Tales From The Kentucky Room

Enjoy this discussion of Lexington born Major League Baseball players that was cut from the KY Baseball episode.

Mariam and Wayne discuss the rich history of baseball in Kentucky.

Mariam interviews Dr. Randolph Hollingsworth, Barbara Grygutis and Rob Bolson about their involvement in Lexington’s “Breaking the Bronze Ceiling” monument initiative.

Mariam interviews Ruth Gaylord about her life and work as Lexington Public Library’s first African American librarian.

Brenna Pye guest hosts to celebrate the life of Dr. Mary E. Britton (1855-1925), a passionate advocate for equality, her charitable works, and her professional accomplishments in teaching and medicine.

J.P. Johnson guest hosts to celebrate the life of Dolly Johnson Dandridge (1852-1918), a Kentucky native who was the White House Chef for President Benjamin Harrison, and later a much sought-after chef after her return to Lexington, Kentucky in 1894.

Mariam interviews local author and attorney Peter Brackney about his latest book, The Murder of Geneva Hardman and Lexington’s Mob Riot of 1920.

Mariam discusses the life of Margaret Garner, the real life Kentucky Woman who inspired Toni Morrison’s novel, Beloved. This episode may be difficult for some listeners to hear, listener’s discretion is advised.

Mariam interviews Cindy Heine and Dee Pregliasco from the Kentucky Chapter of The League of Women Voters about the organization’s 100 year history and its current initiatives.

Mariam interviews Shea Simanek Magnuson about the history of women’s suffrage in Kentucky.

Mariam interviews Tom Eblen about the history and personalities surrounding Lexington’s Newspapers.

Mariam interviews Susan Griffith and Vikki Franklin from Eastern State Hospital about the 195 year history of the hospital, and shares stories from contemporary newspaper articles.

Mariam interviews Kentucky native Kevin Lane Dearinger about his forthcoming memoir, Bad Sex in Kentucky, his Broadway career, and his second career in education.

Mariam and Denise discuss the history of the Joyland Amusement Park (1923-1963).

Mariam interviews Wayne Johnson about the colorful life of abolitionist and Ambassador to Russia, Cassius Marcellus Clay (1810-1903).

Mariam interviews Arwen Donahue, visual artist and oral historian, about her 2009 work This is Home Now: Kentucky’s Holocaust Survivors Speak.

Mariam interviews Foster Ockerman, Jr., author of Hidden History of Horse Racing in Kentucky, and President and Chief Historian of the Lexington History Museum about his book and horse racing in Kentucky.

Mariam interviews Trevor Claiborn, co-founder of Black Soil: Our Better Nature, about the organization and the history of African American farmers in Kentucky. Trevor also performs as “Farmer Brown tha MC” to attract young people to farming.

Mariam interviews Lucy Jones, founder of the Harry Dean Stanton Festival in time for this year’s festival.

Mariam interviews Wayne Johnson about Lucille Caudill Little's kidnapping in 1979.