Brown v. Board of Education

On May 17, 1954, the United States Supreme Court handed down a landmark decision ruling that "separate but equal" public school segregation was in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution. The decision, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, was an important first step in ending a long established practice in some states of forcing minority children (primarily African American) to attend substandard public schools in the same community where white students often received a more advantageous education at separate schools.

But the Court went a step further than pointing out financial differences in the segregated educational systems in the country as a reason for overturning "separate but equal." It also noted that even if racially segregated schools were on an equal fiscal plane the whole concept of using laws to separate children by race within a government supported system such as the public schools was wrong:

"Does segregation of children in public schools solely on the basis of race, even though the physical facilities and other "tangible" factors may be equal, deprive the children of the minority group of equal educational opportunities? We believe that it does...

Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children. The impact is greater when it has the sanction of the law, for the policy of separating the races is usually interpreted as denoting the inferiority of the negro group. A sense of inferiority affects the motivation of a child to learn. Segregation with the sanction of law, therefore, has a tendency to [retard] the educational and mental development of negro children and to deprive them of some of the benefits they would receive in a racial[ly] integrated school system...

We conclude that, in the field of public education, the doctrine of "separate but equal" has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. Therefore, we hold that the plaintiffs and others similarly situated for whom the actions have been brought are, by reason of the segregation complained of, deprived of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment." (from: Opinion of the Court delivered by Chief Justice Warren)

Brown v. Board was an important milestone in the long struggle for equality in the United States. The fact that it is fairly recent history and was well documented means that there is a wealth of resources on it. Below you will find some basic resources on Brown v. Board, the National Historic Site in Topeka and the Topeka parents and children who took a courageous stand against school segregation in our state.

Brown v. Board of Education
National Historic Site, Topeka, Kansas
http://www.nps.gov/brvb/index.htm
(Established in Topeka, Kansas, on October 26, 1992, by the United States Congress to commemorate the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision aimed at ending racial segregation in public schools)
--Directions
--Operating Hours & Seasons
--Fees & Reservations
--Schedule a School Field Trip
--Special Events
--Special Exhibits
--2009-2010 Program Schedule
--Centennial Initiative 2016

Brown Foundation For Educational Equality
http://www.brownvboard.org/
(The Brown Foundation for Educational Equity, Excellence and Research was established in 1988 as a living tribute to the attorneys and plaintiffs in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision of 1954 Brown v. Board of Education)

Photo Tour of the Brown v. Board National Historic Site
http://brownvboard.org/monroe/tour/
(From the Brown Foundation for Educational Equality)

Brown v. Board of Education (KSHS)
http://www.kshs.org/portraits/brown_v_board.htm
(Information supplied by and through the Kansas State Historical Society)

Brown v. Board of Education (Kansas Memory)
http://www.kansasmemory.org/category/6646
(Primary sources on Brown v. Board and school segregation in Kansas from the Kansas Memory website)

Kansas Memory Podcast
(Listen to interviews with Kansas participants in Brown v. Board)
--Charles I. Baston and Fred Rausch, Jr.
--Christina Jackson
--Maurita Davis
--Judge Robert Lee Carter

Brown v. Board of Education, Topeka Era Bibliography
http://www.kshs.org/research/collections/documents/bibliographies/brownvboard/bibliography.htm
(Further reources from the Kansas State Historical Society)

Interview with Linda Brown Smith
http://digital.wustl.edu/e/eop/eopweb/smi0015.0647.098lindabrownsmith.html
(Text of a 1985 interview with Linda Brown Smith, the daughter of Oliver Brown)

Eisenhower Presidential Library
Abiline, Kansas
http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/Research/Digital_Documents/Civil_Rights_BrownvsBoE/BrownvsBOEfiles.html (Resources available from the Library)

Brown vs. Board
http://cjonline.com/indepth/brown/archives/
(Archived articles from the Topeka Capital Journal)

Looking Back: Brown v. Board of Education
http://www.npr.org/news/specials/brown50/index.html
(From National Public Radio)

Brown @ 50
http://www.brownat50.org/brownCases/BrownCasesFrameset.html
(Howard University Law School website commemorating the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board in 2004)

"With an Even Hand"... Brown v. Board at Fifty
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/brown/
(An online presentation of an exhibit held at the Library of Congress in 2004)

