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Mariam gives a brief history of the public schools in Lexington and Fayette County.
Check here for your school's list of summer assignments.
Lexington's school system dates back to the city charter of 1831, and it first school opened in 1834. From a single building in 1834 with about 100 students, today the Fayette County Public School system has over 40,000 students and 68 schools and programs. Lexington and Fayette County combined districts in 1968, shortly before the city/county government merger in 1974.
The Lexington Public Library’s Digital Archives provide open access to researchers and students to learn more about the rich history of Lexington and Fayette County. It contains a fraction of the Library’s physical holdings, which are housed and available for reference in the Kentucky Room at the Central Library. New material is being digitized and added constantly, so there's always something new to find.
The archives have a simple keyword search, and it is possible to browse the collections by subject, area, or decade. The Lexington Public Library actively reviews and labels materials in our archives with statements that indicate how you may reuse the images, and what sort of permission, if any, you need to do so. Please check the information for each image to determine its legal status.
The Kentucky Room's collections contain Lexington's residential directories going back over 200 years, and are some of the most useful resources for researchers looking for family information, neighborhood histories, and house histories.
The library has a variety of directories and yearbooks with local information. In the library's current digital collection, there is a selection of residential and street directories, yearbooks, school directories, and organizational directories. These are all fully word-searchable.
Mariam and Wayne discuss the history of Lexington & Fayette County’s merged governments, one of only fifteen merged city-county governments in the United States.
Jamie tells an abridged history of Russell’s Cave, Fayette County’s largest cave.
Until 1974, Lexington and Fayette County had two separate governing bodies. Lexington itself was founded in 1775 and chartered in 1782 by an act of the Virginia General Assembly, since Kentucky itself did not achieve statehood until 1792. Fayette County was formed in 1780, and spanned what is currently about a third of the state, before achieving its current boundary lines in 1799.
The Lexington Fayette Urban County Government became a consolidated government in 1974. The digitized items in this collection are primarily Lexington city documents or merged city-county documents. The earliest digitized item is Lexington’s 1858 city charter and ordinances.
Fayette County churches contain some of the earliest records and information preserved about central Kentucky history. The digital archive contents include church ledgers, minutes, directories, and informational brochures.
Fayette County's buildings contain a great deal of history about the region and its inhabitants.
The Old Kentucky Architecture book by Rexford Newcomb (1940) contains images, details, and some architectural layouts from all around Kentucky, but the Lexington properties include Llangollen (the Dr. John C. Lewis House), the Benjamin Gratz House, Rose Hill, Hopemont, Eothan, Ashland, Mansfield, Helm Place, Carrick House at Whitehall, Morrison College at Transylvania University, the tomb of Gideon Shryock's father Matthew at the Old Episcopal Burying Grounds, Ingleside (listed here as Ingelside), Loudoun House, Botherum, Walnut Hill Church, and the Sexton's Cottage at the Old Episcopal Burying Grounds.
The Court-Houses of Lexington by J. Winston Coleman, Jr. (1937) contains photos and history of Fayette County's four courthouses.
The Illustrated Lexington (1919) has a variety of images, but included are some exterior and interior photographs of downtown Lexington businesses and houses.
Bluegrass Houses and Their Traditions by Elizabeth M. Simpson (1932) contains photos of various Fayette and surrouding county properties, with descriptions of the families, buildings, and contents. The properties include Glendower, Castleton, Eothan, Idle Hour, Maxwell Place, Winton, Elmendorf, Clingendaal, Morrison College, La Chaumiere du Prairie, Scarlet Gate, the Meadows, Lindenhouse, Belair, Mount Brilliant, Coldstream, Hopemont, Bodley House, Roberts House, Woodburn House, Botherum, Greentree, Ingleside, Loudoun, Thorn Hill, Rose Hill (Buckner), Elmwood, Sycamore Park, Walnut Hall, Edwards House, Patchen Wilkes, Hurricane Hall, Forkland, the Old Keen Place, Xalapa, the Ward Place, Calumet, Dunreath, Kilmore, Alleghan Hall, Sumner’s Forest, Stoneley, Rose Hill (Talbert), Helm Place, Castlelawn, Dixiana, Bryan Station, Poplar Hill, Mansfield, Fowler’s Garden, Mount Hope, Hollyrood, and Ashland.
