Modern America was shaped by the Red Scare of the mid-20th century. Last week, New York Times writer Clay Risen sat down with Filson President Patrick Lewis for a discussion on the Red Scare and it's impact on America in the second of three Gertrude Polk Brown lectures this year. #RedScare

The Filson was honored to welcome museum leaders, educators, and officials from 11 African nations as part of the International Visitor Leadership Program. We explored shared global challenges, including sustainability, inclusion, and ethical engagement. #IVLP #GlobalExchange

Exhilarating day @ the bookbinding workshop for Printing Indigenous Community hosted by @filsonhistorical.bsky.social Special thx to Megan Sekulich for sharing art inspired by the myaamia miilhswaakani (Miami lunar calendar) & Kelly Hyberger & @plewishistory.bsky.social for bringing us together!

This Juneteenth, the Filson, the Muhammad Ali Center, and the Association for Teaching Black History in Kentucky, along with Rev. Dr. Kevin Cosby, are celebrating Juneteenth’s meaning as both a commemoration of emancipation and a call for compassion-driven change. #Juneteenth #AliCenter

By winter 1777, Washington had narrowly avoided defeat. King George III faced rising costs and looming French and Spanish support for the rebels. Rick Atkinson explores this pivotal period in The Fate of the Day with Filson's Patrick Lewis. #America250 #americanrevolution #revolutionarywar

Celebrate Dad with a gift that honors the past and inspires the future—a gift membership to The Filson! A Filson membership offers exclusive access to: 📚 Special exhibitions and archives 🎟️ Member-only events and lectures 📰 Award-winning publications buff.ly/SlFnhLU #FathersDay

National Bourbon Day is celebrated annually on June 14th. This year, we want to raise a glass to #ElmerLucilleAllen, who was the first African American chemist at Brown-Forman. Whiskey Row’s Official Bourbon Ambassador interviewed her, watch here: buff.ly/kgTgIOl #NationalBourbonDay #bourbon #ky

The latest Theodore Sedgwick Distinguished Lecture was delivered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation's CEO Carol Quillen. She discussed "How Storytelling Builds a Healthy Democracy". Catch it here: youtu.be/R0_2YGyOApQ?... @savingplaces.bsky.social @filsonhistorical.bsky.social

June is designated Black Music Month, which celebrates African American contributions to the American soundtrack. Jug band music is performed by musicians who perform with ordinary objects. Jug band music is often seen as a precursor to blues music. #blackmusicmonth #jugbandmusic

Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈 Celebrating Kentuckiana's LGBTQ+ history! The Filson is committed to sharing diverse stories of the past. For more on the gay rights movement, see the following collection: buff.ly/H0KYSXw #PrideMonth #LGBTQHistory

Today is Statehood Day! And we want to wish KY a very happy birthday. To learn more about Kentucky’s journey to statehood, check out the Filson’s First American West digital project here: buff.ly/18N6QGr #KY #StatehoodDay Photo courtesy of the Burdorf Family Photograph Collection (010PC42.110)

Panoramic photograph of the Field Artillery Brigade Firing Center at Camp Knox. Headquarters Firing Center, 24th Field Artillery Brigade, 170th Field Artillery Brigade. 10,000 officers and men made up this picture spelling out "CAMP KNOX."

Join us Thursday for an exciting discovery from Charles Holman as he shares the fruits of his research after digging through records at the Filson, where he made an unbelievable breakthrough in his family's history. buff.ly/5sBqkg1 #Ancestory #AncestoryResearch

Gathering over traditional meals is a powerful way to connect with heritage. In the 1960s, the Lang family hosted Chinese American supper clubs in Louisville, captured in this 1964 Courier-Journal photo. #chineseamericanhistory #foodheritage

#happymothersday from all of us at the Filson. Today, we honor the women who shaped our past, nurtured our communities, and created legacies that continue to inspire. Today, we celebrate mothers' strength, wisdom, and love throughout history.

