A Bibliography of Kentucky History
by
Avi Hathor, M. S., M. F. A.
Beach, Damian. Civil War Battles, Skirmishes, and Events in Kentucky. Louisville: Different Drummer Books, 1995.
Boles, John B. Religion in Antebellum Kentucky. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1995.
[Good]
Bradford, John (1747-1830). The Voice of the Frontier: John Bradford's Notes on Kentucky. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1993.
[Interesting]
Brown, John Mason (1837-1890). The Political Beginnings of Kentucky: a narrative of public events bearing on the history of that state up to the time of its admission into the American Union. Louisville: J.P. Morton and Co, 1889.
Butler, Mann (1784-1852). A History of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Berea: Oscar Rucker, Jr, 1969.
[Worthwhile for the early period]
Cavan, Seamus. Daniel Boone and the Opening of Ohio Country. New York: Chelsea House, 1991.
Chinn, George Morgan. Kentucky Settlement and Statehood, 1750-1800. rpt. Frankfort: Kentucky Historical Society, 1975. [Standard History]
Clark, Thomas Dionysius. A History of Kentucky. Lexington: John Bradford Press, 1960.
[Standard reading]
Clark, Thomas Dionysius. Agrarian Kentucky. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1977.
Clark, Thomas Dionysius. Simon Kenton, Kentucky Scout. Ashland: Jesse Stuart Foundation, 1993.
Clark, Thomas Dionysius. The Kentucky. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1992.
[On the history of the Kentucky River - Excellent]
Clift, G. Glenn (Garrett Glenn). Notes on Kentucky Veterans of the War of 1812. Anchorage: Borderland Books, 1964.
Coleman, J. Winston (John Winston). Historic Kentucky. Lexington: Henry Clay Press, 1967.
Coleman, J. Winston (John Winston). Six Sketches of Kentucky: from the pamphlets of J. Winston Coleman, Jr. Lexington: Henry Clay Press, 1995.
Coleman, J. Winston (John Winston). Stage-Coach Days in the Bluegrass: being an account of stage-coach travel and tavern days in Lexington and Central Kentucky, 1800-1900. 1935; rpt., Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1995. [You really should know more about this. Recommended]
Collins, Lewis 1797-1870. History of Kentucky. (Reprint) Berea: Kentucke Imprints, 1976.
[Good for Reference]
Cone, Carl B. The University of Kentucky: A Pictorial History. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1989.
[Nice book]
Cook, Michael. Jefferson County Kentucky Records (5 vols.) Evansville, IN: Cook Publications, 1987.
Coulter, E. Merton (Ellis Merton). The Civil War and Readjustment in Kentucky. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1926.
[Longish. Good if you are interested. The first book on its subject.]
Crismon, Leo T. (1906-1986_. Baptists in Kentucky,1776-1976: A Bicentennial Volume. Middletown: Kentucky Baptist Convention, 1975.
Crowgey, Henry G. Kentucky Bourbon: the Early Years of Whiskeymaking. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1971.
Cunningham, Bill. Castle: The Story of a Kentucky Prison. Kuttawa: McClanahan Publishing House, 1995.
[You probably don't want to spend this much time on a jail, but you might sample a little of it.]
Curry, Howard. High Bridge: A Pictorial History. Lexington: Feeback Printing, 1983.
Davis, William C. The Orphan Brigade: the Kentucky Confederates who couldn't go home. Garden City, N.Y: Doubleday, 1980.
Dick, David. Rivers of Kentucky. North Middletown: Plum Lick Publishing, 2001.
[The man talks too much about himself and not enough about the rivers.]
Dickens, William Earl. United on Mission: a History of the Northern Kentucky Baptist Association (1803-1995). Erlanger: Northern Kentucky Baptist Association, 1996.
Dilts, Bryan Lee. 1890 Kentucky Census Index of Civil War Veterans or their widows. North Salt Lake City: Heritage Quest, 1992.
Dixon, Daniel F. Snow's Pond: the Forgotten Civil War skirmish in Boone County, Kentucky's past. Mt. Vernon, IN: Windmill Publications, 1999.
