♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE LOUISVILLE" -- WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

I'M YOUR HOST, KELSEY STARKS.

THIS WEEK WE EXPLORE THE HISTORY OF LOUISVILLE WITH THE FILSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

NOW YOU COULD CALL THE FILSON LOUISVILLE'S ORIGINAL GOOGLE.

CREATED IN 1884, WITH A MISSION TO COLLECT, PRESERVE AND SHARE THE HISTORY OF KENTUCKY AND THE OHIO VALLEY REGION.

INSIDE THIS HOARK MANSION, YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING FROM DANIEL BOONE'S MANUSCRIPTS TO RARE PORTRAITS AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS, TOO.

ONE OF THE THINGS THE FILSON DOES BEST IS PROVIDE THE RESOURCES TO LET YOU DO YOUR OWN DIGGING IN THEIR MASSIVE ARCHIVES.

EVERYTHING FROM TRACING YOUR GENEALOGY TO RESEARCHING THE HISTORY OF YOUR HOME.

YOU CAN FIND IT AT THE FILSON.

WE UNCOVERED THE FASCINATING HISTORY OF LOUISVILLE'S OWN BUTCHERTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD FOR A RECENT EPISODE OF KENTUCKY LIFE.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE FACTS, AND IN MY OPINION, I THINK BUTCH BUTCHERTOWN IS LOUISVILLE ICE OLDEST IN TACT URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT DATES BACK TO THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE IN THE 1790S BUT REALLY INTO THE EARLY PART OF THE 19th CENTURY SO SLOWLY, AS LOUISVILLE GREW AND EXPANDED, NOT ONLY SOUTH WARD AND WESTWARD, IT EXPANDED EASTWARD AND THAT'S WHERE BUTCHERTOWN THAT WASN'T CALLED BUTCHERTOWN IN THE EARL DAYS, IT DEVELOPED.

>> PEOPLE MOVED FROM DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE UP TO THE OHIO RIVER INTO BUTCHERTOWN IN THE 1830s, 40S, SOLIDLY IN THE 1850s.

THERE IS AN 185 MAP THAT CLEARLY HAS WRITTEN ON IT BUTCHERTOWN AS A NEIGHBORHOOD OF LOUISVILLE.

>> AS LOUISVILLE DEVELOPED.

SLAUGHTERHOUSES WERE NOT ALLOWED IN THE CORE CITY, SO EVEN THOUGH BUTCHERTOWN, THAT NEIGHBORHOOD BECAME PART OF LOUISVILLE, IT WAS ANNEXED BY LOUISVILLE, IT WAS STILL ALLOWED TO HAVE BUSINESSES LIKE SLAUGHTERHOUSES AND BUTCHER SHOPS AND THE SLAUGHTERHOUSES, GIVEN WHAT THEY CREATED, IN THE WAY OF MESS AND DEAD ANIMALS AND ALL OF THAT, THEY WANTED THAT AND THE SMELL, THEY WANTED THAT OUT OF THE CITY.

AND SO AS IT DEVELOPED TO THE EAST, IN 1834, THE BOURBON STOCKYARDS WERE FOUNDED.

AND BEAR GRASS CREEK FLOWED RIGHT THROUGH THAT AREA.

AND IT WAS A VERY GOOD DUMPING PLACE FOR ALL THOSE REMNANTS OF ANIMALS AND WHAT HAVE YOU, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT THAT BEING RIGHT DOWNTOWN.

>> YOU HAD THE SLAUGHTERHOUSES, YOU HAD THE STOCK WARDS AND-- STOCKYARDS AND ALL THE PEOPLE TAKING THE BYPRODUCTS AND MANUFACTURING STUFF TO SELL.

SO WE BECAME A VIABLE COMMERCIAL CENTER.

>> WELL, THE LANDMARKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD INCLUDE SOME OLD INDUSTRIES.

I'M THINKING OF WHERE HADLEY POTTERY USED TO BE.

THAT INDUSTRIAL BUILDING DATES TO THE 1850s.

IN FACT, IT IS SAID THAT IS THE FIRST INDUSTRIAL BUILDING THAT WAS ELECTRIFIED IN LOUISVILLE.

