The Whig Party has been largely forgotten today, but prior to the creation of the Republican Party in 1854, it was the main competitor to the Democratic Party. In Kentucky, the Whig Party dominated state politics, as it held the governor’s mansion from 1836 to 1851. In 1848, support from prominent Kentuckians like John J. Crittenden proved crucial to the nomination and election of Zachary Taylor, a man who had himself been raised in Kentucky. Join us today for a talk with a researcher and editor who is leading the project to compile the letters of Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore.

Dr. Michael D. Cohen is the Editor/Project Director of the Correspondence of Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore at American University. He holds a PhD in history from Harvard University. He has published Reconstructing the Campus: Higher Education and the American Civil War. He previously worked on the James K. Polk project at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he served as editor. As part of this project, he helped oversee (and edited) the book: James K. Polk and His Time: Essays at the Conclusion of the Polk Project.

Correspondence of Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore, American University:
https://edspace.american.edu/taylorandfillmore/

Listen to the Kentucky Farm Bureau podcast with Brandon Stephens:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-of-ag-in-kentucky-with-brandon-stephens-kfb/id1743450634?i=1000718979001

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.

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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