The Corn Island Project: What disappears, What remains
Uncovering lost places, fragile records, and hidden histories—because what’s forgotten is often what matters most.
I’ve always been drawn to the history that fades: the places erased from maps, the voices never recorded, the ephemera tossed aside, and the details lost before they’re even written down.
Much of recorded history highlights the bold—wars, politicians, and events that shaped the world. But what about the stories that slip through the cracks? That’s the focus of my efforts here.
This project isn’t about Corn Island itself (though we may touch on it), but rather about what disappears and what remains. It serves as a lens for exploring lost and at-risk histories: forgotten places, fragile records, overlooked archives, and the community efforts striving to save them before they vanish.
Named for the island where Louisville’s earliest settlers once stood—an island ultimately swallowed by the river—this project is dedicated to uncovering and preserving history that might otherwise be lost. Through research, storytelling, and archival work, I focus on:
Genealogy & Family History – The personal stories that shape my understanding of the past and my journey to uncover and connect them.
At-Risk Collections – Fragile documents, photographs, and records on the brink of being forgotten, particularly those in my own backyard—Louisville, Kentucky.
Community Archival Efforts – The ongoing work of societies, museums, and individuals fighting to preserve history and make it accessible.
This is not a static endeavor. It’s a living exploration unfolding in a time when history itself is contested ground. What we choose to remember, whose voices we amplify, and how we preserve the past have never felt more urgent. Along the way, I’ll share stories, deep dives into archives, reflections on memory and place, and discussions on the importance of access and digitization. Some stories will be deeply personal—about family, heirlooms, and archival discoveries—while others will highlight broader efforts to protect our collective past.
As a genealogist, family historian, eighth-generation Kentuckian, and past president of the Kentucky Genealogical Society, I’ve spent years researching, documenting, and sharing history. My work centers on uncovering hidden narratives, preserving them, and ensuring they aren’t lost, while also helping others learn how to research, document, and safeguard their own histories. The Corn Island Project is an extension of that passion—a space for bringing forgotten histories to light, one story at a time.
Beyond genealogy, I wear many hats. One of them is caring for a parent living with dementia. Over the past six years, this experience has deepened my appreciation for the power of memory, the fragility of the past, and the importance of preserving what we can before it’s gone.
The Corn Island Project sits at the intersection of memory and loss, preservation and erasure, documentation and storytelling.
I invite you to follow along, share your own forgotten histories, and help uncover what time has tried to erase. Because what’s nearly forgotten is often what matters most.
Let’s begin.
What a lovely introduction to this remarkable project, and the man behind it.
It’s always good to know who we are what we’re trying to do. You said it well.