History
More than a century of Kentuckians in New York.
From a founding charter in 1904 to dinners at The Union League Club, here is the record we've kept, and are still adding to.
Our story
Organized May 4, 1904, as The Kentuckians.
The cover of the original Certificate of Incorporation.
The Kentuckians of New York Society was officially organized as a membership corporation under Chapter 559 of the Laws of 1895 of the State of New York on May 4, 1904. Its official name was THE KENTUCKIANS, and it had 18 founding directors (Trustees) and approximately 40 members.
According to its Certificate of Incorporation, the Kentuckians was formed to cultivate social and friendly relations among its members and to conserve interest and pride in Kentucky history.
The organization is governed and administered by an all-volunteer Board of Trustees who dedicate their time and resources to keep the spirit of the Bluegrass State alive and well in the Big Apple. It is funded through annual dues, revenue from its events and the generous support of corporate sponsors.
Today the Kentuckians continues to pursue its original purposes. Two major dinners are held each year, along with informal gatherings such as happy hours and game-watch parties at New York City bars, restaurants, clubs and members' homes. It remains a wonderful way to make new friends, rekindle old friendships, build business relationships and trade tips on everything New York City has to offer.
In 1999, under President Anne B. Korando, the Society's officers secured its classification as a 501(c)(3). As of today, The Kentuckians of New York functions as a society and is not a 501(c)(3).
Presidents
A record of our presidents
Our first president, John G. Carlisle, had served as Speaker of the U.S. House and Secretary of the Treasury. The humorist Irvin S. Cobb of Paducah led the Society from 1924 to 1926.
Current leadership: Caroline Kantor has served as president from 2022 to 2026. Angel Whittinghill becomes president in 2027.
This historical list reflects the records available for the site. For current leadership information, contact the Society at kyny1904@gmail.com.
The archive
Keeping the record
The Coombs Collection, 1904–1917
With help from the WKU Special Collections archive, we located memorabilia from the Coombs Collection: 82 pages of Kentuckians of New York and Society of Kentucky Women of New York documents from Mr. and Mrs. Coombs, dating from 1904 to 1917.
The 1999 records
Myra Leigh Tobin, president from 2001 to 2004 and a Life Trustee, contributed 22 documents from her time as treasurer in 1999, including newsletters, directory correspondence, dinner information and meeting minutes. That year, officers Anne B. Korando, Allen Kraus, Myra Tobin, Sean Sympson, Sarah Foster, Cathy Karutz and Dana Robinson secured the Society's 501(c)(3) status.
Help keep our history alive
If you have any Kentuckians of New York memorabilia, please email us so we can add it to our growing archive.
Member spotlight
John Austin Clark, hitting all the right notes
A Governor's School for the Arts alumnus and member of the Society, John is co-founder and Artistic Director of Bourbon Baroque, which performs music of the 17th and 18th centuries, from chamber music to full operatic productions. He trained at Oberlin Conservatory (B.M.) and McGill University (M.M. in harpsichord), and performs, coaches and directs in New York and beyond.