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.

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Ball, William Baton

William Baton Ball, a former enslaved person, was born in Danville, KY and graduated from Oberlin College. He served in the U.S. Army, 99th Division,…

McGill, Hughes Eugene

Though it has been written that Hughes E. McGill was born in Louisville, KY, he was actually born in Union, SC according to his World War II Draft…

Johnson, William H.

William H. Johnson was an African American Baptist preacher and miner who lived in Middlesboro, KY. In 1946 he began mailing letters to persons of…

Young, Coleman Milton, III

Dr. C. Milton Young, III was the first African American to enroll at the University of Louisville in 1950. He went on to earn his medical degree at…

Doneghy, Dudley

The following information was submitted by Marjorie Duncan Doneghy Willis:In 1998, Dudley Doneghy was inducted into the Centre College Athletic Hall…

Jones, Cornell

In 1973 Cornell Jones became the first African American elected to the Mayfield, KY City Council and the first African American Councilman in Graves…

Stephens, Fred E.

Fred E. Stephens was the first African American chaplain of the first African American service unit in the Army Air Corps [which became the Air…

Shanks, Irvine Lee

Born in Kenton County, KY, Shanks became the first African American to play basketball at Berea College (KY) when he was on the team 1954-1955. A 6'5"…

Jordan, Larry

Born in Kansas City, KS, Larry Jordan, a graduate of West Point, became the first African American general post commander at Fort Knox in 1993. At the…

Dulin, James W.

James W. Dulin was a coal miner. In 1972, he became the first African American elected to the Earlington (KY) City Council and in 1973 became the…