Gratz Park (1983) contains illustrations and brief descriptions of the buildings and features of Gratz Park in downtown Lexington.
The Fayette County Postcard collection contains images of well-known sites in Central Kentucky, such as Keeneland, Transylvania University, Ashland, and many others. The 80 images provide an interesting perspective of Lexington architecture, industry, and culture in the early 20th Century.
Fayette County, Kentucky, has changed enormously since it was created in 1792. This collection contains government documents for the city of Lexington, for Fayette County, and for the merged Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, as well as funeral notices, club directories, scrapbooks, image collections and a history of Lexington Public Library.
741.5 is written and designed by Lexington Public Library staff member Bill Widener. The inaugural issue came out in January 2017. Sub-titled The Comics & Graphic Novel Bulletin of the Lexington Public Library, its intent is to promote new arrivals to the Library's comics collections. 741.5 takes its name from the numeral designation within the Dewey Decimal System that covers comics and cartooning.
All the Library Can Be
The library is essential to a thriving community, ensuring equitable access to information, education, and technology for all. We raise funds to support Lexington Public Library programs, services, and special projects that go beyond what public dollars alone can support.
The Lexington Public Library welcomes your time and talents! There are a number of volunteer opportunities available. Apply now.
New Versailles Road Library Branch to be named Marksbury Family Branch
Lexington, Kentucky (March 9, 2022) – Lexington Public Library and Lexington Public Library Foundation are honored to announce that the Marksbury Family Foundation has committed the lead gift for the capital campaign to rebuild the library branch at the corner of Versailles Road and Village Drive. In recognition of their generosity, the new facility will be named the Marksbury Family Branch when it opens in 2024.
New facility will remain at previous location with a larger footprint and expanded offerings
Lexington, Kentucky (August 18, 2022) – The Lexington Public Library broke ground on a new, significantly larger facility in the former Village Branch location on Versailles Road to better provide for the needs of the neighborhoods it serves. The new branch will reflect the community’s vision for a state-of-the-art community hub, one that offers robust resources and a myriad of program and service offerings. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on Tuesday at a media event featuring Library and City officials.
Grand Opening set for Saturday, March 9
Lexington, Kentucky (January 17, 2024) – Lexington Public Library is proud to announce the Grand Opening of the Marksbury Family Branch of the Lexington Public Library.
Festivities include a Media Day event on Friday, March 8 from 8:30-10am and a Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, March 9 (more details coming soon). The current Village Branch will remain open through 6pm on Friday, February 23.
Thanks for your interest in joining the Lexington Public Library! Your library card is the key to checking out books, downloading audiobooks, taking online classes, and much more. Please check here to find out if you qualify for a library card and how to apply.
Lexington, Kentucky (April 12, 2023) – The Lexington Public Library will be Fine Free for all materials, effective immediately, following a vote at today’s regularly scheduled monthly board meeting. Lexington Public Library customers will no longer incur fines for late, damaged, or lost library materials. Additionally, the Library has forgiven all current, outstanding fines
Lexington, Kentucky (February 1, 2024) – This February, Lexington Public Library is proud to join the nation in celebrating Black History Month, a time dedicated to honoring the achievements, contributions, and rich cultural heritage of African Americans.
Free program being offered at Northside and Village Branches
Lexington, Kentucky (December 20, 2022) – Lexington Public Library announced today that its popular LPL After School program will return in 2023, beginning January 2.
LPL After School is a FREE drop-in program for kids aged 5-12 that takes place after regular school hours, Mondays through Fridays from 4-6pm. The Library, in partnership with God’s Pantry, will provide snacks for all participants as well as STEAM and enrichment activities, homework help, and reading recommendations. And there’s no need to register—just show up!
