Good Monday morning!

Anybody else suffering from a serious case of spring fever? There is an incredible energy this time of year that makes it easier to roll out of bed in the morning and harder to focus on work in the afternoon.

As the late great Robin Williams said, “Spring is nature’s way of saying ‘let’s party!’” If Louisville’s buzzing Main Street and the Frazier’s lively galleries are any indication, the fiesta is in full bloom.

It is in that spirit that we would like to announce Summer Beer Fest at Frazier is back in 2022 and it’s moving to Main Street. The music, food, and beer festival is scheduled for Saturday, August 6, 2022. Discounts on early bird tickets are available, if purchased before April 1.

Strong women highlight this Frazier Weekly, starting with Oksana Masters, who—by obtaining seven medals in Beijing this month—became the most decorated American Winter Paralympian in the world. Featured prominently in our Cool Kentucky exhibition, the Atherton High School graduate is the very definition of cool. Our Curator’s Corner shares the story of Native American chief Nonhelema, guest contributor Michael Higgs weighs in with a notable Kentucky woman buried at Cave Hill Cemetery, and Shelby Durbin introduces us to some great eats in the Chickasaw neighborhood.

We’re also headed to Northern Kentucky’s New Riff Distillery for a little Sippin’ With Stephen to help you wash it all down.

Oh yeah, we’re now once again open seven days per week.

Come see us,

Andy Treinen
President & CEO
Frazier History Museum

This Week in the Museum

Sippin’ With Stephen: Old Pals With New Riff

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.

This month’s episode of Sippin’ With Stephen highlights New Riff distillery. My guests are co-founder and vice president of strategic development Jay Erisman and regional sales manager Patrick Spalding—both of whom, by the way, will be speaking at the March meeting of the Bourbon Society tonight, March 21, at the Henry Clay. In our episode, Jay, Patrick, and I cover what’s new at New Riff and why it needs to be a part of your next Kentucky Bourbon Trail® excursion. We also make a tremendous cocktail called an Old Pal that incorporates New Riff’s Rye Whiskey. As always, if you enjoy this video, please hit the subscribe button and the like button and future episodes will be sent to you each month.

Recipe for Old Pal

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. New Riff Rye Whiskey

• 1 oz. Campari

• 1 oz. dry vermouth

• 1 lemon twist

Steps:

Add 2 ounces of New Riff Rye Whiskey, 1 ounce of Campari, and 1 ounce of dry vermouth into a mixing glass with ice and stir until well chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

Cheers!

Stephen Yates
Community & Corporate Sales Manager

Curator’s Corner: Shawnee Chief Nonhelema of Chillicothe

As part of The Commonwealth: Divided We Fall we’ve been making a crucial effort to include the story of Native Americans in Kentucky. The myth that Native Americans did not call Kentucky home, that it was simply a hunting ground or a land fought over by different groups, is pervasive, harmful, and wrong. Instead, Kentucky was the home of many different Native American groups for thousands of years, with settlements dotting the states.

For Women’s History Month, I want to share the story of Nonhelema, a woman Shawnee chief who lived in Kentucky.

Nonhelema (1718–86) was a Shawnee chief in the Kentucky settlement of Chillicothe, also known as Lower Shawneetown, located in modern day Greenup County, Kentucky. Chillicothe was considered one of the capitals of the Shawnee, sitting on both the Kentucky and Ohio sides of the Ohio River. It functioned as a center for commerce and diplomacy: It was governed by the Shawnee but it included large groups of Iroquois, Delaware, and Cherokee, as well as permanent settlements by British and French traders. It was near the Portsmouth Earthworks, a location that had been settled by Native American groups as early as 500 BC.

Nonhelema would occupy two different roles as a leader within the settlement, acting as both a Peace Chief and a War Chief. Peace Chiefs, who were almost always women, were in charge of the village’s domestic life, controlled farming, and decided whether the tribe would go to war. As a Peace Chief, Nonhelema advocated for neutrality with the French and the British, keeping Chillicothe out of alliances with either group.

