Zephyr - Volume 1, Issue 5

May/June 2024

HONORING BLACK HISTORY:

THE HARNESS FAMILY, BROWN V. BOARD, AND OTHER KANSAS STORIES

(more on pages 16-17)

2024 - Volume 1, Issue 5

Patrick Zollner, Executive Director, State Historic Preservation Officer

Bobbie Athon, Editor in Chief

Ashley Wunder, Managing Editor

Anne Dorcey, Layout Designer

Brenda Kipp, Contributing Writer

Published by the Kansas Historical Society 6425 SW 6th Avenue Topeka KS 66615-1099

Please send change of address information to the above address, email ashley.wunder@ks.gov, or call 785-272-8681, ext. 263.

Partial funding provided by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. The contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of the Interior, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the Department of the Interior. This program receives federal funds from the National Park Service. Regulations of the U.S. Department of the Interior strictly prohibit unlawful discrimination in departmental federally assisted programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, or handicap. Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any program activity or facility operated by a recipient of federal assistance should write to: Office of Equal Opportunity, National Park Service 1849 C Street NW, Washington DC 20240.

©2024

Zephyr was a special word to Kansans, even as a first name. Zephyr Koble Sweetland of Towanda was born in 1889. A Butler County farmer, he served in the 35th Division in World War I, married Phoebe Calvin, and raised six children. Zephyr DeMoss of Topeka was born in 1916. Active in the Asbury African Methodist Episcopal Church in Topeka, she performed an instrumental solo, “Wonderful Words,” in 1928. She married Jiles Hooks and raised five children. Neither of these Kansas Zephyrs appear to have passed along their names.

Recognizing Juneteenth and the 70th Anniversary of Brown v. Board

This May/June issue highlights some special topics in Kansas’ rich African American history: the 70th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Board of Education, with an archeological investigation of the Monroe School neighborhood; photograph collections featured in a new special exhibit at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library; a project highlighting the women behind Topeka’s district court case; the account of a last Underground Railroad passage; and a family who made passage west to Kansas via the Underground Railroad. We also look ahead to the newest federal holiday, Juneteenth, June 19.

From the Executive Director

Patrick Zollner

The Situation at Fort Leavenworth

Recent local news articles and reports about the potential demolition of pre1919 houses at Fort Leavenworth have prompted many concerned calls and emails to our offices. We first became aware of this possibility nearly two years ago. But first some background.

The core of Fort Leavenworth is a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest designation in the country indicating a national level of significance. Kansas has only 26 NHLs as compared to nearly 1,600 listings in the National Register of Historic Places.

Fort Leavenworth has 269 of the 865 army housing units built prior to 1919. This is the highest number of pre-1919 housing at any army installation. With an additional 109 units at Fort Riley, Kansas has more than 40 percent of the oldest army housing stock in the nation.

A federal mandate in the early 2000s called for privatization of military housing. The U.S. Army started its Residential Communities Initiative (RCI) and within a decade there were 34 programs at 44 installations nationwide. The Michaels Organization entered into an agreement at Fort Leavenworth to provide housing under the name Fort Leavenworth Frontier Heritage Communities. Michaels manages housing units in both new construction and historic buildings.

regulation (36 CFR Part 800). In state fiscal year 2023 the Kansas SHPO staff made 4,944 reviews on 2,703 projects. All projects at Fort Leavenworth, including those proposed by Michaels, are subject to this review.

We have not received an official notice of undertaking through the Section 106 process from Fort Leavenworth. We have heard comments about potential demolitions over the last couple of years. We understand that Michaels has now

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (36 CFR Part 800) provides for review by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) of all federally funded, licensed, or permitted projects for potential effect on properties listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Additional consideration is specified for National Historic Landmarks under this

Learn more:

indicated a desire to demolish a total of 185 pre-1919 units comprising 58 buildings and to rebuild new apartment units within the National Historic Landmark district. We are receiving reports from the Cultural Resources office at Fort Leavenworth that historic housing properties are not receiving regular maintenance and have been vacated without properly mothballing. There is real concern that these properties are already undergoing demolition by neglect. Michaels and other RCI partners nationwide contend that meeting the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation for these housing units is not financially sustainable. The army proposed a Program Comment for pre-1919 housing to allow greater use of

• Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, “A Citizen’s Guide to Section 106 Review”: bit.ly/106review

• KSHS, Section 106 Consultation: bit.ly/kshssection106

• KSHS, Tax Credit Basics: bit.ly/kshstaxbasics

“imitative substitute building materials” by RCI partners. Preservation advocates and many SHPOs including Kansas have expressed concerns with this proposal citing a lack of consideration for the significance of these properties and existing flexibility found in the Standards. Articles published in the Kansas City Star in December 2023 and March 2024 provide a comprehensive overview of the situation, but an important point missing from these stories is that historic housing managed by Michaels is eligible to receive state rehabilitation tax credits administered by the Kansas Historical Society. This information has been relayed to management at Michaels numerous times. Recent amendments to the law by the Kansas legislature mean the opportunity to recoup 40 percent of the investment in repair and rehabilitation of historic housing. This is one of the most significant financial incentives available to Register-listed properties in the nation and more than offsets the added costs of restoring and rehabilitating historic properties, a factor cited by Michaels as a deterrent to repairing the historic inventory. While the RCI partner at Fort Riley has utilized these tax credits in the past for rehabilitation of housing units there with more than $2.9 million in credits issued, the partners at Fort Leavenworth have so far failed to take advantage of this program.

We will continue to work with Fort Leavenworth and Michaels to ensure these irreplaceable historic buildings are preserved. If, however, a proposal to demolish these properties is officially submitted to our office for review, the Section 106 process provides for public comment and opportunities to consult. We will keep you informed.

• Program Comment for the Preservation of Pre-1919 Historic Army Housing: bit.ly/armypre1919

• Kansas City Star Article, December 20, 2023: bit.ly/fortlv89

• Kansas City Star Article, March 4, 2024: bit.ly/fortlv185

The Rookery, built in circa 1834, is the oldest surviving building at Fort Leavenworth.

ARCHEOLOGY

Protecting and understanding the archeological resources of Kansas— working with local, state, and tribal entities, offering educational programming, and conducting and sharing research.

BEFORE BROWN: REFLECTING ON THE 2022 KANSAS ARCHEOLOGY TRAINING PROGRAM

By Nikki Klarmann, PhD, State Archeologist

Beneath Monroe Elementary School (constructed in 1926), which houses Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park, lies evidence of the early history of Topeka. In summer 2022, the Kansas Historical Society and Kansas Anthropological Association partnered with Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park and the Midwest Archeological Center to investigate this buried past. Prior to the establishment of Topeka in 1854, this land was home to several Native American populations, including the Osage, Kaw, Delaware, Potawatomi, Shawnee, and Wyandot Nations. After 1854, the area, which is now called the Monroe school neighborhood, was the home of predominantly Black residents, many formerly enslaved people who made a home in Topeka. Monroe Elementary School was not the first school building on the property, and beneath it are the remains of multiple houses, outhouses, and an earlier school (built in 1874) as indicated by early maps. Previous archeological work by the Midwest Archeological Center confirmed the presence of the buried remnants of the basement of the earlier school as well as a few houses.

