Kentucky

Leonard Abraham discusses the history of his family in Kentucky, the neighborhoods he grew up in around Louisville and some of the Jewish-owned businesses in town.

Mrs. Abramson talks about growing up in Louisville. She discusses where they lived when she was growing up and those who lived around them, including neighbors as well as her extended family members. Mrs. Abramson talks about the friends that she had growing up, the schools that she went to, and her memories of those times. Mrs. Abramson discusses some of the historical events that she's lived through as well, including Pearl Harbor. She also talks about her father's work at the bank and her memories of the stock market crash that came from her father's work friends. Mrs. Abramson also discusses her memories of the flood, when her and her family were living with her family in the Highlands.

Mr. Abramson was the 3rd Ward Alderman from 1975 to 1977 and chairman of the finance committee. He talks about the reorganization of city government under Mayor Harvey Sloane. Abramson explains that the reorganization was proposed before his election and was intended to streamline decision-making and improve efficiency. He also mentions that he had concerns about the potential for increased bureaucracy and difficulty for citizens to reach the mayor. Abramson also discusses the political dynamics of the board, including the mayor's strategy to back a group of aldermen he could communicate with. He concludes by saying that while he still has questions about the reorganization, it seems to be working well and has made it easier for him to communicate with city department directors.

Mark Abromavage discusses his early love of music inspired by used singles he and his brother Chris obtained from the jukebox in his aunt's restaurant. He talks about forming Malignant Growth with his instigator friend Kenny Ogle and his brother Chris Abromavage. He discusses the band's development, including Brett Ralph becoming lead singer, their transformation into Fadin' Out and their eventual breakup. Discussing the punk scene he mentions the impression made on him by guitar players such as Tara Key, the O'Bannon brothers of the Blinders, and Alex Durig of the Endtables. He talks about forming Kinghorse with Sean Garrison, Mike Bucayu and Kevin Brownstein; the large audiences they attracted; and recording their album with Glenn Danzig. And he talks about his later bands Arch and the Decline Effect (which reunited him with his brother).

Adlene Howard Abstain (b. 1943 in Montgomery, Alabama, d. 2015, in Louisville, Kentucky) describes her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement through voter registration efforts, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Freedom Rides, fair housing efforts, work as a pastor at The Fountain of Life Word and Worship Center, and community organization in Louisville.

The interview includes Ackerly's recollections of World War I and its influence on his career; his medical education at Yale University (MD 1925); work with the Yale Institute for Human Relations until he came to Louisville in 1933; the Louisville Child Guidance Clinic beginning in the 1930s; the development of the Dept. of Psychiatry of the University of Louisville beginning in the late 1930s; Ackerly's work with Barry Bingham, Sr. in publishing They Can be Cured (1937) with the subsequent passage of the Chandler-Wallace Act reforming Kentucky's state-supported mental hospitals; the accelerated medical training program at the University of Louisville in World War II; the advent of the Psychiatrist in Residence at the University of Louisville during the 1960s and 1970s.

Adams recalls the history of the east downtown and Smoketown neighborhoods of Louisville, the predecessor organizations of the Presbyterian Community Center beginning in the 1910s, and the street corner newspaper sales business in Louisville beginning in the 1920s. Both men discuss their efforts to develop a recreation program in basketball, baseball and boxing at the Presbyterian Community Center beginning in the 1930s, the association of Muhammad Ali with the Center, and administrative changes at the Center during the early 1960s.

Adams describes her experiences as a law student at the University of Kentucky in the early 1950s and as a lawyer in private practice with her husband, Charles C. Adams, in Somerset, Kentucky. She also discusses how she combined family life with her career.

Lloyd Alexander is a retired professor from Kentucky State University. He discusses his family history; his career and life in the Parkland area of Louisville; recounts what Parkland was like in 1952; and how he was received as one of the first Blacks to move into the 2800 block of Virginia Avenue. He discusses the business, education, and retail landscape of Parkland and the deterioration of the neighborhood. At a time, thriving business and retail establishments along Virginia Avenue and Dumesnil Street. Parkland was a middle-class neighborhood during the 1950s.

Willie Coleman Allen discusses the history of several mills along Doe Run Creek and some of her general memories of this area.