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.