There are more notable African Americans with Kentucky roots and ties than any one person knows about. Very little has been written about many of them and it is a challenge to find what was written in the past. For some, their stories have only been told by word of mouth. The Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (NKAA) has been developed as a finding aid to bring together a brief description of pertinent names, places, and events, and to list the sources where additional information may be found. This is not currently an all inclusive database, but we are working toward that goal and suggestions are welcomed.

Recently Updated/Added

Paul L. Dunbar's Mother's Family

Dunbar Dedication.pdf

Paul L. Dunbar's parents were both from Kentucky. His father, Joshua Dunbar, was born in Garrard County, KY and enslaved in Shelby County. His mother,…

Born in Mexico, Lived in Kentucky, 1850-1920

This entry comes from reference questions asked by a researcher looking at the population of those born in Mexico and later lived in Kentucky up…

Reid, Daniel Isaiah

Daniel I. Reid was a journalist, politician, and school teacher in Lexington, KY. He was one of the first African American news reporters for the…

Fletcher, Zachariah T.

This entry was suggested by Nubia Lateefa.Zachariah T. Fletcher, a businessman, was a prominent leader in Nicodemus, KS, where his home is still…

Scott, Tom

Tom Scott, born in Bourbon County, KY, was a survivor of the Saltville Massacre [the murders of wounded African American Union soldiers who were…

Mallard, Joseph "Sunshine"

Born in Summit, MS, Joseph Mallard now lives in Louisville, KY. He is a performing creative stitchery artist. Mallard is a member of the National…

LaFrance Orr, Helen

Helen LaFrance Orr, born in Graves County, KY, was a self-taught folk artist who began painting when she was a small child. Her folk-art, called…

Huddleston, Anna M. Lauderdale

Anna M. L. Huddleston was a fiber artist and an art teacher. She was born in Louisville, KY, the daughter of Wilson H. and Eliz H. Burley Lauderdale.…

Harrison-Pace, Yolantha V.

Yolantha Harrison-Pace is from Texas and has lived in Danville, KY, for many years. She is a performing arts specialist. For 30 years she has designed…

Gaither, William Arthur "Bill"

Bill Gaither was born in Belmont, KY. Popular during the 1930s as a guitarist and blues singer, herecorded under the name Little Bill Gaither and also…