The Filson Historical Society Manuscript Collection

There are approximately 1.5 million items in The Filson's manuscript collection. The Filson began collecting historical material soon after its founding, when no other Kentucky institution was doing so. With many of its early members belonging to Kentucky's oldest and most prominent families, The Filson was able to begin assembling an important collection of original letters, diaries, business records, and other primary sources. Its holdings for the late eighteenth through mid nineteenth centuries are unrivaled in Kentucky. The collection focuses on Kentucky, the Ohio Valley, and the Upper South, but is national and even international in scope, with researchers from across the nation and abroad visiting each year. Our unique holdings are an essential primary source for scholars. Highlights include the Pleasant Hill Shaker records, Lewis and Clark Expedition letters, Henry Clay letters, George Rogers Clark's Mason letter, and the two earliest known documents written and signed by Daniel Boone. To these must be added hundreds of other collections documenting America's economic, military, political, and social history which give The Filson Historical Society the finest collection of pioneer, antebellum, and Civil War manuscripts in Kentucky. In addition, excellent collections containing information on women's studies, African-Americans, and Louisville journalism dating up to the present day are also available to the research community.

The earliest known document written and signed by Daniel Boone.

Anyone wishing additional information about our collections should contact the department between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The department is open the first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m except for May, October, and certain holiday weekends. Queries by phone, letter, or e-mail are accepted, but the latter two are preferred.

If you have a question about our manuscript collection contact:

James Holmberg, Curator of Special Collections
Jacob Lee, Associate Curator of Special Collections
Mike Veach, Associate Curator of Special Collections
Sarah-Jane Poindexter, Assistant Curator of Special Collections
Heather Fox, Special Collections Assistant

We want to preserve your history!

If you have material that you would like to donate to The Filson, we want to hear from you. Please contact Special Collections Curator James Holmberg by email or at (502) 634-8846 for more information on how to donate to The Filson's collections.