Good Monday morning,

Cheers to the start of another week—and double-cheers to all of you educators out there! Some of you already have a few days of class under your belt, and the rest of you are making final preparations to begin your work with students this week. The Frazier Museum wants to take this opportunity to express to each and every one of you: We see you, we appreciate you, and we acknowledge what you’re doing is important and difficult work.

At a time when the stresses of teaching are pushing many to leave the profession, the Frazier is committed more than ever to supporting and lifting up educators however we can. Most recently, we celebrated our first Refresh at the Frazier: Teacher Appreciation Day in June, offering a day of relaxation and self-care for local educators through free admission combined with refreshments, chair massages, prize drawings, tours, and restorative music sessions. We had a terrific turnout and hope to make this a yearly event.

We are also pleased to offer a wide range of educational programs for the 2022–23 school year. From field trips to outreach, virtual lessons, and travel kits, as well as multiple teacher professional development sessions and The Journey project, there is something for individuals of all ages—both on site and in the classroom. Grant funding is currently available for Title I schools. Educators with Title I schools may contact education@fraziermuseum.org to learn more and arrange a free fall program.

Be sure to read on to hear from curator Amanda Briede about an unusual doll featured in the Civil War gallery of The Commonwealth: Divided We Fall, enjoy a recap of this past Saturday’s Summer Beer Fest at Frazier, view Rachel Platt’s Bridging the Divide interview with barrier breaker and former Deputy Mayor Bill Summers IV, and much more!

This Week in the Museum

Museum Store: Kentucky-themed Children’s Books for Back to School

We have some great Kentucky-centric book suggestions for your family, all of which have a Kentucky focus. Louisville Counts! is filled with beautiful illustrations by Kentucky artists and The Meatshower tells the story of the day meat rained from the sky. It’s beautifully illustrated by a Louisville artist and written by a beloved Frazier staff member, Mick Sullivan. For the board book crowd, Good Night Kentucky has colorful illustrations of our state’s landmarks. The books are available in the Frazier’s Museum Store and online.

Flooding in Eastern Kentucky Prompts Statewide Relief Efforts

Another devastating blow for the Commonwealth, this time in Eastern Kentucky, with flash flooding that has killed more than thirty-five people.

At least sixteen of those people lived in Knott County, four of them siblings who were holding onto a tree with their parents when they were washed away.

I cannot imagine the agony of those parents who had to cling to that tree for several more hours before help arrived.

Photographer Pat McDonogh, who documented the tragedy along with others from the Courier Journal, wrote on his Facebook page: “Here’s to the wonderful people of eastern Kentucky, who with quiet dignity are enduring yet another indignity.”

We wanted to share a few of the CJ photos that captured the utter devastation, the human toll, and the magnitude of the damage.

It will take months, even years, for Eastern Kentucky to rebound, just as it will in Western Kentucky following the deadly outbreak of tornadoes last December.

But through tragedy once again we see such resolve in the people of Kentucky, as we did following the tornadoes—that quiet dignity, as Pat said of residents trying to pick up the pieces.

And who can forget the pictures of those water rescues playing out, another reason to pause and thank the emergency workers for the essential and dangerous jobs they do.

And now, it is our job as fellow Kentuckians to find some way to help our neighbors. It has been heartwarming to see so many spring into action so quickly.

From the city of Louisville to churches, organizations, and individuals gathering water and hygiene items so desperately needed; telethons involving U of L players here locally and the event with UK players at Rupp Arena, which raised a whopping $2.4 million for flood relief—there are roles, big or small, we can all play to help.

The Frazier will donate part of the proceeds from our biggest fundraiser of the year this past weekend to the American Red Cross and flood relief efforts, and there are countless others doing the same.

The state also has the Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund, similar to what it did for tornado relief.

No matter where you choose to donate, we are part of this team in Kentucky, ready to help the wonderful people of Eastern Kentucky, our neighbors.

