The Kentucky Digital Library has free, online Kentucky obituaries, Kentucky yearbooks, Kentucky newspapers, Kentucky school and university records and photographs, Kentucky history, and more.

Obituaries – Louisville Newspaper Obituary Index 1918–1987 – The following is an index of obituaries published in various Louisville newspapers from 1918-1987.

Newspapers – Asbury Alumni Publications – Asbury University has produced several publications over its history to inform alumni of campus news, graduates’ recent accomplishments, and the institution’s goals and developments. Collections located here include The Alumnus (1950-1970) and The Ambassador (1970-2016).

Newspapers – Asbury University Collegian – Student newspapers at Asbury College began as early as 1915. Filled with lively articles about school events and national issues, this collection of The Collegian contains the following years: 1925-1945, 1978-1982, and 1985-1989. Additional volumes and issues will be added in the near future.

Newspapers – Kenton County Public Library – Northern Kentucky Newspaper Index – Indexed Northern Kentucky Newspapers from 1835-1935 and 1982-Present.

Newspapers – Kenton County Public Library – Northern Kentucky Newspaper Index 1800-1899 – Indexed Northern Kentucky Newspapers from 1835-1899

Newspapers – Marion County Newspapers – Browse issues of the Lebanon Clarion, Marion Falcon, Lebanon Enterprise and more.

Newspapers/Schools – Transylvania University – The Rambler – THE RAMBLER/CRIMSON RAMBLER is a student run newspaper of Transylvania College/University.

Yearbooks – Midway University Yearbook Collection – This is a collection of 33 volumes of the Midway University yearbook, Pathways, published between 1945 — 1999 (Yearbooks were not published every year.). They contain information about school alumnae, traditions, teachers, and administrators and help show how the university changed and evolved over this time period.

Yearbooks – Simmons College KY Yearbooks – This collection contains yearbooks from Simmons College of Kentucky and its previous iterations (ex. Kentucky Normal & Theological Institute, Simmons University).

Yearbooks – Spalding University Yearbook Collection – Yearbooks from Catharine Spalding College (1964-1969) and Spalding College (1970-1972).

Yearbooks – Transylvania University – The Crimson Yearbook – The Crimson Yearbook is published by the students of Transylvania College/University and is a snapshot of campus life for the year it represents.

Yearbooks –Trimble County High School Yearbooks – This collection presents volumes of the Trimble County High School yearbook, known as “The Elbmirt”, which has been issued since 1914. Each volume of The Elbmirt provides information about student life, faculty, and school history for that year. Years covered in this collection include 1914-1920 and 1949-1988.

Yearbooks – West Kentucky CTC – Arrowhead, 1933-1973 – From 1933 to 1973 Paducah Junior College, later Paducah Community College, published an annual yearbook. The yearbooks document the student experience and contain historical information concerning the growth and development of Paducah Junior College. Please be advised that these yearbooks may contain images, language, and themes that may be offensive to some viewers. West Kentucky Community & Technical College does not endorse the content in these items.

Oral Histories – Georgetown College Oral Histories – Interview recordings between students and former students, faculty, and staff of Georgetown College.

Oral Histories – Hazard-Lees Appalachian Oral History Project – Recorded interviews provide a glimpse into the people and places of Eastern Kentucky. Disclaimer: The views expressed in the printed, audio, and digital oral history recordings and transcripts are not necessarily the views of Hazard Community and Technical College or KCTCS.

History – Louisville Free Public Library – 1937 Flood Collection – A collection of reports by various institutions including eyewitness accounts, personal experiences, and services rendered during the January 1937 Ohio River Valley flood. The reports were compiled by librarian Harold F. Brigham of the Louisville Free Public Library. This collection contains stream of consciousness memories, poetry, and detailed data of localities affected. Souvenir photo postcards and picture books of the disaster have also been digitized.

History – Trimble County Public Library – Harlan Hubbard collection – A collection of materials relating to Harlan Hubbard, an artist and author who lived in Payne Hollow, Trimble County, Kentucky. Includes original interviews and photographs taken by Trimble County librarian Louise Ginn.

History – Kentucky Archival Collections – The Kentucky Digital Library brings together a great variety of Kentucky collections, but the Commonwealth is home to other rich repositories. Click for links to other collections.

History/Schools – KYVL – Information Literacy Gallery – A collection of shareable information literacy instruction based on resources available through KYVL, particularly as it applies to students transitioning from K12 to postsecondary education. Resources are tied to state and national information literacy standards.

History/Photographs – UPike – Jenny Wiley Theatre Collection – The Jenny Wiley Theatre Collection consists of images and advertising posters for stage productions.

