Research Guides: Kentucky Writers: Authors of the Bluegrass State: Special Collections at UKY

The Special Collections Research Center

UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collects, preserves, and provides access to materials documenting the social, cultural, economic, and political history of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. SCRC is home to UK Libraries' collection of manuscripts, University of Kentucky archives, rare books, Kentuckiana, the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, the King Library Press, the Bert T. Combs Appalachian Collection, the John G. Heyburn II Initiative for Excellence in the Federal Judiciary, and the Wendell H. Ford Public Policy Research Center.

Research materials in SCRC generally fall into the following categories:

Archives
Rare Books and Print Collections
Images
Oral Histories

How Do I Find Archives Collections?

How Do I Find Oral Histories?

SCRC Links

ExploreUK
Your first stop for discovery of SCRC's archives collections, prints, photographs, maps, manuscripts, streaming video, and more.
Infokat Discovery
Use the UK Libraries' catalog, Infokat Discovery, to find SCRC's rare books and print collections.
Kentucky Digital Newspaper Program
Documents Kentucky’s role in the National Digital Newspaper Program, whose mission is to fund and make available online historic newspapers from all fifty U.S. States and its territories.
Notable Kentucky African Americans Database
Offers biographical and historical information about African Americans in and from Kentucky, including places and events.
SPOKEdb
Database of UK Libraries oral history holdings, including digitized oral histories, transcripts, and interview indexes.
James Still Correspondence Database
Lists letters received by Still and, in some cases, copies of his outgoing correspondence. Entries include such information as the date and place from which a letter was sent, its sender (correspondent), and Still's relationship with that person (when known).
UK Libraries Microfilm Database
Provides access to the University of Kentucky's holdings of microfilm masters, including newspapers as well as other primary sources.
Research Services Account
SCRC's Research Services Account is the key to utilizing the full range of research support services the UK Libraries Special Collection Research Center has to offer.Use your account to access the Breckinridge Research Room for SCRC material use or quiet study, to scan personal research material in the Breckinridge Digital Studio, or to submit scanning orders of SCRC materials.
Special Collections Research Center Home
SCRC Research Services
Breckinridge Research Room
John C. Wyatt Lexington Herald Leader Photographs Collection
John C. Wyatt Lexington Herald-Leader photographs (LHL) consist of an estimated 2 million unique photographic negatives spanning the years 1939-2001.
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The collection also contains associated newspaper clippings, job sheets, and hand-written photographers' notes. The LHL photographs are an unparalleled source of photographic evidence of the many historical, cultural, and industrial changes that have shaped Lexington and its surrounding region. The scope of the collection highlights the day to day activities of Kentuckians. It follows the changing urban landscape of Lexington, the agricultural, tobacco and horse racing industries, key national events such as World War II and Vietnam, as well as notable regional and national figures. It is the most extensive, single collection of still photographic images documenting Lexington's 20th Century history in existence.

Terminology and Historical Sources

You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.

If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.