Books for Sale
The Hardin County Historical Society is pleased to offer the publications below that document and tell the colorful stories of Hardin County’s history.

Download an order form.

Order forms and payments can be mailed to the society or turned into the Treasurer at any of the Society’s regular meetings.

A History of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, by Samuel Haycraft, 1869, reprint 2006, hb - $24.00
This hardback describes Elizabethtown’s history in detail from 1779 to 1869 by tradition and the recollections of the author regarding Elizabethtown’s prominent residents, structures, businesses and occurrences.

A Pictorial History of Elizabethtown & Hardin County, by Guy Winstead, 1989, hb - $30.00
Black & white photos of Elizabethtown’s and Hardin County’s past and the people who made Hardin County what it is today. Begins with sketches of the pioneer days of Kentucky, up to the local historical houses.

A Series of Monographs Concerning the Lincolns and Hardin
County, Kentucky, by R. Gerald McMurtry, 1938, 2nd printing 1999, hb - $18.00
Selected monographs from those published from November 28, 1935– April 29, 1937 in the Hardin County Enterprise about the Lincolns and their residence in Hardin County.

Barney, A Forgotten Hero – The story of Commodore Joshua
Barney and his Connection with Elizabethtown, Kentucky, by George K. Holbert, 1943: Reprint 1998 - $3.00
This pamphlet tells of the exploits of Revolutionary War and War of 1812 naval hero Joshua Barney and his connection with Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

Ben Hardin Helm, by R. Gerald McMurtry, 1943, 2nd printing 1999, hb - $18.00
This book describes in detail the life of Ben Hardin Helm from his relationship with Abraham Lincoln, to his involvement in the Civil War. After his death, it further follows his widow, Emilie, as she spends time in the White House and later becomes Postmistress of Elizabethtown.

Chronicles of Hardin County, 1766-1974, compiled by Mrs. Winstead, 1974, hb - $10.00
Dates and summarizes the important historical events that made Kentucky and Hardin County what it is today.

Diamonds, Rubies and Sand – The story of Philip Arnold of
the Great Diamond Fraud and his Connection with
Elizabethtown, Kentucky, by Margaret S. Richerson & Mary Jo Jones, 1999, 22 pp, pb - $6.00
This work examines Elizabethtown native Philip Arnold’s life as a miner, his participation in the Great Diamond Fraud, his return to Elizabethtown, Kentucky and his legal problems.

East Side Chronicle 1928, reprint 20-00, pb - $3.00
A school journal published by the sophomore and junior classes of East Side High School telling of life at the high school. Includes articles from the students, pictures of a few of them, and old advertisements of the time.

Elizabethtown & Hardin County 1869-1921, by H.A. Sommers, 2001, 199 pp., pb - $20.00
This book is the complement to Haycraft’s and takes up where he left off describing the history of Elizabethtown from 1869 to 1921 in great detail.

Elizabethtown, Kentucky 1779-1879, by R. Gerald McMurtry, 1938: reprint 1959 - $3.00
This pamphlet discusses the first 100 years of Elizabethtown’s existence.

Facts about Elizabethtown and Hardin County, 1923, compiled by Leroy Martin, 1923, reprint 1987 - $5.00
This paperback tells little odds-and-ends facts about Elizabethtown during the 1920 time period.

George Armstrong Custer in Elizabethtown, 1871-1873, by Mary Jo Jones, 1998 - $3.00
This pamphlet describes Custer’s two years of residence in Elizabethtown.

Glimpses of Elizabethtown’s Past, Hardin County Historical Society, 1998 - $3.00
This pamphlet describes bits and pieces of Elizabethtown’s past from the forgotten customs to the old Hambleton College.

Hardin County and Her Part in World War II by W.M. Boling, 1948, reprint 2000 - $5.00
This paperback lists all of the Hardin Countians that fought in World War II and all of the volunteer services and Red Cross services that Hardin County provided during the war, and more.

Hardin Heritage – The Historic Architecture of Hardin County, Kentucky, by Hardin County Planning and Development Commission , 1986, 213 pp - $10.00
This paperback provides an inventory of the important architecture of Hardin County.