[Very short. Not well-written, and overpriced.]
Donnelly, Joseph L. Newport Barracks: Kentucky's Forgotten Military installation. Covington: Kenton County Historical Society, 1999.
Ellis, John H (John Hubert). Medicine in Kentucky. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1977.
Ellis, William E (William Elliott). The Kentucky River. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 2000.
Ely, William. The Big Sandy Valley. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1969.
[Well worth reading, especially if you are interested in north-eastern Kentucky. Sketch of Jenny Wiley, whose family the author knew.]
Evans, Herndon J. The Newspaper Press in Kentucky. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1976.
Fox, John (1863-1919). The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come. Mattituck, N.Y: Amereon House, 1976.
[A classic of Kentucky Literature.]
Garnett, James. History of Freemasonry in Kentucky, from 1900 to 1935. S.l. : s.n. 19-.
Giles, Janice Holt. Hannah Fowler. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1992.
[Giles's classic on the Kentucky Shakers]
Giles, Janice Holt. The Kentuckians. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1987, 1953.
Grier, William F. The Five Lives of the Kentucky River. Ashland: Jesse Stuart Foundation, 2001.
Hafendorfer, Kenneth A. Perryville: Battle for Kentucky. Louisville: K.H. Press, 1991.
Hamlett, Barksdale. History of Education in Kentucky. Frankfort: Kentucky Dept. of Education, 1914.
Hammack, James Wallace. Kentucky and the Second American Revolution: the War of 1812. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1976.
Harris, Jack C. The Kentucky Derby. Manketo, MN: Creative Education, 1990.
Harrison, Lowell Hayes. Kentucky's Road to Statehood. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1992.
Harrison, Lowell Hayes. Lincoln of Kentucky. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 2000.
Harrison, Lowell Hayes. The Antislavery Movement in Kentucky. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1978.
Harrison, Lowell Hayes. The Civil War in Kentucky. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1975.
[Have a look if you are interested.]
Hartford, Ellis Ford. The Little White Schoolhouse. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1977.
Henderson, A. Gwynn. Kentuckians Before Boone. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1992.
[OK if you can't do better.]
Henderson, Archibald (1877-1963). The Conquest of the Old Southwest: The Romantic story of the Early Pioneers into Virginia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Kentucky, 1740-1790. 1920; rpt.Spartanburg, S.C: Reprint Co, 1974.
[This is one of those books that everyone refers to. It is well-written, and you will enjoy it whether you know little or much about the subject.]
Hill, West Thompson. The Theatre in Early Kentucky, 1790-1820. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1971.
Hollingsworth, Kent. The Kentucky Thoroughbred. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1976.
Hopkins, James F. A History of the Hemp Industry in Kentucky. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1998.
Horwitz, Lester V. The Longest Raid of the Civil War: Little-known & Untold Stories of Morgan's Raid into Kentucky, Indiana & Ohio. Cincinnati: Farmcourt Publishing, 1999.
[A must if you are a Morgan fan, otherwise you don't need it.]
Houston, Peter (1761-1855). A Sketch of the Life and Character of Daniel Boone. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 1997.
Ireland, Robert M. Little Kingdoms: The Counties of Kentucky, 1850-1891. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1977.
[Have you ever wondered why Kentucky has 120 counties? If you are interested in how and why county government works (or doesn't work) this is the book for you.]
Ireland, Robert M. The County in Kentucky History. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1976.
[More detailed version of the above. Read it if you need to know a lot about the subject.]
Ireland, Robert M. The County Courts in Antebellum Kentucky. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1972.
[More specialised.]
Johnson, E. Polk. A History of Kentucky and Kentuckians: The Leaders and Representative Men in Commerce, and Industry and Modern Activities. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1912.
[Good Reference]
Johnston, J. Stoddard (Josiah Stoddard) (1833-1913). First Explorations of Kentucky: Doctor Thomas Walker's journal of an exploration of Kentucky in 1750, being the first record of a white man's visit to the interior of the territory, now first published entire, with notes and biographical sketch ; also Colonel Christopher Gist's journal of a tour through Ohio and Kentucky in 1751, with notes and sketches. Louisville: J.P. Morton and Company, 1898.
