PROGRAMS AND WORKSHOPS

PROGRAM FOR TUESDAY, June 12, 2012

Abraham Flexner: The Life, Times, Influence, and Legacy of an Educator by Allen Share. The talk will examine Abraham Flexner's long and distinguished life and will focus on the educator's contributions to and impact upon education, especially medical education, where his vastly influential 1910 report served as a vital catalyst in the emergence of modern medical education. The talk will also examine Flexner's Louisville roots and aspects of his life, his times, his influence, and his legacy.
This program was funded in part by the Kentucky Humanities Council, Inc. and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Dr. Allen J. Share is Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Division of Humanities of the University of Louisville, where he began teaching in the fall of 1974. He is the author of the book Cities in the Commonwealth: Two Centuries of Urban Life in Kentucky, and served an as editor of The Encyclopedia of New York City, The Encyclopedia of Louisville, and The Kentucky Encyclopedia. He is a native of New York City.

PROGRAM FOR TUESDAY, July 10, 2012

The Farnsley-Moremen Families & House presented by Patti Linn.

Riverside Site Manager, Patti Linn, will provide an overview of the history of the property called Riverside, the Farnsley-Moremen Landing, a 300-acre historic site in southwest Louisville located on the Ohio River . The centerpiece of the site is the 1837 Farnsley-Moremen House. The home is named for two families who lived there at two different periods: the Farnsleys and later the Moremens.”

Patti Linn has served as the Site Manager of Riverside, the Farnsley-Moremen Landing since 1994. She has a B.A. in History from Murray State University and an M.A.T. in History from the University of Louisville. She is co-author of the book Riverside: the Restoration of a Way of Life, Exploring the History of a Nineteenth Century Farm on the Ohio River (1999) as well as several other publications about the history of the property.

PROGRAM FOR TUESDAY, August 14, 2012

The 150th Anniversary of the Civil War: How It Is Being Commemorated and Changes from the Civil War Centennial in the 1960s presented by Joseph R. Reinhart.

Joseph R. Reinhart, a retired C. P. A., is a native of Louisville, Kentucky, a graduate of Bellarmine College, and earned a master’s degree from Indiana University. He studied German at the University of Louisville. Joe has been actively researching and writing about the Civil War for the last 17 years. His first book published in 2000 was A History of the 6th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry U.S.: The Boys Who Feared No Noise. His most recent book, A German Hurrah!:Civil War Letters of Friedrich Bertsch and Wilhelm Stängel, 9th Ohio Infantry (2010), was the runner up for the Museum of the Confederacy’s 2010 Founder’s Award for outstanding editing of primary sources. He is also the translator and editor of two other works of translated and edited letters. A fifth book, Yankee Dutchmen under Fire: Civil War Letters from the 82nd Illinois Infantry will be published next year.

Joe has spoken to many Civil War Round Tables, historical societies, genealogical societies (including LGS), and at conferences at the University of Wisconsin (2011) and the University of Louisville (2012). His specializes in Kentuckians and German Americans in the Civil War, and Civil War genealogical research.

PROGRAM FOR TUESDAY, September 11, 2012

Ghosts & Urban Legends: Legendary Tall Tales in Louisville History by Steve Wiser

Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Pope Lick Trestle ‘Goat Man’, and the Seelbach’s ‘Blue Lady’ are some of the captivating surreal stories that Steve will explore in this reality-defying presentation.

Steve Wiser is a lifelong Louisvillian. He graduated from St. Xavier High School, and attended the University of Cincinnati for his architectural training. He is a registered architect and specializes in healthcare design. Steve has served as president of the Louisville Historical League three times, where he still is on the Board of Directors. He also has been president of the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects and has received the Oberwarth Award, which is the highest honor of the Kentucky architect’s association. Steve has written numerous articles for Business First, the Courier-Journal newspaper, and other local publications, as well as several books. His most recent books are “Louisville 2035” and “Louisville Tapestry: People and Places that helped create America’s Most Livable City”. He also is the tour guide at Cave Hill Cemetery. Steve Wiser is married with two children.

WORKSHOP FOR TUESDAY, June 26, 2012

Betty Darnell will present Completing and Documenting Your Ancestor Chart: step-by-step, beginning with yourself, gathering and recording the documentation as you go.

Betty Darnell is currently editor of the quarterly publication for the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, president of the Spencer County Historical and Genealogical Society, and member of other societies in Kentucky and Missouri. Betty teaches, lectures, and writes about Kentucky and Missouri county records, and family books. She is currently contributing record abstracts for society publications of Bullitt County, Spencer County, Nelson County, and Louisville.

