Saturday, December 9  

Announcing Our 524th Meeting

The Spirit of Henry Clay and Kentucky in the Civil War

 Presented by James C. Klotter

The Spirit of Henry Clay and Kentucky in the Civil War

            Henry Clay was known as 'The Great Compromiser.' But he had been dead for almost a decade by the time the Civil War started and compromise after compromise failed to keep the conflict from starting. But Clay's lingering influence lived on long after his death and it would still prove crucial in shaping Kentucky's course during the conflict, and, by extension, the nation's future. In this talk, the State Historian of Kentucky brings to bear the work he has done for a study of Clay that will be published next year by Oxford University Press.

            We are glad to welcome back a distinguished historian and author, James C. Klotter.  James is a native Kentuckian, and received his Ph.D. in history from the University of Kentucky. He is the author, coauthor, or editor of almost twenty prize-winning books, including the standard works on Kentucky used at the elementary, secondary, and college level. Among his books are:  William Goebel: The Politics of Wrath; A New History of Kentucky; Kentucky: Portrait in Paradox, 1900-1950; and Kentucky Justice, Southern Honor, and American Manhood (which won the Governors’ Award in 2007 for the best book on Kentucky history published over the past four years).

                Most recently, he coedited Kentucky Renaissance: The History and Culture of Central Kentucky, 1792-1852. Dr. Klotter’s study of Henry Clay and the American presidency will appear early next year from Oxford University Press.

                Jim Klotter was the Executive Director of the Kentucky Historical Society for many years. He currently serves as Professor of History at Georgetown College and is the State Historian of Kentucky.