As I start preparing for our March 21 program featuring historian Tom Owen, I am struck by the pictures he has sent me to be used that evening.

I love the picture of Tom as a child growing up in Louisville: it’s almost as if we could have handed him a megaphone right then to lead tours of his hometown.

Tom Owen addressed a crowd through a megaphone while leading a tour of Old Louisville, September 21, 2012. Credit: Filson Historical Society.

Now in his eighties, Tom Owen is known as Louisville’s famed historian. With megaphone in hand, he has been giving walks, tours, and lectures for decades—at least forty years for Leadership Louisville Center. Vice president Aaron Miller says “no one knows more about the history of our city than Tom, and the thing that makes him so special is his passion in teaching this history to others.” He goes on to say, “our mission is to inspire and equip leaders to be better and to do better, and there are few Louisvillians who have done more to fulfill that mission than Tom.”

Beyond a historian, Owen has been a leader on many fronts: he has led congregations as a minister, he certainly led as a politician as an Alderman and member of Metro Council, and of course he even ran for Mayor back in 1998.

This cartoon captured the essence of Tom Owen, Louisville’s head cheerleader—even though he would lose the race to Dave Armstrong.

And he’s still cheering for Louisville.

As we partner with Kentucky Humanities for this program, executive director Bill Goodman had this to say: “Tom represents everything good about life in Louisville—pride in the city, outstanding public service, knowledge about history of place, and old-fashion character and humor. Kentucky Humanities couldn’t be prouder to be involved in celebrating his life.”

Please join us March 21 to celebrate Tom Owen and thank him. Click here to buy tickets to be part of such a special evening for Louisville, for the Frazier, and for Tom.

“The night will be a gathering of folks who have touched my life over many decades,” Tom says. “Can you imagine how good it feels to have been involved in the life of your hometown in so many ways? I expect the occasion to further my appreciation for friends and our entire community.”

You’ll hear it a lot on March 21, but let me start by saying it now: thank you, Tom Owen.

Also in this week’s Frazier Weekly, we are counting down to Abraham Lincoln’s birthday and Valentine’s Day, there’s some Kentucky flavor at the Super Bowl, and please consider signing GLI’s pledge as we commemorate Black History Month.

This Week in the Museum

From the Collection: Lincoln and Union Generals Bandana, c. 1864

Happy 214th birthday to President Lincoln!

One of the most notable and well-remembered presidents in US history for his determination to preserve the Union and abolish slavery, Abraham Lincoln was born February 12, 1809, on Sinking Spring Farm near Hodgenville, Kentucky.

Though born in a small log cabin, Lincoln rose from his humble origins to become a lawyer, a legislator, and a skilled politician. By the time of his presidential campaign in 1860, his anti-slavery views were already causing dissension among southern states. Confederate attacks broke out shortly after he assumed the presidency, the start of a costly and bloody civil war.

Bandana that depicts five carte-de-visite portraits of Abraham Lincoln and four generals, made c. 1864. Credit: Frazier History Museum.

This handkerchief, or bandana, dates to Lincoln’s term as President during the Civil War, c. 1864. The printed fabric depicts five carte-de-visite portraits of President Lincoln and four generals: John C. Fremont, whom Lincoln gave command over the Department of the West at the outset of the war; General George McClellan, who commanded the Department of the Ohio; General Henry Halleck, who commanded the Department of the Missouri and served as General in Chief of the Armies of the United States; and General Franz Sigel, a German-American officer who rose through the ranks to the position of Major General by 1862 and lead the Shenandoah Valley ranks against Confederate General Stonewall Jackson.

While this artifact could date to 1862, the later date is likely given the fact Lincoln, Fremont, and McClellan were presidential candidates in 1864. Bandanas, a fashion that came to Europe and the Americas from India, often served as symbols of endorsement or allegiance to a particular group or person as early as the American Revolution. Throughout the nineteenth century, bandanas such as these showed public support for political figures, especially presidential candidates. Today, bandanas that portray President Lincoln from the late 1800s are quite rare.

