Good Monday morning . . . or rather, Happy #MembershipMonday, as I like to call it!

It is that time of the year again—the kickoff to the season of giving is here!

Many of you will probably spend the weekend starting your holiday shopping, while some of you overachievers have already finished. Whether you’re starting or finishing, a membership to the Frazier Museum should be on your list for finding the perfect gift. This year, we have made it possible to have that gift mean more to more people.

Beginning today, you can Double the Joy of membership! When you purchase a NEW membership (Contributor level and above) for yourself or as a gift, we will gift a membership to a family from a worthy organization within our community.

Giving is such an important part of the holiday season—there’s no better feeling than when that perfect gift brings excitement and appreciation. The families of our approved organizations thank you for your generosity and look forward to coming in, many for the first time.

Another way to help us make a difference in our community is by taking part in Giving Tuesday!

Tuesday, November 29, will mark the tenth annual Giving Tuesday, a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. It is a day when we ask you to help us continue to serve over 30,000 schoolchildren, tell the stories of Kentucky with exhibitions like Cool Kentucky and The Commonwealth: Divided We Fall, and provide educational, informative, and fun content through our weekly issues of Frazier Weekly. You value the work we do and the resources we provide so we ask you to please consider donating.

Click here to donate on Giving Tuesday or at any time!

Continue to find our Giving Tuesday messages on our social media platforms. Please share our link to give, and tell the world why you value the Frazier.

There is no greater gift than being able to uplift our neighbors and our community. The Frazier is where the world meets Kentucky—and because of you, we mean more to more people every day!

In today’s issue of Frazier Weekly, president and CEO Andy Treinen shares why he is thankful this season; Hayley Rankin spotlights some festive items from the collection and answers the question, “why turkey?”; and Sippin’ with Stephen shares a pecan pie cocktail.

There’s no place like Frazier for the holidays! If you celebrate, have a fantastic Thanksgiving holiday with your friends and loved ones.

Amanda Egan
Membership & Database Administrator
Frazier History Museum

This Week in the Museum

Happy Thanksgiving from Frazier History Museum President Andy Treinen

It has become an annual tradition for me here at the Frazier, on the week of Thanksgiving, to post a short video highlighting the things for which I am most grateful.

And while I will undoubtedly enjoy an unhealthy serving of turkey, gobs of great green-bean casserole, and perhaps a cocktail or two, the most beautiful things are not tasted, touched, or seen: they are felt, only with the heart. I feel so very grateful that, although life isn’t perfect and it certainly isn’t easy, my heart will be full with family and friends over the holidays!

Andy Treinen
President & CEO

From the Collection: German-made Turkey Figurine Decorations, c. 1940–60

It’s almost time for turkey! While many pressed play on Christmas tunes the day after Halloween, this Thursday is that in-between holiday when we gather with loved ones for a traditional meal. Traditions may vary from family to family, but turkey is often the main feature. We see turkey decorations alongside our pumpkins and cornucopia before trees, lights, and Santa take their place.

So why turkey?

When European settlers first arrived in America, the turkey was plentiful and could easily provide a meal for an entire family. The early colonists would have already been familiar with a bird as the main course of a holiday meal from the English tradition of serving goose, but turkey was simply more abundant in America.

In 1844, Governor of Kentucky Robert Letcher declared an official “thanksgiving” to mark the end of a period of war, disease, and economic plight with humility, gratitude, and provision. The lore surrounding the Plymouth colonists and the first thanksgiving meal, however, did not develop until 1863 when President Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday. While we aren’t sure if the “wild fowl” eaten at the first Thanksgiving was a turkey, this bird nonetheless has become a symbol of the harvest season and goodwill among people.

These small turkey figurines are recent additions to our permanent collection that have been passed through one family for generations. The decorations were made in Germany, but likely purchased here in the United States sometime in the 1940s.

So, whether or not the turkey makes an appearance on your table this year, I hope you gather and give thanks.

Hayley Rankin
Manager of Collection Impact

From archrival teams like the Cats and the Cards to dueling editors, competing caves, and beefing barbecues, Kentucky Rivalries celebrates the most iconic conflicts in the Bluegrass State. As we promote this interactive new exhibition, which opened November 5, our Frazier Weekly contributors will spotlight the history behind some of the rivalries featured in it.—Simon Meiners, Communications & Research Specialist

Football fanatics in Kentucky had better leave some room for dessert after Thanksgiving. On Saturday, the Kentucky Wildcats will once again line up across from the Louisville Cardinals to determine who will win the Governor’s Cup in college football.

At the end of the regular season in college football, the Governor of Kentucky awards a trophy to the winning team of the annual UK-U of L football game. The winner gets to keep the trophy for as long as they continue to win the game. The tradition goes back to 1994, when UK and U of L resumed their football series.

