Carl Thomas

The Filson Historical Society, Inc. is a privately supported nonprofit dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing history and culture. The private company is based in Louisville, KY. It maintains extensive collections—including manuscripts, photographs, artifacts, textiles, rare books, and digital archives—that serve as resources for researchers. The society operates a research library offering in-person and remote research services and engages the public through programs such as rotating exhibits, lectures, house tours, conferences, and educational initiatives. It publishes a peer-reviewed quarterly journal featuring scholarship on regional history, including work on African American experiences and social justice, and offers fellowships supporting artists and community historians. The African American History Initiative, launched in 2023, expands efforts to collect, preserve, and share Black history and culture in the Ohio Valley. The society encourages public involvement through memberships, donations, legacy giving, and artifact adoption programs. The company was founded in 1884. The CEO is Richard H. C. Clay.