Brown v. Board of Education
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_v._Board_of_Education
(An excellent Wikipedia article on Brown v. Board)

Brown v. Board:
Five Communities That Changed America
http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/121brown/
("Teaching with Historic Places Lesson Plans" presented by the National Park Service)

Teaching With Documents:
Documents Related to Brown v. Board of Education
http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/brown-v-board/
(From the National Archives)

Related Materials from the Library of Congress
http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/afam/afam-brown.html
(This presentation by the Library of Congress explores the question, What historical events led to the Supreme Court decision of 1954? by providing access to selected digitized historical information that enhances an existing research tool. Note! The photos at the top are no longer directly linked)

Article by: Bill Sowers
Please use the "Comments" link/box below for questions and comments.

Amelia Earhart

The final resting place of Amelia Earhart may yet remain a mystery, but the city of Atchison, Kansas is proud to claim her beginning. Earhart was born on July 24, 1897 in the home of her maternal grandfather, Alfred Gideon Otis, a former federal judge and president of the Atchison Savings Bank. The daughter of a railroad attorney, Amelia and her younger sister “Pidge” spent much of their childhood in various towns, including Atchison and Kansas City, Ks. She attended six high schools in four years, finally graduating from Chicago's Hyde Park High School in June 1915. Earhart always considered Atchison her hometown. The house in which she was born now houses the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum, which claims to represent “the most tangible remaining link with the famous female aviator.” The Gothic Revival cottage, which looks out over the west bank of the Missouri River, is open year round to visitors.

According to the official Amelia Earhart website, maintained by her family, Earhart was not impressed the first time she encountered a plane at age 10. But a decade later, she took her first flight and was hooked. Six months after her initial flying lesson on January 3, 1921, she bought her first plane. With her second-hand Kinner Airster two-seater biplane she nicknamed “Canary” for its bright yellow paint, she set her first women's aviator record by flying to an altitude of 14,000 feet.

In the years following, Earhart continued to set records. In May 1932, she became the first woman, and only second person, to fly solo across the Atlantic (see news report in the Atchison Globe). With this flight, she also gained recognition as the first person to cross the Atlantic twice by air nonstop and for setting a record for the fastest Atlantic crossing. It was the longest distance ever flown by a woman. For this feat, she received several awards, including the Gold Medal of the National Geographic Society, presented to her by President Herbert Hoover, and the Distinguished Flying Cross, being the first woman so honored. Her second book, The Fun of It, came out later that year (read an excerpt).

The following years included more record setting flights, lecture tours, celebrity status, and even fashion design. In the fall of 1935, Earhart joined the faculty of Purdue University as an adviser in aeronautics and as consultant in the Department of the Study of Careers for Women. Purdue University Libraries now houses the world's largest collection of Amelia Earhart papers, photos, memorabilia and artifacts. The Library has digitized more than 3,500 scans of photographs, maps, and documents relating to Earhart. These can all be viewed online, including a manuscript draft of a prenuptial agreement by Earhart to George Putnam expressing her "reluctance to marry."

On July 2, 1937 Earhart and her co-pilot Fred Noonan took off from Lae in Papua New Guinea with Howland Island as their intended destination in their celebrated flight around the world, “just for fun”. Their last known position report was about 800 miles into their flight near the Nukumanu Islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Itasca was on station at Howland and was assigned to guide Earhart's Lockheed Electra 10E to the island once they neared the area. However, radio and weather difficulties caused the plane to lose radio contact. Earhart's plane never arrived at Howland, and despite a massive search by the U.S. government, no trace of Earhart, Noonan, or their plane has yet been found. Earhart's husband, George Putnam, continued the search at his own expense until October 1937. On January 5, 1939, Amelia Earhart was declared legally dead in Superior Court in Los Angeles.

The whereabouts of Earhart and Noonan remains a mystery, and continues to the subject of much speculation and controversy. Numerous books and movies have been produced with theories as wide ranging as capture by the Japanese as prisoners of war to being marooned on an island and later returning to the US to live in anonymity (see Discussion section of the Amelia Earhart Wikipedia article for sample).