A book club to discuss literary works by black authors
Lexington, Kentucky (January 16, 2024) – Lexington Public Library is proud to announce their new Black Voices Book Club which is dedicated to discussing literary works by black authors. The Club meets on the third Saturday of each month.
The Lexington Public Library receives most of its operating funds from an Ad Valorem property tax. By State law, the Library receives five cents for every $100 of assessed property value in Lexington and Fayette County.
Friends of the Lexington Public Library provides financial, advocacy and volunteer support to the Library. Shop at the Friends Book Cellar in the Central Library for a great selection of used books, magazines, CDs, DVDs, audiobooks, and vinyl records, all at discounted prices.
Mariam interviews Ruth Gaylord about her life and work as Lexington Public Library’s first African American librarian.
The Bath County Memorial Library was founded in 1949 by the Owingsville Women’s Club, and opened in January, 1950. It expanded into a bookmobile in 1953, and in 1963 moved into the old Farmer’s Bank Building at 24 W. Main St. Community response was high; a 1965 survey showed resident usage at 70%, and the library expanded again in 1996.
Both of those collections are owned by the Bath County Memorial Library, and held in their local history collection.
The Materials Selection Policy was initially adopted February 25, 1987 by the Lexington Public Library Board of Trustees and was revised March 24, 1993. The Materials Selection Policy was updated and renamed the Collection Development Policy which was approved by the Board on January 14, 2009. The Board of Trustees assumes full responsibility for all legal actions which may result from the implementation of any policies stated herein.
The Central Kentucky Cemeteries Maps are powered by Google Maps. Counties include: Fayette, Bourbon, Clark, Garrard, Harrison, Jessamine, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Montgomery, Nicholas, Powell, Scott, and Woodford.
The Lexington Public Library opened a Carnegie library in 1905. It incorporated the collections of the former subscription Lexington Library Company (est.1801) and the former Transylvania Library (est.1795). The library became a free library in 1899, shortly before moving locations. When the city outgrew the Carnegie building, the Central Library was built and it opened in 1989.
The system contains six branch locations. The largest is the Central Library, located on E. Main St. The Beaumont Branch, located on Fieldstone Way just off Harrodsburg Rd., replaced the Southside Branch in 1997. The Tates Creek Branch, located on Walden Drive, replaced the Lansdowne Branch in 2001. The Village Branch, located on Versailles Rd. at Village Dr., opened in 2004, and is an English-Spanish bilingual branch, with bilingual staff. The Northside Branch, located on Russell Cave Rd., replaced the previous Northside location in 2008. The Eastside Branch, located on Blake James Dr., replaced the Eagle Creek Branch in 2016.
The contents of the library's digital collection contain some images and brochures at various points in library history. The typed library history by Mary K. Bullitt was a part of the library's cornerstone collection, which was buried in 1902, during the construction of the Carnegie building. It was opened in 1989 when the library moved locations. The other images depict the construction of the Central Library from 1987-1989.
While the focus of content in the digital archive is Fayette County, many other counties are represented. This list is in alphabetical order by county name for non-Fayette County content.