WORKSHOP FOR TUESDAY, July 24, 2012
Anniversary Luncheon being held at Woodhaven Country Club. Click here for complete information and a registration form.

Ron Bryant will delve into The Truth About Celtic Sex.

Ron Bryant completed his undergraduate and graduate studies in Tudor Stuart England and the ante-bellum American South at Western Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky. Ron and his wife Jane reside in Georgetown, Kentucky.

As an author and editor, Ron has been a major contributor to the Kentucky Encyclopedia, contributor to the Oxford Dictionary of American Biography as well as a contributor to the Encyclopedia of Slavery and the Grolier Encyclopedia on Kentucky History. He has authored a 500+ page book on the bibliography of Kentucky history which was published by the Greenwood Press. Ron has contributed to over 300 articles concerning political history to the Kentucky Gazette newspaper. His "works in progress" include Rare Books of Kentucky, Pictorial History of the Civil War in Kentucky, the Image of Kentucky, the Social and Intellectual History of Kentucky and a Guide to Historic and Genealogical Research in Kentucky. Ron has established a Scholarship Fund in honor of his much respected History professor, Lowell Harrison. He also created the First Families of Kentucky organization. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Waveland Historic Site and as historian for the Kentucky State Parks system.

Ron is a much sought after speaker and successfully links Kentucky history with genealogy. He has spoken at a minimum of 80 civic and patriotic organizations in the last year throughout Kentucky and surrounding states. His knowledge and enthusiasm for Kentucky history and genealogy have resulted in both radio and television appearances as well magazine and newspaper interviews. He has served as an international historical consultant to historians, genealogists, television and radio personalities as well as novelists. Several noted personalities have described Ron as having "impeccable integrity". What that means is that Ron is committed to presenting history exactly as he understands it happened. While what that may mean is that "our personal favorites" may not have behaved in what we consider an acceptable manner, it really means that all the good, the bad, and the ugly have contributed to who and what we are today.

WORKSHOP FOR TUESDAY, August 28, 2012

Nationally recognized American Indian artist, storyteller and musician, Anthony Redfeather Nava will talk about Native Indian culture, focusing on genealogy, history and the movement of Native and Irish people in early America. He will be accompanied by his wife Shannon Nava, state-recognized Irish/American Indian folk artist. The Navas are both of American Indian and Irish descent, Shannon is of Choctaw heritage and Anthony is Keetoowah Cherokee (Western Band) and Pascua Yaqui. During the lecture Shannon will be demonstrating “Crios” weavings, a traditional folk art that derives from the Aran Islands and will also show similarities of foot coverings of the American Indian and the Irish by displaying the traditional footwear “pampooties” that were worn by early Irish and “moccasins” worn by American Indians.

WORKSHOP FOR TUESDAY, September 25

Don Rightmyer will present Early Forts and Stations in Kentucky. This presentation will discuss the early settlement period in Kentucky and the major forts and stations that were established between 1774 and Kentucky statehood. A handout of the talk and recommendations “for further reading” will be provided.

Don Rightmyer is editor of Kentucky Ancestors, the quarterly genealogy publication of the Kentucky Historical Society. He has presented talks on Kentucky history and genealogy topics since 2007 at the Kentucky Historical Society, the FGS and NGS national conferences, and at various locations throughout the state.

WORKSHOP FOR TUESDAY, October 23

“Dancing With Your Family Skeletons” presented by Susan Covey. Cases of divorce, suicide, illegitimacy, insanity, and criminal activity do shake the ancestral tree! Looking for black sheep ancestors and exploring family secrets is a significant but often overlooked part of family research. Stories about our wayward kin add real color, intrigue, and interest to our genealogy. Sometimes the paper trails they leave are easier to follow than those of our more respectable relatives. So high dive into the generational gene pool, locate, and celebrate your “exceptional” ancestors. Learn how to investigate family mysteries and find skeletons hiding in the genealogy closet by using common and unique sources.

Susan Covey is the keeper of the genealogical flame for her family. An amateur genealogist and self-taught in the field of family history, she has been researching over 25 years. Ms. Covey has a journalism degree from the University of Evansville and has attended the University of Louisville. She is a current board member and past vice president of the Southern Indiana Genealogical Society, a member of the Louisville Genealogical Society, and the National Society Daughters of the Union. Ms. Covey is a 2011 recipient of the Floyd County, Indiana “Gold Leaf Volunteer Award” for her efforts in local genealogy. Susan was born and raised in Indiana. Having lived in the bluegrass state for many years, she is proud to call herself a “born again Kentuckian.”

All regular meetings are at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on the corner of Linn Station Road and Hurstbourne Parkway in Louisville, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.  Caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol are not permitted on the premises.