Part of our mission at the Frazier is to ignite the human spirit; another is to bridge divides when we see them. We have two upcoming programs that I think will do both through stories and song.

We are teaming up once again with Louisville Public Media and WFPK for World Mental Health Day on October 10 to Stop the Stigma. This year, our program will use storytellers and music in partnership with Tales from the Jukebox to perhaps lighten your load just a bit.

Do you have a song that makes you feel lighter? Or a song that takes you back to a certain place and time? After losing my mother this year, my song is “You are my Sunshine,” a family favorite that we sang at the graveside services for each of my parents. For me, that song is a blend of sadness, but at the same time wonderful comfort and connection.

The Frazier’s Andy Treinen and WFPK’s Laura Shine will moderate. Our storytellers and their songs include Steven Michael Carr (“Be My Escape” by Relient K), Sally Evans (“Iris” by Goo Goo Dolls) and MaryLee Camp (“What’s Love Got to Do with It” by Tina Turner). The musical artist is Genevva. The program is free. Click here to register for the October 10 program.

Now to Byron Crawford, considered one of Kentucky’s best storytellers. His decades-long career continues with his Back Page columns in Kentucky Living magazine, now compiled into Crawford’s most recent book. We will feature Byron and his book on October 19 for The Back Page: An Evening with Byron Crawford.

He is a champion for rural Kentucky, capturing its essence through the people and places he has profiled for the Courier Journal, KET, as well as WHAS radio and television.

Crawford’s signature for a while was his camouflage hat that he would wear on TV. Longtime WHAS11 anchor Doug Proffitt talks about Crawford’s impact.

“We couldn’t WAIT to see the hat—the famed camouflage hat,” Proffitt says. “Every night, our family watched WHAS11 News at 6 p.m. And when we saw the hat, we knew what was next. A true Kentucky adventure was on the way, thanks to the words, the humor, the journalism of Byron Crawford, the man wearing the hat, heading down another “side road.” He always made Kentucky special. You wanted to go where Byron had been!”

Buy your tickets and get ready to go where Byron has been. Doug Proffitt is one special guest, and there will be others: another of my former colleagues, Joe Arnold, and I will moderate. This program on October 19 will surely ignite the human spirit.

Rachel Platt
VP of Mission
Frazier History Museum

This Week in the Museum

Curator’s Corner: “Am I Not a Woman & a Sister?” Token, 1838

In recognition of Underground Railroad Month, I’d like to tell you a little more about an object from our collection that has ties to the abolitionist movement.

This token was produced in 1838 and features the image of an enslaved woman bound in chains and encircled with the phrase “Am I not a woman & a sister?” You may recognize this token from a similar one that we had on display in our exhibition What Is a Vote Worth? Suffrage Then and Now.

This image was inspired by a similar token that was popular during the British abolitionist movement. That token was produced around 1787 and features the image of a shackled man with the inscription “Am I not a man and a brother?” The image on our token first appeared in The Liberator, an abolitionist newspaper published in Boston from 1831 to 1865. In The Liberator, the illustration and accompanying article appeared in the “Ladies’ Department” section, a call to women to take action and help educate future generations about the horrors of slavery.

Representations of enslaved women such as this one became a powerful way to encourage more women to join the anti-slavery movement. This image was used on the seal of the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society and was reproduced on tokens like ours. These tokens were sold as a way to raise money for the cause. Women’s anti-slavery groups were some of the first ways that women experienced social activism. Many of the women involved in the abolitionist movement went on to be active in the suffrage movement as well.

Tokens like these are often associated with Sojourner Truth. After escaping slavery with her infant daughter, Truth became a famous anti-slavery activist and orator. Her best-known speech was given at the 1851 Ohio Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio. This speech was later rewritten in a stereotypical Southern dialect and became known as the “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech. Because of the language similar to what can be found on tokens like this one, they are often associated with Truth, though the tokens predate her famous speech.

The Journey, produced by our incredible education department, is an audio tour that can be accessed for free via our website and the Frazier+ app. In this tour, you will learn about Lucie Blackburn, a Kentucky woman who escaped slavery with her husband Thorton via the Underground Railroad. After finally reaching Canada, Lucie and Thorton continued to be active in the anti-slavery movement and even helped house formerly enslaved people who had escaped to Toronto.

