The museum and museum shop are closed all day Monday, August 21.

I’m so excited to be joining the Frazier’s education team!

My name is Zach Bramel, and I’m succeeding Heather Gotlib in the role of manager of youth and family programs. Heather helped build a wonderfully strong foundation of services for young people here. My goal is to maintain and grow those programs with my dedicated and super-fun colleagues Nicole, Brian, Mick, and Megan. Huzzah!

And we’re already doing it. Ten days into my new job, we switched focus to host impromptu day camps for JCPS families who’d suddenly faced unplanned school closures. We had a great, silly, and free-wheeling week with about eighty kids over four days. And we’re excited to host pop-up day camp again this October for Fall Break. Registration for Camp Uncanny, October 3–5, is now open on our website.

For more than twenty years, I’ve worked with young people in Louisville, making puppets, facilitating play, teaching theater, and telling stories. I’ve dedicated myself to working for kids to provide them and their families with experiences that foster creativity, community, critical thinking, and independence. I believe kids flourish best when given the space to play, the freedom to choose, and the chance to have fun. I’m so lucky I’ve been invited to do this work with the Frazier.

I love the weird, the wonky, and the poignant, and I’m bringing that bias with me. So maybe you’ll see free play philosophy folded into our programs. Watch for family-friendly programs with local artists and musicians. Or join us for Fall Break Camp or an upcoming Family Day (both coming in October!). In all cases, I look forward to laughing and learning with you soon.

Zach Bramel
Manager of Youth & Family Programs
Frazier History Museum

Curator’s Corner: Kentucky Paraclimbers Compete in Switzerland

Over the past few weeks, rock climbers from all over the world travelled to Bern, Switzerland, to compete in the World Championships. This event is incredibly important because the winners of some of the events are the first to get their tickets to compete in the Olympic Games in Paris next year. Though paraclimbing is not yet included in the Paralympics, the World Championships also includes paraclimbing competitions. This year, two paraclimbers from Kentucky competed in the World Championships in Bern.

Alex Dornbusch and Sunny Yang both competed in the lead men’s RP1 category. In this competition, men with physical disabilities that limit their range, power, or stability climb to the top of a tall wall, clipping their rope into safety devices as they go. The athlete who climbs highest on the wall wins. Both Alex and Sunny made it through the qualification round and into the finals. Sunny finished in fifth place and Alex finished in sixth.

This isn’t the first time Alex has competed on an international level in a parasport. Just three years after the Lexingtonian was injured when his mountain bike collided with a moving car, Alex was selected to play for the US Paralympic Soccer National Team.

“It’s such an honor for me to be able to represent the state of Kentucky during international competition,” Alex told me. “I was a Governor’s Scholar in 2004 and I cherish the ability to challenge many people’s stereotypes of individuals that come from Kentucky. I’m just grateful to compete on the same stage as many other elite athletes from around the world and hope to inspire other Kentuckians to dream for and to achieve great things, as well.”

Sunny and his wife emigrated from China to the Red River Gorge area so that he would have easy access to climbing. He suffered a spinal cord injury when he was hit by a car while out for a run. He used climbing as a form of rehabilitation and was able to regain the use of his arms and legs. Both athletes now train at LEF climbing gym in Lexington.

I contacted Sunny last week to ask him what it meant to him to represent Kentucky at such an important event that brought climbers together from all over the world. He said, “It means a lot to me to represent “Climber’s Home,” LEF, Red River Gorge, Kentucky, and the USA to take part in the World Cup Paraclimbing competition!” he said. “For me, climbing gives me the second life: climbing to live and living to climb!”

Kentucky’s Red River Gorge is a world-renowned rock climbing area, with professional climbers from all over the world traveling to the area’s famous sandstone overhangs. You can learn more about the Red River Gorge and another famous climbing Kentuckian, Cat Runner, in our Cool Kentucky exhibition.