Monroe Elementary School was one of four segregated schools for Black children in Topeka. Six parents of Monroe students participated in the Brown v. Board of Education case.

The goal of the 2022 excavation was to learn more about these earlier buildings and the people who inhabited them. An exciting discovery during the 2022 excavation was the uncovering of a brick sidewalk and three limestone walls of an outbuilding that were used by students and faculty of the earlier Monroe School, prior to indoor plumbing being installed. Within the outbuilding, several hardened bags of lime were found, likely having been stored in the building prior to its abandonment.

Elsewhere on the property, excavations found evidence of household debris and limestone foundation rocks for a frame structure that is pictured on a 1913 map. Research into census and newspaper records led us to discover that a Mrs. Lulu Perkins, a Black woman, was living there at the time of her death in October 1913. Perkins and several of her family members are buried at the Ritchie Cemetery in Topeka. We were also able to connect several of the other structures to real people. The ability to make a connection with the person who once lived in these spaces and the artifacts uncovered in the remains of their homes connects our work today to people’s stories in the past.

After the field school, a Washburn University undergraduate student spent spring 2023 researching the artifacts recovered during the field school, such as the chamber pot and jewelry fragments pictured. Her work will be published in Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains later this year. All material has been transferred to the Midwest Archeology Center, which will work with Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park to interpret these findings for the public, potentially

The October 6, 1913, edition of the Topeka State Journal provides evidence that Lulu Perkins resided in the frame structure that archeologists uncovered.

through new exhibits at the park. When people visit the site, many are unaware of the full history of the property prior to the Brown v. Board decision. We knew that the Monroe Elementary School property had a buried past, and the Kansas Archeology Training Program (KATP) field school helped uncover some of it. By exploring some of the structures that once stood on the property, we learned more about the lives of the people living in the Monroe School neighborhood and what life was like there prior to the Brown v. Board of Education decision. We hope that this work helps the National Park Service tell more of that story.

Staff Member Spotlight

Congratulating Dr. Nikki Klarmann

Nikki Klarmann joined the Kansas Historical Society in 2018 as the public outreach archeologist, and in December 2022 she became the state’s first female state archeologist. This position in Kansas is written into two state laws, the Unmarked Burial Sites Preservation Act, and the Kansas Antiquities Commission, helping to protect unmarked graves and archeological sites on state, county, and municipal lands. The state archeologist also leads the agency’s Contract Archeology Program, which partners with the Kansas Department of Transportation to protect cultural resources that may be affected by highway construction. Nikki works to make sure the agency complies with the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and has recently been leading the agency’s efforts to comply with updates to

the law, which will be highlighted in a future issue.

A native of Texas, Nikki came to the Kansas Historical Society from Michigan State University, where she was attending graduate school. During the past six years, Nikki has been diligently completing her doctoral degree in anthropology from Michigan State University. Earlier this year she successfully defended her dissertation and became Dr. Nikki Klarmann. Congratulations to Nikki on this achievement!

Nikki works with the agency’s Emlid system, which allows for accurate mapping of excavations. Image courtesy of

Register Now for the 2024 KATP Field School

Join us June 7-16, 2024, for the Kansas Archeology Training Program! Led by Principal Investigator Todd Bevitt of Buried Past Consulting, LLC, this year’s field school will investigate two archeological sites in Bourbon County on property owned by Crawford State Park. The goal is to determine whether the sites are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Registration will close Sunday, May 24. To learn more information and register, visit bit.ly/2024KATP or scan this QR code.

This composite image shows the outbuilding foundation walls and brick sidewalk discovered in 2022.

Dr.

Byron Strom.

STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE (SHPO)

Preserving and protecting the state’s historic buildings, structures, and sites through financial assistance programs, technical guidance, and regulations; working with federal, state, and local communities and partners to interpret and preserve these resources.

New State Register Listings

TheNational Register of Historic Places is the nation’s official list of historically significant properties. The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) at the Kansas Historical Society administers this and the Register of Historic Kansas Places. In February the Historic Sites Board of Review listed the following 11 properties to the state register and recommended nine of those (denoted with an *) be forwarded to the Office of the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C.

William R. Guild House, Hiawatha, Brown County*

After purchasing the lots at the northwest corner of Sixth and Miami Streets in Hiawatha, William Guild contracted with Frank C. Squires to design a two-story house with a basement. Work began in 1915 and the house was completed in 1916. William and his wife Augusta both contributed to the early 20th century economic and social development of Hiawatha and northeast Kansas. The house is also an excellent example of Italian Renaissance architecture in Hiawatha. Some key defining features of Italian Renaissance style architecture can be seen in the house’s symmetrical façade, low-pitched hipped roof with overhanging eaves, and ornamental open rafter tails. The house is nominated for its architecture and local significance in the social history of Hiawatha.

Carver Social League, Pittsburg, Crawford County*

The Carver Social League is a single-story L-shaped concrete block building that is associated with the social history of the African American community in Pittsburg. Pittsburg has a long mining history, which started as early as 1850 but grew in the 1870s when miners began to extract zinc. The first groups of Black workers were recruited from the east and arrived in 1899. Many of these workers and their families stayed in the Pittsburg area. The Carver Social League was a social organization for the African American community in Pittsburg. Previously meeting at a local Black school, in 1951 the executive board purchased land for the building for $300. Through fundraising efforts and volunteer work, the building was completed that same year. It continues to be a meeting place for the local Black community and is nominated for its local significance in social history.

Matfield Green High School Gym, Matfield Green, Chase County*

In the 1920s Matfield Green’s school attendance soared due to a post-World War I baby boom and the consolidation of smaller area schools. This growing student body necessitated the construction of a new high school (1917), a new gym/auditorium (1929), and a new grade school (1938). Unfortunately, after World War II, many Matfield Green residents did not return to the shrinking community and the community voted to close Matfield Green High School in 1967. The Progressive Era two-story brick building retains its open interior space, as well as the stage that was amply outfitted for dramatic productions. It is part of the Historic Public Schools of Kansas multiple property nomination for its local significance in the areas of education and architecture.

William R. Guild House

Carver Social League

Matfield Green High School Gym

Hotel Josephine, Holton, Jackson County*

The city of Holton, founded in 1859, grew exponentially in its early years. The first railroad reached Holton in 1872, and Campbell University was founded shortly afterward. The additions in Holton led prominent local attorney A.D. Walker to establish a new hotel. The hotel was finished in 1889, and named after his infant daughter, Josephine. Over the next few decades the property changed owners and names several times but remained an important part of the community. Holton began to see a downturn and plateau in its population and economic growth after 1923. The last 100 years has brought changes to the Hotel Josephine, but the prominent two-story brick and stone Victorian building continues to be an anchor for the city of Holton. The property is nominated for its local significance in the area of commerce.

