The Lincoln County Historical Society (LCHS) always strives to educate the interested of the perils and dangers of the early prairie and the comedies and tragedies that played out in the history of our county. Books have been written about more than 100 years of county history and others about significant specific events. Even others tell tales of our founding fathers from their own words.
Why is it important that we learn what happened a couple hundred years ago, or a couple thousand years ago? Students often have the same question… why are we learning this? The 26th president of the country, Theodore Roosevelt, once said “The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future.” Several decades later renowned poetess Maya Angelou said, “The more you know of your history the more liberated you are.”
Also, the more we know and understand events and trends through the years the better prepared we are to improve the existing culture, climate and fertility of the land by learning through our ancestors’ successes and failures.
To support their mission, they have planned several events over the next several months to provide interesting speakers, fun events and of course, a little bit of history.
Meet and Greet
First things first, meet the members of the board, meet the new director Dana Walters, and take a gander at photos of subjects we hope you can identify for us at the museum. The event is August 12 at 6 p.m. See how some of the exhibits have changed. Ice cream and ice cream floats will be served.
Speaker’s Series
On Sunday, August 13 you’ll want to return to the museum by 2 p.m. to hear “William Allen White and the KKK in Kansas,” a program made possible through the Kansas State Humanities Council.
The 1920s saw the reemergence of the Ku Klux Klan across America, and sparked fear and violence against African Americans and other minority groups. As the editor of the Emporia Gazette, White was acutely aware of the growing presence of the KKK in Kansas following World War I. Seeing no candidates free of Klan influence, White declared, “I want to be governor to free Kansas from the disgrace of the Ku Klux Klan.” This presentation follows the raucous two-month campaign that had White traveling over 2,700 miles to deliver 104 speeches, all directed at expelling the KKK. Though he did not win, White’s efforts led to a Kansas Supreme Court ruling that outlawed the Klan in Kansas. Presented by Beverley Olson Buller. Buller is an author, educator and chair of the William Allen White Children’s Book Awards.
Post Rock Festival
The 2023 Post Rock Festival is September 2. The Historical Society will have games on the front lawn of the museum to help fill in a gap during Festival events. The group is also sponsoring a “Pie in the Face” game at the City Park in the afternoon.
Annual Meeting
The annual meeting and program is set for September 17 at 2 p.m. A video and discussion entitled “Fort Harker: Gateway Post to the Frontier” will be presented by Greg Heller. The annual business meeting will follow, and refreshments will be served.
Speakers’ Series
Another Humanities Council presentation will be held October 22. The title is “Free did not mean welcome.” Millions of African Americans walked away from the South after Emancipation looking for freedom. For some it meant a journey to Kansas, believing “free state” meant free of racial discrimination. Discover how many realized that for Black people in Kansas “free” did not necessarily mean “welcome.” Presented by Dr. Carmaletta Williams. Dr. Williams is a former professor of English and African American studies at Johnson County Community College. She is currently the executive director of the Black Archives of Mid-America in Kansas City.
Christmas at the Marshall-Yohe House
For Christmas this year, the Historical Society wants to have a fundraiser! So they are! Local businesses are being contacted now offering to “sell” them a room in the M-Y House they can decorate in any way they choose. The intention is to see every room in the house in their holiday finest. Once a room is purchased, the business builds a team to do the tinsel hanging and heavy lifting. All rooms will be decorated on the same day. Additionally, if the team might choose, they can provide an artificial Christmas tree for their room, decorating it as they see fit. The trees will then be sold through a silent auction during the Holiday Homes tour.
Walters has put the word out to collect trees.
“I don’t want affordability to be the reason they can’t participate,” Walters said.
More detailed information will be available as the time nears.
