The Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition (CWGK) is a freely-accessible online collection of historical documents associated with the chief executives of the state. Despite its title, CWGK is not about the five governors. It is about reconstructing the lost lives and voices of tens of thousands of Kentuckians—white or Black; free and enslaved; Unionist or Confederate—who interacted with the office of the governor between 1860 and 1865. CWGK is working to identify, research, and link together every person, place, and organization found in its documents. This web of hundreds of thousands of networked nodes will dramatically expand the number of actors in Kentucky and U.S. history, show scholars new patterns and hidden relationships, and recognize the humanity and agency of historically marginalized people.

CWGK is a living digital archive that looks to inspire research and help visitors learn more about Kentucky. To aid in that discovery process, CWGK has developed a user's guide. If you are interested in learning more about the project’s development, our editorial policies, document selection, and report on Omeka for documentary editions, will provide more information. 

Digital publication of this site was supported through the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. To learn more about this site and the project, click here.