War Chiefs, who were almost always men, led the warriors of the tribe into battle. Nonhelema was unusual as a woman in this position, but she was given this honor for multiple reasons. For one, her brother Cornstalk and her husband Moluntha were also chiefs, and Shawnee leadership was tied to kinship bonds. Also, she was reportedly six-feet-six-inches tall, and considered a fearless warrior.

During the French and Indian War, disaster struck Chillicothe in the form of multiple floods that destroyed much of the settlement. Shortly after, Nonhelema and her people left Kentucky and moved north to Ohio, thinking themselves too vulnerable to attack. After the French were defeated, she began to see the British as a threat, and decided that war was the best option for her people. As a War Chief, she would take part in Pontiac’s War, earning the nickname “Grenadier Squaw" for her strength in battle.

At the start of the American Revolutionary War, Nonhelema decided to join the side of the fledgling United States. She helped the colonists by warning the Americans of other Shawnee that had joined the British, as well as several impending attacks. After the war ended, she asked the United States for land in Ohio for her people to settle on as payment for her help. Instead, she was given an allowance of food and a yearly gift of clothing and blankets.

Unfortunately, the stories of Native Americans throughout the United States rarely end happily, and Nonhelema’s story is no exception. In 1786, a force of Kentucky militia led by Benjamin Logan raided the Shawnee villages in Ohio. Nonhelema’s settlement flew the flag of the United States to signal their friendship, but it did not stop the troops from killing her husband and cutting off her fingers. She and her daughters were then kidnapped and taken back to Kentucky. Nothing is known about the rest of her life.

To learn more about Nonhelema, as well as many other important Kentucky women, please visit The Commonwealth: Divided We Fall, opening in May.

Sources

• McEuen, M. A., Appleton, T. H., & Friend, C. T. “Searching for Kentucky’s Female Frontier.” In Kentucky women: Their lives and times. University of Georgia Press. 2015.

• Isselhardt, Tiffany. “Kentucky in the Eyes of Women: Nonhelema Hokolesqua.” Kentucky Museum, Western Kentucky University Kentucky Museum, February 23, 2021.

Tyler Horne
Curatorial Assistant

Oksana Masters Becomes Most Decorated American Winter Paralympian

Earlier this month, Louisville resident and Atherton High School alum Oksana Masters won the gold in mixed-gender cross-country skiing at the Paralympic Games in Beijing, China. In doing so, she broke the records for both career Winter Paralympic medals and for most medals at a single Winter Games. She is now the most decorated Winter Paralympian to ever represent the U.S.!

On display in the “Competitive Kentucky” section of the Frazier’s Cool Kentucky exhibition is a case featuring oars, apparel, medals, trophies, lanyards, and miscellanea from Oksana’s participation in past Paralympic Games. The objects date from 2012 to 2019 and represent competitions in Belgrade, Serbia; London, UK; Sochi, Russia; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and PyeongChang, South Korea.

You can see these objects and learn more about Oksana by attending one of our Cool Kentucky exhibition tours, which I offer every Monday at 11 a.m.

Simon Meiners
Communications & Research Specialist

Video: How Dr. Jesse Bell Came to Own a Print of Abraham Lincoln

Last week we looked at the Bell family and their role in Louisville, as well as the fine friends they kept.

While listening to an oral history with Dr. Jesse Bell recorded in the late 1970s, I was struck by the mention of one particular photo Dr. Bell had, a print of Abraham Lincoln. We’re lucky to have a great relationship with the folks at the Filson Historical Society—and they’ve helped us solve the mystery of the photo and its provenance.

Mick Sullivan
Curator of Guest Experience

Museum Store: Barker’s Mark Dog Toy

Our most popular dog toy, and our only dog toy, is the perfect treat for your best friend. Celebrate National Puppy Day this Wednesday with a Barker’s Mark Yappy Hour! Grab one here.

Camp Spotlight: Page to Stage–inspired Camp Takeover Filling Up

In years past, the Frazier hosted a camp called Page to Stage, an in-depth exploration of the craft of historic interpretations. Over the course of a week, campers would research, write, and perform their own interpretations.

