards in exhibitions.

Curator’s Corner: Spirited Cocktail Attire of the 1950s and `60s

Spirited Design: Old Forester’s Mid-Century Decanters, our newest temporary exhibition, opens Wednesday, November 22! The exhibition was curated by Lizzy Standridge, the assistant corporate archivist at the Brown-Forman Archives. All the objects and images were provided by the Brown-Forman Archives—with one exception: the Frazier contributed some of our new 1950s and `60s cocktail attire to the exhibition. All cocktail attire going on display was part of the generous gift of nearly 4,000 objects from the Kentucky Science Center. These beautiful dresses and fun suits add to the cocktail atmosphere and exemplify the 1953 advertising slogan “Full Dress for the Holidays.”

In doing research about cocktail parties for the exhibition, I discovered one exciting Kentucky connection. Though the origin of the cocktail party is sometimes debated, many attribute the first real cocktail party to a Kentuckian. Clara Bell Walsh (1884–1957) was one of the wealthiest women in Kentucky. She inherited her father’s fortune at the age of eight and was given control of her own money, even retaining control after marriage. Walsh hosted a headline-making cocktail party in St. Louis in 1917. This party was scandalously held after church on a Sunday afternoon. It is credited as one of the first cocktail parties, and it was certainly the most famous at the time. Guests enjoyed sazeracs, martinis, mint juleps, gin fizzes, Manhattans, and more, all mixed by a personal bartender.

Cocktail parties in the home began to gain popularity in the early 1900s. As Prohibition loomed, people stockpiled liquor. When alcohol was outlawed, the home became the easiest place to enjoy a cocktail. The popularity of cocktail parties waned after Prohibition as bars reopened. Following World War II, women were encouraged to return to the home and leave the workforce. At the same time, many families began to move from the cities to the suburbs. Cocktail parties regained popularity as they became a primary way for couples living in the suburbs to socialize. Hosting a beautiful cocktail party became a source of pride for many women in the 1950s and `60s.

I hope you will make plans this holiday season to come see these beautiful dresses and the incredible mid-century design of the Old Forester decanters. If you’d like to join us for the Spirited Design exhibition opening party on November 29, you can buy tickets here.

Join Us December 7 for Holiday Cheer: Bourbon and Beer

Hey y’all! With the holidays almost upon us, the Frazier is leaning in with our latest Bourbon (and beer!) tasting program on December 7. The program comes with the option to purchase a Frazier Single Barrel Selection from Town Branch. It’s tough work, but I was a part of the tasting team responsible for selecting that barrel. (Nailed it!) It’s amazing and would make a perfect Christmas gift for the Bourbon lover in your life.

Lexington Brewing & Distilling is the only brewery-distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, which allows them to get real creative with the artistry and craftsmanship of its products. Join me as we toast the season with tastings of premium Bourbons, Single Malt Whiskey, Irish Whiskey, Bourbon Barrel Cocoa Porter Beer, and Bourbon Barrel Imperial Milk Stout, all aged in the same barrels.

Live a little, come have a taste!

Sippin’ with Stephen: Barrels & Billets Very Small Batch with Emma Chandler

This month’s episode of Sippin’ with Stephen highlights Louisville Slugger Museum’s Barrels & Billets Experience. Barrels & Billets general manager Emma Chandler and I showcase their hands-on Bourbon blending experience. We go over what to expect as you blend your own individual finished Bourbon that can be purchased with a customized label. We also discuss the process of this unique hands-on experience and taste the customized Sippin’ with Stephen product, which was blended specifically for my taste palate! If you’re a Bourbon enthusiast visiting Downtown Louisville, I encourage you to start your Bourbon adventure with the Frazier Museum–Barrels & Billets doubleheader.

Stephen Yates
Community & Corporate Sales Manager

Museum Shop: Barrel Stave Sign

Sip, sip, hooray! Meet the Bourbon barrel stave sign—the ultimate cheers-worthy gift for your favorite Bourbon buff. Crafted from a real-deal white oak Bourbon barrel, it’s ready to rock your walls and comes in a snazzy gift box. It measures roughly sixteen by five inches. It’s available in the Museum Shop and online—and it ships free when you spend $50!