Amanda Briede
Sr. Curator of Exhibitions

When you walk through the first portion of the Frazier’s Commonwealth exhibition, you see a host of artifacts excavated by Donald Janzen and his team in the early to mid-1970s. The collection was subsequently donated to Corn Island Archaeology and loaned to the Frazier.

There are many pieces in the collection ranging from the Middle Archaic period to the Middle Woodland period. Archaeologists use these style of names to identify specific types of material created in the archaeological record.

The Archaic period is generally thought of as the end to the Paleoindian period and ends near the beginnings of the permanent uses of agriculture throughout North America—specifically within the US region and the Canadian region. Some dates have the archaic period beginning as early as around 8500 BC. The Middle Archaic period ranges from about 4000 to 2000 BC while the Late Archaic period ranges from about 2000 BC to as late as 500 AD in some areas.

Humans of the time actively hunted in groups and migrated with the animals of the area. Evidence can be seen of ceramic creation to add in food storage. Precontact ceramics tend to be quite brittle when found due to their construction and the nature of how they were preserved within the ground. The temper, which is added to clay to help it form a solid piece and prevent too much shrinkage during the firing or drying process, can come in varying forms such as shell, small pieces of rock and limestone, and more. Archaeologists can do a variety of tests to these objects to see what may have been contained in the vessels, especially if there is evidence of cooking. This lets archaeologists know what the diet would have been like during that time period.

A site in Southern Indiana was excavated and a few clay cooking balls were found that would have been heated in the fire and placed in a circle with a fire constructed on top of them. Once that fire had died down, a ceramic vessel was placed on top to then cook the food inside. Fish hooks were also found at this site which gives clear evidence of fishing within the Ohio River during this time period.

At a site within Central Northern Kentucky, you can see many Archaic period pieces in the form of projectile points ranging from Mataza points to Merom Trimble points. These names come from the style in which they were made by the Native Americans of the area. Matazas are characterized by the triangular point with isosceles style sides and small notches for hafting, a.k.a. attaching, the point to the end of a wooden shaft to make an arrow or other projectile. Merom Trimble points are characterized by a smaller triangular shape with very well-defined notches for hafting. The trend one sees here is that points started getting smaller as time progressed.

The Woodland period is typically the period in North American archaeology that follows the Archaic period. Humans make the transition from domesticating plants to full-on farming. Here is where agriculture starts to rise in popularity and ceramic vessels are seen more frequently. Typically, the time period ranges from around 500 BC to around 1100 AD. Do note that these dates are rough estimates for the areas of the US as technology traveled and was traded throughout the area.

In the Janzen collection, you will find Early Woodland (approximately 500 BC to approximately 200 BC) and the Middle Woodland (approximately 200 BC to approximately 300 AD) objects. At the archaeological sites mentioned above, you can find more pieces of precontact ceramic materials as well as smaller projectile points that would likely be on arrows. Following the flow of trade and gaining more and more resources points kept getting smaller and more specialized.

All these and more can be found as you enter the human era in the Frazier’s Commonwealth exhibition. Then you can meander through the state’s history and learn even more!

Sources:

https://www.nps.gov/fosm/learn/historyculture/woodlandperiod.htm

https://www.nps.gov/articles/archaic-period.htm

projectilepoints.net/Points/Matanzas.html

https://www.projectilepoints.net/Points/Merom.html#:~:text=The%20Trimble%20point%20may%20be,blade%20than%20the%20Merom%20point

https://www.cincymuseum.org/2022/08/09/whats-in-a-pot-lessons-from-native-american-pottery-2/

https://www.archaeology.org/issues/84-1303/artifact/532-clay-cooking-balls-escalera-el-cielo-yucatan

Sammie Holmes
Laboratory Manager, Corn Island Archaeology
Guest Contributor

Musical Kentucky: A Song from each County, Logan–McCreary

As a supplement to our Cool Kentucky exhibition, we’re curating a Spotify playlist of 120 songs: one song from each county in Kentucky. In 2023, once a month, we’ll share songs from ten counties, completing the playlist in December. For August, we’re sharing songs from these counties: Logan, Lyon, Madison, Magoffin, Marion, Marshall, Martin, Mason, McCracken, and McCreary.

