Many Faces of Mel Hankla
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Mel Stewart Hankla
Historian, Educator, Craftsman
Historian, Educator, Craftsman
Mel Hankla is a collector, researcher, speaker and writer of Kentucky’s heritage and an authority on the history surrounding the Kentucky Longrifle. He is a past president of the Contemporary Longrifle Association and editor of American Tradition magazine. He is a builder of traditional Kentucky Longrifles and in 1984 was awarded a National Endowment of the Arts grant to apprentice with master riflesmith Hershel House.
A historical actor, he has worked 18 years with the Kentucky Humanities Council presenting Chautauqua characters of frontiersman Simon Kenton and Gen. George Rogers Clark.
Most recently he was cast for the leading roll, in the PBS documentary, An Audacious American, the story of abolitionist Cassius Marcellus Clay.
A noted writer, he has contributed articles to many publications and is currently working on a book, "Up the Valley & Thru the Gap - Following the migration of Kentucky's Rifle Smiths." Lectures reporting his research towards the publication of this book have been presented to: The Kentucky Rifle Association, The Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation, The Kentucky Historical Society, The Owen County Historical Society, and will be presented at the 2014 Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA) Conference on Southern Material Culture, October 23-25.
To discuss a historic program or educational lecture for your group or organization, please call or email.
A historical actor, he has worked 18 years with the Kentucky Humanities Council presenting Chautauqua characters of frontiersman Simon Kenton and Gen. George Rogers Clark.
Most recently he was cast for the leading roll, in the PBS documentary, An Audacious American, the story of abolitionist Cassius Marcellus Clay.
A noted writer, he has contributed articles to many publications and is currently working on a book, "Up the Valley & Thru the Gap - Following the migration of Kentucky's Rifle Smiths." Lectures reporting his research towards the publication of this book have been presented to: The Kentucky Rifle Association, The Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation, The Kentucky Historical Society, The Owen County Historical Society, and will be presented at the 2014 Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA) Conference on Southern Material Culture, October 23-25.
To discuss a historic program or educational lecture for your group or organization, please call or email.