SHELBYVILLE, KY.- One of the most comprehensive collections of personal Colonel Harland Sanders memorabilia ever brought to public auction will be available to collectors, historians, entrepreneurs, and fans on July 28, 2026, at Claudia Sanders Restaurant in Shelbyville, Ky.
Many of the artifacts originate from Blackwood Hall, the longtime home of Colonel and Claudia Sanders, where the couple lived for approximately 25 years. Franchise owners from around the world traveled to Shelbyville to learn directly from Sanders, often gathering at Blackwood Hall to study the cooking techniques, hospitality standards, and business practices that helped build one of the world's most recognizable restaurant brands. The artifacts have been preserved by the Settle family, who purchased both Blackwood Hall and the Claudia Sanders Dinner House directly from Colonel and Claudia Sanders in 1974. That uninterrupted chain of ownership makes the collection exceptionally rare and provides a level of provenance seldom available in the memorabilia market.
For the first time, the personal collection preserved by the Settle family will be offered at auction on the very property where Colonel and Claudia Sanders lived, worked, entertained guests, and shaped the final chapter of their legacy.
"These are not items assembled by a collector," said Bill Menish, auctioneer for the sale. "They are artifacts preserved by the family who purchased the Colonel's home and business directly from Colonel and Claudia Sanders more than fifty years ago. Together they tell a story few people have ever had the opportunity to see."
The collection documents Sanders' personal life, business career, and public legacy, offering insight into both the man and the cultural phenomenon he became. The collection is expected to attract interest from museums, private collectors, franchise operators, food historians, and Americana enthusiasts across the United States and internationally.
One of the collection's most significant artifacts is Sanders' personal working planner, which gained additional historical significance when one of its pages later attracted significant international media attention and became the subject of litigation (since resolved).
Additional highlights from the collection include:
• Handwritten recipes and cooking notes
• Personal clothing and accessories
• Letters and correspondence from U.S. Presidents
• Colonel Sanders' engraved pressure cooker
• Personal kitchen and cooking artifacts
• Business documents and historical records
• Kentucky Colonel certificates
• Restaurant training artifacts
• Franchise materials
• Personal photographs
• Masonic and fraternal memorabilia
• Furnishings from Blackwood Hall
In addition to the memorabilia auction, sealed bids will be accepted for the purchase of the historic Claudia Sanders Restaurant, established by Colonel Harland Sanders and his wife, Claudia, and which served as the KFC headquarters prior to the company's sale. The offering represents a rare opportunity to acquire two properties directly tied to the Sanders legacy: the Claudia Sanders Restaurant and Blackwood Hall. The sale also includes the operating restaurant business, furniture, fixtures and equipment, intellectual property, trademark rights, goodwill, and related assets. The restaurant remains open and operating, and all events, dining services, and reservations will continue as planned throughout the sale process.
A public preview of the collection will be held on July 27, 2026, allowing attendees to view the items before the auction begins on July 28 at 6 pm EDT.