The series first started in the early twentieth century, but after six contests—all of which Kentucky won—it was discontinued in 1924. It would take seventy years—and a handshake between Kentucky head football coach Bill Curry and his counterpart at U of L, the late Howard Schnellenberger—before the two programs would agree to meet again on the gridiron.

That inaugural game in 1994 was a watershed moment for college football in the Commonwealth. First, it signified that each school had finally regarded the other school as a worthy rival, worthy to be included, year-after-year, on their counterpart’s football schedule. Second, the revival symbolized to football fans that their sport was no longer “treated as a stepchild” in Kentucky, as WHAS radio personality Terry Meiners described it to the Courier Journal back in 1994.

This year’s contest has many interesting storylines. The game presents the opportunity for Kentucky to distance themselves from Louisville further in the series. With an overall series record of 18 wins and 15 losses, the Cats have won three of the last four games, including a 52-21 shellacking of Louisville in 2021. For Louisville, a win against Kentucky would snap Kentucky’s winning streak and bring the Governor’s Cup back to the Derby City.

Lastly, there are bragging rights on the line for us at the Frazier, too. Just like the rest of the Commonwealth, a number of us either root for BBN or roll with the Cardinals. So, here are a few predictions from the Frazier faithful:

“Kentucky is going to beat Louisville 34-13.”—Sam Newton, Assistant Manager of Visitor Services

“Kentucky 35, Louisville 13.”—Simon Meiners, Communications & Research Specialist

“Kentucky wins 24-14.”—Heidi Janes, Manager of Visitor Services.

“Cats 24 Cards 21.”—Stephen Yates, Community & Corporate Sales Manager.

As for the author? He thinks the Cats win in a close one, 24-18.

Kickoff for the 2022 edition of the UK-U of L game will be this Saturday at 3 p.m. EST at Kroger Field in Lexington. If you would rather not brave the elements on game day, then you can watch the game live on the SEC Network.

One more thing: do want to put your money where your mouth is for the Governor’s Cup and support a worthy cause, too? If so, then please visit the museum this week and take walk through our latest exhibition, Kentucky Rivalries.

Once you have finished your walkthrough, you will find two boxes near the exit: one for Big Blue, the other for the Cards. Cast your vote by leaving a donation in the box of your choice. That way, even if your side does not win this Saturday, we all win in the end. The money donated by both sides will go to support the Frazier’s mission to be the place where the world meets Kentucky! Win-win!

Brian West
Teaching Artist

Five Out-of-state College Football Rivalry Matchups to Watch this Week

Rivalry week in college football is upon us. Every year the gridiron has some great matchups set for people to dive into after they’re done devouring turkey legs or battling Black Friday crowds. This year is no different. Besides our beloved Cats and Cards battling for the Governor’s Cup, here are the best yearly college football rivalries to watch this week.

1. Michigan vs. Ohio State. First meeting: 1897. Series: Michigan leads, 59-51-6. Next meeting: Saturday, 12 p.m., on FOX. Michigan had lost 8 straight until last year, but the Wolverines vs. Buckeyes is consistently one of the mostly hotly contested rivalries of the year. This year #3-ranked Michigan heads into Columbus to face the #2 Buckeyes. This will determine a spot in the Big Ten Championship and a shot at a national championship.

2. Iron Bowl: Alabama vs. Auburn. First meeting: 1893. Series: Alabama leads, 48-37-1. Next meeting: Saturday, 3:30 p.m., on CBS. Since 2008, there has been at least one of the two teams ranked in the top 5, so this yearly clash determines state bragging rights and has lots of influence on the national championship. The 2013 Kick Six Game is still considered one of the best regular season games in college football history.

3. Notre Dame vs. USC. First meeting: 1926. Series: Notre Dame leads, 48-36-5. Next meeting: Saturday, 7:30 p.m., on ABC. This bitter cross-country rivalry hasn’t been as powerful in recent years, but it does have a strong history of national title implications. Believe it or not, this rivalry nearly didn’t happen. Legendary Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne turned down USC athletic director Gwynn Wilson to play, but Rockne and Wilson’s wives hit it off so well when USC was courting the Irish that Rockne finally decided to have his team make the trip to California.

4. Egg Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss. First meeting: 1901. Series: Ole Miss leads, 64-45-6. Next meeting: Thursday, 7 p.m., on ESPN. Played on Thanksgiving this year, the Egg Bowl is one of the longest uninterrupted rivalries in college football—and there’s nothing like state bragging rights in the football-crazed south.

5. Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe: Minnesota vs. Wisconsin.First meeting: 1890. Series: Wisconsin, 62-61-8. Next meeting: Saturday, TBD. Maybe it isn’t the first rivalry you think of, but the Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe earns a spot on the list for its status as the longest-running rivalry in college football. The only year they missed since its inception was 1906. Not even the COVID-19 pandemic could stop it. It scores extra points for being so tight in the overall series with Wisconsin leading by one win.

