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Lawrence Central Rotary’s own Audrey Coleman spoke on her work as Head Archivist at the Dole Institute of Politics and discussed the importance of preserving personal digital records. The Institute honors Senator Bob Dole “by promoting political and civic participation in a by-partisan and balanced manner.” The Institute provides educational displays, archives and programs to achieve this mission. Audrey reported that Dole is active at 91 years of age and frequently consults with staff members of the Institute. The archivists receive about 300 research requests a year. Researchers may work on site or hire a local researcher. Finding aids have been created to assist researchers including a key word search that identifies specific folders of information.

Audrey noted that the explosion of digital information is both a benefit and a challenge. Unfortunately, digital images and documents can be easily misplaced or can deteriorate and become lost forever. The following steps were recommended to preserve valuable digital records. First, identify your most important digital files and their location. Next, save the highest quality versions with multiple copies and tag the files with dates and names. Finally, store the results on computer, CD, DVD, thumb drive and utilize an Internet storage company. Saved files should be reviewed annually and copied to new media every five years. Commercial firms can assist with this process.

In closing, Audrey urged people to attend an event at the Institute to celebrate the opening of a new display commemorating the 25^th anniversary of the passage of the American Disability Act. The event is on Sunday, July 26, 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Susan Earle, curator of European and American art at the Spencer museum chronicled the life and death of a downtown Lawrence mural when she told the story of The Pollinator.

The Pollinator was on a wall of what was then the Aquila building at 9th and New Hampshire from 2007 until March, 2015. It was inspired by the work of Aaron Douglas, a black Topeka artist, who graduated from Topeka High School in 1917 and, against formidable odds, became the first black to get an art degree at Nebraska University. He also earned a masters degree at Columbia. He studied in Paris, taught at Fisk University and, in addition to murals, designed posters, book covers for major authors and journal covers.

After the Spencer purchased one of his murals, the idea grew for a mural in Lawrence to commemorate the influence of Douglas and other Kansas blacks including Langston Hughes, Gordon Parks and Gwendolyn Brooks, in pollinating art in America. The mural’s name reflects one of Brooks’ poems: “We are each others’ harvest . . .”

Local artist David Lowenstein led the project, aided by a large committee which included Central Rotarian Carolyn Chinn Lewis. Grants, community support and private donations provided funding. The completed mural faced the Farmers’ Market, creating a downtown site celebrating all aspects of the harvest.

By 2014 the building had been sold and marked for demolition. “We spent months trying to figure out a way to save the mural,” Earle said. “ We thought of moving the wall or taking it apart brick by brick.” But none of these ideas worked and the building was demolished in March.

“The owners have promised us wall space for a mural on the new multi-purpose building they are constructing at the site,” Earle said. “And it will still face the Farmers’ Market.

The Baker Wetlands was the subject of Doctor Roger L. Boyd’s presentation. Doctor Boyd is the Baker Wetlands Education Coordinator and a biology professor emeritus, Baker University. Preservation of wetlands is important where ever they are found as they function as a check on flooding, filter pollutants and serve as a unique habitat for plants and animals. Haskell University acquired the area in 1854 and drained it and used it for agricultural instruction. Baker University acquired the site in 1968 and in 1990 restoration began. Drainage ditches were plugged with good results. A thirty year controversy threatened the project as plans to link up highway 10 with a passage through the wetlands was fought over. The project was finally approved with a promise to reduce the impact of a roadway on the area and there was a significant property exchange that benefited both parties.

An 11,800 square foot Discovery Center will open in July and there are plans for camping areas and trails. Recent rains have speeded up the restoration. The Baker Wetlands will function as a giant outdoor classroom for area students and researchers from Haskell University, Emporia State University and Kansas University.