The Kentucky African American Encyclopedia Project, which will produce a reference book that focuses on black history in the state, continues to progress after the five-year venture began two years ago.

With the goal of producing more than 1,000 entries in a single volume by 2011, Western Kentucky University history professor and KAAE co-editor John A. Hardin says the book will hopefully motivate teachers to use diverse resources – other than the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., a few presidential candidates, and entertainers and athletes – during Black History Month.

“African-American life is more than sports, a little bit of politics – it’s people going to church; it’s people going to their jobs, people serving in the military; it’s people living and dying in their lives; it’s communities,” Hardin said. “The encyclopedia will serve as a resource for teachers, for citizens and others of all races to understand the uniqueness of African-American life in the commonwealth.”

The statewide project, which is expected to cost more than $730,000, is a collaborative effort between Hardin, two other editors, 13 universities and a number of other organizations. WKU has contributed $10,000 in resources and materials, while the University of Kentucky gave $200,000. The remaining $500,000 is expected to come from a combination of corporate and private donors, Hardin said.

The book will be published by Lexington’s University Press of Kentucky, which handles most of the academic publishing in the state.

Hardin said the goal is to raise more funds to keep the cost of the book affordable, possibly around $75 – similar books usually cost up to $150.

Hardin said he also hopes fundraising efforts will allow the editors to take leaves of absence from their university responsibilities to edit the book.

“The editors are not paid royalties and neither are the writers – that’s another way to keep the price down,” Hardin said.

Hardin emphasized that while the state has a wealth of black history, much of it isn’t well known, mainly because it’s not published.

“(Blacks) have been one of the oldest groups in Kentucky, outside of the native Americans and the Scott-Irish immigrants in Kentucky … so why not African Americans? The history of African Americans is part of the American experience,” Hardin said.

The projects’ other editors include Karen Cotton McDaniel, who is a professor emeritus at Kentucky State University, and Gerald L. Smith, a history professor at the University of Kentucky.

Hardin is also the appointed chair of the Kentucky Oral History Commission through February 2009. Hardin has been involved with several publications, including “Fifty Years of Segregation: Black Higher Education in Kentucky, 1904-1954” and “Onward and Upward: A Centennial History of Kentucky State University, 1886-1986.” He is also an editor and consultant to “Community Memories: A Glimpse of African Americans in Frankfort, Kentucky” and a chapter contributor to “A Commemoration of WKU’s Integration, 1956-2006.”

Kentucky African American Encyclopedia Project

Offices: University of Kentucky, 103B Margaret I. King Library, Lexington, KY 40506-0039

Phone: (859) 257-2110

Fax: (859) 257-6311

E-mail: uk-kaae@lsv.uky.edu

To make suggestions, visit the project’s Web site at www.uky.edu/kaae.

Donations are tax-deductible and will be accepted in one-, two- and three-year pledges. Send donations to Kentucky African American Encyclopedia Project, c/o The Thomas D. Clark Foundation, The University Press of Kentucky, 663 South Limestone, Lexington, KY 40508-4008. Phone: (859) 257-8432