“Hey Hey” by Athena Cage. (Released 2001.) By 1989, Athena Cage—who’d been a track runner and science fair competitor in Russellville, Logan County—was a chemistry major at WKU, a Miss Black Essence pageant contestant, and a vocalist at the Starmania talent show in Daysville. In 2004, the mayor of Russellville renamed Second Street, where the now-famous pop singer grew up, Athena Cage Way.

“Sixty to One” by RISK. (Recorded 1984.) Recorded by “prison rock” quartet RISK while incarcerated in the Kentucky State Penitentiary in Eddyville, Lyon County, “Sixty to One” recounts how three RISK members had attempted escape—the title a reference to their odds of succeeding. “They didn’t make it over the wall,” fourth member Joe Peck told the Frazier. “But they definitely did give it their best shot.”

“Kiss You All Over” by Exile. (Recorded 1977–78.) Originating as a high school band in Richmond, Madison County, in the mid-1960s, the Lexington-based pop group Exile rose to fame in 1978 with “Kiss You All Over” and “Never Gonna Stop.” Guitarist and vocalist J.P. Pennington is the son of bluegrass singer Glenn Pennington and banjoist Lily May Ledford, whose dress is on display at the Frazier.

“Sporting Bachelors” by Buell Kazee. (Recorded c. 1929.) Born at Mash Fork, Magoffin County, Buell Kazee (1900–76), who studied ancient languages at Georgetown College, had a repertoire of folk songs. During a 1926 show at a UK gym, he said funny songs like “Sporting Bachelors”—about a cuckold’s despair—were traditionally danced to the fiddle after an apple cutting, a log rolling, or even a wedding.

“Another You” by Layla Spring. (Released February 14, 2020.) In 2018, then-sixteen-year-old Lebanon, Marion County, native Layla Spring competed on American Idol, making it to the top twenty-four before getting eliminated. After covering a Carrie Underwood song at the American Music Awards in 2019, Spring’s fans, dubbed “Springers,” cast their votes, enabling Spring to return to Idol for a second shot.

“Cornbread, Meat Loaf, Greens, and Deviled Eggs” by Father Tom Vaughn. (Released 1967.) A pianist from age seven, Benton, Marshall County, native Father Tom Vaughn (1936–2011) entered the Episcopal priesthood before finding success as a soul jazz and post-bop pianist in the late 1960s. The rollicking swing number “Cornbread, Meat Loaf, Greens, and Deviled Eggs” is an original composition.

“Good Morning” by Nimrod Workman. (Recorded 1982.) Named for his grandfather, a Cherokee who fought in the Civil War and taught him old ballads from the British Isles, coal miner Nimrod Workman (1895–1994) of Inez, Martin County, spreads love on the tongue twister “Good Morning.” “There never was people . . . who loved you and your people like me and my people love you and your people.”

“Sisters” by Rosemary and Betty Clooney. (Released 1954.) Recorded for the musical White Christmas, “Sisters” was written by Irving Berlin and performed by Maysville, Mason County, natives: the film’s female lead Rosemary Clooney (1928–2002) and her sister Betty (1931–76). “Lord help the mister who comes between me and my sister / And Lord help the sister who comes between me and my man!”

“Pianoflage” by Fate Marable’s Society Syncopators. (Recorded March 16, 1924.) Born and raised in Paducah, McCracken County, Fate Marable (1890–1947) was the son of James and Lizzie L. Marable. His mother, who had taught music when she was a slave, trained him. Fate became a bandleader and a riverboat calliope player, directing and playing piano on a 1924 recording of Roy Bargy’s “Pianoflage.”

“Sweet Sue” by Scotty Anderson. (Recorded May–June 2000.) As a boy, Merle Travis–style guitar picker Scotty Anderson moved to Whitley City, McCreary County. The title of his album Triple Stop refers to a technique he developed. “You can use two fingers together like they’re glued, simultaneously hitting down and up,” he told the Cincinnati Post in 2001. “Now you’re flowing with it as a unit back and forth.”

