About Broomsedge Chronicles History | Past Issues | Future Issues | Availability Sample Stories | Submission Information

A Short History of Broomsedge Chronicles
When Loretta Martin Murrey was a child, she grew up listening to her father tell the stories that his father, grandfather, and uncles told him.  This sense of the oral history tradition of South Central Kentucky gave Dr. Murrey an appreciation for the importance of story-telling that carried over into her career as an English professor.  Often story tellers are older members of the community, and if their stories are not recorded they die with the story teller.  Dr. Murrey decided to preserve those stories.

Dr. Murrey utilizes the opportunity for story recording in the English classes she teaches at the Glasgow Campus.  She gives students the option of interviewing and recording story tellers and their stories.  Aside from preserving heritage through stories, these interviews help get students into the community.  The students make the connection between what they do in the classroom and what they do outside the classroom by interviewing and writing for class.

Dr. Murrey started publishing the interviews in the spring of 1992, but she started collecting in 1983.  So far, thirteen issues of the Broomsedge Chronicles have been published, one issue being published each spring and fall semester.

The Broomsedge Chronicles is published topically, but students can interview on any subject.  When a new publication comes out, Dr. Murrey advertises what is being published and who it is written by and about in the local newspapers in the surrounding counties.  This allows interested people the opportunity to purchase a copy.  Dr. Murrey also said that former students call her to tell her, "I forgot I wrote that!" when they are surprised to see their name in the paper.  Sadly, sometimes the interviews published are made even more special when the person interviewed has passed away.

Previous Issues of Broomsedge Chronicles

Future Issues of Broomsedge Chronicles

Where to Find Copies of Broomsedge Chronicles
A complete set of Broomsedge Chronicles is located in the WKU-Glasgow Library, Kentucky Museum, and the Museum of the Barrens in Glasgow. Various current and past issues may be purchased at the following locations:

last updated: 6.25.98