Kentucky Research Roadtrips
Where are the records?Let’s go find them together.
Some discoveries can’t happen behind a screen. We’re hitting the road to the places where Kentucky’s records actually live — together.
Destination
Duncan Tavern/John Fox Jr. Genealogical Library
Date
September 12, 2026
Time>
10:00a – 4:15pm
What a road trip unlocks
Taking a research road trip offers several unique advantages that digital archives simply can’t replicate. Given your focus on Kentucky research, here are some key benefits:
Access to Offline Records
Many local resources—like courthouse deeds, church ledgers, or vertical files have never been digitized or made available online. Being there in person allows you to flip through pages that aren't behind a paywall.Expert Local Knowledge
Local librarians and volunteers at historical societies or archives often have deep, specialized knowledge of the area’s families and migrations that isn't captured in a database.Incidental Discoveries
While at a local archive or historical society, you might stumble upon a mention of your ancestor in a newspaper, a school yearbook, or a diary that wouldn't show up in a targeted name search online.Networking with Kentuckians
You’re more likely to run into distant relatives or researchers working on the same lines or geographical area while visiting local repositories, leading to shared research, images, or documents.
Our Next Roadtrip
Destination: the Genealogical Library
Tour & Research Day
Duncan Tavern/John Fox Jr. Genealogical Library
"In a digital age, what makes a trip to the physical archives worthwhile to a family historian? Meet up at Duncan Tavern for tour and research day to find out!"
Your seat awaits
21
spots only
Free to attend
Free for members — the only cost is an admission fee of $11 per person from Duncan Tavern. The fee is due at sign up and is nonrefundable, even if you cancel the trip.
What You'll Learn
In a digital age, what makes a trip to the physical archives worthwhile to a family historian? Meet up at Duncan Tavern for tour and research day to find out. In a small group, you will tour the historic Duncan Tavern, home to the Kentucky Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, learn about the collection and how to access archival materials. Then you will have time to put that knowledge into practice through research in the John Fox Jr. Genealogical Library.This library holdings include extensive collections about Kentucky counties and families, as well as records from the states many Kentuckian’s families originated: Virginia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Family files, including many linked to Revolutionary War Patriots, are also stored here.
The Experience
21members max — an intimate group
Freeto attend — pay $11 admission fee for Duncan Tavern
The tour is at no charge from the Kentucky Genealogical Society, however there is an admission fee of $11 per person from Duncan Tavern. The fee is due at sign up and is nonrefundable, even if you cancel the trip.
You should arrive at Duncan Tavern by 10:00 a.m. to be greeted and given a tour of this historic building, built in the mid 1790’s. In 1941, the tavern was recused and preserved by the Kentucky Society Daughters of the American Revolution (KSDAR). After the tour, you will be given an introduction to the John Fox Jr. Genealogical Library and meet their research volunteers. The group will break for lunch on your own at noon and return at 1:00 p.m. to research in the Library until 4:15 p.m.
To join us, select “Register”. [Be sure you are signed into “Member Login” before registering.]
Not a Member?
Join the Society — and ride along for free
If you are not a member, you can choose to join the Society and join this road trip. You will also have free access to all our educational webinars in the upcoming year as well as access to all of our past webinars in the Learning Library. And we are planning more exciting road trips in the future that you will not want to miss. Join today!- Free access to all educational webinars in the year ahead
- Every past webinar in the Learning Library
- More roadtrips coming — you won't want to miss them