The Kentucky African American Encyclopedia Black Life and Culture in the Commonwealth text as a link to the KAAE homepage.

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Did You Know?

Merritt, Mary E.

1881 - 1953

Mary Merritt, who was born in Berea, KY, became the first graduate nurse, black or white, in Kentucky. Miss Merritt helped establish the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses and in 1949 they awarded her the Mary Mahoney Award for distinguished service for her role in desegregating the American Nurses Association.

“Knowing the value of an Encyclopedia, this one will fill a gap in Kentucky history. From the Big Sandy to the Mississippi, the editors have revived the significant contributions and lives of African Americans.” - John Kleber

Editor of The Kentucky Encyclopedia
and The Encyclopedia of Louisville

Woman standing beside car; St. Paul AME Church, Lexington; Marvin and Morgan Smith, nationally famous photographers from Nicholasville

The Kentucky Encyclopedia (1992), The Encyclopedia of Louisville (2002), and the forthcoming Northern Kentucky Encyclopedia have entries on African Americans, but these volumes were not compiled to focus solely on the many topics and issues relative to black life in the bluegrass state. The Kentucky African American Encyclopedia will provide a comprehensive volume of research on the black experience in the Commonwealth. It will include entries on the individuals, events, places, organizations, movements, and institutions which have shaped the state's history since its origins. It will also include topical essays on slavery, education, women, religion, sports, business, and civil rights.