IT IS SAID THAT THOMAS EDISON, WHEN HE WAS WORKING AS A TELEGRAPH OPERATOR IN DOWNTOWN, THAT HE RENTED A HOUSE THERE.

HE CERTAINLY RENTED A HOUSE, AND WE HOPE THAT THAT IS THE HOUSE THAT HE RENTED WHEN HE WAS A TELEGRAPH OPERATOR IN 1866 IN LOUISVILLE BEFORE HE BECAME INTERNATIONALLY FAME US.

>> THEN YOU HAVE THE HIGH GOLD HOUSE, CHRISTIAN HIGHGOLD WAS A GERMAN IMMIGRANT, AND WHEN HE BUILT HIS HOUSE IN THE 1850s, HE KEPT KIND OF IMPROVING ON IT WITH THE FACADE IN WHICH HE CUT STONE INTO LIKE SCULPTURES OF THE BUST OF JAMES BUCHANAN.

AND HE HAD GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVED INTO IT.

AND THE HEIGOLD HOUSE WAS THERE IN BUTCHERTOWN.

THE POINT BUTCHERTOWN AND THE '37 FLOOD AT THAT TIME WAS SO DEVASTATING, THE HEIGOLD ACTUALLY SURVIVED AND THERE IT STOOD AND EVENTUALLY IT WAS RAZEED BUT THE FACADE WAS SAVED BECAUSE IT WAS SO UNIQUE AND SO DIFFERENT.

>> BUTCHERTOWN WAS SIGNIFICANT, ESPECIALLY THE POINT, ESPECIALLY THE POINT, WAS CONSTANTLY VULNERABLE TO FLOOD AND IN THE 1937 FLOOD, BUTCHER TOWN THAT REMAINS, THAT SURVIVES ON THE POINT IS ALMOST ALL SIGNIFICANTLY GREEN SPACE.

THE '37 FLOOD REALLY KIND OF STUNTED, I WOULD SAY, THE VITALITY AND GROWTH OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT FER PRESENT DANGER-- OF THAT EVER PRESENT DANGER OF THE FLOODING, WHEN THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS RAN THE FLOOD WALL BY THE RIVER, THEY ALSO RAN IT RIGHT THROUGH BUTCHERTOWN.

I MEAN IF YOU GO OVER, I'LL SAY LIKE QUINCY STREET IN BUTCHERTOWN, THE FLOOD WALL RUNS DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.

>> I THINK THAT BUTCHERTOWN IS TRULY A LOUISVILLE CENTRIC NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE ARCHITECTUREINGS OLD SCHOOL-- THE ARCHITECTURE IS OLD SCHOOL.

IT'S GREAT.

IT HAS BEEN PRESERVED FOR MOST PART, WHICH HAS BEEN FANTASTIC.

>> IF YOU WORK DOWNTOWN, IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN DOWNTOWN, IF YOU WANT TO GO TO A BASEBALL GAME, IF YOU WANT TO GO TO A SPORTS OR CONCERT VENUE, IF YOU WANT TO ENJOY THE WATERFRONT PARK, IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE WATERFRONT BOTANICAL GARDENS, ALL OF THAT IS LITERALLY WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE.

ALL OF THAT IS LITERALLY IN WALKING DISTANCE.

SO WHY BUTCHERTOWN FOR RESIDENTS, IT IS CLEARLY CONVENIENT TO ALL KINDS OF AMENITIES.

AS TO WHY VISITORS WOULD GO THERE, IT IS THE STORY AND IT'S THE PRESENCE OF HISTORICAL STRUCTURES AND SO YOU HAVE BOTH STORY AND PRESENCE IN THE FORM OF A PEDESTRIAN ACCESSIBLE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW EVERY LOUISVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS ITS OWN FASCINATING HISTORY, AND THE ONE PLACE WHERE YOU CAN FIND ALL OF THAT IS THE FILSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

AND JULIE JAMES IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FILSON, HERE TO TELL US WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

>> GREAT.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> YEAH, THANKS.

>> SO YOU ARE RIGHT.