Who Was Who in Hardin County, 177 pages, pb, $15.00. 
Compiled in 1946 by various members of the Hardin County Historical Society.  Reprint 2005, with corrections.  This book contains sketches of 177 early residents of Elizabethtown and Hardin County, ranging from the pioneer settlers of 1780 to prominent residents of the early 20th century.

James Buchanan in Kentucky, 1813, by R. Gerald McMurtry, 1934; reprint 2000 $3.00
This pamphlet details the 15th President of the United States James Buchanan’s short stay when he lived in Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

Nostalgia – The Olde Bethlehem Academy, by Edith Ray, 1982, hb - $25.00
This book provides the history of the Bethlehem Academy, a Catholic girls’ boarding school. The book reflects on the Academy’s operation, closing and subsequent restoration of the building.

Sarah Bush Lincoln, Elizabethtown’s Woman’s Club, 1922 - $1.00
This is a brochure telling of the memorial in Sarah Lincoln’s name that is in the town square and why it was erected also including a copy of the marriage license of Thomas Lincoln and Sarah Bush Johnston.

September 1900 Supplement to The Elizabethtown News,
reprint 1999, pb - $8.00
This publication celebrates the new millennium in Hardin County with pictures, advertisements and articles from September 1900.

The Bond – Washington Story, by Lottie Offet Robinson, reprint 2000, 159 pp, hb - $20.00
This book tells of the Bond-Washington High school in Elizabethtown for African Americans, before the Civil Rights act, through the eyes of a former teacher.

The Carrie Nation – J.R. Neighbors Incident, by Mary Josephine Jones, 1998 - $3.00
This pamphlet describes the incident between a temperance leader, Carrie Nation, and Elizabethtown saloon keeper, J.R. Neighbors and the aftermath.

The Civil War in Hardin County, Kentucky, by Mary Josephine Jones, 1995; revised 1999, pb - $10.00
This book reflects on the War between the States and the impact on Hardin County from the election of Abraham Lincoln to Union occupation and Confederate Raids.

The Kentucky Lincolns on Mill Creek, by R. Gerald McMurtry, 1937; reprint 1999, hb - $18.00
This book provides an insight into the Lincolns’ lives in Kentucky, including pictures of their home and the grave yard where some members of the family now rest.

The Lincoln Migration from Kentucky to Indiana, 1816, by R. Gerald McMurtry, 1937; reprint 1999, 46 pp, pb - $5.00
This paperback chronicles the life of the Thomas Lincoln as he moves his family from Kentucky to Indiana.

The Lincolns In Elizabethtown, Kentucky, by R. Gerald McMurtry, 1932, reprint 2000 - $3.00
This pamphlet describes in detail where the different members of the Lincoln family lived in Elizabethtown, how long they lived here, and what they did during the time they were here.

Two Centuries in Elizabethtown and Hardin County, 1776- 1976by Daniel E. McClure, Jr., 1979; reprint 1999 hb - $75.00
This book presents the History of Elizabethtown and Hardin County through a series of short stories from the Indians and Pioneers to World War II and Elizabethtown Community College.

Revised Index for Two Centuries in Elizabethtown and Hardin County included with purchase of book (2001, 19pp, pb).

The United States Army at Fort Knox, by Matthew Rector.  128 pages. pb. $20.00.
This is a pictorial history in the Images of America series.  The work covers the beginning of Fort Knox and World War I and its aftermath in the period, 1903 – 1931; the history of the development of and armor build –up period, 1932 – 1940; World War II, 1941 – 1945, and post World War II, 1946 – 1958.

Elizabethtown, by Meranda L. Caswell. 128 pages, pb, $20.00.
This is a pictorial history in the Images of America series. It looks at various areas of the city, its people, and educational opportunities, stressing the development of these areas of the town from the late 1800’s to about 1925.

Hardin County, by Meranda L. Caswell. 128 pages, pb, $20.00.
This is a pictorial history in the Images of America series. This is a work which discusses the various towns in Hardin County, their development and their people, primarily in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Many of the photographs come from the hitherto unpublished collection of the Brown-Pusey Library in Elizabethtown.

Download an order form.