Sarahbeth Farabee, head genealogist at the Shelby County Public Library and vice president of the Shelby County Historical Society, shares her passion for genealogy and the extensive resources available at the library's Kentucky Room.

• Started researching family history in her 20s by contacting distant relatives through letters
• Found surprising connections including relation to Francis Scott Key and an ancestor executed after the Battle of Kings Mountain
• Had a spiritual experience visiting her ancestor's pre-Civil War home in Ohio
• Offers free genealogy assistance to Shelby County residents regardless of where their ancestors lived
• The Kentucky Room houses family files, historical maps, newspaper archives back to 1841, and yearbooks
• Library provides free access to Ancestry.com and Newspapers.com for patrons
• Recommends starting research by interviewing older family members before knowledge is lost
• Suggests using Find A Grave, census records, and courthouse archives for research
• The Carnegie Library building (1903) stands on former cemetery grounds with preserved headstones
• Science Hill School for Girls 200th anniversary exhibit available at the Historical Society until year-end

Visit the Shelby County Public Library's Kentucky Room during regular library hours. Though it remains locked to protect rare materials, staff will gladly provide access to anyone interested in exploring genealogical resources.

Send us a text

Do you know someone who would be an excellent guest on Kentucky Hidden Wonders? You can nominate them by filling out the form linked HERE or going to visitshelbyky.com/podcast and scrolling to the bottom of the page.

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is presented by ShelbyKY Tourism.

🥃 Plan a visit to Your Bourbon Destination® at www.visitshelbyky.com. Located in the heart of central Kentucky and less than an hour from Louisville and Lexington, ShelbyKY is the perfect Kentucky getaway. Complete with two great distilleries, action-packed outdoor adventures, and the best vacation rentals near Louisville, put ShelbyKY at the top of your list when planning a Kentucky Bourbon Trail® trip, romantic couples retreat, or a whole-family vacation.

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is hosted by Janette Marson and Mason Warren and edited by Mason Warren.

📲 Follow Kentucky Hidden Wonders:

• facebook.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders
• instagram.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders/
• youtube.com/@KentuckyHiddenWonders

© ShelbyKY Tourism, All Rights Reserved.