The Head Family Papers are primarily the papers of Katherine Blanton Head. She was the daughter of Elizabeth Irvine and Lindsey Hughes Blanton and was a native of Bourbon County. Lindsey Hughes Blanton was chancellor of Central University from 1880 until 1901 when it merged with Centre College. Mr. Blanton was a former pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Versailles, Kentucky. He was a native of Virginia. He served as a chaplain in the Army of Virginia during the Civil War. Katherine Blanton Head was the wife of Joseph S. Head of Owenton. At the time of her death, in June of 1967, at the age of ninety-one, she was survived by one son, Ben B. Head, of Richmond. Her husband died in April of 1957. Both are buried in the Richmond Cemetery.

Mrs. Head was very active locally in social and political affairs. Many of the items in this collection are those generated during her roles in certain organizations. Aside from her activities as the Democratic Woman's clerk, Deputy Clerk of the United States Court in Richmond, and the National Recovery Administration, she was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Kentucky Pioneer Memorial Association. Mrs .Head was also a member of the Pattie A. Clay Hospital Board for more than fifty years and a charter member of the Richmond Altrusa Club. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Professionally Mrs. Head had worked for fifteen years for the Kentucky Insurance Company. She taught school for a time at Lee Institute in Jackson, Kentucky. She was a member of the 1895 graduating class of Central University. These papers reveal the dedication and vitality with which Mrs. Head approached the many activities in which she was involved.