The Filson Historical Society Inc

THE MISSION OF THE FILSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS TO COLLECT, PRESERVE, AND SHARE THE SIGNIFICANT HISTORY AND CULTURE OF KENTUCKY AND THE OHIO VALLEY. THE FILSON IS COMMITTED TO THE WORK OF PRESERVATION ACCESS AND EDUCATION PURSUING EVER GREATER DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION, ITS OPERATIONS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY EXCELLENCE, SERVICE, AND INTEGRITY. ITS VISION IS TO BE A NATIONALLY PREEMINENT HISTORICAL SOCIETY THAT INSPIRES ITS COMMUNITIES TO BUILD A STRONGER PRESENT AND FUTURE THROUGH LEARNING FROM THE PAST.

THE FILSON'S EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OFFERS MORE THAN 76 DIVERSE LECTURES AND EVENTS TO THE PUBLIC ANNUALLY. THE LECTURES ARE PRESENTED IN-PERSON AND VIRTUALLY BY EXPERTS AND BY NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AUTHORS. THESE PRESENTATIONS INCLUDE THE PRESTIGIOUS GERTRUDE BROWN LECTURE SERIES, BIANNUAL ACADEMIC CONFERENCE, AND VARIOUS EDUCATION LECTURES THAT FOCUS ON OUR CULTURE AND HISTORY. MEMBERSHIP, ANNUAL FUND CONTRIBUTIONS, AND GRANT FUNDING ARE ALSO VITAL COMPONENTS OF SUSTAINING THE FILSON'S OPERATIONS. THE COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT (LIBRARY, MANUSCRIPTS, PRINTS & PHOTOGRAPHS, AND MUSEUM OBJECTS) STEWARDS COLLECTIONS WITH SIGNIFICANT CONNECTION TO KENTUCKY AND THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY TO PRESERVE AND SHARE THE HISTORY OF OUR REGION. MATERIAL DATING FROM PRE-COLUMBIAN INDIGENOUS HISTORY THROUGH THE 21ST CENTURY IS PRESERVED, CATALOGED, AND MADE AVAILABLE TO IN-PERSON AND REMOTE RESEARCHERS. NEW MATERIALS ARE CONSIDERED FOR ACCEPTANCE INTO THE COLLECTION MONTHLY. RESEARCHERS VISIT THE FILSON FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD TO USE COLLECTIONS FOR BOOKS, ARTICLES, NOVELS, PLAYS, SCHOOL PAPERS, FAMILY HISTORIES AND MORE. CITATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TO FILSON COLLECTIONS REGULARLY APPEAR IN RESULTING WORKS. THE FILSON PRODUCES TWO PUBLICATIONS, THE FILSON NEWSMAGAZINE AND OHIO VALLEY HISTORY AND IS A CONSORTIUM MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY PRESS OF KENTUCKY.