[You will love this.]
Jones, Michael Owen. Craftsman of the Cumberlands: Tradition & Creativity. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1989.
Kentucky Commission on Human Rights. Kentucky's Black Heritage: The Role of the Black People in the History of Kentucky from Pioneer Days to the Present. Frankfort, 1971.
Klotter, James C. History Mysteries: The Cases of James Harrod, Tecumseh, "Honest Dick" Tate, and William Goebel. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1989.
Klotter, James C. Kentucky: Portrait in Paradox, 1900-1950. Frankfort: Kentucky Historical Society, 1996.
[Try this if you have a school report and must have the facts. This is probably the standard history now, but it is not better than Clark's History.]
Lambert, D. Warren (Dean Warren). When the Ripe Pears Fell: The Battle of Richmond, Kentucky. Richmond: Madison County Historical Society, 1995.
Mangum, William Preston. A Kingdom for the Horse. Louisville: Harmony House, 1997.
McCarr, Ken (1903-1977). The Kentucky Harness Horse. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1978.
McConnell, Lela G (Lela Grace) (1884- ). Hitherto and Henceforth in the Kentucky Mountains. 1949.
McDonough, James L. War in Kentucky: from Shiloh to Perryville. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1994.
McNemar, Richard (1770-1839). The Kentucky Revival, or a Short history of the Late Extraordinary out-pouring of the Spirit of God, in the Western States of America. Cincinnati: Art Guild Reprints, 1968.
Merrill, Boynton (1925- ). Jefferson's Nephews: A Frontier Tragedy. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1976.
[Excellent - Shows that in the early period the courts were harder on someone who murdered a slave than at a later period.]
Miles, Jim. Piercing the Heartland: A History and Tour Guide of the Tennessee and Kentucky Campaigns. Nashville, Tenn: Rutledge Hill Press, 1991.
Miller, John Goodrum. The Black Patch War. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1936. Montell, William Lynwood (1931- ). Killings: Folk Justice in the Upper South. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1986.
[Montell is Kentucky's Folklore Laureate]
Moore, Arthur Keister (1914- ). The Frontier Mind. Lexington: University of Kentucky Press, 1957.
[I like this book. I doubt there is anything such as the "frontier mind", but if there is he captures it here.]
Mosgrove, George Dallas. Kentucky Cavaliers in Dixie: The Reminiscences of a Confederate Cavalryman. Jackson, TN: McCowat-Mercer Press, Inc, 1957.
[I loved this book. I would very much like to own an original, or even a copy. Mosgrove rode with Morgan. Basil Duke covered their operations better, but not so romantically.]
Nall, James O. The Tobacco Night Riders of Kentucky and Tennessee, 1905-1909. Kuttawa: McClanahan Pub. House, 1991.
Neal, Julia. The Kentucky Shakers. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1977.
Paine, Thomas (1737-1809). Public Good: being an examination into the claim of Virginia to the vacant western territory, and of the right of the United States to the Same ; To which is added, proposals for laying off a new state, to be applied as a fund for carrying on the war, or redeeming the national debt. Albany, NY: Printed by Charles R. & George Webster, 1780.
Pearce, John Ed. Days of Darkness: The Feuds of Eastern Kentucky. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1994.
Peter, Frances Dallam (1843-1864). Window on the War: Frances Dallam Peter's Lexington Civil War diary. Lexington: Lexington-Fayette County Historic Commission, 1976.
[Not great. Contains some scattered thoughts of a Yankee schoolgirl in Lexington. Caveat lector.]
Quisenberry, Anderson Chenault (1850-1921). Kentucky in the War of 1812. Baltimore: Clearfield, 1996, 1969.
Quisenberry, Anderson Chenault. Revolutionary Soldiers in Kentucky: Containing a Roll of the officers of Virginia line who received land bounties; a roll of the Revolutionary pensioners in Kentucky; a list of the Illinois regiment who served under George Rogers Clark in the Northwest campaign. Also a roster of the Virginia Navy. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co, 1968.
