Check out our “Recent Acquisitions” page for the story about one of our newest items. Perhaps you can shed more light on the Mysterious Token and read about how Potash was used by Germany to hinder the Allies during World War 1.

Ken Maguire

Thanks to all who came down to the LFPL to view the Camp Zachary Taylor exhibit, and I thank everyone for their comments they left me about it. I heard from several of the neighbors who live in Camp Taylor, and even a few of those who lived in some of the houses that were featured on the 4th of July panoramic. I had a great time putting it together, and I got a few comments on how to make it better next time. I hope that there will be a next time.

Some of those comments were about what I should do to improve it, and I thank you for those. I do want to say that the exhibit was put together on a shoe string budget, and we did the most we could with the litte money we had to spend. That money was donated from Metro Councilman Jim King, and without their support, the exhibit would never have happened. Thank you Mr. King. I also got lots of support and help from Mr. Burns at the LFPL. Thank you for your help as well.

I wanted to also take a minute to say that the LFPL, who funding is being cut, may not be able to continue to host exhibits like these without your financial support. Since there was no fee to view the exhibit, no money was made to pay for the printing costs for future exhibits. To all of you who appreciated it as much as I did bringing it to you, please donate to the LFPL and write your Metro Council Members to find funding for the Library System in Louisville.

I also received lots of questions about the photos, maps and some of the facts. I was asked a couple of times about not having much representation on the soldiers of color. There were two panoramics of some of the African American soldiers on display, and if you were patient enough to view entire book that was on the computer display and the end of the gallery. there were several more featured there too. There was also the display on Dr. Bond, who you can read more about here on our website.

Information on the African American presence at Camp Taylor is the most the difficult to find, and the rarest. I have only see one other photograph outside of our collection, and the information about them is long gone. If anyone has information that they would like to share with us about the African American soldiers at Camp Taylor, I would very like to hear from you.

Thanks again for all who came. and please feel free to write me at anytime.

Ken Maguire

Camp Zachary Taylor Historical Society

Monday nights Grand Opening and Reception for the Veterans Day and Camp Zachary Taylor Exhibit at the Library was a hugh hit. Thanks to all who were able to attend. There were lots of questions about the Camp, how big it was, were buildings stood and the one’s that are still standing.

The Super Size Panoramic Photograph (36″ x 200″) of the Flag Rasing Ceremony of July 4th, 1918 surprised everyone. Landmarks that are standing today are shown and described on the cooresponding map.

The World War Portion, along with the 1918 film on the sinking of Lusitania in 1915 is being shown along with a slide show of the 210 page, Official Photographic book at each end of the gallery.

I hope everyone enjoys the Exhibit, which runs through Dec 7th, and I thank you for visiting the Library to view it.

Ken Maguire

The Kentucky Educational Television (KET) will be broadcasting a show in early November and part of it will be on the 100th anniversary of the Louisville Free Public Library. In this segment, there will be a short feature about Camp Zachary Taylor, and the Exhibit at the Library which opens November 8th.

Here are the air dates of the program for those who are interested in seeing it.

Program 306

Louisville Life profiles filmmaker, entrepreneur and environmentalist Gill Holland; showcases the Zoom Group’s talented artists; celebrates centennial of Louisville Free Public Library. (#306)

Thursday, November 6 at 7:30/6:30 pm CT on KET2

Thursday night, November 6 at 12:30/11:30 pm CT on KET1

Friday, November 7 at 5:30/4:30 pm CT on KET2

Saturday, November 8 at 7:00/6:00 pm CT on KET1

Sunday, November 9 at 12:00/11:00 am CT on KET2

Ken Maguire

Camp Zachary Taylor Historical Society

http://www.ket.org/cgi-bin/fw_louisvillelife.exe/db/ket/dmps/Programs?do=topic&topicid=LOUL110062&id=LOUL

A description of the progam and camp can be seen at the above link.

The Exhibit will open to the Public on Saturday, November 8th, and there will be an Official Opening and Reception at the Main Branch, Monday Evening, November 10th at 7:00 pm. The Main Branch of the Louisville Free Public Library is at the intersection of 4th and York Street in Louisville, Ky.

The Reception will be free and Open to the Public. So mark your calendar’s for Monday Night and come out to honor our Veteran’s of yesterday and today! Many of the Items, Photos and Artifacts have never been on display before, and this may be the only time you will get chance to see them.

The Exhibit will run through December 7th (Pearl Harbor Day), so don’t delay. Make your plans to view this first time exhibit of Camp Zachary Taylor memorabilia before it closes.

Ken Maguire

Camp Zachary Taylor Historical Society

The Camp Zachary Taylor Society is proud to announce that we will be working with the Louisville Free Public Library to present an Exhibit of Photographs and Documents from Camp Zachary Taylor at the Library’s Main Branch. The Exhibit is planned to open on November 8th, 2008 in commemoration of Veterans Day, which will be Tuesday,  November 11th. We are also commemorating and remembering  Camp Zachary Taylor, which opened officially on November 3rd, 1917, 91 years ago.

On November 11, 2008, it will mark the 90th Anniversary of the end of World War 1. Hostilities were officially ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, ending the War to end all War’s. The exhibit will include several original panoramic photographs of Camp Zachary Taylor, photographs of the Camp Construction and of the Soldiers who were stationed there.

We hope that you will be able to view the exhibit, which will be free to the public. The Main Branch of the Louisville Free Public Library is on York Street between 3rd and 4th Streets. Please join us in remembering our heroes from the First World War, and our Heroes of today.

Ken Maguire

Camp Zachary Taylor Historical Society

Welcome to Camp Zachary Taylor. The mission of our Historical Society is to preserve, conserve, collect and make available information, photographs and artifacts directly related to the World War Training camp that was built in Louisville Ky in 1917, Camp Zachary Taylor. The construction of the facility was one of the single most important events that took place in Louisville in the 20th century, nearly increasing the population of Louisville 25% in three months. The economic, social and political impact of this one event has never been matched by any other in the city’s history, and probably never will again.

The neighborhood that is now known as Camp Taylor only takes in a small portion of what was the largest WW1 army training camp built in North America at the beginning of the United States entry into the war. The camp which covered over 3000 acres would not be recognizable today, having been dismantled in 1921, it is now occupied by mostly residential and light commercial buildings.

We hope you enjoy this site, and find it informative. Please help us keep the history alive by supporting us in our efforts.

Kenneth Maguire
Camp Zachary Taylor Historical Society
Louisville, Ky

This site is under construction and new information is being added regularly. Please visit often, and feel free to register for notifications of updates and new acquisitions.