Anderson County
- History of the Lawrenceburg Fair by Lydia Kennedy Bond, 1956
Bath County
- Bath County Memorial Library Albert Young WWII letter Collection, 1944-45
- Bath County Memorial Library Diary Collection of Etta Evans Gilmore, 1944-1955
Boone County
- Florence Baptist Church Dedication Service, October 9, 1967
Bourbon County
- Millersburg Female College Announcement, 1895-96
- Hopewell (Paris) Historical Scrapbook, 150th Anniversary, Sept 1939
- History of the Church of the Annunciation of Paris, Kentucky by Mary T. Kelly, 1958
- Millersburg Military Institute playbill for Inherit the Wind, 6 May 1960
- Paris Historical Scrapbook, 175th Anniversary, 13 May 1961
Boyd County
- The Hi-Life Gazette, Ashland High School, 5 March 1954
Boyle County
- Catalogue, Danville Classical and Military Academy, 1877-78
- The Danville Literary and Social Club (The Anaconda), 1839-1889 by Ormond Beatty
- Fourth Reunion, Kentucky Association of the Deaf, 3-5 September 1907
- A Centennial History of the Kentucky School for the Deaf, Danville, Kentucky, 1823-1923 by Charles Fosdick
Breathitt County
- Stories of Kentucky Feuds: the Terror of Suspense by Harold Wilson Coates, 1924
Bullitt County
- United Stares Army Armor School, Fort Knox, 1959-72
Caldwell County
Calloway County
- History of Calloway County, Kentucky by E. A. Johnson, 1931
Christian County
- The Scroll: Bethel Woman's College Yearbook, 1929
Clark County
- Kentucky Wesleyan College graduates, 1906
- The Beacon: Kentucky Bible College (later Southeastern Christian College), 1955
- The Beacon: Kentucky Bible College, Winchester, Kentucky, 1960
- Southern Bell Telephone Directory for Richmond, Ky., Ford, Kirksville, Waco, Including Listings of Berea, Paint Lick, May 1966
- Kentucky Telephone Company Directory for Lancaster, Berea, Bryantsville, Paint Lick, Including Listings of Ford, Kirksville, Richmond, and Waco, Kentucky, June 1966
Clay County
- Stories of Kentucky Feuds: the Great Truce of Clay by Harold Wilson Coates, 1923
- Telephone Directory; Barbourville, Brodhead, East Bernstadt, Eubank, Faubush, Flat Lick, Livingston, London, Manchester, Mt. Vernon, Oneida, Science Hill, Shopville, White Lily, Kentucky, 1974
Floyd County
- The Pre-1800 Kentucky Tax Lists for the Counties of Fayette - 1788; Mason (later Floyd) - 1790; Mercer - 1789; Washington - 1792, compiled by Levi Todd, 1790
Franklin County
- The Fourth Annual Report of the Kentucky Colonization Society, with an Address (Delivered at the Request of the Society,) by Rev. John C. Young, 1833
- Historic Frankfort Kentucky pamphlet by Nell Whaley and Bayless Hardin, 1947
- Good Shepherd Catholic School senior class play "No Homework," 1961
- Souvenir Program, March on Frankfort, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 5 March 1964
Garrard County
- Lancaster High School Graduation Program, 1952
- Southern Bell Telephone Directory for Richmond, Ky., Ford, Kirksville, Waco, Including Listings of Berea, Paint Lick, May 1966
- Kentucky Telephone Company Directory for Lancaster, Berea, Bryantsville, Paint Lick, Including Listings of Ford, Kirksville, Richmond, and Waco, Kentucky, June 1966
Graves County
- The Mayfield Bar, by R. G. Robbins, 1911
Grayson County
- Dock Brown: the Outlaw of Grayson County by Colonel William R. Haynes, 1876
Hardin County
- United Stares Army Armor School, Fort Knox, 1959-72
Harlan County
- Harlan County, Kentucky by Elmon Middleton, 1934
- The Pine Mountain Story, 1913-1980 by Mary Rogers and the Pine Mountain Settlement School, 1980
Hopkins County
Jackson County
- Telephone Directory; McKee, Annville, Booneville, Sand Gap Ky, 1960
- Directory; McKee, Annville, Sand Gap, Booneville, 1964
- Telephone Directory; McKee, Annville, Sand Gap, Booneville, 1976
Jefferson County
- The Cadet Adjustant magazine of the Kentucky Military Institute, 1909-1918
- Photograph of Rev. James Cronin, Diocese of Louisville, circa 1920
- Charter, By-Laws and Amendments of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Widows' and Orphans' Home in the State of Kentucky, 1938
