On June 2, 1856 radical abolitionist John Brown led a surprise attack on a group of pro slavery militia led by Henry Clay Pate. Pate was looking for John Brown and intended to punish him for his involvement in the murder of several pro slavery men. The fight took place at Black Jack, a Santa Fe Trail camp site in south east Douglas County. The fight involved about one hundred men and resulted in few casualties and the capture of Pate and his men. Johnathan Hart, Executive Director of Black Jack Battlefield and Nature Park, (https://www.blackjackbattlefield.org)provided background on the Border War and efforts to preserve and restore the historic site. The Black Jack Battlefield Trust is raising funds to construct a visitors center that will tell the story of the historic encounter. Educational classes and a nature trail and prairie walk will be developed. John Brown describes the encounter as “the first regular battle between Free-State and pro slavery forces in Kansas.”
Category: News
-
United Way Kaw Valley
Jessica Lehnsherr and Kathy Smith spoke about the United Way merger that created United Way of Kaw Valley and what it means for the program’s operation. Lehnherr was the CEO of the Topeka United Way and will now serve as CEO of the newly merged entity. Kathy Smith is in charge of Douglas County Initiatives and is affiliated with the Roger Hill Volunteer Center. The 2022 merger brought together United Way programs in Shawnee, Douglas, Jackson and Jefferson Counties. The merger is expected to create efficiencies by sharing resources. Funds raised in each county will stay in that county. The United Way brings together people, companies and non profits to address such problems as food security, education needs, financial stability, health and racial equity.
-
Meet the New Poet Laureate for Kansas
The new Poet Laureate for the State of Kansas came to town and demonstrated impressive skill as a teacher and a poet. Traci Brimhall teaches creative writing and poetry at Kansas State University and will serve as Poet Laureate for Kansas for 2023-2026. Brimhall describes poetry as an act of discovery that can be appreciated by anyone. Using selections from several different poets she demonstrated how a turn of phrase or an apt comparison can delight or challenge the reader. Brimhall has written several volumes of poetry and there are numerous examples of her work on line. Kaye McIntyre, also a recent guest speaker, recently interviewed the poet Laureate on KPR Presents.
-
Celebrating Seventy Years of Kansas Public Radio
Kaye McIntyre, host of Weekend Edition and Kansas Public Radio Presents, spoke on the occasion of the seventh year of broadcasting for Kansas Public Radio. KPR, located on the campus of Kansas University, went on air in 1952. There were many challenges to starting up, including recruiting a staff and and vandalism that took down their broadcasting tower. Presently, programing is done in large hourly blocks but in the early years programs were limited to hourly segments. Education has always been an important focus of KPR programming. Some early programs included Opera is My Hobby, the Jazz Scene and Jayhawk School of the Air. The staff included a number of famous personalities in the early years, including Bill Curtis and Bill Grigsby.
McIntyre joined the staff in 2001 and in 2006 she began work on KPR Presents, a weekly public affairs program. Topics include rebroadcasts of special presentations in the arts, politics and social issues. Interviews with authors and book reviews are also a popular part of KPR Presents. McIntyre noted her particular enjoyment for reviewing the Kansas Notable Books List. When asked about a favorite author interview she recalled visiting with science fiction icon Ray Bradbury. Bradbury was in his eighties and was nearly deaf which proved to be rather challenging. McIntyre mentioned the variety of present KPR programs and of the importance of supporting Kansas Public Radio. In her free time she enjoys reading, travel and the theatre.
-
Story of a Community
Steve Nowak, Director of Watkins Museum, is a story teller with thirty years of experience in museum work. Nowak has a background in art, history and material culture and is a Washington University, St. Louis graduate. Nowak took the job in 2011 and was asked to do a major upgrade of the collection. The Watkins is a 126 year old bank building that was built to be a showplace. However, in the decade prior to Nowak’s arrival the collection had grown static. Nowak began to fundraise and set out to tell the story of the community in a fresh and appealing manner. He began to remodel and update the collection one floor at a time. The Watkins won a prestigious Museums for America Grant which greatly assisted the remodel work.
The community’s story is one of Border War legacy, city growth, and the unique personalities that shaped it. The second floor exhibits are dedicated to the struggles for equality. The third floor focusses on different themes in Douglas County life, including business, leisure, activism, sports and more. Efforts have been made to reflect and honor all of the groups that are a part of the history of the area. The remodeled museum includes interactive displays, temporary exhibits that change every three to six months, a family research room and increased archive storage. Nowak emphasizes the importance of collaboration, especially with educators. Admission to the museum is free.