Visit our permanent exhibition The Commonwealth: Divided We Fall to see more artifacts related to Abraham Lincoln and the Lincoln family on display.

Frazier Staffer’s Book I See Lincoln’s Underpants Hits Shelves

Leave it to our curator of guest experience at the Frazier, Mick Sullivan, to have us pondering questions like boxers, briefs, or bloomers? It’s all in the name of history, folks, and Mick is all about making history engaging. His new book titled I See Lincoln’s Underpants is his second book and promises to be as fascinating as his first book The Meatshower, which details the true story of meat falling from the sky in Bath County, Kentucky, in 1876. Both books can be purchased in the Frazier’s Museum Store!—Rachel Platt, Director of Community Engagement

It’s a safe bet that Abraham Lincoln never got new underwear for his birthday, which happens to be later this week, on February 12. I can say this with some certainty because his practical homemade underwear made a few surprise appearances during his lifetime.

Inspired by these revealing moments, I spent years looking for other stories of notable people and their underwear. I’m happy to say Heart Ally Press has just published this collection of underwear tales as a book! The title is I See Lincoln’s Underpants: The Surprising Times Underwear (and the People Wearing Them) Made History.

As the book is aimed at middle-grade readers and families, plenty of adults are also enjoying glimpses into the lives, impact, and dresser drawers of Kentuckian and inventor Garrett Morgan, swimmer Annette Kellerman, Marie Antoinette, Al Capone, Buster Keaton, and more. Underwear is not the main character of each story, but it always makes a surprising appearance.

It’s available in the Frazier’s Museum Store and online, if you’d like a copy!

Museum Store: LucKY in Love

With this LucKY Valentine you won’t run out of luCK—but you may run out of time if you don’t act quickly! Send KY luck and chocolate to all your loves this Valentine’s Day. Your Valentine will receive an authentic horseshoe (one that’s galloped on the most famous racetrack in Louisville!), two chocolate coins from local confectioner Muth’s Candies, and a custom note from you. Order online at the low, low price of $20! We will handle the personalized note and shipping for you.

78 Legends Release Party Recap

Last Thursday night, the Frazier History Museum had the honor of hosting University of Kentucky men’s basketball legends Kyle Macy, Rick Robey, and Jack “Goose” Givens at a program moderated by famed center Dan Issel.

Everyone who attended got to try their very exclusive Bourbon, 78 Legends, honoring the year that they won the NCAA Championship. I’m not sure which one I enjoyed more: the Bourbon or all of the great stories the panelists shared about their years playing at UK!

Our next Bourbon program—held Friday, February 17—will feature two single barrel selections from New Riff distillery and two tastings from Ten20 brewery. We hope you come and bring your best friend or your Valentine for a great night out at the Frazier!

You can find out more about that event here.

Johnson County Native Chris Stapleton to Sing National Anthem at Super Bowl LVII

With the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs playing in the Super Bowl this Sunday, it’s understandable that many Kentuckians might feel left out in the cold.

We will not have the Bengals to root for this time around. Also, besides Kansas City reserves Darian Kinnard and Phil Hoskins (both former Kentucky Wildcats), the only locals we could root for are former Cincinnati Bearcats Travis Kelce, a tight end for the Chiefs, and his brother Jason Kelce, who plays center for the Eagles.

Still, one Kentuckian is a lock to suit up and perform for the Super Bowl.

Chris Stapleton closes out the 2022 Bourbon & Beyond music festival, September 18, 2022. Credit: Jeff Faughender, *Courier Journal*.

Shortly before kickoff, country music superstar and Johnson Central High graduate Chris Stapleton will sing the National Anthem. In the past, country music artists like Garth Brooks and the Chicks have had the honor of singing “the Star Spangled Banner” before the game, but until now no one from the Bluegrass State has ever been invited to sing the Anthem for the Super Bowl. Stapleton is the first Kentuckian to earn this honor.