Buy Tickets for Lights on Main Opening Party at Frazier

This Thursday, the Frazier History Museum will take part in a news conference with Mayor Craig Greenberg to help roll out a holiday lineup of festivities to enjoy. Our part at the Frazier will be Lights on Main, a special holiday exhibition that opens November 22 and kicks off with an opening night party on Friday, December 1. We will have three floors of trees beautifully decorated by professionals, schools, organizations, and individuals. A big thanks to Amazon for donating the trees and their team for unloading them at the Frazier last week! Lights on Main is presented in collaboration with our nonprofit partner I Would Rather Be Reading. If you’re looking for a way to kick off the holiday season, buy tickets now to our opening party. If that won’t make you light up for the holidays, nothing will!

Stay tuned for more details on special family days and late night hours to enjoy Lights on Main at the Frazier.

Last Chance to Claim Specialty S’mores Pie for New Member November!

New Member November has been underway, and I can’t stop talking about these delicious pies!

New Member November banner. Credit: Frazier History Museum.

Hurry, because it is our last chance to claim this fantastic creation from Georgia’s Sweet Potato Pie Company!

All new members will receive a free Frazier Specialty S’mores Pie. Make sure to sign up by Friday, because this Friday (November 17, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.) is the last time this delightful pie will be available for pickup from Georgia’s at 1559 Bardstown Road.

This delicious fall creation is made from the fusion of a new S’mores-flavored spirit named Mash and Mallow that just launched this month! The recipe consists of Mash and Mallow–inspired chocolates housed in a graham cracker crust topped with a Mash and Mallow–flavored toasted marshmallow meringue.

Don’t take my word for it, listen to our fellow members! Some of the members I spoke with after they received their pies said it’s the best pie they’ve ever tasted!

Current and renewing members also have access to purchase our Frazier Specialty Pie and receive 15% off their entire order* when you visit Georgia’s Bardstown Road location. (Not applicable for online or Thanksgiving orders. Offer expires November 17.)

Gather your friends, coworkers, and neighbors and invite them to join the Frazier Family—because here at the Frazier, not only do members experience more, but we like to have our specialty pie and eat it, too!

Experience this pie for yourself! Give yourself a treat and become a member or renew today!

Bridging the Divide

Latest Teacher PD Highlights Additions to The Commonwealth

Danville, Boyle County, native and Kentucky Poet Laureate Frank X Walker recently wrote Load in Nine Times, a collection of poems inspired by African Americans in Kentucky before, during, and after the American Civil War. Each poem is written in direct response to a historic image or document—offering a unique lens for examining the source and bringing humanity to the stories they help tell. In partnership with Reckoning, Inc., the Frazier has put the poems and related artifacts on display in our exhibition The Commonwealth: Divided we Fall.

On November 4, we were pleased to partner with Reckoning, Inc. to welcome local educators to a training focused on Walker’s work and ways to incorporate poetry into the teaching of American history. Teachers enjoyed a custom tour of The Commonwealth designed by Frazier teaching artist Brian West, including a selection of readings of the Walker poems. Carly Muetterties PhD, the founder of CommonGoodEd and an education consultant for Reckoning, Inc., presented sessions on Reckoning, Inc. resources and utilizing poetry in the inquiry process. And Brian performed a brand new live show of Thornton Blackburn, a man who escaped his enslavers in Louisville, along with his wife Ruthie, in 1831—demonstrating how theater arts and poetry can serve as strong access points for exploring historic topics.

We are extremely grateful to Joi McAtee of the Louisville Metro Office of Equity for supporting this program. Funding from that office allowed for free admission for educators, experienced presenters, and resources for teachers—as well as access for Title 1 schools to visit the museum and explore the poetry in person.

If you have questions about Frazier Museum teacher professional developments, resources from this training, or questions about viewing the Frank X Walker work within the exhibition, please email education@fraziermuseum.org.

Dare to Care Sheds Light on State of Hunger in Kentuckiana

As we get ready to gather for the holidays and give thanks for so much, I hope we also take time to look around and see who is hurting, who may need our help. That need is all around us, and fifty-three years ago it took a tragic turn with the death of a young boy named Bobby Ellis. Out of that tragedy came a lifeline to many, the non-profit Dare to Care. Food insecurity is all around us, and there’s something we can all do to help. As the vigil for Bobby Ellis approaches, take time to read more about the organization and the good work they do.—Rachel Platt, VP of Mission

Detail of front page of the November 28, 1969, issue of the *Courier Journal*. Pictured are the Ellis family home and Bobby Ellis’s sister Betty Jane. Credit: *Courier Journal*.

