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?
Harry E. Buckner was a trainer for the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team from 1920-1938. He is included in several pictures of the team. "Doc" is one of…
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James E. Smith, from Louisville, KY, was elected State Representative for the 42nd District, serving 1964-1968, and was a delegate to the 1964…
Regina L. Thomas was born in Clinton, KY. She became the New Jersey Secretary of State in 2002 and served until 2006. She was the first recipient of…
Alston, born in North Carolina, moved to Kentucky with her husband, Virnal J. Alston. It is thought that they were the first African American couple…
Jesse Crenshaw was born in Glasgow, KY. In 1978 he became the first African American lawyer appointed as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern…
Jesse P. Warders was born in Russellville, KY, the son of Pearl Puckett. A 1952 graduate of Indiana University, he was elected Representative of the…
Born in Washington, KY, Andrew Warner was the son of freeman Rueben Warner and Emily Warner, a slave. Andrew was also a slave who escaped to Ripley,…
