Advertisement

Heirloom portraits donated to Clark County Public Library will ensure preservation of past for generations to come

April 06, 2012|By Rachel Parsons | The Winchester Sun

The Clark County Public Library is a lot more than books.

In the nearly 11 years since Andy Gary has been working in the reference department, the library also has become a place for local historical research, genealogy and cultural preservation.

“It’s a big deal.¿I get excited about it,” Gary said.

Thanks to a recent donation from Clark County native Lou Ray King, the library has enough photos, documents and records to keep librarians busy for years to come.

King’s collection of family heirlooms was almost lost to history. A relative was going to throw them out, but called and asked King’s mother, Mattie Lindsay King, if she would be interested in a portrait collection and other memorabilia.

“Her own mother, Mattie Price Hunt, died in 1909, four weeks after mother was born, so mother grew up crazy about family,” King said.

Advertisement

In addition to portraits, the collection included snapshots and other pieces of family memorabilia. The elder King loved the portraits so much, she decided to add to the collection by having more portraits made of her immediate family members.

“They were portraits of her favorite relatives,” Gary said

Central Kentucky News Articles
|
|
|