This year, we decided to take things up a notch. We thought, why not show campers the ins and outs of museum engagement, all through fun and hands-on activities?

Enter Camp Takeover!

This year, campers will get both behind the scenes and in front of some amazing guests to learn all about projecting confidence, storytelling, and how to run the show at a museum. Finally, that Friday, we’ll turn over the Frazier to the kids!

The camp is ideal for kids in the third through seventh grades, and will run from June 13 to 17. Because of the limited space due to the hands-on nature of the week, this camp is already half full! If you have a child in your life who loves the spotlight, it’s time to sign up now so you don’t miss the inaugural Camp Takeover.

Heather Gotlib
Manager of Youth & Family Programs

Staff Pick

West of Ninth Eats: Southern Hospitality Bar and Grill

As part of our “West of Ninth” exhibition, we wanted to go west and explore, taking time to visit local restaurants, coffee shops, and breweries. Each month, we will showcase a place our staff members have visited. We hope you will visit, too!

This week, I headed west to the Chickasaw neighborhood for another foodie adventure. My stomach led me to Southern Hospitality Bar and Grill to indulge in their all-day breakfast menu. Southern Hospitality is located at 3402 West Broadway #2824, close to the perimeter of the Chickasaw and Shawnee neighborhoods.

When I entered Southern Hospitality, the pleasant aroma of sweet and savory breakfast foods wafting out of the kitchen greeted me. I was pleased to see how spacious it is. It was the perfect place to grab an appetizer to snack on while watching March Madness.

Although Southern Hospitality serves breakfast all day long, they have a variety of additional food options, including wings and pizza. There is something for everybody!

I ordered three buttermilk pancakes with a side of eggs (with added cheese, of course) for a satisfying midday brunch. My meal was prepared quickly, but the quality was not lacking in the slightest! The buttermilk pancakes were thick and delicious, especially with the absurd amount of syrup I added! The eggs were great, as well. It was a classic breakfast—exactly what I had been craving!

I had a chance to talk to Mike Cox and Nicole Keaton, cousins and part owners of the family-run business. I asked Mike to talk about his role in the restaurant, and he said that he does a little bit of everything, including managing and cooking. He also explained they’ve been open in that location for around twenty years, but underwent a remodel back in 2016.

Nicole really emphasized the family aspect of the business. Additionally, she is glad that Southern Hospitality offers breakfast options since there are few other such restaurants in the area.

It’s safe to say I will return to Southern Hospitality in the near future for another tasty and economical meal—and I would encourage you to do the same!

For hours and a full menu, visit Southern Hospitality’s Facebook page.

If you’d like to learn the history of Chickasaw and the other neighborhoods in West Louisville, remember to check out the West of Ninth exhibition at the Frazier! We offer tours of the exhibits daily, so stop in and chat with a member of the education team. (It may even be me!)

Until next time, my fellow Louisville foodies.

Shelby Durbin
Education & Engagement Specialist

History All Around Us

Notable Kentuckians: Dr. Mary Bernice Craik

With our exhibition “West of Ninth: Race, Reckoning, and Reconciliation,” we hope to shine a light on those who’ve broken barriers and fought for change. We also want to highlight the historic roots of Louisville’s Ninth Street divide, delving into issues of race, segregation, and redlining in the city. For Frazier Weekly, we’ve partnered with Cave Hill Cemetery to bring you stories of notable Kentuckians buried at Cave Hill who deserve our attention.—Rachel Platt, Director of Community Engagement

Dr. Mary Craik, in her ninety-five years on this earth, was a change agent who created possibility. She was a mother, artist, teacher, and advocate for women’s rights who opened closed doors and shed light on the hypocrisy that darkened the future of far too many for far too long.

Born in 1924 in West Louisville, Mary Craik came from a meager beginning. Characteristic of the time, her parents had little formal education. However, this didn’t stop her from looking beyond her situation. She first explored fiber as an artistic medium when, at the age of eight, she made her first dress. Just a few years later, she made her first quilt. The ravages of nature and life took these tokens away, but they created a spark that would return later in life.

