Adopted Artifacts
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Through our Adopt an Artifact program, people like you are helping protect and conserve the over 30,000 artifacts in our collections. We rely entirely on public donations for collections care, ensuring that our artifacts remain on display and in good condition through a process called "conservation." In the gallery below, you can browse items that were adopted during our SpiritFunder campaign that began the program. Adoptions are ongoing and available at a variety of levels.
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2000.53.1
#44 basketball jersey worn by All American Jim McDaniels, 1969-1971. Adopted by Angela Jerome
2009.155.1
Child's farm wagon painted green and white with a wagon box that lifts off the undercarriage, a "1940" plate affixed to the front of the wagon box, and wheels that are pulleys with rubber tires. Adopted by Tom and Portia Pennington
1974.34.1
Circa 1900 cast iron horse-drawn steam pumper. Adopted by Courtney Caulk
1983.43.421
Oversize William Goebel political button or plaque (1899 gubernatorial campaign). Adopted by Thomas Tyler Clark
1987.12.6
Painting of an African American family in a farm wagon going to work in the fields. While the parents ride in the front of the wagon, two children ride in the back. The artist, Helen LaFrance Orr, noted that this work is based on childhood memories. Adopted by Harvey and Sarah Johnston
KM2015.19.2
Gaming wheel used at Beech Bend Park, 1930s. Adopted by Jeffrey A. Barefoot
1979.2.2
"Wedding at Mammoth Cave" by Clement Reeves Edwards is a masterful treatment of light and dark.It depicts a group of people, possibly a wedding party, gathered inside the Bridal Chamber of Gothic Avenue in Mammoth Cave. Adopted by Harvey and Sarah Johnston
1993.5.1
The Museum collection includes several pieces of South Union Shaker furniture including this circa 1825 candlestand. Adopted by Susanna Pyatt
2011.101.1
Alla Gilbert, In Play II, was the 2011 US Bank: Celebration of the Arts Purchase Award. Adopted by Harvey and Sarah Johnston
2010.115.1
Soundesign phonograph, AM/FM stereo recorder, and eight track player. Brenda Woodacquired this in 1979 on her 16th birthday. Adopted by Kirsten Kellerberger
1975.18.1
School Children Fund dime bank No. 392.Sent to schools around Kentucky, they were returned with dimes that helped raise money to build the Kentucky Building. Adopted by Jeffrey A. Barefoot.
KM2019.16.2
Half bushel basket made by Mammoth Cave area basketmaker Lestel Childress. Adopted by Sharon Kreke
2010.144.1
Stockcar helmet used at Beech Bend Park, Bowling Green, KY, 1942. Larry Graham was the driver. Adopted by Angela Jerome
2011.192.1
Letter sweater for tennis. Adopted by Tom and Portia Pennington
1999.48.7
Ca. 1895 Rival miniature cast iron stove. Adopted by Tom and Portia Pennington
2004.43.2
Johnny West action figure, 1967-77.Played with by a child in west Louisville. The Johnny West collection was adopted by Pamela Elrod.
KM2013.57.28
Set of four Elastolin Vikings that Brant Stevens of Louisville played with as a child. Adopted by Darlene Applegate
KM2017.31.1
Lidded white oak basket made by Paul Rich of Mammoth Cave, KY. Adopted by Scott Gilbert and Beth Hester
1984.12.2
Henry Clay election or campaign pipe. Adopted by Joe and Amy Ross
2001.17.22
I Like Ike Peace and Prosperity sunglasses. Adopted by Katie Muchmore
KM2016.43.2
Clown made from leftover fabric scraps by Beatrice Jackson who was employed at Union Underwear from 1941 to 1965. Adopted by C.J. Johanson
1983.43.44
1952 pennant promoting Alben Barkley for President. Adopted by Douglas and Tamela Smith
1983.43.326
Henry clay commemorative medal. Adopted by Joe and Amy Ross
KM2017.7.1
Pink "pussy hat" worn at the Women's March on Washington that took place on January 21, 2017. Adopted by Sally Kuhlenschmidt
KM2015.14.1
"Smoking Spaniard" by C. David Jones.Artwork won the Purchase Award at the 2015 U.S. Bank Celebration of the Arts Open Art Competition. Adopted by Harvey and Sarah Johnston
1944.1.5
Circa 1890 lace trimmed basque made by the Mrs. A. H. Taylor Company worn by Jane Elizabeth (Potter) Robertson. Adopted by Dr. Carrie Cox
1986.13.30
The Beatles "Yellow Submarine" Pop-Out figures.The figures in book form sold for $1 in 1968. Adopted by LaDonna Wells Rowe
2009.34.28
Model VV- X Victor Talking Machine Co. Victrola.Made around 1916, this model Victrola was part of the estate of longtime WKU adminstrator Dr. Henry Hardin. Adopted by Jeffrey A. Barefoot
KM2017.19.1
Basket made by Leona Waddell, who was named a NEA National Heritage Fellow recipient in 2016. Adopted by Dr. David and Laura Lee
KM2016.39.1
Elizabeth Gossom Roberts Sampler, 1836.Warren County, KY.The sampler text reads: The first text block reads: "William Gossom and Elizabeth Buckley was married the 25 of December 1797"; the second reads: "Names (?) of my brothers and sisters.Those trees will chance regain their bloom.When I am withered (?) in the tomb then will my friends who now are dear bare my memory with a tear"; and the third reads: "Edwin T. Roberts and Elizabeth Gossom was married the 20 of December 1836.Edwin T. Roberts was born August 7, 1809.Elizabeth Gossom was born June 18, 1819." Adopted by members of the Sampler Consortium
1974.4.1
Sarcophagus of an Egyptian child, circa New Kingdom period. Adopted by Dr. Delroy Hire.