Simon Meiners
Communications & Research Specialist

Frazier+ Video of the Week: Florence Dulaney Dress

Now the Frazier fits in your pocket! Curated by the museum’s education team, the mobile app Frazier+ provides engaging and educational Kentucky history content—free of charge. Users can explore the museum’s collection of videos, photos, and texts to either heighten their in-person experience or learn from the comfort of their couch or classroom. The free app is available for download for Android and iOS devices through the App Store and Google Play.—Simon Meiners, Communications & Research Specialist

This week, we welcome a new round of interns from Holy Cross High School, so I wanted to share something last year’s intern created for Frazier+. Madison Hall was intrigued by a dress on display in the Commonwealth exhibition, so she worked with our collections and education teams to tell a story about both the dress and the role of preservation when it comes to clothing. I’m sure you’ll enjoy!

Mick Sullivan
Curator of Guest Experience

Museum Shop: It’s Always Pappy Hour

Pour yourself a glass of Bourbon and settle down to learn the story of Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon told in Pappyland. A compelling story of great Bourbon and honoring a family legacy, this book is available online and in the Frazier’s Museum Shop. You can also find the award-winning hot sauce and maple syrup from Pappy & Co. in the Museum Shop. Don’t forget that the Frazier’s Pappy Van Winkle exhibit closes in early October—so come visit it while you still can!

We’ve got a fascinating program coming up on September 19 titled Moonshine, Hidden Barns, and the Law. The Neeley Family Distillery has deep roots in Moonshine in Eastern Kentucky, with lead distiller Royce Neeley joining us to spill some secrets on their recipe and the violent nature of the industry back in the day. Author Chris Skates knows all about that violence: members of his family lived it as well, but from the other side—his grandfather was a state revenue officer. Skates will join us for our program to talk about his new book Moonshine over Georgia. Keep reading to learn more about his story and book, and click here to buy tickets to join us September 19.—Rachel Platt, VP of Mission

In a recent review of my new novel, Moonshine over Georgia, a newspaper editor stated, “Everybody’s busy. Lots of folks have given up books for truncated, “Netflix” versions of literary works . . . however, I started Chris Skates’ book at 8:00 Saturday morning and didn’t put it down until I read the last page at 11:30 that night. This book is that good. A friend I loaned it to also finished it in one weekend.”

This is the most gratifying feedback an author like me can receive, and I have received it now at least fifty times in emails and messages from readers. But what kind of story is Moonshine over Georgia?

It’s a murder mystery to be sure and fits in the category of historical fiction and even literary fiction. It could also be considered a true crime story but is seasoned with a few fictional characters who are amalgams of several real people I interviewed and whose lives intersected the moonshine business of Georgia where my grandpa, C. E. “Kid” Miller, was a revenue agent.

It’s a novel, but solidly grounded in actual events involving my lawman grandpa, my grandmother, and my mother when she was a little girl. It’s the story of one man, whose salary peaked at $2,800 a year, who realized he had a special set of skills, honed deep in the swamps of north Florida hunting to feed his five sisters in a single-parent home, that could also help his community. It’s the story of one lower-middle-class family whose lives were placed at hazard when my grandpa went after two of the biggest moonshine enterprises in Georgia, simply because he believed it was the right thing to do.

Sadly, not all moonshiners made quality products like the Neeley family did and still does to this day. Many were unscrupulous, selling white-lightning that was a product of deplorable sanitary conditions, contained lead, or worse, was toxic methanol because the still operators didn’t know what they were doing. My grandpa had respect for families like the Neeleys and largely left them alone. But he refused to back down to others who were careless and even sinister.

Ultimately, Moonshine over Georgia is an adventure about the moonshine business at its peak, a mystery about the biggest murder case in Georgia history, and at times a poignant morality tale. Yet most of all, Moonshine over Georgia is a book about the calling that is upon each of our lives and the good outcomes when we answer that call.