You can learn more about the Underground Railroad and other anti-slavery activism in Kentucky by visiting our exhibition The Commonwealth: Divided We Fall.

Amanda Briede
Sr. Curator of Exhibitions

Fall Break Camp, Spooky Saturday, and Axolotl Mascot Boba

JCPS Fall Break is fast approaching! School will be closed for a full week this year, and for three of those days—October 3, 4, and 5—Fall Break Camp at the Frazier will be open. We’re already fifty percent full, so we encourage interested campers to register soon. You can sign up for one day—or all three—as we explore the supernatural, creepy, but not-too-scary stories from history. We’ll look at masks throughout history, and then make some ourselves. We’ll share weird tales of cryptid creatures, lost explorers, and candy pioneers. We’ll have tricks! We’ll have treats! The brave among us will face the Table of Fears! And we’ll fill out the week with spooky-themed games and art activities.

If you need more incentive to register, Fall Break Camp will be your first chance to meet Boba! An adult axolotl, Boba is our new Education Center mascot. Native to Mexico, axolotls are a species of aquatic salamander that keep their distinctive external gills into adulthood. They resemble Kentucky’s mudpuppy, but the two taxonomic families evolved separately and are not related. Superpower fact: axolotls are known for their healing abilities, and can regenerate lost legs, tails, eyes, and even parts of their hearts and brains.

And lastly, save the date! On Saturday, October 21, the Frazier will host a Spooky Saturday Family Day. More details are soon to come, but plan on an afternoon of Halloween-themed fun, including a puppet variety show, ghostly guests, themed crafts, activities, and more. Costumes are encouraged!

Zach Bramel
Manager of Youth & Family Programs

Museum Shop: Y’ALL for Fall

We have the iconic “Y’ALL” gear in the Frazier’s Museum Shop: socks, t-shirts, and now a super soft sweatshirt! It’s available for purchase in the Museum Shop and online.

Brasserie Provence Dinner up for Bid in Frazier Classic Online Auction

Join us for an exciting online auction in conjunction with our upcoming fundraising event, the Owsley Brown Frazier Classic Sporting Clay Shoot. From now until September 29, you have the opportunity to bid on an array of exclusive items and experiences that capture the spirit of Kentucky, including this special dinner:

Southern France Meets Kentucky Bourbon in this pairing of Brasserie Provence and Limestone Branch Distillery. Nothing short of spectacular, Guy Genoud, owner of Brasserie Provence, and Stephen Fante, brand ambassador for Limestone Branch, are creating an evening that will not disappoint.

Chef Patrick Gosden of Brasserie Provence will present a farm-to-table menu designed to pair with Limestone Branch spirits including Bowling & Burch Gin, Yellowstone Bourbon, and Minor Case Rye. This exclusive dinner is scheduled for October 26, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. for a party of four and has been graciously donated by Guy Genoud.

Whether you’re an avid outdoorsperson, a Bourbon enthusiast, or someone who just loves to have a good time, this auction has something for everyone. Plus, every winning bid supports a great cause! Don’t miss out on the chance to participate in this fundraising event.

Bid now and let the excitement begin!

Hayley Harlow Rankin
Sr. Manager of Fundraising

Kentucky Rivalries: Pigskin Prognostication for UK and U of L

Consider this article a “too-early-to-call” prognostication on the season to come for the two major college football programs in the Commonwealth. Though the sample size for both programs is small, it is safe to say that both the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville will experience a season of change during their respective campaigns in 2023.

For the Wildcats and head coach Mark Stoops, this year will be a brave new world. Though it appears the Cats will still field strong special teams play and playmakers on defense like Trevin Wallace, the jury is still out as to whether portal transfer Devin Leary can pace the Cats offense at quarterback. Because, to steal a phrase from one famous coach highlighted in our Kentucky Rivalries exhibition, Will Levis is not walking through that door!

Still, with the return of Liam Coen as offensive coordinator (best wishes to him for a speedy recovery) there remains the hope in BBN that, so long as there is competent QB play, the Cats will remain competitive in the SEC. And the competence will have to be summoned with the quickness.

