Office of the Secretary of State History Page

Dear Fellow Kentuckians,

It is a pleasure to welcome you to the Kentucky Secretary of State History Page.  For the first time, the site provides visitors with highlights of the lives and accomplishments of past Secretaries, including a history of the Office of the Secretary of State.

While we are very proud of the site as it currently stands, I would be remiss if I did not mention that it is a work in progress.  As we uncover more information, the site will be updated so as to provide the most complete and accurate history possible.

An immeasurable amount of gratitude must be expressed to our partners in this project.  First, The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS), in particular Kent Whitworth, James E. Wallace, Nelson Dawson, and Dr. Melba Hay, spent countless hours assisting with research on this project.  A number of our digital images, audio clips, and other resources were provided by the KHS, Kentucky Department of Library and Archives, and the Margaret L. King Library at the University of Kentucky. 

We are also indebted to Ron Bryant, noted Kentucky historian and author, and the family members of past secretaries which have brought many of the biographies to life through personal anecdotes and interesting historical tidbits.  Click here to read an article by Mr. Bryant about Office of the Secretary of State history in the Commonwealth.

Finally, we owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to all past Secretaries of State and their staffs for their countless contributions to the Commonwealth.  It is a privilege to follow in the footsteps of such outstanding public servants.  In particular, a special thanks to Secretary Bob Babbage who first conjured the idea of a historical site during his tenure and to my current staff who made it a reality.  Notably, this project would not be possible without the dedication and passion of “The Office of the Secretary of State Resident Historian” Kandie Adkinson.  This site is a reflection of her zeal for history and for the Office of the Secretary of State.

Enjoy the treasures that lie within this site.  It is a pleasure to present it to you.

Sincerely,

The Office of the Secretary of State