WE LIKE TO TELL EVERYONE'S STORY AND WE HAVE ONE OF OUR SERIES IS THE NOTABLE LOUISVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

SO WE STARTED OFF THE SERIES WITH THE RUSSELL NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEN WE WENT TO BUTCHERTOWN AND WE HAD A FASCINATING THREE-PART SERIES IN BUTCHERTOWN THAT INCLUDED TOM OWENS AND WE DID AN EXPLORATORY MAP OF THE AREA SO PEOPLE COULD COME BACK AND ENJOY THE RESTAURANTS AND THE SHOPPING AND THE HISTORIC PLACES OF BUTCHERTOWN.

AND THEN WE WENT TO PORTLAND AFTER THAT.

>> IT IS SO INTERESTING BECAUSE EVERY LITTLE PLACE DOES HAVE ITS OWN STORY.

SO TO BE ABLE TO UNCOVER THAT IS TRULY INCREDIBLE.

AND THE FILSON IS ONE PLACE WHERE, IN THIS DIGITAL MEDIA AGE AND GOOGLE AND EVERYTHING, WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO STILL HAVE A PLACE LIKE THE FILSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY?

>> WE, OUR MISSION, IS TO COLLECT, PRESERVE AND TELL THE SIGNIFICANT STORIES OF THE OHIO VALLEY AREA.

AND THAT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE ARE A PLACE WHERE ITEMS CAN BE PRESERVED FOR THE FUTURE.

SO WE-- WE ARE FOUNDED IN 1884, AND WE CONTINUE 140 YEARS LATER.

OUR MISSION IS BASICALLY THE SAME.

SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO PRESERVE THAT LEGACY.

AND SO WE ARE BLESSED THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF DIGITAL ACCESS AS WELL.

BUT THERE IS NOTHING THAT BEATS A PERSON COMING IN ACTUALLY PUTTING THEIR HANDS ON SOME OF THESE OLD MANUSCRIPTS, OR SEEING THE PORTRAITS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COLLECTION.

OR EVEN THE TEXTILES.

AND ONE OF OUR SEMIPERMANENT EXHIBITS, WE HAVE ITEMS THAT REPRESENT OUR COLLECTION ALL THE WAY FROM GUNS TO WEDDING DRESSES AND WE ALSO TELL PEOPLE'S FAMILY STORIES, GIVEN THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE THAT HAS BEEN HANDED DOWN TO US THROUGH THE AGES.

>> AND SO INCREDIBLE WHAT YOU CAN FIND THERE AND YOU MENTION EL GREATING-- CELEBRATING 140 YEARS.

SO THE FILSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY ITSELF HAS QUITE A HISTORY NOW.

SO TELL US PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE GORGEOUS MANSION WHERE IT IS LOCATEED.

>> IN THE MID 1980S, THE FILSON MOVED TO ITS PRESENT LOCATION.

SO WE ARE LOCATED AT 1310 SOUTH THIRD STREET.

AND WE HAVE THE HISTORIC FERGUSON MANSION THAT WAS BUILT IN THE EARLY 1900s IN 2017 WE ADDED ON-- WE DID A RIBBON CUTTING IN 2016 A 20,000 SQUARE FOOT EDITION.

WE GO FROM THIRD STREET TO FOURTH STREET ON OUR CAMPUS.

WE PARTNER WITH EVERYBODY IN THE OLD LOUISVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD.

IN FACT, WE HAVE BEEN ON THE HISTORIC MANSION TOUR, THE HOLIDAY TOUR AND WE SERVE AS THE GATEWAY, IF YOU WILL, TO THE ST. >> ABSOLUTELY.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS PEOPLE CAN FIND HERE?

YOU MENTION BEING ABLE TO THUMB THROUGH MANUSCRIPTS BUT PEOPLE CAN COME HERE AND DO THEIR OWN RESEARCH.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO LOOK AT OUR ARCHITECTURAL RECORDS.

AND THEY WANT TO EXPLORE THE HISTORY OF THEIR HOME, SO WE HAVE A LOT OF THOSE RECORDS.

GENEALOGY IS BIG.

SO PEOPLE ARE, YOU KNOW, EXPLORING THEIR FAMILY TREE.

BUT ALSO MANUSCRIPTS-- WE HAVE PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO LOOK AT OUR COLLECTION.

