Founded in 1780, what would become Transylvania University was established over a decade before Kentucky even became a state. In 1818, Horace Holley—a Yale-educated minister from Connecticut—took over as president of the fledgling institution. Holley attempted to transform the institution, but ran into a host of difficulties. Join us today for a discussion with a former research fellow, who has written a book exploring Holley’s life and the tumultuous time that he spent at Transylvania.

Dr. James P. Cousins is the President of Kentucky Wesleyan College. He holds a PhD from the University of Kentucky and has published widely on the history of education. He co-authored, Collaboration and the Future of Education: Preserving the Right to Think and Teach Historically. A former research fellow at the Kentucky Historical Society, Dr. Cousins will talk to us today about his book “Horace Holley: Transylvania University and the Making of Liberal Education in the Early American Republic,” which he published with the University Press of Kentucky.

Kentucky Chronicles is inspired by the work of researchers worldwide who have contributed to the scholarly journal, The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, in publication since 1903.
https://history.ky.gov/explore/catalog-research-tools/register-of-the-kentucky-historical-society

Hosted by Dr. Allen A. Fletcher, associate editor of The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society and coordinator of our Research Fellows program, which brings in researchers from across the world to conduct research in the rich archival holdings of the Kentucky Historical Society.
https://history.ky.gov/khs-for-me/for-researchers/research-fellowships

Kentucky Chronicles is presented by the Kentucky Historical Society, with support from the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation.
https://history.ky.gov/about/khs-foundation

This episode was recorded and produced by Gregory Hardison, with support and guidance from Dr. Stephanie Lang. Our theme music, “Modern Documentary” was created by Mood Mode and is used courtesy of Pixabay. Other backing tracks are used courtesy of Pixabay or are original compositions by Gregory Hardison.

To learn more about our publication of The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, or to learn more about our Research Fellows program, please visit our website:
https://history.ky.gov/

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