Tales From The Kentucky Room

Beloved local historian, Yvonne Giles, sits down with Naomi, this month’s guest host, to discuss her research into Lewis and Harriet Hayden and their lives in Lexington. In this double length episode, Ms. Giles tells us about the Hayden’s well-planned escape from slavery in Lexington, how they made it to Boston, and Lewis Hayden’s work as an abolitionist. She also tells us about her work with the Lexington Freedom Train project, and Friends Toward Freedom, which seeks to highlight Lexington’s enslaved persons and their paths to freedom on Kentucky’s Underground Railroad.

Ms. Giles was one of the first in our community to call attention to a lack of local Black history research and education. Her work in local history is so well known that in 2019 the University of Kentucky awarded her an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. Since 2021, the Blue Grass Trust has annually bestowed the Yvonne Giles Award acknowledging contributions to local African American history research. Ms. Giles’ many endeavors have included promoting the celebration of Juneteenth in Lexington. Last year’s Juneteenth celebration included the unveiling of a statue titled “Towards Freedom,” which is the first phase of a monument dedicated to Lewis and Harriet Hayden, and work has begun on the second phase of the park as of September 2026.

David sits down with Dr. Ron Pen, musicology professor and director of the UK John Jacob Niles Center for American Music, to discuss America’s most important and most forgotten composer, Anthony Philip Heinrich. They discuss his musical style, how he came to America and Lexington, Kentucky, specifically, and how his music came to be forgotten.

Patricia Hudson joins David to discuss her acclaimed historical fiction novel Traces. Traces is a retelling of the Boone saga through the eyes of his wife Rebecca, and their two daughters Susannah and Jemima. They talk about the choice to tell the Boone women’s stories through historical fiction, the depth of research that went into the book, and how difficult it can be to trace women’s stories through the historical record. Traces is available for checkout from the library and for purchase from your favorite bookstore.

Patricia is one of the featured speakers at the Kentucky Genealogy and History Conference hosted by Lexington Public Library on August 6th and 7th, 2026. Registration opened for the conference on June 1st, 2026. You can register on the conference website.

David sits down with acclaimed local historian and author Maryjean Wall to talk about her latest book, She’s the Mother of Us All: Sweet Evening Breeze and the Queer Community of Lexington Kentucky. They discuss Sweet Evening Breeze’s influence on Lexington, Kentucky, and how she challenged conventional ideas of who could access and wield power in midcentury Lexington. They also talk about Lexington’s rich queer history, centering especially on the building now known as the Bar Complex. Maryjean’s book is available for checkout from the library, and for purchase from your favorite bookstore. 

Today we’re joined by Keven McQueen to discuss his newest book, The Judge Mulligan Poisoning and Other Historic Lexington Crimes. Keven reads a selection from his book featuring the failed murder trial of Lafayette Shelby, grandson of Kentucky’s first governor Isaac Shelby. He  also highlights his research into the 1890 Louisville tornado, and a favorite Richmond, Kentucky ghost story from his book, Kentucky Book of the Dead. Keven’s books are available for checkout from the library, and for purchase from your favorite bookstore.

Keven McQueen is one of the featured speakers at the Kentucky Genealogy and History Conference hosted by Lexington Public Library on August 6th and 7th, 2026. Registration opens for the conference on June 1st, 2026. You can register on the conference website.

Kevin Lane Dearinger joins us again to talk about his new book, a beautifully put together scrapbook of photos and history of The Opera House. David asks him about the early history of the theater building, and Lexington’s history as a theater town and regional cultural hub. 

At the Lexington Opera House: a Scrapbook 1887-2026 by Kevin Lane Dearinger is available for checkout and for purchase from your favorite bookstore.

Dr. Elizabeth DeWolfe joins us by phone from Maine to discuss her book Alias Agnes: The Notorious Tale of a Guilded Age Spy with David. Alias Agnes is a narrative non-fiction exploring the role of Jane Armstrong Tucker, alias Agnes Parker, and her undercover role in the lawsuit brought by Madeleine Pollard against William C. P. Breckinridge. David and Dr. DeWolfe discuss the backgrounds of both women, how they differed, the results of the trial and how they went about their lives when the trial was over. 

Alias Agnes details the story of Jane Tucker, who took a job as an undercover detective with a ten-week mission. Her target: Madeleine Pollard, former mistress of Congressman William C. P. Breckinridge, whom she had sued for breach of promise when he failed to marry her. Exploring the intricacies of this trial and a scandal that captivated the nation, author Elizabeth A. DeWolfe demonstrates that a shared lack of power did not always lead to alliances among women. DeWolfe uncovers the strategies women used to make their way in the world, drawing parallels between the previously forgotten and incomplete tales of Tucker, Pollard, and the women who testified in the trial—from formerly enslaved persons, to white socialites, to single government clerks, to divorced physicians.

Alias Agnes is available for checkout from the library, and for purchase from your favorite bookstore.

David sits down with Sarah Hubbard, Kentucky Room Manager to talk about exciting updates to the Kentucky Room’s online digital archive. They discuss how to use the archive, and what Sarah’s favorite items in the collection are, plus some upcoming events in the Kentucky Room for 2026.

David sits down with Adam Lewis, local architecture photographer and archivist, to discuss Adam’s popular Instagram account: Southern Country Goodfellow (@southern_country_goodfellow on Instagram). They discuss Adam’s inspiration to start the account, his love of architecture, and how he finds homes to photograph. Adam tells us about his future plans for his photography, and how to get in touch with him if you would like to have your home featured on Southern Country Goodfellow.

David sits down with Dr. Jennifer Cramer, Director of the Appalachian Studies Program at the University of Kentucky and a Professor in the department of Linguistics to talk about the myths and realities of Appalachian Englishes. They talk about her research into dialects in Kentucky and Appalachia and how Appalachian English dialects are similar and different from other American English dialects, and how that influences the ways people think about the region. They also discuss her work with the Kentucky Humanities Council and participation in the Speakers Bureau, a program that provides high-quality speakers to libraries and other non-profits.

Thank you for joining us on Tales from the Kentucky Room this year!