AND COVID ALSO BROUGHT US A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WE OFFER ABOUT 70 PROGRAMS A YEAR AT THE FILSON, SO MORE THAN ONE A WEEK.

AND WITH COVID, WE SWITCHED TO DOING HYBRID, AND SO AFTER WE CAME BACK IN PERSON, PEOPLE SAID WE REALLY LOVE THE HYBRID OPTION BECAUSE WHAT THAT DID IS IT BROKE DOWN OUR GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES.

PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO COME TO THE FILSON TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAMS.

AS A RESULT, WE SERVE PEOPLE FROM 46 DIFFERENT STATES AND FOUR DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

>> WOW, THAT IS AMAZING.

THERE ARE QUITE A FEW MUSEUMS IN LOUISVILLE.

BUT THAT'S WHAT SETS THE FILSON APART, WOULD YOU SAY THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE BEING ABLE TO DO THAT RESEARCH YOURSELF?

>> I THINK THAT AND OUR ABILITY TO PRESERVE AND STORE ITEMS, AND THE PROGRAMMING THAT WE DO.

WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD A VERY ROBUST PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE, INCLUDING ABOUT THREE OR FOUR TIMES A YEAR, WE BRING IN NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLING AUTHORS TO TALK, AND WE BRING HISTORY TO LIFE.

WE MAKE IT RELEVANT FOR PEOPLE.

>> YEAH, IT IS KIND OF A LOST ART I FEEL LIKE IN THIS GENERATION GOING TO A PLACE AND ACTUALLY LOOKING UP THE RESEARCH, BUT I FEEL LIKE THAT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR THE YOUNGER GENERATION AND EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN LEARN SO MUCH, JUST BY BEING IMMERSEDDED IN IT.

>> IT IS AND WHAT WE FOUND WITH OUR PROGRAMS, THEY'RE INTERACTIVE SO AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM, WE HAVE A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION, AND INVARIABLY SOMEONE BRINGS SOMETHING TO LIGHT THAT CONTINUES THE LEARNING PROCESS.

AND EVEN THE ABILITY TO INTERACT WITH OTHER PEOPLE DURING THE PROGRAM, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE ARE MISSING OUT ON.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

DO YOU HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF THE FILSON TO TAKE PART?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

NO, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A MEMBER.

WE ARE A 501c3 ORGANIZATION, SO WE DEPEND ON MEMBERSHIPS TO HELP US PAY OUR OPERATIONAL BUDGET; HOWEVER, WE DON'T WANT ACCESS TO BE DENIED FOR ANYONE.

SO IF YOU NEED TO COME IN AND DO RESEARCH, THERE IS A NOMINAL FEE, BUT OUR MEMBERSHIP IS ALSO VERY AFFORDABLE.

IT'S $75 FOR AN INDIVIDUAL AND $125 FOR A FAMILY AND THAT IS FOR THE YEAR.

AND THAT INCLUDES TWO PUBLICATIONS THAT ARE QUARTERLY PUBLICATIONS.

BUT, WE ALSO HAVE FILSON FOR ALL SO IF SOMEONE HAS A FINANCIAL NEED, WE CAN PROVIDE A MEMBERSHIP AT NO COST.

>> WOW.

THAT'S GREAT.

IF YOU ARE INTO HISTORY, THAT IS DEFINITELY THE PLACE TO GO.

SO TELL ME MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING FOR THIS BIG 140th ANNIVERSARY.

>> I'M SO EXCITED.

SO WE HAVE A YEAR-LONG WORTH OF ACTIVITIES PLANNED.

AND SO WE KIND OF KICKED OFF THE YEAR WITH A BACK TO THE 80s, BACK TO THE 1980S, A CENTURY LATER PROGRAM.

AND WE HAD DAN GIFFORD CAME IN AND DID SOME PROGRAMS ON THE CULTURE OF THATION, THE MUSIC, THE TV SHOWS, ET CETERA.

AND IT CULMINATED IN A BACK TO THE 80s PARTY SO PEOPLE DRESSED IN PERIOD COSTUME.

WE HAD A DELORIAN CAR PARKED OUT IN FRONT OF OUR CAMPUS.