- My Memoirs of Army Nurse Corps World War II, 1943-1945 by Martha Ueltschi Penn, 1946
- Poems of Consolation: Book II by Geneva Maxey Cooper Tilford, 1947
- The Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star in Kentucky Golden Key Session 1948
- Zion Baptist Church, 1878-1953, 75th Anniversary, August 1953
- duPont Manual High School 1967 10-year reunion, class of 1957
- A New Look for Kentucky Breathitt for Governor newspaper, February 1963
- Sallie Phillips Durrett High School 1967–1968 composite class photograph
- The Louisville Community presents a Memorial Service Honoring the Late Whitney M. Young, Jr., 10 March 1974
- Handbills for Mr. Gay Kentucky, January 1983 and March 1983
Jessamine County
- Assortment of Elmer L. Foote lantern slides, including Court Day and the construction of High Bridge, circa 1900s
- Bluegrass Houses and Their Traditions by Elizabeth M. Simpson, 1932
- The Asburian Asbury College Yearbook, 1944
- Union Lodge No. 10, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Nicholasville, Kentucky, by Robert M. Suell, 1970
Johnson County
- Kentucky Mountain Club (Membership includes the following counties: Adair, Bath, Bell, Boyd, Breathitt, Carter, Casey, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Elliott, Estill, Fayette, Fleming, Floyd, Greenup, Harlan, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, McCreary, Magoffin, Martin, Menifee, Monroe, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Rowan, Russell, Wayne, Whitley, and Wolfe)
Knox County
- Telephone Directory; Barbourville, Brodhead, East Bernstadt, Eubank, Faubush, Flat Lick, Livingston, London, Manchester, Mt. Vernon, Oneida, Science Hill, Shopville, White Lily, Kentucky, 1974
Laurel County
- The Birth of a Church: 1st Presbyterian Church, London, Ky., 1959
- Telephone Directory; Barbourville, Brodhead, East Bernstadt, Eubank, Faubush, Flat Lick, Livingston, London, Manchester, Mt. Vernon, Oneida, Science Hill, Shopville, White Lily, Kentucky, 1974
Leslie County
Livingston County
- Lucy Jefferson Lewis, Sister of President Thomas Jefferson, Virginia 1752 - Kentucky 1811 by Martha Grassham Purcell
Madison County
- Mountain Ballads for Social Singing, by James Watt Rayne, Berea College, 1923
- Life at Eastern: Eastern Kentucky Review, Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College, May 1944
- Program Celebrating the Opening of the New Free Bridge at Clay’s Ferry, Cleveland, 17 August 1946
- Southern Bell Telephone Directory for Richmond, Ky., Ford, Kirksville, Waco, Including Listings of Berea, Paint Lick, May 1966
- Kentucky Telephone Company Directory for Lancaster, Berea, Bryantsville, Paint Lick, Including Listings of Ford, Kirksville, Richmond, and Waco, Kentucky, June 1966
- First Baptist Church Directory, Richmond, 1975
Mason County
- The Pre-1800 Kentucky Tax Lists for the Counties of Fayette - 1788; Mason (later Floyd) - 1790; Mercer - 1789; Washington - 1792, compiled by Levi Todd, 1789
- Centennial of St. Patrick’s Parish, Maysville, 1847-1947
Meade County
- United Stares Army Armor School, Fort Knox, 1959-72
Mercer County
- The Pre-1800 Kentucky Tax Lists for the Counties of Fayette - 1788; Mason (later Floyd) - 1790; Mercer - 1789; Washington - 1792, compiled by Levi Todd, 1789
- Education in Harrodsburg and Neighborhood Since 1775 by Martha Stephenson, 1910
- Shakertown by Dorothy Embry Cross, 1921
- Old Roads in Kentucky by Cecil Brown, 1929
- Old Shakertown and the Shakers by Daniel Mac-Hir Hutton, 1936
- The History of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, Harrodsburg by Neva L. Williams, April 1948
- Old Taverns by Grace Stephenson Linney Hutton, 1957
Muhlenberg County
- Gibraltar Coal Mining Company Scrip, Brownie, Ky., undated
- The Oriole: Central City High School Yearbook, 1927
Nelson County
- A Chapter of Trappist History in Kentucky by Young E. Allison, 1926
- The Barton Museum of Whiskey History Brochure, 1961
Owsley County
- Telephone Directory; McKee, Annville, Booneville, Sand Gap Ky, 1960