Earhart's memory is kept alive by the controversy, but also by women and men alike who admire her courage and accomplishments. One such group is the Ninety Nines, an organization of women in aviation, of which Earhart was a charter member and first president. The Ninety Nines maintain the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum in Atchison, as well as the International Forest of Friendship. Located at Warnock Lake, the forest is a living memorial to the history of aviation and aerospace. A statue of Amelia Earhart and a tree from her grandfather's farm are located there.

The community of Atchison also keeps alive the memory of Amelia Earhart with an annual community celebration, held this year on July 16-17. The celebration includes an awarding of the Amelia Earhart Pioneering Achievement Award from the Cloud L. Cray Foundation, which provides a $10,000 women’s scholarship to the educational institution of the honoree’s choice. This year's honoree is University of Kansas basketball great, Lynette Woodard.

Other sites of interest:
Amelia Earhart Earthwork at Warnock Lake Park, Atchison, Kansas. Stan Herd created the 1-acre landscape mural in 1997 from permanent plantings and stone to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Earhart's birth.

Kansas State Historical Society tribute

Meet Amelia at the Atchison Library! And other festival events at the Atchison Public Library

See live videos of Earhart at biography.com

See the trailer for the 2009 movie “Amelia,” starring Hillary Swank and Richard Gere at Rotten Tomatoes

A partial bibliography of books and more books

This article was written by Diana Weaver, Director, Atchison Public Library
Please use the "Comments" link/box below for questions and comments.

The Great Flood of 1993

Kansas City flood levels in 1844, 1951 and 1993 as shown at
Westport Landing on the Missouri River in Kansas City.
Photo by Americasroof 2006
"It cannot be tamed, curbed or confined...you cannot bar its path with an obstruction which it will not tear down, dance over and laugh at. The Mississippi River will always have its own way, no engineering skill can persuade it to do otherwise...” -Mark Twain

"Wild rivers are earth's renegades, defying gravity, dancing to their own tunes, resisting the authority of humans, always chipping away, and eventually always winning."- Richard Bangs, River Gods

1993 marked an amazing midwestern weather phenomenon. A heavy wet winter, spring and summer throughout the upper midwest and a stagnant weather system inundated the lands until they could not hold it and the tributaries to the Mississippi River swelled and burst through levees. Through our connection to the Mississippi River via the Missouri and Kansas Rivers, northeast Kansas experienced 100 year record level flooding. Thanks to advanced warning systems and continuous updates there were no lives lost in Kansas, but many were displaced and crops were lost.

Wikipedia article
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Flood_of_1993 Impact of the 1993 Flood on Kansas from the NOAA

National Weather Service report:
http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/floods/papers/oh_2/great.htm

Maps and Images

Map of flood warnings and watches

1993 Flood photo gallery

1903 and 1993 floods photo slide show

Significant River Flood Outlook

Reports and Studies

United States Geological Survey (USGS):
http://mo.water.usgs.gov/Reports/1993-Flood/index.htm

USGS: Effects of Reservoirs on Flood Discharges in the Kansas and Missouri River Basins - 1993

Perry, C.A., 2000, Significant Floods in the United States During the 20th Century—USGS Measures a Century of Floods: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS024-00, 4 p.

The Great Flood of 1993 on the Upper Mississippi River—10 Years Later

Historic Floods of Kansas

Flood Safety
NOAA Flash flood safety podcast

Flood planning from FEMA

After the flood

Cleanup guidelines and issues to consider from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)

After a Hurricane or Flood: Cleanup of Flood Water by the Center for Disease Control (CDC)

Flooded septic systems from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Article by: Kim Harp. Please use the "Comments" link/box below for questions and comments.

Civil War Battle Sites

Kansas statehood came less than three months before the beginning of open hostilities in the American Civil War. For the next four years Union and Confederate troops fought a devastating war that took the lives of over 600,000 combatants. During this same time Kansas struggled to develop a state government in the midst of guerilla warfare that might have rivaled some civil conflicts in the world today.