Histories/Women/Orphan/School – Midway University Historical Documents Collection – This is a collection of digitized histories of Midway University in Midway, Kentucky. It includes the following titles: Kentucky Female Orphan School (K.F.O.S.) Bulletin 1926 — 1972: primary documents published by the Kentucky Female Orphan School that include school announcements, financial gifts, and alumnae announcements. Kentucky Female Orphan School: A History by Harry Giovannoli (1930): a succinct history of the school from its founding to the 1920s. A Study of the Kentucky Female Orphan School by Alberta Luanna Balmer (1942): a master’s thesis from the University of Kentucky Graduate School by the Kentucky Female Orphan School from its founding to the 1940s. Miss Lucy’s Story: As She Saw It by Lucy Peterson (1960): a memoir by Lucy Peterson, a long-term teacher and administrator who was active on campus between 1903 — 1962. Dear Old KFOS by Margaret A. Karsner-Murphy (2018): a memoir by Ms. Karsner-Murphy of her 1935 — 1937 attendance of the Kentucky Female Orphan School.

Photographs – Georgetown – Mayme Davenport Cogar photographs – Tintypes and cabinet card reproductions from the personal collection of Mayme Davenport Cogar. Persons depicted were presumably friends of Miss Cogar while she was a student at Georgetown College ca. 1895.

Photographs – Georgetown College Photo Archive – The Georgetown College Photo Archive contains uploaded photographs that don’t more appropriately fit in another collection. Topics are miscellaneous.

Photographs – Marion Memories – Marion Memories is our online photo database, filled with images either donated by patrons or found in our family files. If you would like your images added to the database, please provide our Reference & Genealogy Librarian Jama Watts with as much information as you can about the individuals in the photos. You can provide the images on CD or thumb drive, via email, or Jama will even scan the photos for you and give you back your originals.

Photographs – Mercer County Public Library Photos – Harrodsburg is the oldest town in Kentucky. This collection depicts some of the people, places and events that have made up the nearly 250 years of Harrodsburg’s history.

Photographs – Midway University Historical Photo Collection – This is a collection of historic photos of Midway University. These photos cover a variety of different subjects and time periods and provide a snapshot into life at Midway University over the last century.

Photographs – Simmons College KY Photographs – A collection of historical photographs from Simmons College of Kentucky.

Photographs/Schools – Transylvania University – Bullock Photograph Collection – This is a collection of photographs taken in and around Lexington and Fayette County, Kentucky.

Photographs/Schools – Transylvania University Campus Building Photos – This is a section of the TUA23 Photography collection representing four boxes of photographs of the buildings that make up Transylvania University.

Photographs/Schools – Transylvania University – Doris Ulmann Collection – A collection of twenty-three photographs of Appalachian people by the WPA photographer Doris Ulmann. She was famous for her portraits.

Photographs/Schools – Transylvania University – J. Winston Coleman, Jr. Photograph Collection – This is a subcollection of photographs from the J. Winston Coleman, Jr. Collection, from the late ninteenth century through the middle of the twentieth century.

Photographs/Schools/Women – Transylvania University- Jane Haselden Papers – Collection of personal papers and photographs of Jane Haselden.

Schools – Centre College – Digital Archives – Founded in 1819 in Danville, KY, Centre College has over 200 years of history is housed in the Centre College Special Collections & Archives in the Grace Doherty Library. The Digital Archives allows you to peruse some of the collections at home.

Schools – Georgetown College Catalogs – This collection contains historic catalogs from Georgetown College. Older issues will often be useful for genealogy research. Information about the programs of study, faculty, administration, tuition costs, rules of conduct, and more can often be found in these volumes.

Schools – Simmons College KY Academic Catalogs – A collection of historical academics catalogs of Simmons College of Kentucky.

Schools – Simmons College KY – Misc. Publications – This collection contains publications related to the history of Simmons College of Kentucky, its founders, administrators, and early faculty, and resources related to African American Life in Kentucky.

Schools – Sullivan University – Includes photos of Sullivan University students and events, academic catalogs, newsletters, and graduation programs.

Schools – Thomas More University – The Bishop Howard – Gregor Mendel Collection – The Thomas More University Bishop William Howard – Gregor Mendel Collection

Schools – Transylvania University – Board of Trustees Minutes – Board of Trustees Minutes for records covering early Nineteenth Century.

Schools – Transylvania University – Historical Medical Theses Collection – The Medical Thesis Collection consists of more than 1,800 theses which were written by Transylvania medical students between 1819 and 1859.

Schools/Books – Transylvania University – Transylvania Related Books and Documents – Transylvania University Related Books and Documents

Schools – Transylvania University – The Transylvanian – The Transylvanian is a literary magazine produced semi-annually by the Student Board of Publications.

Schools – Union College Collection – This collection is a digital record of Union College in Barbourville, KY

Schools – University of Pikeville Archives – This collection contains material related to the history of the University of Pikeville and the Central Appalachian area from which it grew.

African American – Louisville Western Archives (LFPL) – The Reverend Thomas Fountain Blue Papers – The Reverend Thomas F. Blue, the nation’s first African-American to head a public library, was a respected leader in the civic, religious, and educational life of the Louisville black community. This Collection includes handwritten and typed notes, addresses, and articles about library work written and/or presented by Rev. Blue; articles and resolutions about his life and career; photos of Rev. Blue, his staff and his diplomas.

African American – Louisville Free Public Library – Western Archives – Collection of various books, handwritten and typed notes, articles and photographs from the Western African-American Archives.

Books – Transylvania University – Books from Our Special Collections – Books from Our Special Collections.