Oakwood Cemetery, Parsons, Labette County*

Labette County was a crossroads of population movements from 1865 to 1880. Oakwood Cemetery was founded on 20 acres in 1871. The following year (1872), the Parsons Cemetery Association was established. Oakwood Cemetery contains the graves of most of Parsons’ earliest settlers, prominent citizens, and businessmen. More than 1,000 people are buried in the older parts of the cemetery, including at least 366 Union veterans and four Confederate veterans. The picturesque natural surroundings contribute to Oakwood’s park-like setting. The addition of statues, flagpoles, and a cast iron arched gate to the Union soldier section further beautified Oakwood Cemetery. The city of Parsons continues to own and manage the property. The cemetery is nominated for its local significance associated with the founding of Parsons.

National Register Listings

These Kansas properties were recently evaluated by the Office of the Keeper in Washington, D.C., and approved for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Spring Creek Stone Arch Bridge

Arkansas City vicinity, Cowley County, listed October 10, 2023

Sowers-Crawford Farms Historic District

Overbrook vicinity, Douglas County, listed October 10, 2023

Keraus Hardware Store

WaKeeney, Trego County, listed October 10, 2023

Vernon School

Kansas City, Wyandotte County, listed October 10, 2023

Lone Star Lake Dam

Lawrence vicinity, Douglas County, listed October 17, 2023

Downtown Gardner Historic District

Gardner, Johnson County, listed October 17, 2023

Lone Star Lake Civilian Conservation Corps Camp

Lawrence vicinity, Douglas County, listed November 17, 2023

Julius Kuhn Block

Atchison, Atchison County, listed November 24, 2023

Iola Theatre

Iola, Allen County, listed January 5, 2024

Elk Falls High School Gymnasium

Elk Falls, Elk County, listed January 5, 2024

George L. Morrow Barn

Spring Hill, Johnson County, listed January 8, 2024

Herington Army Airfield Chapel

Latimer, Morris County, listed January 5, 2024

Kansas State Office Building (Docking Building)

Topeka, Shawnee County, removed January 8, 2024

Union Church Building

Auburn, Shawnee County, listed January 5, 2024

Trinity Lutheran Historic District

Lawrence, Douglas County, listed January 25, 2024

Oakwood Cemetery

Hotel Josephine

Vermillion United Methodist Church, Vermillion, Marshall County*

Marshall County was one of the original 33 counties in Kansas through the Territorial Legislature of 1855. While Vermillion was one of the original townships, it was not incorporated until 1869. The Vermillion United Methodist Church, constructed in 1892, is an excellent example of late 19th and early 20th century Carpenter Gothic style architecture in a rural Kansas community. The woodframed, clapboard-sided building primarily features a front-facing gable design. This primary elevation showcases a single Gothic-arched stained glass window with tracery, decorative shingles in the eave, and an entry at the west edge. The interior underwent a midcentury design change as was common in rural Kansas church buildings to help maintain the property’s use. Despite these interior changes, the building retains great historic integrity and is nominated for its architecture.

Downtown Kansas City Historic District, Kansas City, Wyandotte County*

The area now known as Kansas City was originally incorporated as Wyandott by the territorial legislature in 1859. The town and county were named for the Wyandot people who were relocated to the area after being forcibly removed from Ohio. After statehood in 1861, the city continued to grow thanks to its location as a railway hub. Kansas City itself was formally incorporated in 1872. While there were earlier businesses in this area, the oldest building in the historic district dates to 1882. The historic district contains a mix of commercial and institutional buildings, as well as a variety of architectural styles popular throughout the period of significance (18821980). Those include Late 19th and 20th century Revival, Modern Movement, and Minimal Commercial styles. It is nominated for its local significance in the area of commerce and for its architecture.

Stamey Hotel, Hutchinson, Reno County*

The city of Hutchinson, founded in 1871, grew steadily over the years with three major railroads transecting the town and successful wheat farming in the area. At the beginning of the 20th century growth boomed with the population more than doubling between 1900 and 1920. Local businessmen quickly realized their town needed an impressive hotel, and they formed the Fifth Avenue Building Company. This group partnered with architect W.E. Hulse and Company to design the hotel and with Stamey-Mackey Construction Company to build the structure. The five-story hotel was completed in 1922 and is a prominent landmark in downtown Hutchinson as well as an excellent commercial example of the Collegiate Gothic style. This style is exemplified in its red brick façade, glazed terracotta detailing, and quoining at the building corners and window surrounds. Although the hotel was converted to apartments in the 1960s, it retains excellent historic integrity. It is nominated for its local significance in the areas of commerce and architecture.

Vermillion United Methodist Church

Stamey Hotel

Downtown Kansas City Historic District

Del Monte Apartments, Topeka, Shawnee County

The Del Monte Apartment building was constructed between 1922 and 1923, just off Topeka Boulevard in Topeka. Reflecting the Commercial style typical of postWorld War I-era apartments constructed in communities throughout the Midwest, the Del Monte was the first apartment building designed and constructed by the L.F. Garlinghouse Company of Topeka. While the exterior of the building retains a high degree of historic integrity, the interior has been modified. Despite these changes, the building is still important as a representation of Topeka’s growth and expansion in the 1920s. The two-story apartment building is unreinforced masonry construction with wood-frame roof and floors. The red brick building retains the original windows (currently covered by plywood) and the symmetrical configuration on the interior and exterior. It is locally significant in the areas of community development and architecture.

Frank and Agnes Schmotz Farmstead, Bonner Springs, Wyandotte County*

Located in rural Wyandotte County, but within the city limits of Bonner Springs, the Frank and Agnes Schmotz Farmstead was originally platted in 1867 under the jurisdiction of Kansas Territory. Frank and Agnes Schmotz acquired the property in 1906, and the farm is still owned by their heirs. At the time of purchase, the wood-framed farmhouse (1904) was the only structure on the property. Other buildings were constructed for agricultural purposes over the following years: a wood-framed barn (1910), a milkhouse (1918), a chicken house (1925), a windmill (1929), a concrete silo (1930), and a machine shed (1940s). The farmstead reflects the Progressive decades of farming, with Frank and Agnes expanding and modernizing the agricultural operations over their years of ownership. It is part of the Historic Agriculture-Related Resources of Kansas multiple property nomination for its local significance in the areas of agriculture and architecture.

