Ronald D. Ray Library of American History

In 1993, Colonel Ray and I began First Principles (FP), a publishing company with the mission to uphold, support, and defend America’s Biblical foundations as “One Nation Under God.”  Over nearly 30 years, Colonel led our small band in effectively reaching civilian, military, and church leaders; public officials; teachers and students; and others often in positions of authority and trust with “weapons” useful in meeting the challenges they faced upholding America’s founding principles.

Colonel Ray’s personal collection of books is the backbone of the work in diligently providing accurate and meaningful information drawn from the documented past to aid in the present defense of America’s unique way of life.

Thanks to the generosity of many, seed money is available to begin the establishment of the “Ronald D. Ray Library of American History.” The land at 110 West Madison Street, LaGrange, Kentucky, was purchased in September 2020 with the hope of building a modest edifice to house the Colonel’s 8000+ books.

This unique collection of books is not simply religious books, but books on law, government and America’s institutions with special attention to the nation’s reliance upon the Lord Jesus Christ. The books are written by the men and women who lived and then wrote about events, philosophies, testimonies, movements that shaped the World as Ron knew it.

Ron sought to be “a voice to and for a generation,” and the library presently includes a searchable online archive of Ron’s work papers produced for law cases and public policy debates conducted during the last quarter of the 20th century. You can find these documents at fpparchive.org.

Today as our history is erased and monuments removed, the archive and Ron’s book collection stand as testament to a season, when a small band of Christians could and did array upon the military crest of a Kentucky hillside and advanced upon the gates of hell, armed with the Word of God with the eternal mission to spread the Lord’s unique Spirit of Liberty, so that all might hear freedom ringing through the generations, from sea to shining sea.

Blessings,
Eunice Van Winkle Ray
President, First Principles Press

In the Media:

New library to house impressive collection from late Marine colonel who sought historical truths – The Oldham Era, March 16, 2021