Although the conflicts in Kansas were generally small in comparison to what was being played out to the east there were several battles within the new state. Below are links to resources, graphics and information on Civil War battlefield sites in Kansas as well as some general Kansas Civil War information.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Civil War Battles in Kansas
http://www.civilwaracademy.com/civil-war-battles-in-kansas.html
(A map and list of the four major Civil War battles in Kansas. Includes a summary of basic information on date, location, casualties, major combatants and outcome)

Civil War Timeline of Events in Kansas
http://ehistory.osu.edu/uscw/features/battles/states/kansas/0001.cfm
(Skirmishes, raids and battles are listed)

Kansas in the Civil War
http://www.kshs.org/research/topics/war/civilwarkansas.htm
(Kansas State Historical Society)

Kansas in the Civil War
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/civilwar/index.html
(Kansas Genweb)

Kansas Memory
http://www.kansasmemory.org/locate.php?query=civil+war
(Original documents, manuscripts and graphics provided by the Kansas State Historical Society)

Centennial of the Civil War
http://www.kancoll.org/khq/1965/65_1_staff.htm
Kansas Historical Quarterly
Spring, 1965 (Vol. 31, No. 1), pages 62-66

ATLAS CATALOG HOLDINGS
(Library holdings of the Kansas State Historical Society, State Library of Kansas, Kansas Supreme Court and Washburn University)
Kansas -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865

INDIVIDUAL BATTLE SITES

BAXTER SPRINGS, 1863
The Battle of Fort Blair, sometimes called the Fort Baxter Massacre, or the Battle of Fort Baxter was fought on October 6, 1863, near the modern-day town of Baxter Springs, Kansas.

Battle Summary (National Parks Service)
http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp/battles/ks002.htm

Fort Blair and Baxter Springs Massacre
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/ks-fortblair.html

William Quantrill Attacks Baxter Springs, Kansas
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/william-quantrill-attacks-baxter-springs-kansas

"Incidents at Baxter Springs on October 6, 1863"
by Lary C. Rampp
Kansas Historical Quarterly, Vol. 36, no. 2 (summer, 1970), p. 183-197
(Get a copy of this article via interlibrary loan from the State Library of Kansas)

LAWRENCE, 1863
The Lawrence Massacre, also known as Quantrill's Raid, was a rebel guerrilla attack by Quantrill's Raiders, led by William Clarke Quantrill, on the pro-Union town of Lawrence, Kansas. Quantill's Raid on Lawrence in 1863 is well known through books, articles and motion pictures.

Battle Summary (National Parks Service)
http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp/battles/ks001.htm

Eyewitness Reports on Quantrill's Raid
http://www.kshs.org/publicat/history/2005summer_six.pdf
Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains
Summer 2005 (Vol. 28, No. 2), p. 94-103

Erastus D. Ladd's Description of the Lawrence Massacre
http://www.kshs.org/publicat/khq/1963/63_2_bidlack.htm
Kansas Historical Quarterly
Summer 1963 (Vol. 29, No. 2), pages 113 to 121

In Pursuit of Quantrill: an Enlisted Man's Response
http://www.kshs.org/publicat/khq/1973/73_3_unrau.htm
Kansas Historical Quarterly
Autumn 1972 (Vol. 39, No. 3), p. 379 to 391

MARAIS DES CYGNES
The Battle of Marais des Cygnes took place on October 25, 1864, in Linn County, Kansas during Price's Missouri Raid. It is also called the Battle of Osage, and the Battle of Trading Post. It proved to be the first of three interconnected actions on this same day, all involving elements of Major General Sterling Price's Confederate Army of Missouri and the Union's Provisional Cavalry Division commanded by Major General Alfred Pleasonton.

Battle Summary (National Parks Service)
http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp/battles/ks004.htm

Price's Missouri Expedition
http://www.thefullwiki.org/Price

Price's Raid and the Battles of Linn County
http://www.legendsofkansas.com/priceraid.html

Report of Maj. Gen. Sterling Price
http://www.missouridivision-scv.org/pricereport1864raid.htm

Books/Articles on the Battle
http://topekalibraries.info/search~S8/d?Price%27s+Missouri+Expedition
(Holdings within Topeka ATLAS Consortium libraries)

MINE CREEK, 1864
"On October 25, 1864, approximately 2,800 Union troops attacked and defeated about 8,000 Confederates along the banks of Mine Creek. This was one of the largest cavalry battles in the Civil War and a major battle fought in Kansas."

