Keeneland library receives NEH grant

The Keeneland Library has been awarded a National Endowment for the

Humanities Preservation Assistance Grant for Smaller Institutions to aid in

preserving two special collections involving acclaimed photographer Bert Morgan

and renowned caricaturist Pierre "Peb" Bellocq.

The grant will enable the Keeneland Library Preservation Project to purchase

preservation supplies to properly house the collections as they are being

inventoried and assessed. The project will specifically target 20,000 of the

200,000 photographic negatives in poorest condition contained in the Bernard

Stanley Morgan Photographic Negative Collection, 1935-1961, and 4,000 works of

art from the Pierre Bellocq "Peb" Drawings, Caricatures and Cartoon Collection,

1945-present.

"The NEH award is a sort of 'stamp of approval' that acknowledges the

national significance of the Keeneland Library collections," said Becky Ryder,

director of the Keeneland Library. "The award also paves the way for future

preservation proposals to NEH and other funding agencies. Current success can

parlay into future success."

The Bert Morgan collection comprises photographic negatives covering the New

York and Florida racing circuits during the 1930s and 1940s. Morgan, who

pioneered the "below the rail" shot of the winner approaching the finish line,

captured Thoroughbred racing's most celebrated horses, jockeys, owners and

trainers, as well as finish line shots and winner's circle presentations. Many

of Morgan's photographs have been published in national magazines and were

included in exhibits at the Keeneland Library as well as promotional materials

for the movie Seabiscuit.

For the Bellocq Collection, the Keeneland Library will work to preserve the

first 4,000 of the approximately 5,000 original pieces of artwork covering

prominent members of the Thoroughbred industry, its athletes and major events

over the years. Throughout his artwork, Peb addressed political commentary and

historical trends, such as the increased role of women in the industry and

globalization of the sport. In the fall of 2009, in conjunction with the

Daily Racing Form and Keeneland, Bellocq donated his collection to the

Keeneland Library.

Ryder will oversee the year-long project, undertaken with the assistance of

graduate students from the University of Kentucky's School of Library and

Information Science.

"The award allows us to enact preservation strategies on two valuable

collections -- one in imperiled condition -- to ensure their long-term

accessibility," she said.

Established in 1939, the Keeneland Library is a research/reference library

that serves as one of the world's largest repositories of information related to

Thoroughbred racing, housing more than 225,000 photograph negatives, thousands

of newspaper articles, 10,000 volumes and 1,500 videocassettes.