Craik’s role as mother (her first career) began when she was just nineteen. She married her second husband, James Craik, a member of the United States Air Force, just after World War II, and continued her journey into motherhood with two additional children. As a military wife, she managed to live in eleven states and two foreign countries. Her experience traveling led to a tremendous opportunity to explore higher education. She obtained her bachelors of arts degree in art education and English literature, eventually landing her second career as a teacher in El Paso, Texas. While teaching, she was asked to join a racist teachers’ association, which she adamantly refused. This proved to be a defining moment in her life, prompting her to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Texas.

As she began teaching education courses at the university, Craik became increasingly familiar with inequality among the sexes. Even though she was a working professional, Texas law in 1963 prohibited a married woman from owning a car. When she was compiling statistical data about employment needs, the university president instructed her to “place zeros in the female column for every position, except maids and janitors,” adding, “I don’t need any smart women working for me.”

This was a second defining moment for Craik as she set out to pursue a Ph.D. in educational psychology at the University of Iowa, a goal she intended to fulfill in just three years. Needless to say, she accomplished this goal. However, the permeating attitude of the majority tried to curtail her success when she was denied a department chair position. She immediately filed a class action law suit claiming inequity, lack of promotions for women, lack of tenure for women, and lack of openings. The court sided with Dr. Craik. As a result, the University of Iowa had to create an annuity for life to pay Dr. Craik for the injustice she received.

This victory for Dr. Craik then turned into an open door of possibility with the creation of the Mary Craik Scholarship for Women at the University of Louisville. All the money Dr. Craik received from the annuity was used to create the scholarship fund, which as of 2019 has served sixty students. The goal of the fund is to enable women to help other women through education.

Dr. Craik’s final career move, after her official retirement from education, took her back to her roots on Market Street in Louisville. With her artistic instincts honed by the experiences of a life well-lived, she picked up where she started: with fiber. As a pioneer in the NuLu district, she devoted her time to creating beautiful pieces of fiber art. Her gallery featured a vibrant palate of work that was recognized and celebrated in the community. Dr. Craik’s fiber art legacy is even celebrated at an international level, as four pieces hang in the U.S. Embassy in Quito, Ecuador, a sister-city to Louisville.

Dr. Mary Craik is interred in Section F, Lot 495, Cave Hill Cemetery.

Sources

Art in Embassies. “Mary Craik.” United States Department of State.

“Obituary: Mary Bernice Clark.” Courier Journal. October 30, 2019.

Michael Higgs
Manager, Cave Hill Heritage Foundation
Guest Contributor

Kenny Payne Becomes U of L’s First Black Permanent Men’s Basketball Head Coach

On Thursday, around 5 p.m., a plane landed at Bowman Field in Louisville. And with it, the hope of many Louisvillians—and a number of fellow Kentuckians, one could argue—had finally arrived. Kenny Payne, former University of Kentucky assistant basketball coach and U of L player and alum, long the frontrunner to replace Chris Mack as men’s basketball coach at the University of Louisville, had come to town.

Welcomed literally with open arms by both his former college coach, Denny Crum, and his old recruiter and “father figure,” Wade Houston, Payne was all smiles, dressed in a black U of L polo and jogging pants. Payne was on the verge of being named head coach of one of the most storied programs in the history of college basketball.

The following morning, at the President’s Club of the KFC Yum! Center, Payne entered dressed in a suit and red tie to be officially announced as the new coach. Former teammates, current U of L athletes, Coach Crum, and even Governor Andy Beshear himself were in attendance. Payne joked that “Only in the state of Kentucky can you get the governor to come for a press conference for basketball.”

The comment belied the seriousness and humility with which Payne approached his first ever press conference as a head coach. Before even beginning his speech, Payne asked all of his “brothers,” former college teammates, and other U of L players—past and the present—in the audience to stand up. Payne said they were “one of the main reasons” why he took the job at Louisville, adding that he could not do his work alone.