Ramage, James A. Rebel Raider: The Life of General John Hunt Morgan. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1986.
[Recommended.]
Ranck, George Washington (1841-1900). Boonesborough: Its Founding, Pioneer Struggles, Indian Experiences, Transylvania Days, and Revolutionary Annals. 1901; rpt. New York: Arno Press, 1971.
[A Classic on Boonesborough.]
Reinhart, Joseph R. A History of the 6th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry U.S: the boys who feared no noise. Louisville: Beargrass Press, 2000.
Rennick, Robert M. From Red Hot to Monkey's Eyebrow: Unusual Kentucky Place Names. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1997.
Rennick, Robert M. Kentucky Place Names. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1984.
Rice, Otis K. Frontier Kentucky. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1975.
[Covers the period.]
Robertson, James Rood (1864-1932). Petitions of the Early Inhabitants of Kentucky to the General Assembly of Virginia, 1769 to 1792. 1915, rpt., New York: Arno Press, 1971.
[Interesting]
Schumm, William. The Capture of Presley Peek: A Narrative about his Abduction, Captivity and Release 1781-1782. Falmouth, Va: William Schumm, 2000.
[You could do worse than read this.]
Sears, Richard D. Camp Nelson, Kentucky: a Civil War History. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 2002.
Singer, J. W. A History of the Baptist Church at the Stamping Ground, Ky., 1795. Stamping Ground, 1970.
Smith, Z. F. The History of Kentucky: From its Earliest Discovery and Settlement to the present date. Louisville: Prentice Press, 1895.
Stallings, Frank L. Groundbreaking: Northern Kentucky University's First Twenty-five years. Highland Heights: Northern Kentucky University, 1992.
Staples, Charles R (Charles Richard) (1875- ). The History of Pioneer Lexington, 1779-1806. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1996.
Steely, Will Frank. Northern : Birth of a University. Cincinnati, Ohio: Gateway Publishing Company, 1993.
Stone, Richard G. A brittle Sword: The Kentucky Militia, 1776-1912. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1977.
Sulzer, Elmer Griffith. Ghost Railroads of Kentucky. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1998.
Tachau, Mary K. Bonsteel (1926- ). Federal Courts in the early Republic: Kentucky, 1789-1816. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1978.
Talbert, Charles Gano. Benjamin Logan: Kentucky Frontiersman. Lexington: University of Kentucky Press, 1962.
Tanner, John. The Falcon: A Narrative of the Captivity and Adventures of John Tanner/During Thirty Years Residence Among the Indians in the Interior of North America. 1830; rpt. Penguin Books, 2003
[This is worth reading. Highly recommended.]
Tanner, Paul (1912-1997). Toll Roads in Kentucky and Boone County. Ft. Mitchell: Picture This Books, 1993.
[The best book on the subject.]
Tapp, Hambleton. Kentucky: Decades of Discord, 1865-1900. Frankfort: Kentucky Historical Society, 1977.
Taylor, John. A History of Ten Baptist Churches, of which the author has been alternately a member ; in which will be seen something of a journal of the author's life, for more than fifty years. 1823; rpt., Cincinnati: Art Guild Reprints, Inc, 1968.
[A Classic. Taylor has a highly picturesque style that reminds one of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. The best introduction to early religious history in Kentucky. See also the following.]
Taylor, John (1752-1835). Baptists on the American frontier: A History of Ten Baptist Churches of which the author has been alternately a member. Macon: Mercer University Press, 1995.
[Annotated edition by Chester Raymond Young is very well done.]
Taylor, Richard. Three Kentucky Tragedies. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1991.
Thomas, Edison H. John Hunt Morgan and his Raiders. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1975.
Thomas, William Roscoe. Life among the Hills and Mountains of Kentucky. Louisville: Standard, 1930.
[Good]
Towles, Donald B. The Press of Kentucky, 1787-1994. Frankfort: Kentucky Press Association, 1994.
