DCPL Kentucky Room

04/29/2026

Today we would like to celebrate one of Owensboro's most famous sons: Tom Ewell. Born Yewell Tompkins on April 29, 1909, to Martine Yewell and Samuel Tompkins, Tom was a founding member of the Rose Curtain Players, and went on to study acting at the University of Wisconsin, selecting "Tom Ewell" as his stage name. He was both a Broadway and movie actor, and two of his biggest hits were "The Girl Can't Help It" alongside Jayne Mansfield and "The Seven Year Itch" with Marilyn Monroe. He had starring roles in both movies. He participated in many other films and plays throughout his career, and was celebrated any time he returned home to Owensboro. To learn more about Tom, check out his biography file here in the Kentucky Room, or stop by- we love to talk about him!

https://dcpl.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p17056coll12/id/251/rec/6

04/01/2026

On this April Fool's Day, we would like to share this historic prank conducted by Kentucky's own John James Audubon. Do you know of any other pranks from the past?

Featuring fake fishes, made-up mammals, and taxonomic tomfoolery

03/30/2026

As March and Youth Art Month come to a close, take a look at these sketches by Owensboro native Robert "Bob" Rowe. Rowe got his creative start as a student at Owensboro Senior High School (class of 1941). He earned a scholarship to the Louisville Art Center and went on to have a lifelong interest in the arts.

03/23/2026

We are so excited to see what stories we can help preserve!

Now Available in the DCPL Kentucky Room! We want patrons to interview family or friends about their experiences, with special interest towards Owensboro history.
The kits can be found in the Ky room and check out for 21 days.

We will provide the patron a copy of the interview and keep a copy to put in our digital collection!

03/13/2026

March 14th is National Write Your Story Day. Why not write your Family Story, too? The Kentucky Room is a great place to gather your research and find sources to help you get your family story documented.

03/11/2026

Tomorrow at 6:00 pm!
Mr. Hezekiah Watkins, a civil rights leader and the youngest Freedom Rider in the movement, who faced death row at just 13 years old, will be presenting his amazing story to Owensboro at the Jack T. Wells Activity Center in the Young Auditorium at 3300 Frederica Street from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm TOMORROW, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Mr. Watkins is traveling from out of state to visit Owensboro again. Despite our best efforts to advertise this program in 2023, we did not have many people show up to show their support for this civil rights HERO. We are asking you to spread the word regarding this event, and come to hear Mr. Watkin's powerful testimony, so we can show him what his work means to us.
We hope to see you there.

03/06/2026

On the anniversary of her passing, we remember Martine Yewell Tompkins and her contributions to the history of Owensboro and Daviess County: she was the first woman in Owensboro to drive a car (1908), served on the first all-female jury in Daviess County (1921), an Assistant Secretary of State and Deputy State Treasurer (1930's), and appointed "Admiral of the Green River" by Governor Wendell Ford for her goodwill toward the tugboats running the river (1974). Thank you to the Owensboro Museum of Science and History for the loan of several of Martine's signature hats.

03/02/2026

March 2nd is National Old Stuff Day, but here in the Kentucky Room we think EVERY DAY is Old Stuff Day. Here's a peek into the 1880's: a scrapbook and recital program of Miss Mary E. Griffith. She was born and raised in Owensboro but later moved to Louisville and pursued a career as a Professional Reader.

02/17/2026

We in the Kentucky Room, and Kentucky Wesleyan College's NAACP chapter, would like to take a moment and inform you of a very special presentation coming up soon. Mr. Hezekiah Watkins, a civil rights leader and the youngest Freedom Rider in the movement, who faced death row at just 13 years old, will be presenting his amazing story to Owensboro at the Jack T. Wells Activity Center in the Young Auditorium at 3300 Frederica Street from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Mr. Watkins is traveling from out of state to visit Owensboro again. Despite our best efforts to advertise this program in 2023, we did not have many people show up to show their support for this civil rights HERO. We are asking you to spread the word regarding this event, and come to hear Mr. Watkin's powerful testimony, so we can show him what his work means to us.
We hope to see you there.

01/30/2026

While it's true items in the Kentucky Room stay in the Kentucky Room, we do have a small fiction section comprised of Kentucky authors! If you've been wanting to read one of these selected (or more) but haven't been able to take the time to sit down and do it at home, there's SNOW better time to come in during library hours and sit a spell- and read a good book!

01/26/2026

This month's choice of display is incredibly appropriate, considering the items are being showcased in a vintage Anderson's Department Store case! All throughout January, we have been celebrating old Owensboro businesses. From the Owensboro Wagon Company and Ames Motor Car Company, to the Owensboro Canning Company and Delker's Fine Buggies, we have a lot of interesting advertisements and images to show. Stop in to check it out before they are returned to the archive!

01/23/2026

To celebrate National Handwriting Day, we thought we would give you a glimpse of daily life in the Kentucky Room! We have included a helpful handwriting sheet that includes abbreviations and styles that are uncommon today, but were used frequently in the past. We have also included a section of a handwritten deed from 1854. This one is pretty clear, but some of the handwritten documents we read on a daily basis have to be given a second look. Especially death certificates- some doctor's handwriting being notoriously difficult to read is unfortunately true!