Gallery
Whitley County Coal Miners
African Americans use mining equipment in a Whitley County, Kentucky coal mine circa 1920. This gelatin silver print is from the Willard Rouse Jillson Photo Collection. (Courtesy of Kentucky Historical Society.)
Economics Club
African-American men and women organized a number of different social clubs in the city. In doing so, they established lasting friendships and organized events and programs to benefit the African American community at large. The Economics Club met bi-weekly. Members ate, played games and talked. They also raised money for the needy. The picture includes identifier Lilla Bentley, standing fourth from the left, and others at the club's charity ball in the late 1930s. (Courtesy of Lilla Bentley)
A Protest for Equality
In the 1950s and '60s whites joined African Americans in the struggle for racial equality in Lexington. The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and members of the local chapter of the NAACP were persistent in their efforts to break down racial barriers that had been firmly planted in the community. Sit-ins, stand-ins, and economic boycotts all took place, as well as marches near Main Street stores. Calvert McCann (fourth from the right) participated in the movement and documented it with his camera. (Courtesy of Calvert McCann)
Baptism at Shiloh Baptist Church
Rev. Horace Smth baptized a child at Shiloh Baptist Church on Thomas Street. Reverend Smith was the pastor of the Pilgrim Baptist church on Jefferson Street in Lexington, Kentucky for over 50 years. (Courtesy of Calvert McCann)
Women Activists
African-American women played leadership roles in the Civil Rights Movement throughout Kentucky. In Lexington, Julia Lewis led the local CORE Chapter and Audrey Grevious chaired the Lexington NAACP chapter. Pictured here is Mary Jones, wife of Rev. W.A. Jones, in a line of demonstrators on Main Street, Lexington, Kentucky. (Courtesy of Calvert McCann)
The Hangman's Knot
The Hangman's Knot belonged to Mrs. Rookh Jones, daughter of C. (Professor Bill) Faulkner. When he was a small boy his Father Daniel Boone Faulkner was the mail carrier from Swan Lake, Kentucky. On the day Fitzgerald was to be hanged for killing a white woman Professor Bill had come to town with his father to bring the mail. Jesse Fitzgerald told Mr. Daniel Boone Faulkner to bring him a rope and he would tie him a hangman's knot. Mr. Faulkner went to Cole and Hughes (now the sight of Hobbs Store) to purchase the rope. A great crowd attended the hanging.
American War Mothers Convention
American War Mothers convention was held at the First Baptist church, Clinton Street in Frankfort, Kentucky; no date. First row: 1 - Beulah Watson, 4 - Sallie Fields, 6 - Louise Simpson, 7 - Lucy Harth Smith, 8 - Odessa Hayes; second row: 5 - Beatrice Green, 8 - Evelyn Williams; third row: 8 - Mrs. Andrew Coleman; back row: 2 - Maggie Warren, 3 - Cora Jones Redd. (Courtesy of Kentucky Historical Society.)
Fred Allen's Barbershop on Clinton Street
Fred Allen's Barbershop was located on Clinton Street, Frankfort, Kentucky; no date. Fred Allen (standing alone), Nelson Morton and Bias Graham (cutting hair) are shown. Clinton Street was in the area known as Craw or the Bottom. (Courtesy of Kentucky Historical Society.)
The Odd Fellows Hall, later the American Legion
The Odd Fellows Hall, later the American Legion, at the corner of Clinton and Washington Streets in Frankfort, Kentucky; circa 1910. This view is looking east on Clinton and south on Washington. Ward Apartments also housed the People's Pharmacy in the 1910s. (Courtesy of Kentucky Historical Society.)
Kentucky State University (KSU) Student Science Lab
This photo shows two African-American female students in a science lab in 1980. KSU is located in Frankfort, Kentucky. (Courtesy of Kentucky State University Archives, Paul G. Blazer Library.)
Civil Rights Demonstration
A Civil Rights Demonstration on Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky, 1961. (Courtesy of Calvert McCann)
Consolidated Baptist Church
Reverend W.H. Howard served as pastor of Consolidated Baptist Church from 1944 to 1974 and is pictured on the front row, right, with the choir in the Consolidated santuary in the 1940s. The church was located on South Upper Street in Lexington, Kentucky. (Courtesy of Henrietta Fischer)
The Power of Non-violence
During the Civil Rights Movement in Lexington, pictures or stories of demonstrations were not printed in the local newspaper. Police brutality towards activists was not a significant issue. Still during the 1960s, white pedestrians and drive-by folks were known to heckle protesters. Demonstrators-white and black-were undaunted by their comments. (Courtesy of Calvert McCann)
A Meeting of Coaches and Athletic Directors
Throughout much of segregation, it was against the law for black and white schools to play against one another. African-American coaches formed their own league, the Kentucky High School Athletic League. In 1957, this group merged with the Kentucky High School Athletic Association. Pictured is a gathering of members of the Kentucky High School Athletic League. (Courtesy of Annetta Bibbs).