One phrase Payne uttered served as a refrain throughout his speech: “I need your help.” Payne asked his fellow alums, the school, the city, and even the state to support him. “This isn’t just a job . . . This is you guys coaching with me. This isn’t “I am up here by myself”—my brothers are with me, this community has to be with me, this state has to be with me.”

The challenges that await Payne—bringing the men’s basketball program back into prominence, healing the rift between alumni and administrators, re-energizing the fan base, and, in his words, striving “to help build the answers” that could help heal the community—will take more than just him to face.

And, if the reactions by fans, rivals, and friends are any indication, it appears that Payne, for now, might have all the help he needs to answer his calling.

Brian West
Teaching Artist

Literary Kentucky: Happy National Poetry Day!

As someone who identifies as an entrepreneur with a creative business, a playwright, and a poet, I cannot go through my day without celebrating and thanking those influences who shaped me into who I am as a professional.

Thank you to my Creative Writing and Poetry professor at Bellarmine University, Mr. Frederick Smock—the Kentucky Poet Laureate in 2017-18. Your classes, your constructive criticism, and the way you analyze literary works have helped shape me into the creator I am today.

Then, there’s Wendell Berry, Kentucky’s own American novelist, poet, essayist, environmental activist, cultural critic, and farmer.

On January 28, 2015, he became the first living writer to be inducted into the Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame. Wendell’s influence on me came with his relatability, sincerity, and love for the environment and Kentucky landscape. I always give Wendell a nod as I pass by the “Literary Kentucky” section of our Cool Kentucky exhibition, located on the first floor of the museum.

In honor of National Poetry Day and to my influences: 

Don’t Go, Rain

A Poem By: Amanda Egan

Feeling the rain touch my forehead

Soaking it all in

We have needed the rain

I never miss the rain

Until the rain stops

And forgets to tell me when it will be back

Don’t go, rain.

Stay just a little while longer

We have needed the rain

But I need you more.

Nestled in a comfy nook underneath our staircase, “Literary Kentucky” is bound to open your eyes to some new topics, authors, and genres you may have never read before. What books have you found here that you’ve enjoyed? If you’re nervous about finding a book you’ll enjoy a little too much (if that is even a thing . . .) and that you won’t have enough time to visit the rest of the exhibits—there’s a simple solution. Use your admission ticket and upgrade to a membership. This way, you can come back time and time again (for free!) and finish that book, perhaps find a new one to dive into, and—oh, yeah—visit the remaining sections of the museum, of course!

Amanda Egan
Membership & Database Administrator

Calendar of Events

Republic Bank Kentucky Derby Festival BourbonVille to Return April 14

Two of Kentucky’s signature favorites—the Kentucky Derby Festival and Bourbon—will be in the spotlight at the Frazier History Museum in just a few weeks.

Republic Bank Kentucky Derby Festival BourbonVille features a spirited evening of Kentucky Bourbon-inspired cocktails and cuisine, and takes place April 14 from 6 to 9 p.m. For the first time in the event’s history, it will be held at the Frazier, where Bourbon is celebrated daily as the home of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Welcome Center and the official starting point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®.

Guests can sample signature drinks from Kentucky Bourbon distilleries, including Bardstown Bourbon, Bourbon 30 Spirits, Brough Brothers, Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, Four Roses Bourbon, Jim Beam, Luca Mariano, Old Hillside Bourbon Co., Rabbit Hole, and more.

Attendees can also mingle with master distillers and taste a menu of Bluegrass foodie favorites like Bourbon-glazed chicken skewers, mini-Hot Brown crostini, and pimento mac and cheese fritters, provided by Michaelis Events. And you can also be the first to see the Derby Festival’s new BourbonVille merchandise line.

General admission tickets (which include Bourbon, food tastings, a commemorative glass, and a BourbonVille pin) are $50. The Bardstown Bourbon VIP Experience tickets (which include the complete event experience, plus early access at 5 p.m. and a premium gift bag) are $85. Open to ages 21 and older; ID required upon entry. Tickets are available by calling (502) 584-FEST or online at kdf.org.

Cheers!

Christa Ritchie
Communications Manager, Kentucky Derby Festival
Guest Contributor