Membership is not required to establish a Kentucky Colonel Branch or to be listed in the Kentucky Colonel Registry

Kentucky Colonelcy, An Honorable Office (Since 1775)

A Kentucky Colonelcy is the greatest, most widely recognized and oldest honorary American civil officer commission in the world. To be recognized as a Kentucky Colonel, a civilian is granted letters patent under Kentucky (Virginia) Common Law and Customs, it is a license to conduct oneself as a colonel and invitation to adopt the honorable title as a prefix to their name. It was recently discovered based on research in 2021 that "colonels" were the most important figures in the Commonwealth's founding history dating back to 1775, they named the state after the river based on a word interpreted by Daniel Boone; the origins of colonelcy in America date back to 1651, the Colonial Act in 1775, the adoption of English Common Law in 1776 and the founding of the United States are among the most important. Most other US states were founded or settled by early civilian, company and county militia colonels, many from Kentucky.

Kentucky's Official Goodwill Ambassadors

Today there are more than 250,000 Kentucky colonels living in over 70 countries, many organizations have been formed since the turn of the 20th century to promote their activities, fraternity and social prosperity. While colonels today have no official responsibilities mandated, they are legally recognized as states's goodwill ambassadors due to their dedication to community service, contributions to the welfare of the state, and for improving the lives of others to make the world a better place for everyone.

The honorary title is warranted through letters patent which grants them the title "Colonel" recognizing them as "Honorable" through a commission as an officer on the governor's staff. Colonels optional duties are de facto and extra officio responsibilities of promoting tourism, economic development, participation in community service, fostering the general prosperity of the Commonwealth and projecting Kentucky's image abroad on behalf of the State and the Governor.

Colonels are in a great part responsible for more than 10 billion dollars per year to the Commonwealth's economy by boosting tourism and economic development. The Kentucky colonel began becoming recognized as the state's icon outside of Kentucky as early as 1875.

Illustration of the Kentucky Coat of Arms from 1876

"United We Stand, Divided We Fall"Kentucky Coat of Arms (c. 1876)
Image from Wikipedia

How to be a Modern Kentucky Colonel

All persons who wish to become a Kentucky colonel should read our website as if they are participating in a university level history/sociology course, treat our website like a Kentucky Colonel College Course (KCCC), we will never know where we are going unless we know where we started. Our upcoming book has all the resources you need to exemplify your honorary standing, start your own independent Kentucky colonels social group or an independent civil society organization in your own state or country. We also show colonels how to promote themselves better using their honorable title, while quaint, perhaps corny or even pomperous, is potentially impressive and serves well as an attention getter when it is used at the right moment. Read more in our Guide to the Office of Kentucky Colonelcy to make sure being a colonel is right for you. Also read what people are saying about the Kentucky Colonel Certificate at Indeed Certifications.

Some of the Kentucky colonel organizations where they came from, the benefits, duties and privileges of the office of colonelcy are mostly unimportant the focus is having earned the title, bestowing the great privilege of being permitted to support the organization that does great work in Kentucky, the Kentucky Colonels; the goal of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels as a charity is to dominate their supporters and give them a false sense of control so they created a fictitious militia with fake generals to steer the organization; it has nothing to do with exercising the duties or privileges of the office of colonelcy, or really much to do at all with any accountable historic events except their own. People that subscribe to the 1813 story and their charitable narrative actually believe the organization is an official authority of the state; but they are just another organization and a commercial business enterprise that sells products with an online website.

First website published about the Kentucky Colonel offering services to Kentucky colonels where a registry and other pages were present naming the colonels responsible for the website. © Kentucky Colonels (Title:Domain)

Before They Were Kentucky Colonels, They Must Have Been Commonwealth Colonels?

Our Creative Commons initiative introduced the first website "Kentucky Colonels" in 1998 to give prominence to Kentucky Colonelcy as an honorary status (civilian award of merit) with diplomatic credence that is respected and understood internationally. All those who have received the honorable title from the Governor of the Commonwealth are recognized as a traditional 'aide-de-camp' to their governor, this also designates them officially as a goodwill ambassador for the state with letters patent (a legal document) resulting in a lifetime officer's commission as an honorary colonel.