Breonna Taylor Memorial on Display in West of Ninth

As our West of Ninth: Race, Reckoning, and Reconciliation exhibition nears the end of its year-long run at the Frazier History Museum and closes next month, another chapter opens in the case of Breonna Taylor.

The US Attorney General and the Department of Justice have now filed federal charges against four former and current Louisville police officers, some in connection with serving the warrant that led to the fatal raid.

The memorial that was created and displayed in Jefferson Square Park after her killing is part of the exhibition, on view through Labor Day. It was created as a call for change, a call for justice, and a call to say her name.

Breonna Taylor.

Rachel Platt
Director of Community Engagement

Commonwealth Collection: Civil War-era Child’s China Doll, c. 1860s

It has been really great this summer to watch guests explore our new permanent exhibition The Commonwealth: Divided We Fall. The exhibition is filled with stories, people, and objects—so many, in fact, that we’re focusing on some of our favorites, one at a time. In our new Commonwealth Collection video series, each episode features a different staff member highlighting a single object with insight, background, and detail.

First, curator Amanda Briede shares one of her favorites: an unusual doll in the exhibition’s Civil War gallery.

Kentucky Bourbon Distillery Spotlight: Jim Beam

Graphic for Kentucky Bourbon Distillery Spotlight. Credit: Frazier History Museum.

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

In May of this year, the James B. Beam Distilling Co. cut the ribbon commencing the grand reopening of its guest experiences, welcoming Bourbon enthusiasts back to Clermont. In a heartfelt speech, master distiller Fred Noe surprised the crowd, and his son, by naming eighth-generation Beam family distiller Freddie Noe his co-master distiller. This announcement places Freddie in charge of the newly built innovative distillery that bears his father’s name. The addition of the Fred B. Noe Distillery provides an exclusive place for Booker’s, Baker’s, Little Book, and many other small, limited-release brands—as well as offering a home for Freddie and team to flex their creativity.

As for the main campus, the James B. Beam Distilling Co. home place is back—and it’s bigger, even more beautiful, and as welcoming as ever! With the new tour path that includes a Limestone Rock Waterfall, a comprehensive look at the Bourbon-making process from grain to glass, and many other well-executed experiences—even folks familiar with the Clermont campus have new and exciting offerings to look forward to. “This reimagined experience brings to life the rich stories of America’s first family of Bourbon, the legends and future batches of American whiskey,” Noe said. “Our homestead celebrates the over 225 years of American whiskey history.” The distillery campus offers tours and special events. Keep up with what they have in store at beamdistilling.com.

The distillery isn’t the only new thing in town. The Kitchen Table Restaurant is a welcome addition to the Clermont campus. Recently named as part of Garden & Gun’s “25 Outstanding Restaurants Worth the Drive,” the Kitchen Table is already making waves as the place to be! Start your meal with one of the many delicious cocktails, like a super refreshing Jim Beam Highball. Or if straight pours are more your speed, try one of the various Bourbons by the pour. For your meal, you can choose from a delicious menu of Kentucky-inspired food, including pizza made with the Beam family yeast to create the iconic crust.

We hope to host you soon at the James B. Beam Distilling Co.!

Colonels Dan Issel, Artis Gilmore Help Secure NBA Payouts to ABA Retirees

Kentuckiana-native pro basketball fans of a certain age might have fond memories of watching the Kentucky Colonels play games at the Louisville Convention Center (now called Louisville Gardens) in the late 1960s or Freedom Hall in the early 1970s. Players such as Louis Dampier, Artis Gilmore, and Dan Issel thrilled crowds with their exploits on the hardwood.

These men receive some recognition in the “Competitive Kentucky” section of our Cool Kentucky exhibition, which features a collection of original artifacts—including uniforms, shoes, apparel, a gym bag, a championship trophy, and a book of hand-written box scores—as well as a replica court.

But, it may surprise some to learn that not every ABA star has been as lauded or as successful as Dampier, Gilmore, and Issel in the four decades since the ABA folded in 1976.