Nurse Ann McQuain provides food and care to the surviving Ellis children, November 27, 1969. From left, Sandra, fifteen months; Marie; about three; Betty, eight; Mary, eleven; and Victoria, three or four. Their brother Bobby had died of malnutrition the afternoon prior at their home at 2116 Eddy Street in Louisville’s Russell neighborhood. Credit: Paul Schuhmann, *Courier Journal*.

Fifty-four years ago, a nine-year-old third grader at Louisville’s Byck Elementary died due to malnutrition. Bobby Ellis died on the day before Thanksgiving because he didn’t have enough food to eat. As families were preparing their turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes and cranberries, a family prepared to lay their child to rest.

The Louisville community saw the shocking headline and acted to ensure a tragedy like Bobby’s death never happened again. People came together from every faith, political party, and zip code and called on their neighbors to “Dare to Care.” The result: Louisville’s leading hunger-fighting organization, Dare to Care, was born.

Now, more than fifty years later, Dare to Care continues this legacy, bringing food and hope to our nearly 130,000 neighbors facing food insecurity in Kentuckiana. With the community’s support, Dare to Care has distributed enough food to provide twenty million meals last year alone.

Today, we are faced with new challenges. In the past year, visits to Dare to Care’s partner pantries show food insecurity has increased thirty to forty percent as families struggle with inflation and the ending of pandemic-related benefits. The USDA recently released a report stating nationwide, this increase in food insecurity has been the largest single-year increase (thirty percent) since the Great Recession in 2008.

The reality is we’ve all experienced hunger for a moment in time; but to experience food insecurity refers to a lack of financial resources to live a healthy life. Not everyone has the means to address this need. Not everyone has access to fresh, healthy food. For far too many, that moment in time of hunger becomes indefinite uncertainty about where their next meal will come from. This is what we define as food insecurity.

Although our most recent data from Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap report indicates one in ten individuals and one in eight children in our community experiences food insecurity, we know this data is lagging and demonstrates how significant support during the pandemic positively impacted safety net programs.

If you’re looking for a way to personally address hunger in Kentuckiana, consider the following actions:

Check in on friends and family. As we enter the holiday season, you’ll have more opportunities to check in with family and friends. The underlying causes of food insecurity—unemployment, poverty, and inconsistent access to food—are often difficult to address or solve without help from others. Bobby’s story reminds us that if we just check on our neighbors, we can avoid a tragedy like his from happening in our community.

Grow your knowledge of available resources and solutions. More than 300 partners in Kentuckiana are on a zero-hunger mission. They are strategically located to engage every corner of our communities, from English, Indiana, through the heart of Louisville to Carlton, Kentucky. Dare to Care offers an interactive map to find local resources and its Facebook page also offers consistent updates on changes to local resources.

Advocate for programs that help your neighbors. Federal lawmakers are empowered with the ability to support and expand government programs that supply your neighbors with healthy food. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) are both included in the 2023 Farm Bill, an expansive piece of legislation voted on by the US House of Representatives every five years to help millions of people across the country access healthy food. This important piece of legislation may be subject to delays and extensions as federal lawmakers work to pass a spending bill to avoid a potential government shutdown on November 17.

Engage with your local food bank. You can attend an event, volunteer with your friends and family, host a food or fund drive, host your own event, and get your business involved to offer additional support to your neighbors.

Donate to Dare to Care Food Bank. This is one of the most needed sources of support at Dare to Care Food Bank. When you donate, you’re giving Dare to Care the ability to purchase the most needed items to support the nutritional needs of our communities. Crucial programs like senior meals and prescriptive pantry require specifically tailored diets and foods to support the wellbeing of vulnerable community members. A donation to Dare to Care, no matter the size, is a commitment to a healthier, stronger community. Donate today.

To RSVP for the Bobby Ellis Vigil, click here. This is a free event held on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, where we take a pause to remember Bobby’s story and the impact it still has on our community today.

Free Play, Southeastern Museums Conference in Louisville, Lights on Main Opening Party, and More

Holiday Shopping, UK-U of L Football Rivalry, Spirited Design Exhibition Opening Party, and More

Announcing Lights on Main, History of Kentucky’s Governors, Old Forester Holiday Decanters, and More