Communities Old and New: Documenting and Preserving the Diverse Cultural Heritage of South Central Kentucky

FAIN: PY-253056-17

Western Kentucky University Research Foundation (Bowling Green, KY 42101-1000)
Brent Alan Bjorkman (Project Director: May 2016 to March 2018)

A “Community Heritage Day” to digitize photographs, documents, and artifacts that reflect the histories of the diverse communities in the city, which encompass refugees and immigrants from close to 30 countries. The applicant would also offer educational programming at this event, including lectures by local scholars, and workshops to provide advice on preservation and storage techniques for photographs, paper, and other objects. Building on the success of The Bosnia Project, for which the applicant partnered with the Bosnian-American community in Bowling Green to document, preserve, and present their stories and artifacts, this project aims to further enhance awareness of the traditions held within their numerous rich and vibrant immigrant and refugee communities and engage these communities in sharing and preserving their heritage.

South Central Kentucky's community is diverse and growing.  Due in large part to the efforts of the International Center of Kentucky in Bowling Green, immigrants from nearly 30 countries have been resettled in the region.  Long-time resident or newcomer, the area is home to a longstanding African American community, substantial Bosnian, Burmese and Hispanic populations, and a soon to arrive group of Syrian refugees, to name a few. The Kentucky Folklife Program is dedicated to documenting, presenting, and conserving the diverse traditional culture and heritage of the Commonwealth.  Housed at Western Kentucky University, KFP wishes to capitalize on its growing partnerships with the Kentucky Museum and WKU Library Special Collections to host a "Community Heritage Day" that celebrates these vibrant communities while helping to document, digitize, and preserve their story.  Event programming will also enrich and complement separate planned programming on Bowling Green's Bosnian community.