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Dr. James Klotter

Kentucky Historical Society to Honor Dr. James Klotter


Submitted on November 4, 2019

The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) is recognizing Kentucky’s state historian, Dr. James C. Klotter, for his lifetime of work preserving and interpreting Kentucky history.

Klotter, an emeritus professor of history at Georgetown College and the author of numerous books about the commonwealth’s past, will receive KHS’s Lifetime Dedication to Kentucky History award at the society’s Annual Meeting and History Awards celebration in Frankfort on Nov. 8.

“Few are as worthy of this award as Dr. Klotter,” said Scott Alvey, KHS’s executive director.

According to KHS, the Lifetime Dedication to Kentucky History Award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated a consistent, long-term commitment to Kentucky history through their work, writings or support of historical organizations in Kentucky.

“In addition to writing numerous books, Dr. Klotter was a driving force in getting the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History established in Frankfort,” Alvey said. “Words cannot express how much he has done to promote the importance of history and Kentucky history, in particular.”

The Thomas D. Clark Center is the anchor building for the Kentucky History Center & Museums and home of the Kentucky Historical Society.

Dr. Klotter earned his PhD in history from the University of Kentucky in 1975. A KHS staff member from 1973 to 1998, where he also served as executive director, Klotter has written or edited nearly 20 books, including “A New History of Kentucky,” “William Goebel: The Politics of Wrath,” “The Breckinridges of Kentucky,”  and his latest work, “Henry Clay: The Man Who Would Be President.”

A professor of history at Georgetown College from 1998 to 2018, Klotter has also served on numerous boards and state commissions. He has given hundreds of talks about Kentucky history in communities across the commonwealth and written dozens of magazine and journal articles.

In 2016, the University of Kentucky libraries presented Dr. Klotter with its Medallion for Intellectual Achievement. He also is a recipient of the Governor’s Outstanding Kentuckian Award and the Clark Award for Literary Excellence.

The award will be one of several presented at the Kentucky Historical Society’s Annual Meeting and History Awards celebration at the Kentucky Old State Capitol in Frankfort on Friday, Nov. 8 at 5:30 p.m. To make a reservation to attend, contact Amanda Higgins at [email protected].

For more information about the Kentucky Historical Society and the History Awards, see www.history.ky.gov.


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