“We never surrender. We never hide from history. We make history.” -Senator John McCain, Kentucky Colonel

Few people know, but the Kentucky Colonel Commission (Kentucky Colonelcy) actually has its roots in the Commonwealth of Virginia, not in Kentucky, as many assume. Gov. Patrick Henry Jr. commissioned the first "colonel" to Kentucky County on December 21, 1776. It can also be said that the "first" Kentucky colonels were the pioneer statesmen who wrote the Kentucke Magna Charta, which included Colonel Daniel Boone, Colonel Richard Henderson, Colonel James Harrod and ten or more other colonels on May 23, 1775 at the end of the Wilderness Road in Boonesborough. We have identified many sources for Kentucky colonels since these early dates, this site is about where we believe it all began leading up to today. Traditionally, Common Law colonelcy was granted from one colonel to the next to establish forts, towns and villages to form colonial governments.

"In the Old Dominion statesmen should remember that Commonwealth Colonels are born, not made. " 1898

Our project here is dedicated to the historic origins of the "Kentucky Colonel" the first and original Kentucky pioneer and a great American cultural icon. Our website offers over 750 links to original references from American newspapers, literary works like encyclopedias, books, folklore, fiction and fact that illustrate the idea and how it became such a popular title. Kentucky colonels are responsible for most of the Commonwealth's firsts like thoroughbred horses 1775, whiskey in 1780, a university in 1780, 75 of its counties 1777-1851, first hemp crops in 1775-1784, horse racing in 1873, baseball in 1892 and a quartet in 1896. Ever since the book, A Kentucky Colonel by Opie Read in 1890, Kentucky colonels became popular across the United States. To truly understand how great Kentucky Colonelcy has become you must review our website.

Governor Patrick Henry, On December 21, 1776 he asserted the security of the Dominions of Virginia designating Colonels the Honorable George Rogers Clark and the Honorable John Bowman.

1. HOMEPAGE – “Kentucky Colonelcy: The Commonwealth’s Highest Honor”

Current URL: /
Proposed Role: Main hub for everything “Kentucky Colonel.”
Schema.org types (planned):

WebSite (for the whole domain)
WebPage (main page)
Possibly CollectionPage (because it links to multiple sections)

Draft Copy (Preview)

H1: Kentucky Colonelcy – The Commonwealth’s Highest Honor

Intro paragraph:

Kentucky Colonelcy is the highest honorary title of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, conferred through a formal commission by the Head of State. This site, KentuckyColonelcy.us, is an independent historical and civic reference dedicated to documenting the Kentucky Colonel as an institution, a civic class, and a living cultural tradition. We are not a state agency, and we are not affiliated with any private fundraising organization. Our role is to preserve the record, clarify the law and history, and help colonels and researchers understand what the title truly means.

[Information Needed: Topic – One-sentence tagline that captures your project identity in your own voice.]

Section 1: What Is a Kentucky Colonel?

H2: What Is a Kentucky Colonel?

A Kentucky Colonel is a person who has been commissioned by the Governor or Head of State and named in a formal document often referred to as letters patent or a commission certificate. The title is honorific and civic in nature: it recognizes individual merit and service, and historically represents a form of democratic leadership and goodwill ambassadorship associated with Kentucky.

Here you will find:

A clear definition of Kentucky Colonelcy as a public honorific commission.
The distinction between the Office of the Kentucky Colonel (the state function that issues commissions), the individual colonel, and the Kentucky Colonel Class.
Careful separation between the civic institution and various private organizations that use “Kentucky Colonels” as a brand or trademark.

Link: “Learn more on our page: What Is a Kentucky Colonel?”

[Information Needed: Topic – Exact phrasing you want for the “rights, privileges, and responsibilities appertaining thereto” so we can keep it historically accurate and legally cautious.]

Section 2: How to Become a Kentucky Colonel

H2: How Do You Become a Kentucky Colonel?

Kentucky Colonel commissions are traditionally granted by the Governor in recognition of service, leadership, or notable contributions to society, often on the recommendation of another person or public official. This site does not nominate, sell, or issue commissions. Instead, we explain:

The historical evolution of nomination and commissioning practices.
Modern expectations for evidence, documentation, and verification.
Common myths—such as “buying a title” or confusing donations with official recognition.

Link: “See our guide: How to Become a Kentucky Colonel”

[Information Needed: Topic – Concise description of the current nomination/commission process as you understand it, to be fact-checked and caveated.]

