About
There are more notable African Americans with Kentucky roots and ties than any one person knows about. Very little has been written about many of them and it is a challenge to find what was written in the past. For some, their stories have only been told by word of mouth. The Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (NKAA) has been developed as a finding aid to bring together a brief description of pertinent names, places, and events, and to list the sources where additional information may be found. This is not currently an all inclusive database, but we are working toward that goal and suggestions are welcomed.
Did you know?
Birdius Browne was born in Warsaw, KY. He taught in the Mt. Olivet School and was principal of the Melbourne High and Vocational School in Florida.…
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In 1909 Steed, a widow, built the first hotel in Paducah, KY, owned and operated by and for African Americans: The Hotel Metropolitan at 724 Jackson…
Born enslaved in Kentucky, Thomas Harrison escaped to Ohio around 1854 after his two brothers were sold downriver. Harrison ended up in London,…
William H. Fouse was the first African American graduate of Otterbein College in Ohio. He served as principal of William Grant High School in…
Born in Louisville, KY, Spradling owned more real estate in Louisville than any other African American. He was Vice President of the Louisville…
Smith, born in Garrard County, KY, established the information technology firm MAXIMA Corporation in 1978. One of the largest African American-owned…
George Washington Dupee was born in Gallatin County, KY, the son of Cuthbert and Rachael Dupee. When he and his two brothers were being sold as part…
Born in Franklin, KY, J. C. Flippin was the first African American councilman elected to office, in 1977, in Franklin. (Prior African American members…
