Marcella McKenna distillery collection, 1858-1942 (bulk dates), 1824-1945

Descriptive Summary

Title
Marcella McKenna distillery collection, 1858-1942 (bulk dates), 1824-1945
Creator
McKenna's Distillery (Fairfield, Ky.)
Extent
6 reels of microfilm.
Subjects
McKenna, Daniel.
McKenna, Henry.
McKenna, James.
McKenna, Marcella.
McKenna family.
McKenna's Distillery (Fairfield, Ky.)
Business records--Kentucky--Fairfield.
Distilleries--Kentucky--Fairfield.
Distilling industries--Kentucky--Fairfield.
Whiskey--Kentucky--Fairfield.
Fairfield (Ky.)--History.
Daybooks.
Genealogies.
Ledgers
Recipes
Arrangement
Organized by material type; arranged chronologically thereunder.
Finding Aid Author
Processed by: Archives Staff ; machine-readable finding aid created by:Eric Weig
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Henry McKenna, an immigrant from County Derry, Ireland, built a small distillery near Fairfield, Ky. in 1855. The business was passed down to his descendants, including his granddaughter, Marcella McKenna. The distillery ceased operating about 1975.
Scope and Content
This is a microfilmed collection of records of McKenna's Distillery along with some McKenna family papers. Among the records are ledgers, daybooks, withdrawal sheets, correspondence, government reports, licenses and permits. There are some clippings and some publicity materials about the distilling industry. Also included in the collection are some baseball score cards, recipes, including James McKenna's recipes for cures, a family tree and a record of horses which belonged to Daniel McKenna.

Special Collections Research Center - Closed

The Breckinridge Research Room will be closed starting May 11, 2026, and anticipates re-opening Fall semester 2026 in an alternate location for the duration of the King Library renovation.

Reproduction requests will still be available during the closure.

Contact SCRC with questions.

You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.

If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.

Special Collections Research Center - Closed

The Breckinridge Research Room will be closed starting May 11, 2026, and anticipates re-opening Fall semester 2026 in an alternate location for the duration of the King Library renovation.

Reproduction requests will still be available during the closure.

Contact SCRC with questions.

Requests

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Submit a request for SCRC materials.




You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.

If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.