>> AMAZING.

>> SO EVEN THE NEIGHBORS CAME BY AND ENJOYED TAKING PHOTOS, YOU KNOW, BY THE DELORIAN.

>> BACK TO THE FUTURE.

>> I'M NOT SURE WHO HAD THE MOST FUN: THE PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATED OR OUR STAFF.

>> THAT SOUNDS GREAT.

NOW, THERE ARE SOME OTHER INITIATIVES.

YOU JUST HAD A NEW EXHIBIT PREMIER OF THE KENTUCKY STATE PARKS.

>> YES, WE DID.

WE ARE UPLIFTING OTHER NON-PROFITS AND SO WE HAVE LOOKED AT WHAT OTHER NON-PROFITS ARE CELEBRATING MILESTONE ANNIVERSARIES.

THE STATE PARKS ARE TURNING 100 THIS YEAR.

SO WE DID AN EXHIBIT OPENING AND THAT WILL BE OPEN FOR A FEW MONTHS.

AND WE ARE PROFILING THE FANTASTIC STATE PARK SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE AND THE HISTORY OF THAT AND HOW THE ROADS THAT CAME IN MADE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S ACCESS TO STATE PARKS.

>> INTERESTING.

AND THAT'S NOT THE ONLY ONE.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER NON-PROFITS, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO, GO FIGURE, LOUISVILLE SLUGGER BAT ITSELF, IS ALSO TURNING 140.

>> SHARE THE SAME BIRTHDAY.

WHO KNEW?

>> YES, SO WHEN WE HAVE OUR MAJOR CELEBRATION, WHICH IS GOING TO BE THE FILL SON 140 HERITAGE JUBILEE THAT IS GOING TO BE MAY 18 ARE 10:00 TO 1:00 AND HAVE FOLKS FROM THE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER MUSEUM THERE AND THEY'RE BRINGING THE EQUIPMENT TO MAKE A BAT, LIKE THEY DID 140 YEARS AGO.

>> HOW COOL.

>> AND THEY'RE ALSO BRINGING BATS WITH THEM OF FAMOUS BASEBALL PLAYERS.

SO YOU CAN HOLD A PIECE OF HISTORY IN YOUR HAND AND GET YOUR PHOTO TAKEN WITH IT BUT WE HAVE SEVERAL OTHERS.

THE BELL OF LOUISVILLE IS TURNING 110 AND WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THEM TO DO A ROLLING DOWN THE RIVER CRUISE.

WE ALSO HAVE FREE WEEK DAY TOURS.

YOU MENTIONED THE HISTORIC MANSION.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VERY CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT THE MANSION LOOKS LIKE.

AND WE ARE REALLY BLESSED IN THAT STRUCTURALLY IT WASN'T CHANGED VERY MUCH OVER THE YEARS SO FOR MOST OF ITS LIFE, THE PIERSON FUNERAL HOME WAS IN THERE.

SO MANY OF THE HISTORIC MANSIONS IN THE OLD LOUISVILLE WERE CHOPPED UP INTO APARTMENTS.

THIS ONE WAS NOT.

SO MUCH OF THE FLOORS, THE WALLS, THE LIGHT FIXTURE REMAIN THE SAME.

AND THEN WHEN THE FILL FILSON PURCHASED THE BUILDING IN THE MID 80s, WE WERE ABLE TO GO BACK TO Mrs. FERGUSON, THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE BUILTING BUILDING SHE HAD AN ESTATE AUCTION AND WE BROUGHT BACK SOME OF THE ORIGINAL FURNITURE BACK HOME SO PEOPLE WILL WANT TO COME AND SEE IT.

SO IT'S 2:00 WEEK DAYS AND WE JUST ASK THAT PEOPLE REGISTER.

IT'S FREE.

WE ASK THAT THEY REGISTER ON OUR WEBSITE SO WE KNOW TO EXPECT YOU.

>> GREAT.

IT'S TRULY BEING A PART OF HISTORY.

>> YES.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

WHEN WE CUP BACK, WE ARE-- WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'LL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER INITIATIVES FROM THE FILSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY, THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN INITIATIVE AND ANOTHER ONE FOCUSED ON NATIVE AMERICA.