Section 3: The Kentucky Colonel Class, Council, and Associations

H2: The Kentucky Colonel Class and Its Associations

Over time, the body of all commissioned colonels has come to be understood as the Kentucky Colonel Class—a civic class of individuals recognized by the state but not owned by any private entity. Members of this class have historically formed independent clubs, councils, and associations to coordinate civic projects, charitable works, and fellowship.

On this site you will find:

An explanation of the Kentucky Colonel Class as a civic category.
The role of the Kentucky Colonel Council as a conceptual framework for self-governance among colonels.
Guidance on forming or participating in local, national, and international Kentucky Colonel Associations.

Link: “Explore more: Kentucky Colonel Class & Associations”

[Information Needed: Topic – Short description of how you want to define the “Kentucky Colonel Council” (conceptual council vs. formal body, membership rules, etc.).]

Section 4: Lists, Registry, and Famous Kentucky Colonels

H2: Lists, Registries, and Famous Kentucky Colonels

People around the world search for “list of Kentucky colonels” and “famous Kentuckians.” Our role is to separate rumor from documented fact by building:

A Notable Kentucky Colonels list, focusing on colonels with documented public recognition.
A Registry methodology that explains how colonels can be documented or verified in historical and modern records.
The difference between an illustrative public list and any private database or membership roll.

Link:

“Browse our Notable Kentucky Colonels.”
“Read about our Registry Methodology & Governance.”

[Information Needed: Topic – Whether you plan to expose a partial public registry, and if so, how many names / what fields (name, year of commission, source, etc.).]

Section 5: The True History of Kentucky Colonelcy

H2: The History of Kentucky Colonelcy

From early frontier governance in the 18th century through the 19th and 20th centuries, the Kentucky Colonel has appeared in legal documents, newspapers, literature, and civic life. This site curates:

A documented timeline from 1775 to the present.
Scanned primary documents such as commissions, letters, directories, and newspaper clippings.
A critical history that distinguishes documented facts from later myths and marketing narratives.

Link: “Visit our History & Documentation Archive.”

[Information Needed: Topic – Confirm the earliest documented use of the phrase “Kentucky Colonel” (with cited source) you want to anchor here.]

Section 6: Legal Status & Trademarks

H2: Legal Status: Title, Class, and Trademarks

The term “Kentucky Colonel” describes a public honorific title and the civic class of people who hold it. Separately, some private organizations have registered trademarks and built fundraising programs around similar phrases, including “Kentucky Colonels” and related marks.

This site explains:

The legal distinction between a public title and a private trademark.
The roles of nonprofit organizations and for-profit companies that use “Kentucky Colonels” in commerce.
Why membership in the Kentucky Colonel Class does not require joining or donating to any particular private organization.

Link: “Read our page: Legal Status & Trademarks.”

[Information Needed: Topic – Very short, neutral summary of your current litigation posture that we can later expand on the Legal page.]

Section 7: Symbols, Badges, Credentials, and Support

H2: Badges, Credentials, and Civic Support

This project also develops private symbolic tools—such as badges, credentials, and commemorative items—that help colonels express their identity and support the archival work. These items are voluntary, non-governmental, and never a substitute for a state-issued commission.

Explanation of Badge™, Credential™, and Coin™ as private, symbolic devices.
Clear code of use, emphasizing integrity and accuracy.
Transparent explanation of how funds support research, archiving, and publishing.

Link: “See: Symbols & Civic Support Tools.”

[Information Needed: Topic – A brief funding transparency statement: where support goes, how you keep accounts, etc.]

Section 8: About, News, and Contact

H2: About the Project, News, and Contact

KentuckyColonelcy.us is managed by a small group of Kentucky Colonels and researchers committed to preserving accurate history and empowering colonels worldwide with facts instead of myths.

About page – project mission, independence, and editorial standards.
News / Blog – updates, research findings, and commentary.
Contact – how colonels, historians, journalists, and institutions can reach the Kentucky Colonel Council.

Links:

“Learn more About This Project.”
“Read the latest on Kentucky Colonel News.”
“Contact the Kentucky Colonel Council.”

[Information Needed: Topic – One-line “who we are” description you’re comfortable publishing (e.g., “Founded by Kentucky colonels in [year] as an independent historical initiative…”).]

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