Chris Skates
Author, Moonshine over Georgia
Guest Contributor

It is late August and time for the Kentucky State Fair. As someone who grew up on a farm in Spencer County, Kentucky, state fair time was an opportunity to showcase your farm products such as crops, livestock, and 4-H projects at a statewide level. It was also an opportunity to visit the commodity area of the fair where you could enjoy a tasty meal of chicken, beef, lamb, and my favorite, a pork chop sandwich.

The Kentucky Pork Producers Association has been grilling pork chop sandwiches for over forty years. The Pork Producers began serving the sandwich at local county fairs and events before expanding to the state fair. Today, the pork chop sandwich is one of the most popular food items available at the fair. It has become a state fair staple and the grillers are often told by customers that they come to the fair just to get a pork chop sandwich. Although the Pork Producers serve other pork products such as a pork burger, barbeque pulled pork, or country ham sandwiches, most customers order a pork chop sandwich.

Throughout its forty-year history, only a few individuals have overseen the grilling of the pork chops and other pork food products. It began with Tom Runyan, the first director of product marketing and special events, followed by Wendell Ockerman, who, at eighty-seven years of age, has remained involved in the grilling process for over thirty-three years. He was joined by David Lewis, the current director of product marketing and special events, over thirty-two years ago. The two of them continue to manage the pork chop grills or cookers wherever the chops are being served.

The pork chop sandwich is not just sold at the state fair. The sandwich is available at the North American Livestock Show, the National Farm Machinery Show, and certain fairs and other events. In fact, today the Pork Producers grill chops at around sixty different events a year.

There have been a few changes to the pork chop sandwich over the years. At one time, the pork producers used a bone-in chop for the sandwiches. At present, the Pork Producers serve a 3/4-inch-thick to 1-inch-thick boneless center cut butterfly chop that weighs about 8 ounces. The boneless butterfly cut has been served for over twenty-five years and the grillers think customers seem to enjoy the boneless butterfly cut the best.

To capture the taste of a state fair pork chop sandwich, Mr. Lewis shares that the chop should be liberally sprinkled with Lawry’s seasoned salt before placing the chop on the grill. He noted they also use seasoned salt on their fries and their pork burgers. When asked about the secret to a great pork chop sandwich, Mr. Lewis is quoted as saying: “It’s no secret: little salt, little love. Turn it, baste it. Get it done.”

The chops are cooked on a flat grill as well as in an automatic cooker. The automatic cooker produces 545 cooked chops every 45 minutes. Mr. Lewis prefers the chops cooked on the flat grill rather than those from the automatic cooker because, as he points out, the grilling crew tends to the chops closely during the grilling process by turning and basting them often with barbeque sauce. He thinks the grilled chops get more individual attention and the barbeque sauce cooks into the chop. However, some customers prefer chops from the automatic cooker thinking it produces a moister chop. Barbeque sauce is added after the chops come out of the cooker. Mr. Lewis reminded me that you need to be careful when consuming any pork product. The Pork Producers advise that all chops should reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees before consuming the sandwich.

The barbeque sauce used on the chops has been bottled by the Pork Producers and can be purchased directly from one of their fair locations during the fair. They also sell their sauce at their offices located at 1110 Hawkins Drive, Elizabethtown, Kentucky, 42701, or certain retail spots such as Boone’s Butcher Shop located in Bardstown, Kentucky. The label states the sauce is Kentucky Pork Producers light thin barbeque sauce. If it is not possible to purchase their product, Mr. Lewis said Sweet Baby Rays original barbeque sauce is a tasty substitute that is used by the Pork Producers from time to time. He suggests thinning the Sweet Baby Rays sauce with a little water before basting the chops.

The Pork Producers place the barbequed chop on a Klosterman white hamburger bun. They expect to sell their usual 25,000 chops during the fair so don’t forget to visit the Kentucky Pork Producers and grab a pork chop sandwich at one of their six locations on the fairgrounds.