Battle Summary (National Parks Service)
http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp/battles/ks004.htm

Mine Creek Battlefield State Historic Site
http://www.kshs.org/places/minecreek/index.htm

Mine Creek Battlefield Foundation
http://www.minecreek.org/

Books/Articles on the Battle
http://topekalibraries.info/search/d?mine+creek+battle
(Holdings within Topeka ATLAS Consortium libraries)

MISCELLANEOUS

Diamond Springs
http://www.legendsofkansas.com/diamondsprings.html
(Report of a small skirmish at Diamond Springs)

Article by: Bill Sowers
My thanks to Roy Bird for supplying some of the links in this article
Please use the "Comments" link/box below for questions and comments.

Vacation Kansas!

The summer looms ahead of you like a two lane highway cutting a rolling path across the Flint Hills. What to do? Where to go? Your bank account nixes any trips to far off locations. You look around waiting for a passing twister to lift you up and deposit you in Oz but the sky is a clear, deep Kansas blue without a cloud in sight.

How about vacationing in Kansas? You'd be amazed at what the Sunflower State has to offer in sights, sounds and friendly people. You can tour the state on prolonged journeys or take short day/weekend ventures. Chances are good you'll spend a lot less money and surprise yourself in discovering Kansas up close.

So put down those "impossible dream" brochures and thumb through the possibilities listed below. Kansas spreads out before you, a patchwork quilt of festivals, lakes, rodeos, museums, galleries, racing, music and good times.

KANSAS TRAVEL & TOURISM
http://www.travelks.com/
Official site of the Kansas Travel and Tourism Division, Kansas Department of Commerce. The Division's Tourism site promotes all aspects of Kansas as a place to visit and enjoy providing information on lodging, dining, directions and suggestions on what to pack Some areas of interest:

--Free Publications
http://www.travelks.com/s/VisitorGuideE.cfm
(Supply contact information, fill out the online form indicating your specific interests and receive maps and guides on places and activities in Kansas)

--Trip Planner
http://www.travelks.com/s/index.cfm?trip
(Select a time period, your interests and an optional location and this planning tool will assist you in planning your excursion)

--Yellow Brick Road Trips
http://yellowbrickroadtrip.com/
(A wonderful way to plan a trip or just see what the different regions of Kansas have to offer. Use the map or the menu on the left to select a journey and then print off an itinerary of places to visit. Offers coupons and suggestions on what to pack and mapping your trip)

--Kansas Adventure e-newsletter
http://www.travelks.com/s/EnewsSubscribeE.cfm
("Kansas Adventures is the official Kansas Tourism e-newsletter. Subscribers receive periodic e-mail updates on the latest Kansas travel news, events, festivals, attractions, vacation packages, and special offers")

--Kansas! magazine
http://www.kansasmag.com/
(Quarterly magazine with stunning photography and interesting stories of places and people in Kansas)

OTHER WEBSITES

Kansas Scenic Byways
http://www.ksbyways.org/
("Kansas has nine scenic byways, two of which are National Scenic Byways. In addition to being beautiful drives, the byways each have a fascinating history and an abundance of activities to enjoy")

8 Wonders of Kansas
http://www.kansassampler.org/8wonders/
("The purpose of the 8 Wonders series is to help the world get to know Kansas and to encourage the public to explore Kansas")

Historic Tours of Kansas
Kansas State Historical Society
http://www.kshs.org/tourists/index.htm
("Plan your trip into Kansas history by choosing a region, theme, highway, or site name. Learn about accomodations for group tours")

Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks
http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/
Hunting, fishing, boating, lakes, parks, etc. Be sure to check out the video on the Flint Hills on the main page as well as other Kansas wildlife and Parks videos on YouTube)

Some National Parks Service sites in Kansas
http://www.nps.gov/state/ks/index.htm
(A short list with links provided by the National Parks Service. A more complete list of national historic landmarks is available from the Kansas State Historical Society)

GeoKansas... Places to Visit
http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Extension/KSplaces/visitindex.html
(Photos and descriptions of sites of geologic and other interest in Kansas. Provided by the Kansas Geological Survey. The website also includes a Field Trips page with guidebooks) http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Extension/fieldtrips.html

Natural Kansas
http://www.naturalkansas.org/welcome.htm
(Your portal to the many Wildlife Watching opportunities found here in the heart of
the Great Plains of North America)

Kansas Flint Hills
http://kansasflinthills.travel/
(Discover one of the most underrated natural attractions in the United States)

Kansas Chambers of Commerce
http://www.kansaschamber.org/mx/hm.asp?id=KcceDirectory
(Check out individual communities in Kansas. A directory of some of the chambers in Kansas. Includes a website when available. Provided by the State Chamber of Commerce)

Article by: Bill Sowers
Please use the "Comments" link below for questions and comments.