This week, the Cats will begin SEC play with a home game against Vandy. Then the Cats will face challenging matchups throughout the remainder of the season, with a road game against defending National Champion Georgia in October, a fight on Veterans Day at home against the GOAT Nick Saban and Alabama, and another round of the Kentucky rivalry against “little brother” to end the regular season on November 25.

Speaking of U of L: the honeymoon between the football program and Louisville fans still blooms, even during the waning days of summer. As evidenced by the ease with which the Cards dispatched Murray State the week before last, Cards fans have welcomed a return to form, like the high-octane offensive displays of seasons past. Call it Bobbyball 3.0, if you will. Also, with assurances from the media and the Brohm family that Louisville is the destination for first year head coach and hometown boy Jeff Brohm, there is optimism that the university has finally found the right guy.

Nevertheless, like the cousins to the south, the Cards still have question marks of their own to answer this season. For starters, there is some concern with how transfer Jack Plummer will learn and improve from early season mistakes he has made as the starting QB for Louisville.

Too, Brohm and his coaching staff will have to find a way to improve the Cards’ defense, which—going into the September 16 game at Indiana—gives up 5.3 yards of total offense per play to their opponent. That’s fine, when the Cards are firing on all cylinders on offense—a specialty of Brohm’s. The Cards have averaged 8.1 yards of total offense per play so far this year. But, when a worthy opponent neutralizes that attack, it will be interesting to see if Brohm and the Cards can make the necessary adjustments again to prevail, as they did in their Aflac Kickoff Game opener against Georgia Tech.

And, with a schedule that includes road games against NC State and Miami, and a home schedule filled with tough opponents like #21 Duke (who shocked the college football world by upsetting Dabo Swinney and ACC preseason favorite Clemson on September 4), #9 Notre Dame, and, of course, the Kentucky Wildcats, it is still anybody’s guess how the Cards season will eventually shake out.

But rest assured, come November 25, regardless of win-loss records, there still will be keen interest from both schools in who takes home the Governor’s Cup. And that’s what Kentucky rivalries are all about.

Brian West
Teaching Artist

Get Involved with Tenth Annual Portland Art and Heritage Fair

Coming Saturday, September 23, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., is Portland Museum’s tenth annual Portland Art and Heritage Fair. Come join us for tons of fun, free activities and entertainment at 2308 Portland Avenue!

Founded in 2013 by the dedicated volunteers of Portland’s neighborhood association Portland Now, Inc. (PNI), and carried on by Portland Museum co-director Danny Seim, the Portland Art and Heritage Fair has for ten years now grown into its historic neighborhood’s annual celebration of art, heritage, and community. In honor of this anniversary, and the legacy preceding it, we at Portland Museum are working hard to make this year’s fair our best one yet, collaborating with returning favorites like the Louisville Leopard Percussionists and exciting new partners like the Filson Historical Society. The Leopards will perform live for all fair attendees at 2 p.m., and the Filson is hosting a Portland Neighborhood tour with Seim and third-generation Portlander Edward R. White on Thursday, September 21. For more information on all of the fair’s offerings, visit portlandartfair.com, or continue reading!

Opening as part of the fair will be Made in Portland, an arts exhibition exclusively showing artists with family history, an artist’s studio, or a current residence in Portland! Featured will some of Portland’s most talented neighbors selected by and submitted to Portland Museum’s curators, including high-profile locals such as Ceirra Evans, Stan Squirewell, and John Brooks.

Want to start your fair day off with some exercise? Well come out early for our annual Portland Almost 5K Fun Run at 9 a.m. and a free class from the Kentucky Yoga Initiative at 11 a.m.! Starting in beautiful Lannan Park and racing onto historic Shippingport Island, come set a personal record or enjoy a pleasant walk with your family with the Almost 5K. Winners will receive prizes, but all will receive a relaxed, healthy morning! Sign up now at this link for only $4.99, or almost $5, to secure your racing bib and t-shirt! Following the race will be yoga in Portland Museum’s beautiful front yard completely free of charge and with mats provided. After both activities, Tip It Forward will have their Mobile Wellness Clinic parked at the fair providing free acupressure treatments! A full suite of healthy activities!

