Kentucky African American Encyclopedia subject of presentations by co-editor Gerald Smith and Berea College researchers, Wednesday, 1-2 p.m., July 23 at Madison County Public Library in Berea

The Kentucky African American Encyclopedia (KAAE), a work currently in the research stages, will provide a comprehensive volume of research on the black experience in the Commonwealth.  The public is invited to come and learn more about the project as well as provide assistance in identifying people, places, events and institutions in our region to be included in the comprehensive encyclopedia.

In addition to Smith, students and faculty from Berea College will give presentations on their work-in-progress related to the KAAE project.  The students and faculty are members of a summer Undergraduate Research Project team and include students Debra Bullock and Kim T. Dung and faculty Andrew Baskin, associate professor of African and African American Studies, and Jackie Burnside, professor of sociology.

Dr. Smith is a native of Lexington and an associate professor in the department of history at the University of Kentucky.  He also is pastor of the Farristown Baptist Church in Berea.  He is the author, editor and coeditor of three books, including co-editing six of “The Papers of Martin Luther King Jr.:  Advocate of the Social Gospel, September 1948-March 1963.”  Dr. Smith holds bachelor and masters degrees in American history from UK and a Ph.D. in history from UK with a concentration in urban and African American history.