It’s the latest achievement in the career of an exceptional, yet humbly cool, Kentuckian. As a country music artist and songwriter, the eight-time Grammy winner Stapleton is as accomplished as Tom Brady—and he’s forgotten neither his roots nor how to have a good time, to boot.

In the aftermath of the flooding that ravaged Eastern Kentucky last summer, Stapleton casually lent a hand during the recovery efforts. Like fellow Kentuckian Charles Booker, Stapleton has gotten down in the hood, as well as in the holler. All of this is natural for an artist who is as at home closing out Bourbon and Beyond as he is with just ordering room service with his wife and kids to wind down at a hotel on the night before the Grammys.

Indeed, Chris Stapleton is a Kentucky boy through and through, someone that we all can cheer for and be proud of this Super Bowl Sunday.

2023 Education Funders Allow for Unique Programming

The Frazier education team is thrilled to have support from a variety of funders this year that will allow us to offer a range of fun and engaging learning opportunities for local schools and families. The generosity of Delta Dental Foundation and the Snowy Owl Foundation will ensure that students from Title 1 schools have access to our Kentucky Rivalries exhibition; children at West Louisville community centers will enjoy interactive outreach sessions, and local families will receive free admission for our Free Kentucky Rivalries Family Day on March 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m!

Flyer for 2023 Free *Kentucky Rivalries* Family Day. Credit: Frazier History Museum.

The LG&E and KU Foundation supports Title 1 schools with free field trip admission and outreach performances, as well as professional development sessions for teachers. And the Louisville Metro External Agency Fund provides grant money for us to hire local artists specializing in many art forms—including drama, music, dance, fine arts, and more—to incorporate their talents into our camps, family days, field trips, and outreach presentations.

Our Cool Kentucky Student Art Exhibition, brought to you by another terrific partner in Fifth Third Bank, is currently running on rotation in the museum’s second floor Marshall Charitable Foundation Education Center and the bank’s 401 South Fourth Street location.

Much of what we offer for the community would not be possible without these fantastic donors, and we could not be more grateful! If you are wondering about a specific program or opportunity, please don’t hesitate to reach out at education@fraziermuseum.org.

Frazier to Share Black History Video Content Each Wednesday on Social

Each Wednesday in February, on our social media accounts, we’ll be sharing some of our favorite videos we’ve created in the past as a way to celebrate Black History Month. From Willa Brown to Garrett Morgan, Elijah Marrs, and Ed Hamilton, we’re excited to share stories of Kentuckians who’ve changed our world and claimed permanent places in our galleries. Keep an eye on your feeds for more.

Bridging the Divide

GLI Senior Director of DEI Dana Johnson on Racial Equity Pledge

More than 170 businesses have signed Greater Louisville Inc.’s Racial Equity Pledge—and Dana Johnson is hoping for 500 by the end of the year.

As GLI’s senior director of diversity, she is passionate about her work. It is also deeply personal to her: you’ll find out why in our interview.

The pledge started in the spring of 2021 in response to the racial justice movement of 2020. We talk about goals, change, learning together, and knowing perhaps we may not always get it right. The Frazier History Museum has signed the pledge, and as our president Andy Treinen stated, “We signed it to hold ourselves accountable in doing the important work to move ourselves forward as an organization—and to be part of an effort to make our community a better place.”

If you would like to learn more about the pledge, you can reach out to Dana at djohnson@greaterlouisville.com. Any time is the right time to talk about the pledge—but during Black History Month, it’s especially poignant. Here we go.

Rachel Platt
Director of Community Engagement

Tom Owen Tickets, 1864 Lincoln Bandana, Chris Stapleton to Play National Anthem, and More

Free Family Day with KMAC, Cocaine Bear’s Kentucky Origin, 2013 U of L Basketball Team, and More

Exhibition Opening Thursday, Honoring Tom Owen, Yo-Yo Ma’s 1974 Louisville Debut, and More