KENTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ORVILLE Launches Groundbreaking Open-Access Book Series with the Release of X-Ray City: Kelley Koett/Keleket and Covington, Kentucky (1903–1956)
Covington, Kentucky – August 4, 2025 — The ORVILLE (Ohio River Valley Innovation Library and Learning Engagement) Project proudly announces the release of its first title in a new series of free open-access online books. This milestone underscores ORVILLE’s mission to encourage, support, and publish innovative research — making vital scholarship freely available to educators, students, researchers, and the general public.
The inaugural publication, X-Ray City: Kelley Koett/Keleket and Covington, Kentucky (1903–1956) by John Boh, is now available as a free PDF download at the ORVILLE collections portal under “X-Ray History” at orvillelearning.org/collections/. A bound version is also available for those who wish to own a print-on-demand copy—a link is provided on the free download site.
Boh’s book traces the rise of the Kelley-Koett Company (later Keleket), a small Covington startup that became one of the nation’s four major x-ray manufacturers. Through detailed archival research and interviews with early radiography pioneers, X-Ray City chronicles the company’s role in advancing medical imaging technology, providing service to the nation’s top hospitals and delivering crucial support in wartime — from the Mayo Clinic to frontline battlefields. The Kelley-Koett Company’s innovations, such as the “Grosse Flamme” generator and pioneering scanographs, transformed diagnostics and therapy in the early twentieth century.
The narrative is one of ingenuity and perseverance, set amid the challenges of the Great Depression, world wars, and fierce international competition. In the story of Kelley-Koett, readers witness the broader arc of American innovation and resilience
X-Ray City: Kelley Koett/Keleket and Covington, Kentucky (1903–1956) marks ORVILLE’s first step into open-access publishing. This project reflects ORVILLE’s core commitment to digitize, preserve, and share the region’s innovation history for the benefit of present and future generations
Download the book for free at:
orvillelearning.org/collections/ (see “X-Ray History”)
orvillelearning.org/collections/ (see “X-Ray History”)
For more information about the ORVILLE Project and future publications, contact Dr. Paul Tenkotte at tenkottep@nku.edu or visit [orvillelearning.org]
About ORVILLE:
The Ohio River Valley Innovation Library and Learning Engagement (ORVILLE) is a volunteer-driven initiative dedicated to collecting, digitizing, and publishing the stories of innovation from across the Ohio River region. In collaboration with the Kenton County Public Library and educational partners, ORVILLE helps ensure universal access to research and resources documenting the region’s vital role in American history.
The Ohio River Valley Innovation Library and Learning Engagement (ORVILLE) is a volunteer-driven initiative dedicated to collecting, digitizing, and publishing the stories of innovation from across the Ohio River region. In collaboration with the Kenton County Public Library and educational partners, ORVILLE helps ensure universal access to research and resources documenting the region’s vital role in American history.
Behringer-Crawford Museum
The freshART Event
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Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
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Time & Place: Behringer-Crawford Museum, 1600 Montague Rd., Covington, KY 41011
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Highlights:
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Live auction of freshART creations with auctioneer David Wallace
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silentART online auction
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Live music by Chris Cusentino of The Turkeys
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Light hors d'oeuvres by The Roost and open bar in a lively, social setting
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Tickets are a $60 per guest donation
For more information and sponsorship inquiries, call (859) 491-4003 or email freshart@bcmuseum.org. |