Madam C.J. Walker School, Merriam, Johnson County

The core of the one-story Walker School dates to 1888, with a west addition dating to circa 1905 and a southeast wrap-around addition constructed circa 1958. The original one-story schoolhouse served all children in District No. 90. By the turn of the 20th century the district operated two schools. Walker School provided education for Black students of the district while the newer South Park School exclusively served white children. After the district constructed a new facility for white students in 1947, the parents of the Black students of the now 60-year-old Walker School petitioned for improvements for their school. After they were denied, the families filed a lawsuit with the Kansas Supreme Court arguing that the district intentionally segregated the schools by race in violation of state law. In its 1949 decision the Supreme Court sided with the plaintiffs and Walker School ceased to function as a school the next year. Walker School became a church shortly after. It is part of the Historic Public Schools of Kansas multiple property nomination for its significance in Civil Rights history.

Madam C.J. Walker School

Del Monte Apartments

Frank & Agnes Schmotz Farmstead

U.S. Post Office and Courthouse

By Lauren Jones, MA, National Register Reviewer

While most people visiting downtown Topeka may notice the impressive four-story Classical Revival style building on Kansas Avenue, they may be unaware of the building’s role in the pivotal Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka U.S. Supreme Court case. The United States Post Office and Courthouse, built in 1933, features limestone masonry and structural clay tile over a steel structural frame, Corinthian columns and temple fronts, and fluted pilasters. The interior of the first floor and main lobby area reflects the standardization of 1930s post offices. The finishes are an eclectic mix of Classical Revival and Art Deco styles, with quarry tile flooring featuring white and verde antique—a dark green serpentine—borders and base.

The third floor (pictured above) contains the former court rooms and offices that are currently unoccupied. This was the venue where the 1951 district court heard the suit brought by Oliver Brown, et al. against the Board of Education of Topeka. That suit was later combined with four other

cases into Oliver Brown et al. v. the Board of Education of Topeka that the NAACP argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1952 and 1953. On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that “separate but equal” in the nation’s public schools was a violation of the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment and thus unconstitutional.

When the United States Postal Service recognized that retaining the entire building no longer served its needs, the process of disposal of the property began. Under the federal preservation law (Section 106), disposal of a historic property constitutes an adverse effect to that historic property. Therefore steps must be taken to mitigate that adverse effect. In this case, an easement was put on the property and it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. These protections on the property will help ensure that the building remains for future generations to marvel at the impressive architecture and see the room where history happened.

Recognizing Preservation Month

May is National Preservation Month! Local preservation groups, state historical societies, and business and civic organizations across the country recognize Preservation Month. Online resources are available to celebrate this month from the comfort of home.

Kansas Historic Resources Inventory

The Kansas Historic Resources Inventory (KHRI) is an online database open to the public. Anyone can search for properties across Kansas. Registering for a free account is easy and allows for information to be added and updated to share with others interested in these communities. Visit bit.ly/kskhri to learn more.

National Register Database

The National and State Register provide a deep dive into historic properties in Kansas. This searchable database includes links to National Register nominations, which include a wealth of information and history on properties listed in both the State and National Registers: bit.ly/kshsregisterdb

Technical Assistance

Hands-on preservation resources are provided on our website: bit.ly/kshspresasst. These include best practices for treatment of historic properties, Preservation Briefs from the National Park Service covering just about every preservation topic, and DIY videos for historic window repair.

MUSEUM AND EDUCATION

Using stories from Kansas history to encourage new explorations of the past, understand our present, and appreciate the experiences of others; collecting, preserving, and providing access to the state’s material culture.

Conserving the First Kansas Colored Regimental Flag

By Boone Dodson, Museum Curator

Deep within the Kansas Museum of History’s storage, is a large collection of 63 battle flags. Of the regiments represented by the flags within the collection, few deserve more recognition than the First Kansas Colored Infantry. The first African American regiment to experience combat in the American Civil War, the First Kansas Colored Infantry engaged its enemy for the first time at the battle of Island Mound, Missouri. The unit fought in many battles for the Union throughout the duration of the war. The flags carried through their campaigns and battles are testaments to the soldiers themselves and their bravery and devotion to the cause of freedom. Their flags, along with most within the collection, were made of silk due to the regulations of the time. This simple fact caused several conservation challenges for these flags during the 160 years that have passed since they were last flown in honor.

This flag, one of four regimental standards carried by the First Kansas Colored Infantry, bears the names of the battles fought during the unit’s history. Due to its brittle condition, this flag was sent to Textile Preservation Associates Incorporated in March 1997. It had been overexposed to light, which combined with other factors, caused the silk material to deteriorate and slowly turn into powder. The conservation company spent many hours slowly and methodically cleaning the flag. The most important aspect was encapsulation. This process involved adding a layer of Stabiltex mesh to each side of the flag itself. The two layers of mesh, along with the flag sandwiched in between, were sewn together to support the weight of the standard. Once this was completed, the encapsulated flag was applied to a padded panel and inserted into a custom frame that featured ultraviolet filtering plexi-glass. The flag’s entire conservation process alone took 121 hours in total. This incredibly labor intensive and expensive process is necessary for the people of Kansas to see these irreplaceable artifacts on display and to gain an understanding of the sacrifices Kansans made during the American Civil War.

Flag Restoration Process

TWO. The flag after the process of encapsulation was completed with Stabiltex mesh extended to the original size of the flag.

1 2 3

ONE. The flag’s condition when first unrolled by conservators; more than 15 percent of the flag was missing.

THREE. The flag before it was inserted into its custom frame. A reproduced silk material was applied to the panel before the flag was applied to restore the original appearance without adding material to the flag itself.

Many more flags within the collection are still in dire need of conservation. This process is solely funded by donors. You too can have a hand in helping to save such important and irreplaceable battle flags.

If you wish to see more flags like this in person, please consider donating to the Save the Flags fund by visiting bit.ly/ kshsconservation or scanning this QR code. ->

RECTIFYING “ET AL.” HISTORY: HIGHLIGHTING THE WOMEN OF BROWN

By Donna Rae Pearson , MA, Museum Curator

For too long, the Brown v. Board of Education case has been remembered as a fight led by men in suits. But the truth is that the case is titled Oliver Brown, et al. v. Board of Education of Topeka, et al. The “et al.” listed after Brown signifies 12 Black, seemingly ordinary women from Topeka, Kansas, who also played a crucial role in the landmark victory. These mothers agreed to be plaintiffs, pushing for equal access to educational opportunities for all Black children, not just their own.

The 12 women represented a range of experiences. Most of the “et al.” women of the Brown case— “et al.” meaning “and others” in legal jargon—grew up in small rural communities in Kansas and probably attended integrated schools.

Lucinda Todd was 48 at the time the lawsuit was filed. A college graduate and NAACP leader, she fought for her daughter Nancy to be able to participate in school music education.

Darlene Brown was less formally educated and only 24 in 1951, the year the case was filed. Maude Lawton was from a small town in the Creek Nation in Oklahoma. Iona Richardson landed in Kansas from Wisconsin. There were family relationships amongst the 12: Shirla Fleming and Vivian Scales were sisters. Alvin Todd, Lucinda Todd’s husband, was a cousin to plaintiff Zelma Henderson. Of the 12 women, it appears all but one worked outside of the home in order to contribute to the economic stability of their families. All were married at some point between the

time they tried to enroll their kids in a nearby white school until the announcement of the Supreme Court decision three years later.