1984.45.2
Homemade sign autographed by John Kennedy, William H. Natcher, and Earle J. Clement during Kennedy's campaign stop in Bowling Green in October 1960. Adopted by Anne E. McKee
2004.78.2
Game ball from the 1971 NCAA men's basketball semifinals. Adopted by Angela Jerome
1973.17.1
E. Sophonisba Hergesheimer painted this portrait of Dr. Henry Hardin Cherry sitting in his office with the Kentucky Building in the background in 1939, the year the Kentuck Building was officially dedicated. Adopted by Mark and Ladonna Hunton
KM2013.9.1
Early 19th century three-draw spy glass reportedly carried by Sir John Richardson, a surgeon and naturalist who was assigned to the first and second expeditions (1819 and 1824) of Richard Franklin to the Canadian Arctic. Adopted by Kristina Arnold
2006.174.1
Alice Gatewood Waddell, Fifty Years of Diversity, 2006.Painting of an African American WKU student wearing a graduation gown and the stoles of various African-American sororities, fraternities, and honor societies. Adopted by Dr. Sam and Dr. Mary Evans
KM2012.5.2
Western Kentucky State College football pennant, probably 1950s. Adopted by Tom and Portia Pennington
KM2017.9.1
Donald Trump "Make America Great Again" cap (2016 presidential campaign). Adopted by Stan and Gretchen Herren
2008.147.1
A Warren County native, Fred Lewis was a professional instrumentalist and an instructor at the Harman Conservatory in Indianapolis, IN, from the 1930s through the mid-1940s when he returned to Bowling Green, KY.He played this Supro six string Hawaiian lap steel guitar. Adopted by Donna and Bruce Schulte.
2008.11.5
Trophy awarded To Larry Grahamfor winning the 1951 Regional championship during the first year of stock car racing at Beech Bend in Bowling Green, KY. Adopted by Angela Jerome.
2006.78.1
Hand-hooked rug made by Kate Williams of Logan County. Adopted by Suzanne Payne.
2001.1.4
The quilt was presented to the father of George Kerr, the Reverend Daniel Farmer (D. F.) Kerr (3/1/1849-7/10/23), by the women in one of the congregations he served. Kerr, a Methodist Episcopal minister who at various times was a circuit rider and chaplain of the state prison at Eddyville, founded and was the first minister of Kerr United Methodist Episcopal Church in Bowling Green. The latter church eventually became known as Kerr Memorial Methodist Church. In the late 1990s, the congregations of Kerr Memorial and West Side Methodist Church, its former mission church, reunited to form Faith United Methodist Church on Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Bowling Green. Adopted by Mike and Leigh Harper.
1956.5.8/4118
McLoughlin Brothers ABC Animal Blocks toy, copyrighted 1885. Adopted by Tom and Portia Pennington.
1949.22.1/3089
Cloth African American mother and child dolls that the donors, Snoddy, Mae Trigg (1884-1956) and Carden, Maude (Snoddy) (1884-1966) of Hart County, made when they were children. Their dolls were nicknamed Dinah and Sarah. Adopted by Todd Bandrowsky & Holly Hudnall-Bandrowsky, Evee, and Garrett.
2009.7.14
Barbie Outfit #979 "Friday Night Date."Louisville native and WKU alum Pam Elrod dressed her Barbie dolls in this outfit. Adopted by Pamela Elrod.
Want to adopt an artifact?
- $20 - 1 artifact in Political Memorabilia
- $30 - 1 artifact in Toys and Games
- $50 - 1 artifact in Sports
- $100 - 1 artifact in Business, Doll, Music, or Science & Technology
- $250 - 1 artifact in Fine, Folk, and Decorative Art
- $500 - 1 artifact in Quilt and Historic Textiles
- $1,000 - 1 Historic Costume
Click here for the list of artifacts available for adoption.
To adopt an artifact, please donate via this link and write the "Object ID" from the list in the additional information box.
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