Vickie Yates Brown Glisson
Board Member, Frazier History Museum
Guest Contributor

Frazier’s Brian and Stephen to Greet Kentucky State Fair Attendees Friday

The Kentucky State Fair returns to the Louisville Fairgrounds, August 17–27. Two members of the museum’s staff will be there Friday, August 25, spreading the word about the Frazier History Museum—where the world meets Kentucky!

Frazier teaching artist Brian West will be on hand to inform folks about our Unfiltered Truth experience, Black Americans in Bourbon, which highlights the history of African Americans in the Bourbon industry, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Group sales manager Stephen Yates will inform folks of all the ways the Frazier can be a great experience—from individuals and small groups up to motorcoach groups—from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

You can find Brian and Stephen at the Louisville Tourism booth in South Wing B of the Fair and Exposition Center.

Please come by, say hello, and learn about all the fantastic goings on at the Frazier!

Frazier Seeking Fundraising Champions for Give for Good Louisville

Give for Good Louisville, hosted by the Community Foundation of Louisville, is just a few weeks away! On September 14, the Frazier History Museum will participate in one of the biggest days of online giving in the region. And we need your help!

This year, we are raising support for:

• Educational programs, camps, and free family days that serve children and families in our community

• Outreach programs like Stories in Mind that serve residents in long term care facilities

• Care for our growing permanent collection of artifacts significant to Louisville and Kentucky history

Our fundraising goal this year is $10,000, and we are seeking up to 20 Fundraising Champions to raise $500 towards this goal. Do you know 25 people with $20? Becoming a Fundraising Champion is as simple as following this link and clicking “Fundraise,” but we are here to help! If you are interested in being a champion for the Frazier Museum this year, please contact me at hrankin@fraziermuseum.org.

If you cannot volunteer as a fundraising champion, please make your online gift on September 14 here.

We thank you for your support of the Frazier Museum and your participation in this amazing day of giving for our city!

Hayley Harlow Rankin
Sr. Manager of Fundraising

Shared Sundays: Megan Schanie to Lead Tours of the Large and Local August 27

The Frazier has a very deep bench of knowledgeable staff members! So, we’re trying something called Shared Sundays. Each Sunday a different staff member will lead special tours tailored to their interests. In each Monday’s issue of Frazier Weekly look for a quick preview of the coming Sunday’s tours.—Simon Meiners, Communications and Research Specialist

Having worked in education at the Frazier Museum for almost twenty years now, I’ve watched us grow and change into an outstanding museum I’m proud to be a part of. Since my focus is on school and teacher programs, I generally don’t have the opportunity to run public tours—so I’m excited to have the chance this Sunday.

When considering some of my favorite things in the Cool Kentucky exhibition, I realized many of them were some of the largest objects we have on display. Not only do they take up some space, these pieces also pack a punch with fascinating people and stories behind them. We’ll take a look at the boat Tori Murden McClure rowed solo across the Atlantic, a statue created by a local treasure—artist Ed Hamilton—a paddle wheel from the iconic Belle of Louisville, and more.

I hope to see you here!

Megan Schanie
Sr. Manager of Educational Programs

Bridging the Divide

(Un)Known Project to Offer Free Performances of Broken Wings Still Fly

The Frazier History Museum has been a proud partner with the (Un)Known Project to make sure all voices in history are heard. We have an art installation at the Frazier in collaboration with the (Un)Known Project and glass artist Ché Rhodes that reflects on the lives of the enslaved in Kentucky.

We wanted to share another opportunity to learn more about some of those powerful stories, this time monologues based on the narratives of enslaved Kentucky women.

(Un)Known Project co-founder Hannah Drake and Brandi Lashay have co-authored a theatrical experience called Broken Wings Still Fly featuring the voices of hidden heroines.

There are two upcoming performances that are free and open to the public: first, on Saturday, August 26, 6 p.m., at the (Un)Known Project’s On the Banks of Freedom public art installation (located between Ninth and Tenth Streets on the Louisville River Walk); and second, on Saturday, September 23, 6 p.m., at Locust Grove.

Registration is required. You can learn more and RSVP here.

Rachel Platt
VP of Mission