Their activism was not a sudden awakening. During the Jim Crow era, Black communities built their own institutions—social, political, spiritual, and economic— as a response to segregation. Kansas practiced both de jure segregation—segregation imposed by law—and de facto segregation, which was imposed in practice even when it was not required by law. It was in these segregated spaces of Topeka that these women honed their leadership and organizational skills. Black churches and clubs served as training grounds. Social networks, the lifeblood of their communities, fostered open discussions and strategizing. Their everyday connections became their quiet strength.

The women of Brown had influences beyond the Brown, et al. v. Board court case: they were one of the sparks of the modern Civil Rights Movement. By dismantling the Supreme Court’s racist Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1898, which codified separate but equal, they paved the way for the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Why have their names been lost in the history books, hidden behind a simple “et al.”? The biases. Bias in the media. Bias in history itself. Bias in community memory. Due to these biases, Black women’s accomplishments have long been minimized, overshadowed, and even erased. The Women of Brown Project is working to change that. By telling the stories of these remarkable women, we honor their legacy and show the world that social change often starts with everyday heroes. Their story matters today more than ever. They show us that change does not come from grand speeches or single events but from the tireless

efforts of ordinary people creating pivotal moments. By remembering these 12 mothers, we inspire future generations to fight for what is right, reminding them that even the smallest voice can make a difference.

They say a person will not die if someone says their name. To honor these women, please say their names:

Darlene Brown

Lena M. Carper

Sadie Emmanuel

Marguerite Emmerson

Shirla Fleming

Zelma Henderson

Shirley Hodison

Maude Lawton

Alma Lewis

Iona Richardson

Vivian Scales

Lucinda Todd

These 12 Black women proved that ordinary people, united by a common goal, can indeed change the world. To learn more about the contributions of these courageous women, join Pearson for “The Women of Brown,” Museum After Hours presentation at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Find more information and register for the live webinar at bit.ly/mahbvb.

In the 1990s our State Archives partnered with the University of Kansas, Washburn Law, and the Brown Foundation to collect oral histories detailing participants’ experiences with the Brown v. Board of Education case. Last year the State Archives acquired funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities to expand the accessibility of this collection. Staff members have been diligently working to digitize these materials, with the goal of publishing the audio recordings and transcriptions on Kansas Memory later this year. Select audio clips are already available online, including an interview by plaintiff Vivian Scales. Dive deeper into Scales’ experiences by visiting bit.ly/scalesinterview or scanning this QR code. View the finding aid for this collection at bit.ly/bvbfinding.

This article was originally written for digital and print materials published by Humanities Kansas. We thank the organization for allowing us to expand the reach of this pivotal research. Humanities Kansas has curated an impressive list of free resources for individuals to commemorate the 70th anniversary of this landmark case. Explore upcoming and recorded discussions, written essays, and grant opportunities at bit.ly/hksbvb.

Pictured is a sketchbook from Sumner School in Topeka. Pages contain pencil shading examples, landscape drawings, watercolor samples, and paintings. Initials and a partial name indicate the artist’s first name was Luke. The book dates to 1908 when the school only allowed white students. The original Sumner School opened in 1875 or 1880 and allowed only Black students. By 1885 the school switched to serving only white children only. Black students attended school in a smaller building on the same property and later in segregated schools outside the neighborhood. The school was one of several at the center of the Brown v. Board landmark case.

Humanities Kansas: Additional Resources

Brown v. Board: Oral Histories

Artifact Highlight: Sumner Sketchbook

Humanities Kansas: Additional Resources

STATE ARCHIVES

Collecting, preserving, and providing access to the state’s history through unpublished materials, personal papers, audio-visual materials, and government, organization, and business records.

The Last Train

By Gill Schawo, Administrative Assistant

“The Last Train that passed over the Underground Railroad from Kansas Territory,” is a document in the State Archives collections handwritten by Charles F. W. Leonhardt in 1870. He participated in the wagon train journey through Kansas in June 1860. I was introduced to this story while preparing a transcription for Kansas Memory, our online digital archives. During the transcription process, my coworker, Mary Beavers, and I regularly struggled to decipher unfamiliar handwriting, misquoted idioms, and now-disused writing conventions, such as “ss” being written as “fs.” My favorite obstacle to tackle was the appearance of words that seem anachronistic for 1870. For example, we were surprised to see a word resembling “crybaby,” only to learn that the word has been in use since the 1850s.

The Last Train offers a firsthand example of what a journey to freedom could entail. Beginning in Lawrence, the “officers” of the train would make sure everyone was properly clothed and supplied. They would also arm themselves and some passengers, as encountering bands of proslavery

men from Missouri was likely. Upon finding any African Americans, regardless of whether they were free or refugees, groups of “manstealers” would attempt to kidnap anyone they could sell across state lines. Brigands were not the only problem the wagon train faced. On their journey the group narrowly survived a tornado on the open plains, and even staged a fake kidnapping of their ferryman, an abolitionist forbidden by law from helping the Underground Railroad. Once the train reached the relative safety of Iowa, they still had to pass through communities split between antislavery and proslavery factions. Leonhardt concludes with the fates of those associated with

Charles Leonhardt’s Recollection of the Last Train

Charles Frederick William Leonhardt was a native of Prussia who moved to the United States in 1854. He arrived in Emporia, Kansas, in 1857. Leonhardt was an abolitionist who became involved with other active “jayhawkers,” John Brown, James Lane, James Montgomery, and Charles Jennison. They were members of a secret group called the Danites, focused on ridding Kansas Territory of proslavery forces at any cost. Leonhardt became a state senator and judge after Kansas statehood. He reflected on this pinnacle event during his activism, 10 years later.

the Last Train—some returned to Kansas, and many joined the Union army during the Civil War.

One insert focuses on two passengers of the Last Train, Black Jack and Black Hawk, and recounts their harrowing escapes from slavery. Black Jack was taken to Pike’s Peak, Kansas Territory, and “made up [his] mind at the start, would never go to the mountains to digg [sic].” He fought his way to freedom, stealing a wagon and driving day and night until he reached Lawrence. Black Hawk, “named for his brave acts,” escaped his captors and sought directions to Lawrence but was recaptured twice by white settlers. One group tried to transport him downriver, and the other tried to murder him. He fought and escaped from both groups, nearly drowning in the process, before finally making his way to Lawrence and joining the Last Train.

