Saving Stories

In a special edition of WUKY's Saving Stories Nunn Center Director Doug Boyd shares interviews detailing the stories of two Kentucky couples and one lawyer who were part of the legal fight that led to the Supreme Court–and brought marriage equality to the country. The conversations come from the John G. Heyburn II Initiative for Excellence in the Federal Judiciary Project archived by Anu Kasarabada and the Nunn Center's Outsouth: LGBTQ+ Oral History Project. The interviews are also featured in the latest episode of the Nunn Center's "The Wisdom Project" podcast.

This week on Saving Stories Dr. Doug Boyd, director of the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History in the UK Libraries highlights an interview with Jim Green, the first African-American student-athlete to graduate from UK. In the conversation Green talks about his decision to enroll at the state’s flagship university in the late 1960’s, what it was like competing in the racially-charged Southeastern conference, his role in desegregating the track program, and how he’d like to be remembered by future generations.

In this special MLK Holiday edition of WUKY's Saving Stories, Doug Boyd, director of the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History in the UK Libraries highlights an extraordinary interview with Dr. King from March of 1964. Hear the non-violent advocate and activist at the height of his influence in a one-on-one conversation with Kentucky author Robert Penn Warren discussing the revolutionary nature of the Civil Rights movement and where he thought it should go next.

This month marks the two-year anniversary of the tornadoes that struck and devastated parts of Western Kentucky. On the evening of December 10th and into the next morning, a high EF-4 tornado directly hit the historic downtown center of Mayfield, KY. Of the 74 people who lost their lives in Kentucky that evening, 24 resided in Graves County, where Mayfield is located. In this edition of Saving Stories, center director Dr. Doug Boyd highlights two people who were interviewed in the follow-up round of the Mayfield, Kentucky 2021 Tornado Oral History Project; a partnership with Dr. Rebecca Freihaut. Tanna Thompson and Casey Jones talk about their ongoing struggles and hopes on their long journey of restoration.

December 10 & 11 marked the two year anniversary of the tornadoes that struck and devastated parts of Western Kentucky. On that evening, into the next morning, a high EF-4 tornado directly hit the historic downtown center of Mayfield, KY. Of the 74 people who lost their lives in Kentucky that evening, 24 resided in Graves County, where Mayfield is located. In this edition of Saving Stories, center director Dr. Doug Boyd highlights one of the 22 interviews from the Mayfield, Kentucky 2021 Tornado Oral History Project; a partnership with Dr. Rebecca Freihaut.

October 17 is an important day in the history of WUKY. The station formerly known as WBKY signed on for the first time on October 17, 1940. In 2015 to mark the station's 75th anniversary, we produced a special edition of Saving Stories with Dr. Doug Boyd from the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History in the UK Libraries. By the way the Nunn Center is celebrating it's 50th anniversary in 2023.

WUKY’s award winning history series Saving Stories celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History in the UK Libraries. Alan Lytle and Center Director Doug Boyd reflect on their 15-year radio partnership and talk about one of Doug’s favorite interviews that ‘reaches back almost as far as oral history can possibly reach.’ It’s a 1975 conversation with T.R. Bryant who attended UK in 1902 and talks about campus life at the state’s flagship university around the turn of the century. After graduation Bryant helped establish UK’s Cooperative Extension Service.

To celebrate national ice cream month Dr. Doug Boyd from the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History highlights an interview with Crank And Boom Ice Cream’s Toa Green. The interview is part of the Nunn Center’s Savor: Immigrant Entrepreneur Oral History Project. Green talks about the journey from selling Thai food out of their Lexington restaurant and the decision to switch the business model to their now signature ice creams. Plus, learn about a Kentucky connection to a day and month celebrating this creamy confection.

Today is Memorial Day; a time when we pay tribute to the men and women who paid the ultimate price in defending our rights and securing our freedoms. The Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History in the UK Libraries has a vast collection of stories from military veterans and their families. Center Director Dr. Doug Boyd highlights an interview from 1985 with Kentucky native, Judy Hartline Elbring, a nurse who served two tours in Vietnam. She describes the often gut-wrenching triage process for the wounded and dying, as well as the time she was called upon to help her own brother recover from his combat-related wounds. While he lived, many others didn't come home. We salute those men and women with this segment of our award-winning history series Saving Stories.

WUKY’s award-winning history series Saving Stories celebrates the 50th anniversary of Secretariat’s Kentucky Derby triumph. Nunn Center for Oral History director Doug Boyd shares audio from a 2007 interview with owner Penny Chenery conducted by Kim Lady Smith in which she talks about how the legendary champion eventually captured her heart while captivating the sporting world in 1973.