As Indianapolis Star sports reporter Dana Hunsinger Benbow writes, in their senior years, some former ABA players have suffered the indignities of not being able to pay their rent, utilities costs, or medical bills. Fans in Indianapolis—having observed this issue and decided to help alleviate it—have established the non-profit Dropping Dimes Foundation.

Led by attorney and longtime Indiana Pacers fan Scott Tarter, the Dropping Dimes Foundation began as a way for Tarter and other fans to provide some support to former ABA players who have fallen on hard times—whether it be getting a star fitted for a new suit or providing funds to pay a bill or two. However, with time being of the essence, and the reality of losing many more former ABA players before they receive their just due, Dropping Dimes aimed for a higher prize: recognition by the NBA itself.

With the help of an advisory board, of which both Issel and Gilmore are members, Dropping Dimes successfully lobbied the NBA to pay “recognition benefits” to 115 former ABA players. On July 12 of this year, the NBA Board of Governors voted to pay $24.5 million to former American Basketball Association players.

Yet, the work still is not done. If you know of a former ABA player who might be in need of assistance, contact Dropping Dimes.

Collections Programs Kick Off With Into the Vault

Over the past year, we have increased the visibility of our permanent collection through our digital platforms, exhibitions, and pop-up activities that have allowed us to share more stories using artifacts often tucked away safely in storage.

After getting our feet wet with gallery activations, regular posts on social media, and articles in Frazier Weekly, on June 18, the collections team welcomed several folks inside the museum’s storage space to experience our first collections-based program, Into the Vault. This program was a special extended tour for Father’s Day weekend that included a tour of The Commonwealth: Divided We Fall and a Craft-Your-Own-Cocktail experience in addition to the opportunity to see many artifacts up close.

Into the Vault guests led by collections manager Tish Boyer view artifacts held in the Frazier Museum storage room, June 18, 2022. Credit: Frazier History Museum.

Collections manager Tish Boyer talked with our groups about early Louisville wrestler Jim Mitchell, nineteenth-century Kentucky fishing reels, historic sets of toy soldiers, Bourbon advertising jugs, and presentation swords. Not only did our guests see many objects that have never been on display, they also learned about how we store them.

As we continue to build collections impact, our team plans to bring more in-person experiences such as workshops, storage tours, and talks to our audiences. In doing so, we aim to make connections in our community both with and through our growing collection of Kentucky history.

If you are interested in attending or learning more about future collections programs, we would love to hear from you! Click here to share your thoughts with us.

2022 Summer Beer Fest at Frazier Brings Community to Main Street

What a weekend!

An enormous amount of work goes into planning and executing an event like Summer Beer Fest at Frazier. For our second annual festival, and the first on Main Street, that work is largely complete. I am eternally grateful to our staff for leading those efforts!

Our team laid the framework for my next level of gratitude to those who attended. Thanks for supporting the work our Frazier family is doing to try to mean more to more people every day!

Volunteers pour samples at Summer Beer Fest at Frazier, August 6, 2022. Credit: Emma Sass.

Vendors line Main Street at Summer Beer Fest at Frazier, August 6, 2022. Credit: Emma Sass.

Festivalgoers chat at Summer Beer Fest at Frazier, August 6, 2022. Credit: Emma Sass.

To our sponsors and our partners in shutting down Main Street for a fundraiser, I hope you are as proud to be a part of the Louisville community as we are.

And while it’s way cool to be building new experiences that add to the culture of our state and invigorate our shared downtown, the biggest impact from this event is on our kiddos.

The Frazier is a non-profit and 100% of the proceeds from this event usually go directly to support the museum’s exhibitions and educational programs, including free or reduced admission for Title I students, the “Let’s Talk: Bridging the Divide” series; summer, fall, and winter camps; family days, and guest engagements such as guided tours and live storytelling.

This year we also donated a portion of the proceeds to the Red Cross of Eastern Kentucky for flood relief. Our neighbors in Eastern Kentucky are hurting and there is an enormous need for immediate support.

It is both heartbreaking to witness the loss and heartening to see the way our fellow Kentuckians rally to support those in need.