Another insert describes passengers considered high value targets by kidnappers. A couple of the passengers had escaped from a major at Fort Leavenworth, causing the group to fear that the U.S. military would pursue them. They expected the journey to be risky, and took

extra precautions, such as keeping a cannon outside their Lawrence encampment and using stealth and subterfuge while passing through Kansas Territory. This section also discusses how the Underground Railroad transported people from Lawrence and how difficult the process had become by 1860. Previously, they considered a passenger “safe the moment he stepped into Lawrence.” They could be quickly supplied and depart within days of their arrival, whereas in 1860, a large influx of people fleeing to Lawrence made the supplies for the journey difficult to obtain.

These two passages provide a powerful glimpse into the stories and struggles of African Americans during the time of Bleeding Kansas. Freedom was not assured by stepping out of a proslavery state—people had to fight every step of the way. The Last Train demonstrates the resolve of African Americans in seeking a life of liberty.

“The Last Train” is available on Kansas Memory. Visit bit.ly/kslasttrain to read this handwritten account.

Submit Ideas for the New Docking Building Time Capsule

If you could put anything in a time capsule, what would you include? The Historical Society wants your input! Our staff members are partnering with the Kansas Department of Administration’s Office of Facilities and Property Management to help prepare a time capsule for the new Docking building. It will include the materials from the original time capsule along with some new items, and we want to hear what Kansans want to add. Have an idea we should consider? Submit it to our suggestion box by visiting bit.ly/ dockingtimecapsule or scanning this QR code.

Kansas State Senator Elaine Bowers, Deputy Secretary of Facilities and Property Management

Frank Burnam, and Kansas Historical Society Executive Director Patrick Zollner pose with the time capsule recovered from the Docking building in spring 2023.

STATE HISTORIC SITES

Preserving and protecting the state historic sites placed under the care of the Historical Society; educating visitors and classes through exhibits, exterior interpretation, and programming.

The Harness Family and the Last Chance Store

By Bobbie Athon, MS, Director of Communications

ArthurHarness, II, first descended into the Last Chance Store cellar in September 2023. Growing up in California his family had made many trips to visit his Kansas relatives, but he had not seen where his great-grandparents first found refuge after their arrival on the Underground Railroad. Harness was inspired to make this trip from his home in Delaware to attend the reopening of Kaw Mission and the Last Chance Store. “My family was pulling me here,” he said. “It is difficult to imagine them living here in this space.” Arthur’s father often told his children how Charles and Jennie Harness escaped slavery in Virginia and fled to Kansas. “We don’t know how many times we heard our dad say his grandfather ‘took a mule and his woman and ran!’”

Charles Harness was born into slavery in Hardy County, Virginia, now West Virginia, in 1842. Jennie Singleton, believed to be related to Benjamin Singleton, a leader in the Exodus Movement, was born into slavery in Virginia in 1840. A chance encounter years later and reported in the Council Grove newspaper told the story of their escape. A Union veteran moved to Council Grove in the 1870s and recognized Charles Harness and they introduced themselves. “If I am not mistaken you are Captain Potts,” Charles added. The veteran asked Charles if he was the one “trying to get away with General Harness’

horses after a battle one day in Virginia.” To which Charles “laughingly” responded yes, he was that man. Charles’ and Jennie’s journey took them westward through a patchwork passage via the Underground Railroad. Family tradition tells that the Harnesses and Henry Johnson, an infant child they carried, were concealed in a railroad boxcar. Railroads of the day could have reached as far west as St. Joseph, Missouri; ferries carried wagons across the river. They reached Council Grove in 1864, along the busy Santa Fe Trail. They found shelter in the Last Chance Store cellar. The business supplied traders on their journey west to Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Even though Kansas was a free state, the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 was in effect. Family tradition tells that the Harnesses feared being returned by pursuers even after the Act was repealed on June 28, 1864. The Kaw Reservation nearby provided them further security. The Kanza Indians were removed to Indian Territory, now Oklahoma, in 1873, and lands were open to settlement. The Harnesses built a stone house two stories high with a deep cellar and farmed 89 acres, drawing water from Harness Creek nearby. There they raised a family of eight children. This family effort to prove the claim allowed Charles to file the homestead in 1879.

The Harness farm was productive, raising livestock,

Arthur Harness visits with Roxanne Wooden, assistant site administrator of Kaw Mission and Last Chance Store, and other guests during the opening of the state historic site in September 2023.

Kansas Historical Society Executive Director Patrick Zollner guides Arthur Harness into the cellar of Last Chance Store, where his great-grandparents Charles and Jennie once took refuge.

This circa 1901 Standard Atlas of Morris County, Kansas, shows that Charles Harness owned lots of land in section 18 of Township 17 South, Range 8 East.

crops, and fruit. Charles displayed one specimen, a Virginia Redstreak apple weighing 13.25 ounces in Council Grove in 1886. They faced a prairie fire that destroyed hay and fodder, and a lightning strike that killed a valuable horse, both in 1890. Neighbors appreciated the generous Harness family. A community tradition tells how Charles soothed a neighbor’s horse after it had become tangled in staves, or wooden slats. As the horses bucked and reared, trying to break free, Charles used a calm, gentle voice to approach and dislodge it without any injuries.

Jennie died at home at the age of 72 in 1912; Charles died at home at the age of 74 in 1916. Many of their descendants have made their homes in Kansas. Some, like Arthur Harness, have returned many times to honor these early homesteaders.

Join Us for the 2024 Kaw Mission Councils in Council Grove

Hosted by Site Administrator Mark Brooks, this series of lectures and events focuses on the rich history of westward expansion and how it affected Anglo, Hispanic, and Native peoples. The monthly programs unless indicated will be held at 2 p.m. at the Dealership Building, 318 West Main Street. There is a $3 suggested donation.

May 5

June 22 July 14 August 11

“History of the Potawatomi Nation,” by Jon E. Boursaw

Rematriation Celebration of In’zhu’je’waxo’be (Sacred Red Rock) at Allegawaho Memorial Heritage Park

“Little Squatters on the Prairie: Settlers on the Osage Diminished Reserve in Southwest Kansas,” by Michelle Marie Martin

“Pawnee, the Spanish Adaptation of the Horse,” by Carlton Grover

September 8

October 6

November 3

Community Band Concert and Ice Cream Social on the grounds of Kaw Mission, 500 North Mission, 6 p.m.

“1860s Blacksmith,” by Pete Betke on the grounds of Kaw Mission, 500 North Mission

“The Return of Inzujewaxobe: Sacred Rock of the Kaw People,” by Jim Pepper Henry

November 9

December 8

“Candlelight Charm,” Christmas Open House at Kaw Mission, 500 North Mission, and Last Chance Store, 502 West Main, 5-9 p.m.

“Stevens’ Stone Mansions: Corruption on the Kaw Reservation,” by Mark Brooks

Charles and Jennie Harness stand in front of their two-story stone house on their 89-acre homestead in Dunlap vicinity, Morris County.