- Directory; McKee, Annville, Sand Gap, Booneville, 1964
Pulaski County
- Telephone Directory; Barbourville, Brodhead, East Bernstadt, Eubank, Faubush, Flat Lick, Livingston, London, Manchester, Mt. Vernon, Oneida, Science Hill, Shopville, White Lily, Kentucky, 1974
Robertson County
- Echoes from the Century, Robertson County 1867-1967 by T. Ross Moore
Rockcastle County
- Telephone Directory; Barbourville, Brodhead, East Bernstadt, Eubank, Faubush, Flat Lick, Livingston, London, Manchester, Mt. Vernon, Oneida, Science Hill, Shopville, White Lily, Kentucky, 1974
Scott County
- The Co-Ed: Georgetown College, 1901
- Historical Pageant of Scott County, Kentucky 1774-1924, 31 May 1924
- Directory and History: Georgetown Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 1932-1933
- Georgetown Grows: Georgetown College, 1960
- Stamping Ground’s 180th Birthday Celebration, 15-17 October 1970
Shelby County
- Science Hill School College Preparatory School for Girls, Shelbyville, 1930-1931
- Science Hill School College Preparatory School for Girls, Shelbyville, 1937-1938
- History, Old Masons’ Home of Kentucky, Incorporated, 2nd Edition, by Alpheus E. Orton and Charles A. Keith, 1960
- Dedication Whitney M. Young, Jr., Residential Manpower Center program, 16 June 1972
Warren County
Washington County
- The Pre-1800 Kentucky Tax Lists for the Counties of Fayette - 1788; Mason (later Floyd) - 1790; Mercer - 1789; Washington - 1792, compiled by Levi Todd, 1792
- Early Times in Washington County, Kentucky by Orval W. Baylor, 1942
- Sesquicentennial of Saint Rose Parish, Springfield, Kentucky program, 1957
Wolfe County
- Wolfe County Centennial Celebration 1860-1960, 2 Sept 1960
Woodford County
- Kentucky Female Orphan School: A History by Harry Giovannoli, 1930
- St. Leo’s Parish, Versailles 1924-1965
- Woodford County Farm Directory, circa 1971
- A History of Troy Presbyterian Church, 1875-1975 by J. R. Wilson, Jr.
- St. Leo Catholic Church Directory, Versailles, 1979
The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department had its earliest form almost as long as the city itself has existed, when the newly formed city of Lexington would appoint a local physician to investigate reports of certain diseases for quarantine. As early as 1794, Lexington's citizens were getting smallpox inoculations. The city created a Board of Health possibly as early as the 1820s, as a young Lexington experienced cholera outbreaks, typhus, smallpox, and the various growing pains created by more people living and working closer together. In 1938, the Lexington city Board of Health merged with the county’s Board to become the Fayette County Health Department.
The board minutes for January 1904 – April 1922 provided by the Health Department show the broad range of topics impacting local citizens, and the Health Department’s role in keeping its citizens healthier. Through the decades, the Health Department has tested the local milk supply for tuberculosis, led education and vaccination programs, inspected restaurants, set quarantines to prevent the spread of disease, improved sanitation, and at one point ran the local crematory and eruptive hospital.
The collection contains non-Fayette County school yearbooks and images, dating from 1878-1968.
Walking Tour
Join us for a walking tour of Downtown Lexington’s public art. The full tour is available as a single MP3, or you can download individual tracks. For the single MP3, music will play between the stops. You can pause the track while you walk between stops.
This tour covers a walking distance of 1 mile.
The music clips used in this tour are from “Walking Barefoot on Grass” by Kai Engel, and are used with a CCBY license. It is available here: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kai_Engel/
This tour has been updated to include the new mural at Stop #5, "In-Finito".
Join us for a walking tour of Downtown Lexington’s public art. The full tour is available as a single MP3, or you can download individual tracks. For the single MP3, music will play between the stops.
