Patricia Travis Eatherly accepts the posthumous award for induction of her father, Merle Travis, into the National Thumb Pickers Hall of Fame, April 11, 1998. Photo courtesy NTPHF

National Thumb Pickers Hall of Fame

This organization was founded in 1998 to promote and preserve the style of guitar playing characterized as thumb picking and to honor outstanding performers associated with the art. Muhlenberg County is the birthplace of thumb picking, and one of the best known thumb pickers is Muhlenberg County native Merle Travis. The organization and its first two induction ceremonies are documented with videos, narrative text, photographs, newspaper articles, and programs from the inductions.

Originally submitted by: Ed Whitfield, Representative (1st District).

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