UK Libraries celebrates fundraising milestone for Terry L. Birdwhistell Distinguished Professorship

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 7, 2026) — University of Kentucky Libraries recently announced the successful completion of its $1 million fundraising campaign to create the Dr. Terry L. Birdwhistell Distinguished Professorship at the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History. This achievement honors the legacy of Terry L. Birdwhistell, Ph.D., whose decades of service as an oral history pioneer, libraries administrator, and dean of UK Libraries left an indelible mark on the university and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

“This endowment will be a true differentiator for the Nunn Center,” said Doug Way, dean of UK Libraries. “Thanks to the support of our very generous supporters we can look forward to doing more and even better oral history and maintain the Nunn Center’s status as one of the preeminent oral history programs in the country.”

In 2023, the campaign was established as a lasting tribute to Birdwhistell’s legacy and impact on the Nunn Center. Since then, more than 140 supporters, friends and alumni have responded with overwhelming generosity which recently culminated with a transformative anonymous gift of $500,000 in September 2025 when Birdwhistell was inducted into the UK’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni.

Selfless, thoughtful and generous, Birdwhistell is fondly remembered as “Kentucky’s keeper of stories.”  Through his work at the Nunn Center, where he served as founding director, he became nationally prominent for his work as an oral historian.

In nearly 1,000 oral history interviews, Birdwhistell documented the lives of the powerful and famous, such as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Lady Bird Johnson, Kentucky governors, senators and University of Kentucky presidents. He also spoke to Kentuckians in each of the state’s 120 counties, preserving the histories and stories of many who were otherwise powerless or voiceless, including Vietnam veterans and members of the Frontier Nursing Service who struggled to bring primary care to Eastern Kentucky.

“Dr. Birdwhistell shared the experiences of others in ways that remind us that the power of connections can better unite us," said UK President Eli Capilouto. “He told the stories of our university and our state in ways that made us one people, despite our differences. We are better for it.”

The Dr. Terry L. Birdwhistell Distinguished Professorship will help advance the work of the Nunn Center by allowing it to attract and retain the best and brightest leaders in the field. Funding from the distinguished professorship will also provide essential professional and research support for the individual holding the position, enabling them to further the center’s mission and impact. This professorship will help elevate the Nunn Center and serve as a reminder of Birdwhistell’s remarkable contributions to the University of Kentucky and beyond.

UK Libraries extends its deepest gratitude to all who contributed to this campaign. The support has made it possible to honor Birdwhistell while also cementing the Nunn Center as a leader for oral history.

As the premier research library in the Commonwealth, UK Libraries empowers lifelong learners to discover, create and connect by providing ever-expanding access to quality information and collaborating with academic and creative communities worldwide to advance knowledge, enhance scholarship and preserve the history and culture of the Commonwealth. More information about UK Libraries can be found at libraries.uky.edu.