Alongside all of this, tabling throughout the entire fair will be local artisans, craftspeople, small businesses, and nonprofits selling goods and running arts workshops. Bring the kids and get creative with activities from the Louisville Academy of Music, the Portland Anchor newspaper, Beech Grove Press, Squallis Puppeteers, Printed Zine, and more!

For more information or to ask any questions, email Portland Museum at info@portlandky.org.

William Smith
Administrative Coordinator, Portland Museum
Guest Contributor

Frazier+ Video of the Week: History of Portland

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

One of the richest histories in the area lies just west of the Frazier in the Portland neighborhood. Portland played a role in shaping the region while also being home to “Kentucky Giant” Jim Porter, the first licensed female steamboat captain, Mary Miller; as well as football’s “Golden Boy,” Paul Hornung. We’ve created this Frazier+ entry to provide guests in the Spirit of Kentucky® exhibition some context about Portland’s role in river commerce.

Mick Sullivan
Curator of Guest Experience

Thank You for Giving for Good!

Thank you to those who showed support for the Frazier Museum last Thursday through generous donations and sharing our organization’s mission. Because of you, we raised nearly $5,000 to support our educational and community outreach programs through an amazing eighty donors!

Every dollar has an impact. $4,860 can sponsor 486 Title 1 students to visit the museum for free. This fund can also allow us to contract artists and facilitators to expand our Stories in Mind program that combats isolation and depression in long-term care facilities through artifact-based engagements. No matter what, this fund will enable us to mean more to more people and increase accessibility to Kentucky’s rich and diverse history.

A special thank you to our top donors of the day: Kerry & Debra Stemler, Ashley and Andrew Noland, Kim Stawski, and Andy Treinen. Thank you for your generosity!

Thank you to all the following individuals for your contributions:

Betty R. Adkins, Bryn Alston, George and Donna Atkins, Theresa Batliner, John Bell, Lisa Benson, Sara Blake, Larry Blandford, Katie Bush, Lori Caloia, Sarah Campbell, Rose Caple, Denise Clayton, Donald and Katherine Corson, Rebecca Fleischaker, David DeSanto, David Dreckman, Ann Ellerkamp, Jerome Finn, Lewis and Ingrid Gentry, Theodore and Judy Gibson, Barbara Graves, Charlie Grizzle, Sandy Gulick, Cheri Hamilton, Bradley and Amy Harlow, Casslyn Harris, John Hayes, Judy Heare, Jane Hermes, Gregg Holtsclaw, Anne Jewell, Meredith Johnson, Linda Johnson, Karen Jones, Stephen Kertis, Kent Klarer, Mary Korfhage, Katherine Lowe, Kate Meador, Josh Miller, Elizabeth Muse, Theodore Myre, Margaret Neithammer, Mike and Holly Norman, William Paine, Curtis Peters, Emilie Pfeiffer, Cindy Phelps, Pam Platt, Rachel Platt, Kim R. Smith, Meghan Randolph, Michael and Hayley Rankin, Lynda M. Robertson, Richard Roley, Ann Schwartz, Anne and David Shaw, Amy Smalley, Cynthia Smith, William A. Stone, Daniel Sturtevant, Brenda Tuckson, Tina Ward-Pugh, Stephen Yates, and several Anonymous donors!

We appreciate you! Thank you for participating in Give for Good Louisville and thinking of the Frazier.

Until next year!

Hayley Harlow Rankin
Sr. Manager of Fundraising

Bridging the Divide

Evita Robinson on NOMADNESS Travel Tribe

The NOMADNESS Travel Tribe is coming to Louisville from September 30 through October 1 with its annual festival, NOMADNESS Fest.

Founder Evita Robinson started the small group for travelers of color in 2011. It has now grown into a 34,000-member community that reaches across the globe.

I talked with Robinson recently to ask her about the festival, cultural and conscious travel, and why Louisville?

Let’s just say Louisville is doing something right, according to Robinson—especially when it comes to tourism.

And she wanted to extend a personal invitation to our readers to get involved in some way with their programming, panel discussions, workshops, and festivities.

The website is nomadnessfest.com.

Robinson didn’t come from a family of travelers but found a sense of freedom each time she hit the road.

Let’s get started with my interview!

Rachel Platt
VP of Mission