Townsend, William H (William Henry) (1890-1964). Lincoln and the Bluegrass: Slavery and Civil War in Kentucky. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1989, 1955.
Trabue, Daniel (1760-1840). Westward into Kentucky: the Narrative of Daniel Trabue. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1981.
Turner, Fredrick Jackson (1861-1932). The Significance of the Frontier in American History, 1893. [This book was extremely influential in American historiography. This e-text is very well done.]
Webb, Ross A (Ross Allan). Kentucky in the Reconstruction Era. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1979.
Wells, Dianne. Roadside History: A Guide to Kentucky Highway Markers. Frankfort: Kentucky Historical Society, 2002.
Wharton, Mary E. Bluegrass Land & Life: Land, Character, Plants, and Animals of the Inner Bluegrass Region of Kentucky, past, present, and future. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1991.
200 years of the Kentucky Treasury: from John Logan, 1792, to Frances Jones Mills, 1992. Frankfort, 1992.
A Calendar of the Warrents for Land in Kentucky, granted for service in the French and Indian War. Baltimore: Clearfield Company, 1991.
A Kentucky Sampler: Essays from the Filson Club History Quarterly, 1926-1976. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1977.
[The Filson Club is the oldest Kentucky history society.]An Outline of the History of the Church in the State of Kentucky: During a period of forty years, containing the Memoirs of Rev. David Rice, and sketches of the origin and present state of particular churches and the lives and labours of a number of men who were eminent and useful in their day. Cincinnati: Art Guild Reprints, 1968.
Atlas of Historical County Boundaries: Kentucky. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995.
[Essential if you are interested in how the boundaries of our 120 counties changed over time.]
Atlas of Kentucky. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1998. [Very good for geographical information.]
Basic History of the Dinsmore Homestead. Burlington: Dinsmore Homestead Foundation, 1990.
Beginning at 'The Point': A Documented History of Northern Kentucky and environs, the town of Covington in particular, 1751-1834. Park Hills, 1977.
Chronology and Documentary Handbook of the State of Kentucky. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y: Oceana Publications, 1978.
Confederate Soldiers of Kentucky: A Roster of the Veterans, 1861 -1865. Lexington: Stephen D. Lynn, 2002.
Guide to Kentucky Archival and Manuscript Collections. Frankfort: Public Records Division, Department for Libraries and Archives, 1988.
Kentucky Biographical Dictionary: people of all times and all places who have been important to the history and life of the state. New York: Somerset Publishers, 1993.
The Kentucky Encyclopedia. John E. Kleber, editor-in-chief ; Thomas D. Clark, Lowell H. Harrison, James C. Klotter, associate editors. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1992.
[This 1045 page book is worth having on or near your desk if you are interested in Kentucky History.]
Kentucky Soldiers of the War of 1812: With an added index. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co, 1969.
Kentucky; A Pictorial History. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1971. [Good]
Kentucky's Civil War 1860 - 1865: A Comprehensive Guide to Major Battles and historic sites. Owensboro: Progress Printing Inc, 2002.
Made and Bottled in Kentucky: The Story of Bourbon Whiskey. Chicago: Charles Kendrick Cowdery, 1992.
Military History of Kentucky. Frankfort: The State Journal, 1939.
Mountain Music of Kentucky. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, 1996.
The Civil War in Kentucky: Battle for the Bluegrass State. Mason City, Iowa: Savas Publishing Co, 2000.
The Guide to Kentucky Archival and Manuscript Repositories. Frankfort: Public Records Division, Department of Libraries and Archives, 1986.
The Guide to Kentucky Archival and Manuscript Repositories. Frankfort: Public Records Division, Department of Libraries and Archives, 1986.
The Guide to Kentucky Oral History Collections. Frankfort: Kentucky Oral History Commission, 1991.
The Kentucky Book. Louisville: Courier-Journal & Louisville Times Co, 1979.
Travels Through Kentucky History. Louisville: Courier-Journal, Louisville Times, 1976.
Kentucky History