Dr. PATRICK LEWIS IS THE DIRECTOR OF COLLECTIONS IN RESEARCH AT THE FILSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY, HERE TO TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE NEWEST INITIATIVES AND PROJECTS THERE, THE FIRST THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY INITIATIVE.

TELL US THAT THIS ENTAILS.

>> THIS IS REALLY EXCITING AND WE ARE JUST NOW GOING TO BE HIRING THE LEAD PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THIS PROJECT.

WE KNEW YOU KNOW, GOING INTO THE SUMMER OF 2020 SEEING THE SOCIAL JUSTICE PROTESTS AND THE DEMAND WE EXPERIENCED FROM THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM SCHOOLS AND JUST PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE THAT WERE ASKING THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW DO WE GET HERE WHAT HAS LED US AS A CITY TO THIS POINT, AND YOU KNOW, WE LOOK THROUGH OUR HOLDINGS ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY AND WE ARE VERY PROUD TO BOAST WONDERFUL COLLECTIONS DOCUMENTING COLLECTIONS AND ARTISTS AND FAMILIES, BUT THERE WAS REALLY, WE KNEW THERE WAS MORE THAT WE NEEDED TO GATHER AND SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY SO WE THOUGHT WE REALLY NEED A DEDICATED STAFF MEMBER OR STAFF MEMBERS WHO CAN BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY MAKING THESE CONNECTIONS, BUILDING THESE RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAMILIES, CHURCHES, BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND HELPING THEM PRESERVE AND SHARE THEIR HISTORY.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE THOUGHT ABOUT A COUPLE OF SHORT-TERM THINGS THAT WE COULD DO AND ULTIMATELY DECIDED WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING MORE PERMANENT AND SO THIS INITIATIVE IS BACKED UP WITH A $3.5 MILLION ENDOWMENT.

WE HAVE RAISED $3.4 MILLION OF THAT TO DATE.

SO REALLY CLOSE TO FINISHING THAT UP.

AND THAT ALLOWS US TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT PERMANENT, RIGHT IN SO WE CAN HAVE TIME FOR THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND FOR THAT TRUST TO DEVELOP IN THOSE COMMUNITIES TO START LONG-TERM PERPETUAL PARTNERSHIPS THAT MAKE SURE THAT , YOU KNOW, BLACK HISTORY IS A PERMANENT PART OF EVERYTHING WE DO AT THE FILSON.

>> YOU MENTIONED ONE OF THOSE IS A NEW POSITION YOU ARE CREATING AND WHAT OTHER THINGS DOES THIS ENTAIL?

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

A COMMUNITY GATHERING-- LOUISVILLE HAS A COMPLICATED HISTORY WHEN IT COMES TO RACE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WHAT DOES THIS NEW COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP LOOK LIKE?

>> A LOT OF WAYS, IT'S OPEN ENDED AND BY DESIGN, LETTING THE COMMUNITY GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS , YOU KNOW, REALLY DIRECT WHAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY NEED, YOU KNOW, WHAT STORIES DO THEY WANT TOLD, WHAT DO THEY WANT CELEBRATED, LIFTED UP.

WHERE DO OUR, YOU KNOW, PARTNERS IN GOVERNMENT AND NON-PROFIT BUSINESS COMMUNITY SEE AS OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY NEED MORE RESEARCH AND PERSPECTIVE ON, RIGHT?

WE KNOW THAT NONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT FACE LOUISVILLE TODAY, BE THAT, YOU KNOW, EDUCATION HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, YOU NAME IT, CAME INTO BEING OVERNIGHT.

THESE ARE ALL PROBLEMS WITH HISTORICAL ROOTS, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEM GOING BACK A CENTURY, CENTURY AND A HALF.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, FOR US TO CREATE SMART SOLUTIONS THAT CAN, YOU KNOW, CREATE MORE EQUITY ACROSS THE CITY TODAY, LOOK, WE HAVE TO HAVE A MUCH BETTER HISTORICAL UNDERSTANDING OF.