Fashion met history at this year’s Met Gala, celebrating “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," inspired by Black dandyism. A dandy is someone, often a man, who is extremely devoted to style. #MetGala2025 #BlackStyle

While researching his enslaved ancestors at the Filson, Charles Holman uncovered a shocking discovery that reshaped his family’s history. Join us as he shares this powerful story, revealed through DNA, pension records, and Filson archives. Sign up to hear it here: buff.ly/660r3hT #BlackHistory

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! Henrietta Helm (1865-1942) was one of them in Louisville, Kentucky. Mrs. Helm was one of the first African Americans to receive a public school education in Louisville. Soon after, she became a teacher herself at the Eastern Colored School #TeacherAppreciationWeek

Join us on June 16th for a lecture with Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Rick Atkinson, as he brings to life the epic middle years of the American Revolution. Get your tickets here: buff.ly/UCUBFO3 #RickAtkinson #HistoryLecture #AmericanRevolution

Honoring National Nurses Day with the story of Evelyn B. Smith, a Black Red Cross nurse in WWI-era Louisville. Despite exclusion from most nursing programs, Black women like Evelyn paved the way, joining the Red Cross after a pandemic-driven shortage broke down barriers. #NationalNursesDay

May is AAPI Heritage Month! Explore the life of Roosevelt Chin, a Chinese American from Louisville who dedicated decades to youth work at the Cabbage Patch Settlement House. His story, now digitized (buff.ly/zman7O4 ), honors service, community, and heritage. Who else should we remember? #AAPI

Last week, we opened our closets wide with our newest exhibit, Bustles to Blue Jeans: Highlights from the Filson’s Fashion Archive. We showed off some of our most beautiful garments from the 1810s onward. Bustles to Blue Jeans is now open at the Filson until August 15th! #newexhibit #exhibitopening

The Filson announces the latest update for an IMLS grant-funded initiative.  For more information, click here: buff.ly/ujw7xGa #IMLS

A selection of #derby postcards from our collection. In order: Souvenir of the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY, undated Churchill Downs, Derby Day, Louisville, KY, 1909 Famous Churchill Downs on Derby Day ca. 1900-1908 #kyderby #churchhilldowns #postcards

The #KentuckyDerbyFestival is a Louisville tradition dating back to 1956. Did you know, the first ever #pegasusparade was held on a budget of $640?

“This earth is a fit setting for a noble life, for one of peace and joy.” — Harlan Hubbard. This Earth Day, we’re honoring Hubbard’s connection to nature through some incredible recent gifts to our collection. #EarthDay2025

Wishing everyone luck on their easter egg hunts today. 🐰🐣 #HappyEaster

American beauty standards have historically been based on those of White European women. So how do African American women navigate this and show their true beauty? Last night, our panel discussed how they established themselves in the pageantry circuit in Kentucky. #BlackBeautyQueens

Join us next Thursday for a roundtable discussion organized by Ricky Jones of the Baldwin-King Project. Topics include environmental justice, race, culture, and health. Presented by the Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute. Register for free here: buff.ly/a82HcK7

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Jazz Contemplations with Merton and Me, a concert celebrating Dick Sisto’s 80th birthday and his friendship with Thomas Merton. #Jazz #JazzAtTheFilson #DickSisto #ThomasMerton

Today is #BellBottomsDay! We are bringing you a few, uh, tastefully? #70s outfits. For more fashion throughout #Kentucky history, come to the opening of our newest exhibit, Bustles to Blue Jeans, Friday, April 25th at 5:30pm! buff.ly/gzBjFBh Stay #groovy

Separating fact from fiction. A lot of myths surround the 19th-century socialite, #SallieWard. Last night we debunked a few. But truth is often stranger than fiction, author Ranolph Runyon shared the larger-than-life story of Sallie Ward with us last night. Thank you to everyone who attended.