Greg Schoenbaechler
Marketing Manager

Sippin’ with Stephen: Bourbon Pecan Pies with Log Still Sales Rep Amethyst Ramsey

As the official starting point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, the Frazier History Museum shares stories of the people, places, and producers of the Kentucky Bourbon industry. To learn more, visit our Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Welcome Center or tour our Spirit of Kentucky® exhibition.—Simon Meiners, Communications & Research Specialist

This month’s episode of Sippin’ with Stephen features Log Still Distillery and my new friend Amethyst Ramsey. Amethyst is the Kentucky sales representative for Log Still Distillery, which is located in Gethsemane, Kentucky, and owned and operated by the Dant family. Amethyst and I discuss the unique offerings going on at the distillery, which range from a new wheated Bourbon to concerts and train rides from Bardstown to the distillery. After watching this video, you will be booking a tour at Log Still for your next Kentucky Bourbon Trail® adventure! Finally, in keeping with Sippin’ with Stephen tradition, Amethyst makes a Bourbon pecan pie cocktail to help enhance your Thanksgiving gathering.

Bourbon Pecan Pie Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Monk’s Road Bourbon

• ¾ oz. Rivulet Pecan Liqueur

• ½ oz. Creme de Cacao

Ingredients for Rimmer (Optional):

• Crushed pecans

• Crushed graham crackers

• Caramel sauce

Instructions:

Combine crushed pecans and graham crackers. Rim a coupe or snifter glass with caramel sauce. Roll in crushed pecans and graham crackers.

Fill mixing glass with ice, add your ingredients, and stir well. Strain into glass. Pour, serve, and enjoy!

Stephen Yates
Community & Corporate Sales Manager

Sneak Peek of Bourbon Limited Members’ Club Box

Here’s a sneak peek of our first Bourbon Limited box! We have officially shipped our first expression—Peerless Small Batch Reserve, the oldest Bourbon Peerless has ever released—and it’s delicious! It’s not too late to join Bourbon Limited or send a bottle to someone you love for the holidays. We think it makes the perfect gift! Email me at haley@bourbon.limited if you have any questions.

Happy Thanksgiving from your friends at Bourbon Limited.

Haley Hicky
CMO & Unicorn Wrangler, Bourbon Limited

Museum Store: Old Fashioned Aficionado and World’s Best Bourbon Drinker Bundles

Here is the perfect gift for the Bourbon person on your list. Choose either the Old Fashioned Aficionado Bundle or the World’s Best Bourbon Drinker Bundle for $30 each, shipped in a festive bundle anywhere in the continental US. The Old Fashioned Aficionado Bundle includes a heavy cotton blend bar towel, socks adorned with Old Fashioned cocktails, and an air freshener inspired by the Old Fashioned fragrance of orange and spices. The World’s Best Bourbon Drinker Bundle includes two pair of socks and sticker that declares them the World’s Best Bourbon Drinker. Visit our online shop to order.

Crafts, Activities, and Dreidel Games at December 10 Holiday Family Day

This December 10 we are celebrating the holidays here at the Frazier! Be sure to stop by between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to enjoy crafts and activities in our galleries, experience special holiday-themed objects from our collection, and even try your hand at Dreidel with students from the Temple Religious School!

Thanksgiving is this week, which means that Winter Break is coming fast! Don’t forget to sign up for winter break camps! We are offering camps on December 19–22 and December 27–30. These camps are by the day, so you can tailor it to your schedule—leaving yourself enough time to wrap up in the office or wrap gifts, and allowing your child the chance to enjoy a few days with their friends during school breaks! And at $55 a day, it’s one of the best values in town for a high-quality (secretly—we don’t want the kids to find out they’ve actually been learning this whole time!) educational experience. Sign up here!

Heather Gotlib
Manager of Youth & Family Programs

Calendar of Programs

In Case You Missed It: Kentucky’s Native History (Nov. 15)

It was a full house and a night of learning at the Frazier History Museum for Native American Heritage Month last Tuesday.

When we polled the audience, most said they came to the program to learn about American Indian history in Kentucky, that they really hadn’t been taught much about it, but certainly wanted to know more.

It was an hour and a half of rich history delivered by three presenters: LaDonna Brown, the Director of Research and Cultural Interpretation, The Chickasaw Nation; A. Gwynn Henderson, the Education Director for the Kentucky Archaeological Survey, a program of the Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology at Western Kentucky University; and Anne Bader, the Principal Investigator with Corn Island Archaeology, which is based in Jeffersontown.

Traditional native music came courtesy of Fred Nez-Keams, a Navajo flute player who makes his own instruments.

Secretary Mike Berry of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet began the night with opening remarks, stressing the importance of telling Kentucky’s fuller and more diverse story.

As we said in the program, Native History is Kentucky History. If you’d like to learn more, I encourage to watch this recording of our recent program.

Rachel Platt
Director of Community Engagement