The Knox Historical Museum has thousands of photos donated from numerous sources.
See the Photograph Collections
The two primary contributors are Michael C. Mills, who collected old photographs from the 1970s to the present and published two pictorial books, and the Daniel Boone Festival Committee. Also significant is the church photo collection donated by Lynn Prichard in 1985. Other lesser collections were donated by the late Susan Arthur and late Ossie Burch, among others. One highlight cited by visitors is the large photo gallery lining the walls in the museum’s outer lobby. The following is a brief listing of categories currently used by museum staff:
- Aerial Views
- Flood Photos
- Historic Buildings: Court House, Court Square Scenes, Knox Street Scenes, North Main Street Scenes
- Business exteriors and interiors
- Church buildings and congregations
- Clubs and Organizations: Barbourville Woman’s Study Club, the Tuesday Club, Kiwanis Club, KKK Organization, the Red Man’s Organization, Fire Department and more
- Communities: Barbourville, Bailey’s Switch, Dewitt, Flat Lick, Gray, Lynn Camp, Mills, Kay Jay, Warren and more
- Daniel Boone Festival – 1948-present
- Dr. Thomas Walker – Replicas of first house in Kentucky over the years, the Walker Bicentennial Celebration in 1950
- Governor Flem D. Sampson – Portraits Governor James D. Black – Portraits and campaign poster
- Caleb Powers - Portraits
- Schools – These include 67 one-room schoolhouses in Knox County out of the 100 that existed, as well as numerous photos of local high schools, Union College, Barbourville Baptist Institute and more
- Various School Yearbooks filled with photos
- Political Card collection
- Military Photos – Includes collections of Howard Turner and Larry Hammons
- Sports – Various school and league teams over the years
- Individual Knox Countians over the years