Plan Your Summer Road Trip with the Sunflower Summer App

The Sunflower Summer program is back for another season, and the state historic sites are participants! Administered by Kansas Tourism and designed for Kansas families with schoolaged children, the program fosters family engagement and student learning by offering free opportunities for residents to explore their home state. Through the Sunflower Summer app, participants can download ticket vouchers to

visit participating attractions ranging from museums, discovery centers, and historic sites to zoos, arboretums, and amusement parks.

Though our 16 state historic sites already offer free admission, using the Sunflower Summer app to visit will generate funding to help us preserve them for future generations. The Historical Society will receive a $5 grant for each ticket downloaded and redeemed at a state historic site

between May 25 and August 11. Don’t miss this chance to contribute to the state historic sites for free!

In the 2024 Kansas Day campaign video, Kansas Tourism boldly invited residents to reclaim their vacation in Kansas: TravelKS.com/KansasDay Support this initiative by planning a trip this summer to visit our sites, from the northwest to the southeast of the state, and see what all Kansas has to offer!

Register for the Sunflower Summer Program!

Eligibility: All Kansas students currently enrolled in Pre-K through 12th grade qualify for the program. Homeschool and private school students are also eligible.

Timeframe: The season runs from Saturday, May 25, through Sunday, August 11.

Downloading the App: The Sunflower Summer app can be downloaded from Google Play (Android) or Apple (iOS) stores.

Creating an Account: Any parent or legal guardian is eligible to create an account for their family. Register and add students by following the on-screen prompts. Accessing Free Tickets: Free tickets can be claimed within the app. Each student can download one free admission ticket per attraction. Up to two adults can download free tickets to accompany students. Upon arriving to participating venues, tickets must be activated and presented to admissions staff.

For more information about this program, visit SunflowerSummer.org or contact Jordan Roemerman at jordan.roemerman@ks.gov or 785-338-6066.

TUNE IN!

Featuring documentaries, YouTube videos, podcasts and other audiovisual offerings that highlight engaging stories related to Kansas history.

Cottonwood Connections: Hometown History

Kansas history can often be found right in our backyard. Cottonwood Connections: Hometown History, a 25-minute series in its fourth season presented by Smoky Hills PBS, highlights several Kansas county historical societies and museums. Cottonwood Ranch Site Administrator Don Rowlison visits with museum directors, curators, and collection managers in Trego, Sheridan, Graham, Decatur, Gove, Rooks, and Rice counties. The video features Dr. Leo Oliva, Kansas historian, sought after speaker, and author of several books on Kansas forts and the Santa Fe Trail. Hometown History gives viewers a glimpse into the people and events that shaped the history of small towns around our state: bit.ly/pbstownhistory

Exploring the Southeast I Just Want to Testify

Kansas is rich in history of the Old West, yet many people don’t realize the southeast corner of the state has an abundant history in mining, the socialist press, and the Civil War. Produced by Johnson County Community College, Exploring Southeast Kansas features faculty from touring Mine Creek Civil War Battlefield State Historic Site, Fort Scott National Historic Site, Miners Hall Museum, Historic Girard, Big Brutus, and Miners Memorial. This video tour, cosponsored by the Kansas Studies Institute, provides a look into the unique history of southeast Kansas: bit.ly/jcccsek

Most people are familiar with the landmark Brown v. Board of Education U.S. Supreme Court case that desegrated schools, yet they may not know the personal stories behind it. I Just Want to Testify, a special program by KTWU PBS, brings together former students and teachers from the four segregated African American schools in Topeka to talk about their community and educational experiences before and after integration. Among the participants are Jack Alexander, former Topeka water commissioner, and Dr. Beryl New, retired director of equity for the Topeka USD 501 school district. Hosted by former KTWU executive director Eugene Williams, it also features short video clips: bit.ly/pbstestify

On this Day in Kansas History

Camp Concordia in Cloud County was designed as a model German prisoner of war facility, the largest of 14 in Kansas during World War II. Many prisoners worked outside camp as laborers for area farmers. The complex was comprised of more than 300 buildings with barracks, mess halls, and a hospital. One structure, Building T-9 (“T” for temporary), was a large warehouse and engineering shop. Construction was completed on this day in 1943. The camp closed after the war in 1945 and many materials were scavenged. Only a few structures and the T-9 warehouse remain. The building today is preserved as a POW camp museum. The T-9 warehouse was listed in the Register of Historic Kansas Places in 2009: bit.lyksnatreg1429 Find more about Camp Concordia at bit.ly/kscampcon

Born in California to Japanese immigrants, Takeru Higuchi became internationally known for his work in physical pharmacy. His time-release capsule controlled absorption of medication into the bloodstream with fewer side effects. We remember Higuchi during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May. Higuchi accepted a position at the University of Kansas in 1967 where he was praised by his peers as the “father of physical pharmacy.” Higuchi completed his 16-year career at KU and retired in 1983. His proposed Center of Excellence in Bioanalytical Research and Oread Laboratories, Inc., the for-profit corporation that funded the laboratory, became an innovative prototype. He inspired a lecture series and research awards at KU and the American Pharmaceutical Association. Learn more about this renowned chemist at bit.ly/kshiguchi

5/2 5/1

5/3

Playwright William Inge was born on this day in 1913. A native of Independence, he pursued acting in school but decided he would never be a serious actor. He taught drama and worked as an entertainment critic before turning to playwriting. Come Back Little Sheba debuted on Broadway in 1950 and launched a successful career. Picnic, for which he received a Pulitzer Prize, debuted in 1953. Splendor in the Grass (1961) was made into a film in 1962 and earned Inge an Oscar. His plays, often set in small midwestern towns, involved family drama. Inge is considered one of the best American playwrights of the 20th century. His home in Independence was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2018: bit.ly/ksnatreg1790 For more information about this famous playwright, go to bit.ly/ksinge

6/16 6/2

The Battle of Black Jack, the first armed conflict between proslavery supporters and free-state advocates, followed days of violence during the time called “Bleeding Kansas.” A proslavery posse led by Douglas County Sheriff Samuel Jones had conducted a raid, now called the Sack of Lawrence, on May 21. John Brown and his men retaliated for this and other violent acts three days later, murdering five men along Pottawatomie Creek. After Brown’s sons were captured by proslavery militia men, Brown led a rescue effort at a camp along Black Jack Creek near present-day Baldwin City on this day in 1856. The three-hour battle ended with a proslavery surrender. Some call this the first battle in the Civil War. The battlefield was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2012. Find more information about this battle at bit.ly/ksblackjack

Marie L. Allen, state chair of the Kansas League of Women Voters, thanked Governor Henry J. Allen for calling a special session of the legislature in this letter on June 15, 1919. The legislature was called to ratify the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which would grant women the right to vote. The fight for women’s rights, begun nationally in 1848, was embraced by Kansas women who brought the debate to the 1859 constitutional convention. Kansas women worked to achieve full voting rights in 1912. The Kansas Legislature unanimously ratified the 19th Amendment on this day in 1919. Three-fourths of the 48 states ratified the amendment by August 18, 1920; it was certified on August 26. Learn about women’s suffrage at bit.ly/kswomensuffrage Take a virtual tour of the Historical Society’s former special exhibit Upward to Equality: Kansas Women Fight to Vote at bit.ly/kmhequalityexhibit

