Documenting Racial Violence in Kentucky:

Refutes long-standing, but false claims that a milder form of racism existed in Kentucky than in other southern states. This project researches and develops biographies of every person who was lynched in Kentucky between 1880 and 1955 using historical tools like census record data, birth and death certificates, and newspaper articles.

Encourages cooperation across the Commonwealth as community members come to terms with the events of the past, memorialize injustice, and encourage reconciliation.

Provides undergraduate students with essential experiential learning and encourages career readiness.  Student interns practice the detective work that archival research requires, learning to use microfilm, census records, court transcripts, city directories, property deeds and more, under the careful direction of professor advisors. 
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The Commonwealth Institute of Black Studies (CIBS) serves as the administrative host for Documenting Racial Violence in Kentucky. To find out more about other projects at CIBS, please click here for the CIBS website.

To speak with a specialist about Documenting Racial Violence in Kentucky, click here.

FACULTY TEAM

Melanie Beals Goan, Ph.D., August 2021 to the Present
History Interns Supervisor and website content editor. Specialist in Kentucky history, Appalachian history, women and gender in Kentucky, healthcare, undergraduate career development.

Nikki Brown, Ph.D., August 2021 to the Present
Managing editor.  Specialist in African American women’s history, race and visual culture, Jim Crow laws, and long Civil Rights Movement of the 20th Century

Jennifer Hootman, MLIS, M.A., August 2021 to the Present
Librarian, Digital Design and Data Management.  Specialist in Digital Scholarship, History

Lynn Roche Phillips, Ph.D., August 2021 through May 2022
Geography Interns Supervisor and website content editor. Specialist in cartography, ARC/GIS, sprawl, urban planning, growth management, political culture 

2023-2024 Academic Year

STUDENT INTERNS

Bridan Braun
Research Co-Editor, Article transcriber Major: History. Graduation: Spring 2025

Andrew Chan
Research Co-Editor, Article transcriber Major: History. Graduation: Spring 2025

Lexxi Colbert
Research Co-Editor, Article transcriber Major: History. Graduation: Spring 2026

Katie Craig
Research Co-Editor, Article transcriber Major: History. Graduation: Spring 2025

Alicia Gowan
Research Co-Editor, Article transcriber Major: History. Graduation: Spring 2025

Jordan Gray
Research Co-Editor, Article transcriber Major: History. Graduation: Spring 2025

Hayden Hancock
Research Co-Editor, Article transcriber Major: History. Graduation: Spring 2025

Kailly Oum
Research Co-Editor, Article transcriber Major: History. Graduation: Spring 2025

Ariane Ribiero
Graduate Intern, Research Co-Editor, History, MA. Graduation: Spring 2025

Grace Yi
Research Co-Editor, Article transcriber Major: History. Graduation: Spring 2026

2022-2023 Academic Year

STUDENT Interns

Fall 2022 History Undergraduates in the course, HIS 351/AAAS 400: History Detectives
Martin Alfaya
Research Co-Editor, Major: History. Graduation: Fall 2023
Taylor Biggs
Research Co-Editor, Major: ICT (Information, Communication, and Technology). Graduation: Spring 2023
Ethen Kestler
Research Co-Editor, Major: History. Graduation: Spring 2023
Elijah Odorizzi
Research Co-Editor, Major: Secondary Social Studies Education. Graduation: Fall 2023
Dylan Post
Research Co-Editor, Major: Major: U.S. Culture and Business Practices. Graduation: Spring 2024
Kiara Rizzuti
Research Co-Editor, Major: Secondary Social Studies Education. Graduation: Spring 2023
Farris Shakadih
Research Co-Editor, Major: U.S. Culture and Business Practices. Graduation: Spring 2023

2021-2022 Academic Year

Faculty Team

STUDENT Interns

Dilni Abeyrathne
ARC/GIS Undergraduate Director of Mapping; Major: Environmental & Sustainability Studies, Geography, International Studies
Shaina Belford
Research Co-Editor, Major: Philosophy, French
Qwenton Briggs
Research Co-Editor, Major: History. Graduated Spring 2021
Kayleigh Dayka
Research Co-Editor, Major: History
Gracie Henderson
Research Co-editor, Public Relations coordinator, Major: History
Joe Noce
Research Co-Editor, Major: History. Graduated Spring 2021
Sarah Roach
ARC/GIS, Story-Map content creator and editor, Major: Geography
Cameron Smith
Research Co-Editor, Major: History, Philosophy