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.