Join us next Tuesday, April 8th, for an exciting look at Black Women in the Kentucky Pageantry Circuit. Ms. Kentucky USA Ambassador, Andrea Bolden, will host this panel discussion. Sign up here: buff.ly/1MAD1MJ #BlackBeautyQueens

bell hooks was a Kentucky treasure who used her talent to address racism and sexism. hooks wrote essays, poetry, children’s books, scholarly articles, and over 40 books that pricked the hearts and minds of readers. Written by Angela Alexander of #SimmonsCollege Photo courtesy of Berea College

This week in my 📚, reading the advance copy of what has to be another Pulitzer winner. Interviewing him on stage with the @filsonhistorical.bsky.social in June. Make sure you’re there! #skystorians

#ThisWeek at the Filson, join us this Thursday to separate fact from fiction about the charming and reckless Sally Ward. Author Randolph Paul Runyon does much to ground Ward in reality, fact-checking stories and examining his subject in the context of her wealthy family. #SallyWard #KYHistory

Faith Pillow (1954-2003) was a Louisville-born singer-songwriter who performed jazz, rock, folk, and R&B. She recorded her first album in Chicago, then moved to the West Coast but found little success. She later recorded in Amsterdam before returning to Louisville, staying active until her passing.

On this day in 1945, Denise Wolff spoke in #Louisville about her life in France and experiences during both #WorldWars. The Filson has digitized her speech, autobiographies, and records detailing her family’s resilience, loss, and journey to Louisville. Explore more: buff.ly/l3Cr8c3 #OnThisDay

The Filson welcomes Benjamin Moore as its first Director of Guest Experience! Ben is a JCPS alum and UofL McConnell Scholar with nonprofit and government experience. He now leads the new Guest Experience team, uniting events, communications, and visitor services. #NewHire #NewDirector

#ThisWeek at the Filson, a powerful commentary on Mitch McConnell, how he changed American Politics, and ultimately lost his party. See you this #Thursday from 6-7pm. buff.ly/XvvGPmp #ThePriceofPower #MitchMcConnell

Since 1973, The Great Balloon Race has thrilled Louisville. Inspired by it, the Louisville Nimble Thimbles Quilt Guild crafted a quilt for the 1980 Jefferson County Bicentennial, featuring 31 race balloons. See it during Louisville 250 in 2028! #NationalQuiltingMonth #DerbyFestival

Rewatch the latest Sedgwick Lecture with Emily Cherkin on technology and K-12 education on our YouTube. And be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch more replays of our lectures! buff.ly/C5R8Ebq #Subscribe #K12Education #TechInSchools

when they turn the lights on at the silent disco #marchmadness #uofl

Continuing our Women's History Month series with Kiitan Adedeji, Lexington's first Youth Poet Laureate. Thank you to the students at Simmons College for their continued collaboration this month! #Blackwomenwriters #womenshistorymonth Photo courtesy of Carnegie Center - permission from Ms. Adedeji

Children haven’t changed, childhood has. As tech becomes more pervasive, we must consider its impact on kids and learning. Thanks to Emily Cherkin, "The Screentime Consultant," for sharing insights at our Sedgwick Lecture Series! #K12Education #TechInSchools

Next up in our series for Women's History Month is Dr. Estella Conwill Majozo. Majozo is an esteemed author, poet, artist, activist, and a former professor at Simmons College. Simmons College student Sanai Geer brings us her incredible story. #WomensHistoryMonth #WomensHistory #SimmonsCollege

#ThisWeek at the Filson, learn how technology in the classroom can affect the next generation with Emily Cherkin, "The Screentime Consultant." See you in person tomorrow! Register here: buff.ly/HN6qE5r #TechSchools #K12Education

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! We’re serving up an Irish favorite, corned beef and cabbage, from our collection. Photographer H. Harold Davis, known for capturing delicious dishes for the Courier-Journal, likely shot this for a St. Patrick’s Day feature. Explore more of his work online! #StPatricksDay

Calling all #Kentucky #Historians! Do you know this building? Designed by Jasper O. Ward Architects sometime in the 20th century, we believe this building was (and might still be) located somewhere in #KY! Leave a comment down below if you have a guess! #WhatIsThis #WhereIsThis

Meet Nora Fields Blair (1901–1995), a skilled Appalachian seamstress and quiltmaker who supported her family with her craft. She repurposed everyday materials for her quilts, blending resourcefulness and artistry. Learn more in OVH Winter 2024: muse.jhu.edu/issue/53815 #QuiltHistory