SO THE PROJECT THAT BUBBLE UP FROM THE COMMUNITY, OUR STAFF MEMBER IS GOING TO BE LISTENING FIRST AND THEN BEING ABLE TO CONNECT THOSE COMMUNITY PARTNERS WITH, YOU KNOW, OUR COLLECTIONS, RESOURCES OUR CONNECTIONS IN THE ACADEMIC WORLD TO CREATE SCHOLARSHIP, OUR CONNECTIONS WITHIN THE ORGANIZATIONAL LANDSCAPE WITHIN THE CITY TO DRIVE SOLUTIONS.

A LOT OF IT IS GOING TO BE VERY WAIT AND SEE BUT IT'S GOING TO BE EXCITING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

>> A NEW CHAPTER FOR THE FILSON.

LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER CHANGES WITH IT COMES TO PROJECTS INVOLVING NATIVE AMERICANS.

NOW THIS GOES BACK TO A 1990 LAW THAT SORT OF JUST COMING TO FRUITION WHICH I FOUND INTERESTING.

>> THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING.

THE NATIVE AMERICAN GRAVES PROTECTION REPATRIATION ACT SIGNED IN 1990, A FEDERAL LAW THAT MANDATED ANY, YOU KNOW, MUSEUM, UNIVERSITY, ANY CULTURAL ORGANIZATION THAT HELD EITHER HUMAN REMAINS FROM NATIVE AMERICANS OR SACRED OR CEREMONIAL OBJECTS TO HAVE INVENTORY THEM, FILE INVENTORIES WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND, IF POSSIBLE, REACH OUT TO THE TRIBAL NATIONS WHO OWNED THOSE THINGS ORIGINALLY, ABOUT OF THEY WERE USUALLY DUG UP OUT OF THE GROUND.

AND WORK TO REPATRIATE THEM.

AND FILSON ENGAGED IN THAT WORK IN THE 90s AND FILED INITIAL INVENTORIES.

BUT THE PROBLEM CAME WITH TRYING TO IDENTIFY WHICH TRIBAL NATIONS SOME OF THESE ANCESTORS OR OBJECTS MIGHT HAVE BELONGED TO.

IN KENTUCKY THAT'S PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE, IN OUR STATE, DO NOT HAVE ANY FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES STILL HERE IN RESIDENCE.

MOST OF THE TRIBAL NATIONS THAT HAD BEEN IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY AND NEIGHBORING STATES, OR OKLAHOMA OR ELSEWHERE, AS THEY'RE POLITICAL ENTITIES RIGHT NOW, THE MAIN POPULATION CENTERS RIGHT NOW, ARE NOT IN THIS STATE.

AND, BECAUSE WE ARE THIS CROSSROADS, GEOGRAPHICALLY HERE ALONG THE OHIO RIVER, YOU KNOW, TRIBAL NATIONS, BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE RIVER, YOU KNOW, WERE PASSING THROUGH AND OCCUPYING THIS LAND AS VARYING TIMES FOR CENTURIES AND SO THE MAP OF WHICH TRIBAL NATIONS NEED TO BE CONSULTED IN KENTUCKY IS INCREDIBLY COMPLEX.

>> ALL OVER THE PLACE.

>> THE CONSULTATIONS THAT WE HAVE ENGAGED WITH HAVE INVOLVED 35 TRIBAL NATIONS ALL TOLD, TO EVEN HAVE THESE INITIAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HERE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE, MUCH LESS THEN MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT SHOULD BE REPATRIATED AND WHERE AND WHOM THAT SHOULD GO BACK WITH.

NOW WE ARE ALSO REALLY HAPPY TO SAY THAT LAST YEAR, WE OPENED UP A SMALL EXHIBIT CALLED KENTUCKY UNSETTLED, THAT TALKS ABOUT THE TRANSITION FROM PARTICULARLY FOCUSING ON DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE, USING AN ARCHEOLOGICAL COLLECTION THAT WAS ESPECIALLY WELL DOCUMENTED ABOUT A CENTURY OLD, PRIMARILY STONE ARROWHEADS POINTS, TOOLS, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

BUT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THE PERSON WHO DUG ALL THOSE THINGS UP, PRECISELY RECORD IT EXACTLY WHERE EACH ONE OF THOSE THINGS WERE FOUND AND DOCUMENT THE MOUND SITES ALL ALONG LOUISVILLE THAT ARE COVERED UP IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.

WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE A BIG MAP AND PLACE THOSE POINTS ON THE MAP EXACTLY WHERE THEY WERE DUG UP.

AND IT JUST BEGS THE OBVIOUS QUESTION ABOUT HOW SIGNIFICANT A NATIVE, YOU KNOW, OCCUPATION SITE THIS WAS, RIGHT?

ANY OF THESE IDEAS THAT, YOU KNOW, KENTUCKY WAS A HUNTING GROUND WITH NO SORT OF PERMANENT RESIDENCE OF ANY OF THESE TRIBAL NATIONS IN THE PAST, ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.

YOU CAN LOOK ON IT ON THE MAP NOW.

WE WERE ABLE TO DEVELOP THAT EXHIBIT WITH CONSULTATION AND INPUT FROM SOME OF THE TRIBAL NATIONS, YOU KNOW, WHO LIVED HERE.

WHO LIVED HERE CENTURIES AGO.

THAT'S OUR NEW MODEL GOING FORWARD.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYTHING WE PUT OUT FOR DISPLAY, ANYTHING WE PUBLISHED, ANYTHING WE PUT ONLINE OR CONSIDER LOANING OUT TO A PARTNER MUSEUM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE CLEARED THAT WITH THE TRIBAL NATIONS.

THAT'S THE BEST PART ABOUT THESE REPATRIATIONS CONVERSATIONS.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT AND I AM PER TIFF, REALLY, FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN WHEN IT COMES TO BOTH INITIATIVES, ABOUT HISTORY AND HOW IT CAN INFORM, HOW OUR PAST CAN INFORM OUR FUTURE.

>> THAT'S THE PRESSING QUESTION IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO AT THE FILSON IS THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE IMPROVE THIS CITY TODAY AND GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE.

WE ARE 140 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR.

WE ARE ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT WHAT OUR NEXT 140 YEARS LOOKS LIKE AND WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY.

YOU KNOW, PART OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY COMES FROM OUR PAST, YOU KNOW, THE FILSON HAS, IN THE PAST, EITHER DELIBERATELY OR UNINTENTIONALLY, NOT COLLECTED, NOT REPRESENTED, NOT SHARED, NOT REPRESENTED, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE STORIES IN THE PAST.

SO PEOPLE CAN LOOK BACK AND SAY, I DON'T SEE MYSELF IN THE HISTORY THAT I LEARNED AS A KID IN SCHOOL.

I DON'T SEE MYSELF IN THE HISTORY THAT I WENT TO A MUSEUM AND LOOKED FOR.

WHERE IS MY STORY?

I KNOW MY FAMILY WAS HERE.

WE HAVE ROOTS HERE.

AND THAT'S A FAILURE OF COLLECTIONS AND THAT'S A FAILURE OF PUBLICATIONS AND THAT'S A FAILURE TO REACH OUT.

AND SO WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT NOW.

AND MAKING SURE THEN THAT NOT ONLY ARE YOU KNOW, WE THE FILSON, AS, YOU KNOW, HOLDING SOME KIND OF MAGICAL AUTHORITY, AS AN ACADEMIC AND PUBLISHING INSTITUTION AND COLLECTING INSTITUTION AND MUSEUM INSTITUTION, WE WANT TO BE THE CONDUIT FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THE DESCENDANTS TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THOSE STORIES AND EMPOWER THEM TO SEE THEMSELVES IN THEIR PAST AND THEN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR STORIES AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE REPRESENTED GOING FORWARD IN OUR COLLECTION.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> YOU CAN WATCH, SHARE AND STREAM THIS EPISODE "INSIDE LOUISVILLE" ANY TIME AT ket.org/"INSIDE LOUISVILLE."

YOU CAN DISCOVER A COUPLE OF LOUISVILLE'S MOST FASCINATING PIECES OF HISTORY FROM THE FILSON, YOU CAN FIND THAT ON INSTAGRAM AT KET IN LOU.

THANKS FOR SPENDING A LITTLE TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE THIS WEEK.

I HOPE WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR INSIDE LOUISVILLE... UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK!

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