History and pictures of the alumni during the 1950s at Western Kentucky University.

History and pictures of the alumni during the 1950s at Western Kentucky University.

In January 1820, the acting governor of Kentucky, Gabriel Slaughter, signed a bill put before him by the state's legislature to create a new county from portions of Christian and Caldwell Counties in Western Kentucky. Trigg County was named to honor Revolutionary War soldier and Native American fighter Col. Stephen Trigg. Organization of the county government commenced on May 15, 1820, at the home of Samuel Orr in the community of Warrenton. Justices of the Peace Boyd, Wadlington, Goode, Orr, Scott, Slaughter, Daniel, Fowler, and Dawson swore one another into office and set about the business of the new county. The village of Cadiz, located along the banks of Little River, was soon established as the county seat.

In the 1800s, the healing virtues of mineral springs lured settlers and travelers to Western Kentucky. In addition to curing the sick, the springs provided a forum for antebellum America to socialize, as the elegant surroundings became popular destinations for parties and dances. In this volume, more than 200 photographs and postcards share the unique story of Western Kentucky's mineral spring resorts, spanning nine counties from Elizabethtown westward to Kentucky Lake. Highlighted is the town that grew up around the spring at Cerulean, drawing the nation's first poet laureate, a Kentucky governor, politicians, ex-slaves, and ordinary people. The traditions revealed by these photographs and postcards constitute a thread in the fabric of American culture and history.

The editors, William J. Devlin and Shai Biderman, have compiled an impressive list of contributors to explore the philosophy at the core of David Lynch's work. Lynch is examined as a postmodern artist and the themes of darkness, logic and time are discussed in depth.

Richard Drake has skillfully woven together the various strands of the Appalachian experience into a sweeping whole. Touching upon folk traditions, health care, the environment, higher education, the role of blacks and women, and much more, Drake offers a compelling social history of a unique American region. The Appalachian region, extending from Alabama in the South up to the Allegheny highlands of Pennsylvania, has historically been characterized by its largely rural populations, rich natural resources that have fueled industry in other parts of the country, and the strong and wild, undeveloped land. The rugged geography of the region allowed Native American societies, especially the Cherokee, to flourish. Early white settlers tended to favor a self-sufficient approach to farming, contrary to the land grabbing and plantation building going on elsewhere in the South. The growth of a market economy and competition from other agricultural areas of the country sparked an economic decline of the region's rural population at least as early as 1830. The Civil War and the sometimes hostile legislation of Reconstruction made life even more difficult for rural Appalachians. Recent history of the region is marked by the corporate exploitation of resources. Regional oil, gas, and coal had attracted some industry even before the Civil War, but the postwar years saw an immense expansion of American industry, nearly all of which relied heavily on Appalachian fossil fuels, particularly coal. What was initially a boon to the region eventually brought financial disaster to many mountain people as unsafe working conditions and strip mining ravaged the land and its inhabitants. A History of Appalachia also examines pockets of urbanization in Appalachia. Chemical, textile, and other industries have encouraged the development of urban areas. At the same time, radio, television, and the internet provide residents direct links to cultures from all over the world. The author looks at the process of urbanization as it belies commonly held notions about the region's rural character.

(From the foreword) This Family History of Anderson County preserves the proud heritage of our county and communities as well as many of our churches, businesses, organizations and families. Our intent is to record a picture of the people, organizations and activities for future generations.