6/30

“Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam,” is familiar to most Kansans. Our state song was a poem, “My Western Home,” written by Dr. Brewster M. Higley at his small Kansas cabin along the West Beaver Creek, and published in the newspaper in 1874. Higley’s friend Daniel E. Kelley set the poem to music. Renamed “Home on the Range,” the song became widely popular and was named the state song by the Kansas Legislature on this day in 1947. Higley’s cabin, located west of Smith Center, was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1973: bit.ly/ksnatreg698 Watch the “Home on the Range” sing along video performed by Trae Johnson, assistant director of education and outreach, at bit.ly/kshotr

NEWS and NOTES

There is much history to celebrate this year in the city and county of Leavenworth! Founded along the Missouri River as the first city of Kansas in 1854, Leavenworth will mark its 170th year this June. The Leavenworth County Historical Society, organized during the city’s centennial year, will also celebrate its 70th anniversary this December. To commemorate these milestones, the historical society is hosting a special event featuring the Lecompton Reenactors at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 22, on the lawn of the Carroll Mansion Museum and Research Center. For more information, call 913-682-7759 or visit leavenworthhistory.org.

Hell Comes to Play: New Discoveries in the Bender Case

Hell Comes to Play, written by Lee Ralph, challenges the accepted narrative of the “Bloody Benders,” believed to be America’s first family of serial killers. In an attempt to separate fact from fiction, Ralph investigates the family’s identities, roots, and later activity, uncovering new details and correcting misinformation along the way. Throughout the book, the Kansas Historical Society’s records aid Ralph in identifying victims, examining suspects, and providing a glimpse into the crimes that troubled this 1870s southeast Kansas community. To channel your inner detective and delve into this mystery that has long captivated audiences, check out Hell Comes to Play and visit bit.ly/kshsbender.

Register for the Brown v. Board of Education Homecoming Celebration

Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park is hosting a homecoming celebration to honor students and teachers of the formerly segregated Buchanan, McKinley, Monroe, and Washington elementary schools. This event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 18, the same date the community gathered at Monroe Elementary to celebrate the landmark Supreme Court decision 70 years ago. While alums and others with personal connections are especially encouraged to attend, this event is open to all who want to commemorate and renew their commitment to a more equitable future. Participants will enjoy a series of engaging speakers, discussions, and activities and are encouraged to bring memorabilia associated with these four schools. The Kansas Historical Society will photograph these items for its collections and share them in the online digital archives, Kansas Memory. More event details are available at bit.ly/npsbvbhomecoming. To register, visit bit.ly/regbvbhomecoming or call 785-354-4273.

Visit Our Stories, A Topeka Black History Exhibit

TheBlack American Blueprint Collective and the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library partnered to create a new exhibit, Our Stories: African American Topeka Before and After Brown. Open at the Alice C. Sabatini Gallery through May 19, this display honors generations of Topeka’s Black residents by showcasing the strong neighborhoods they built and their lasting legacies on the city today. The Kansas Historical Society’s State Archives Division provided more than 80 photo options for this exhibit, which citizen curators narrowed to an assortment of documents, portraits, group photos, and other Topeka scenes. The Kansas Museum of History also loaned several items for this display, including an Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority bracelet and distinguished service medal of influential educator Mamie Williams. Don’t miss the final weeks to view this exhibit! Visit bit.ly/tscplourstories for more information.

Leavenworth Celebrates Milestones

Upcoming Events...

MAY

1-19 – Topeka

Special exhibit, Our Stories: African American Topeka

Before and After Brown, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library Sabatini Gallery; bit.ly/tscplourstories

2-5 – Ellsworth and Lincoln Counties

Kansas Sampler Foundation’s Big Kansas Road Trip; bigkansasroadtrip.com

5 – Council Grove

Kaw Mission Councils, “History of the Potawatomi Nation,” presented by Colonel Jon E. Boursaw, 2 p.m. Sunday, the Dealership Building

8 – Virtual

Museum After Hours, “The Women of Brown v. Board,” presented by Donna Rae Pearson, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, via Zoom and YouTube

11 – Pleasanton

Music Fest Fundraiser, 3 p.m. Saturday, Mine Creek Civil War Battlefield

JUNE

1 – Topeka

Kansas Historic Sites Board of Review, triannual meeting, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Saturday

7-16 – Crawford and Bourbon Counties

Kansas Archeology Training Program Field School, bit.ly/2024KATP

9 – Emporia

Sundays at the Site, “The History of the Kansas Historical Society,” presented by KSHS Executive Director Patrick Zollner, 2 p.m. Sunday, Red Rocks

12 – Virtual

Museum After Hours, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, via Zoom and YouTube

18 – Virtual

Electronic Records Committee, 2 p.m. Tuesday, via Zoom

15-17 – Newton

Kansas Preservation Conference; bit.ly/KSHPOevents

18 – Topeka

Brown v. Board 70th Anniversary Homecoming Celebration, 10 a.m. Saturday, Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Park; bit.ly/npsbvbhomecoming

19 – Emporia

Sundays at the Site, “Writing and Publishing Creative Nonfiction,” presented by Publisher Tracy Simmons and friends, 2 p.m. Sunday, Red Rocks

20 – Shawnee

Freedom’s Frontier Partner Meeting, 10 a.m. Monday, Shawnee Town 1929; freedomsfrontier.org/partners/ 24 – Virtual

Registration Deadline for the 2024 Kansas Archeology Training Program; bit.ly/reg2024KATP

27 – Statewide

Memorial Day, all sites closed for the state holiday

19 – Statewide

Juneteenth, all sites closed for the state holiday

22 – Council Grove

Kaw Mission Councils, Rematriation Celebration of In’zhu’je’waxo’be (Sacred Red Rock), 2 p.m. Saturday, Allegawaho Memorial Heritage Park (3.25 miles southeast of Council Grove)

22 – Leavenworth

Leavenworth County Historical Society Anniversary Celebration, 10 a.m. Saturday, Carroll Mansion Museum & Research Center

23 – Emporia

Sundays at the Site, “The History of the Lyon County Historical Society,” presented by LCHS Directors

Lisa Soller and Greg Jordan, 2 p.m. Sunday, Red Rocks

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Visit linktr.ee/ kansashistory or scan this QR code for easy access to all of our social media and more!

-Next Issue-

Tune into the July/August issue for:

• Updates on the Native American Protection and Repatriation Act: Efforts to Implement the New Regulations

• A Recap of the 2024 Kansas Preservation Conference

• An Introduction to the Kansas Historical Society Education

YouTube Channel

• Site Highlight: Red Rocks State Historic Site, Home of the William Allen White Family

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Topeka, KS 66615-1099