Thank you.

Bridging the Divide

Former Deputy Mayor Bill Summers IV on the Past and Future of Louisville

He was one of three recent recipients of the 2022 Keepers of the Dream Freedom Award. The award honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and William “Bill” Summers IV was one of the three community leaders to receive it.

Community service is a family tradition when your last name is Summers. Bill’s dad won the same award back in 1991: He, of course, was so well known for WLOU Radio (The Original Soul of Louisville), but also for walking alongside Dr. King in pursuit of civil rights.

It’s not surprising to know Bill would also be involved in the civil rights movement for open accommodations in Louisville, and was arrested in that struggle. It’s who they are, who they’ve always been.

Bill is a barrier breaker just like his father, and was perhaps best known for his more than twenty years of service as Deputy Mayor of his hometown in the Abramson administration.

Both Summers and Jerry Abramson stay in touch. In fact, they volunteer together once a month at Dare to Care.

I think Summers prefers being behind the scenes, but he was gracious enough to say yes to my interview.

We are after all at a pivotal time in this community, with a mayoral race on the horizon that could define us for years to come.

We talk about politics, race, community, and hope. We had this conversation a couple of weeks ago, before the recent federal charges in the Breonna Taylor case.

Let’s get started.

Rachel Platt
Director of Community Engagement

Staff Picks

Off the Snead Shelves: Poets Laureate Frederick Smock, Ada Limón

Poetry has long been a part of Kentucky’s cultural landscape, from the rolling hills of Eastern Kentucky to the bustling metropolises of Louisville and Lexington. On the Frazier’s Snead Shelves in Cool Kentucky, we feature books by dozens of prolific wordsmiths who’ve shaped the public’s orientation to the surrounding world.

Last month, we were shocked to learn of the unexpected passing of Frederick Smock, who served as Kentucky Poet Laureate from 2017 to 2018. Smock was a fixture in the Louisville community and drew much of his poetic inspiration from his formative years living with his family in the Fern Creek countryside. Additionally, he was an English professor and the director of creative writing at Bellarmine University.

I was fortunate enough to have Frederick Smock as a professor twice during my undergraduate career at Bellarmine. I have fond memories of his classes: He was an incredibly kind professor, who was eager to make poetry accessible for students of any major. I have a distinct memory of him bringing me a newspaper, highlighting an annual Cowboy Poetry Festival that was taking place in the coming months in Nevada. (It’s still on my bucket list to go to the festival one of these years.)

Graphic created as part of a dedication to the life of Frederick Smock, July 18, 2022. Credit: Bellarmine University.

The Bellarmine community, and the Louisville community at large, are grateful for his contributions to Kentucky’s outstanding literary tradition. For Bellarmine’s full dedication to Frederick Smock, click here.

Additionally, another Bluegrass poet made national news last month: Lexington resident Ada Limón was named the twenty-fourth United States Poet Laureate by the Library of Congress. She is the author of six poetry collections and hosts the popular poetry podcast The Slowdown.

When I read her 2015 release Bright Dead Things, I was elated to find so many references to her home in the Bluegrass state. I am a huge fan of the first poem in the collection, “How to Triumph Like a Girl.” I am also eager to pick up her latest release, The Hurting Kind, which came out earlier this year.

For more information about Ada Limón and her work, visit her website here.

As we honor these two incredible poets, I hope more people are inspired to read poetry, and maybe even pick up the pencil themselves. In my Poetry Workshop class with Frederick Smock, I remember him saying, in more or less words: “Poets are people who pay attention.” I hope his words inspire the same curiosity in you they did in me.

To purchase works by Smock or Limón, visit Carmichael’s Bookstore.

EKY Flood Relief Efforts, 1860s Bandaged Soldier China Doll, Poets Laureate Frederick Smock and Ada Limón, and More

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2022 Summer Beer Fest FAQ, Squeeze-bot and Nervous Melvin & the Mistakes Rooftop Sets, Shippingport’s Sally Forth Taproom Afterparty, and More