Kansas Halls of Fame

“Success means doing the best we can with what we have. Success is the doing, not the getting; in the trying, not the triumph. Success is a personal standard, reaching for the highest that is in us, becoming all that we can be.”
~Zig Ziglar~

Success is often the goal that drives the American dream. However one wishes to define the word many of us strive to have a lasting effect in some small way on the world around us or perhaps just within ourselves believing that this country of ours offers that possibility.

Americans love to celebrate successes. We recognize the deeds of others in many fields of interest touting these triumphs in museums, schools and notably "halls of fame."

The list below covers many of the halls of fame in Kansas. Within our state we have places that honor individuals and groups who have stood out within a profession, area of interest or activity at the state or national level. We also have halls of fame which promote animals and plantlife!

We've shied away from local and individual school halls of fame in this list knowing that that list is much longer than the space we've set out for these blogs. If we've missed a hall of fame in Kansas that you're aware of contact us and let us know via the comment box at the bottom of this blog. Don't forget to include an address and possible website! We'll determine what to include and add more halls of fame to the list.

NATIONAL HALLS OF FAME

Agricultural Hall of Fame
Bonner Springs
http://www.aghalloffame.com/
(Educates society on the historical and present value of American agriculture and honors leadership in Agri-Business and Academia by providing education, information, experience and recognition)

Greyhound Hall of Fame
Abilene
http://www.kansastravel.org/greyhoundhalloffame.htm
(Devoted to greyhound breeding, racing, and the history of the sport)

Highbanks Hall of Fame
http://highbanks-museum.org/
(Celebrates national midget auto racing and auto racing drivers)

Teachers Hall of Fame
Emporia
http://www.nthf.org/
(Recognizes and honors exceptional career teachers, encourages excellence in teaching, and preserves the rich heritage of the teaching profession in the United States)

They Also Ran Gallery
Norton
http://www.theyalsoran.com/
(Honors presidential candidates who were defeated but not forgotten)

STATE

Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame
Wichita
http://www.kansasaviationmuseum.org/hall.php
(Created to preserve the memory of outstanding aviation contributions by citizens of the State of Kansas)

Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame
Wichita
http://www.wichitahof.com/Baseball_Main.htm
(Honors baseball greats from Kansas)

Kansas Broadcasting Hall of Fame
http://www.kab.net/KABAdditionalInformation/AwardsDL1/Downloads_GetFile.aspx?id=34694
(Honors those who have worked in the broadcasting business recognizing substantial contributions to broadcasting in the state/nation. Individual broadcasters may be Kansas natives and have made contributions in other states or at the national level. Individuals who are not Kansas natives who have worked in Kansas broadcasting are also recognized)

Kansas Business Hall of Fame
Emporia
http://www.emporia.edu/business/kbhfhome.php
(recognizes business leaders, who through their high standards of ethics, have added to the prestige and growth of Kansas. By identifying outstanding examples of business leadership, the Hall of Fame shares with high school and college students and adults these stories of success and innovation through representative displays. The Hall of Fame creates an awareness of appreciation of Kansas' rich heritage of business leadership)

Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame
Dodge City
http://boothill.org/cowboy-hof/
(Preserves and honors the life of the Kansas cowboy. The five inductees each year are honored for their outstanding contribution to the western heritage lifestyle, past and present, and to the preservation of the cowboy culture. The five categories are Rancher/Cattleman, Cowboy Entertainer, Cowboy Historian, Working cowboy, and Rodeo Cowboy)

Kansas Golf Hall of Fame
http://www.kansasgolf.org/foundation/hall-of-fame/
(Honors Kansas men and women, amateurs and professionals, who have made outstanding contributions to the game of golf)


Kansas Music Hall of Fame
http://www.ksmusichalloffame.org/
(Recognizes and honors performers and others who have made significant contributions to the musical history of the state of Kansas and the greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The Hall of Fame endeavors to promote public interest in the musicians of the past and encourage those of the present and future)

Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame
http://www.kansasguardmuseum.org/hof.php
(Commemorates and recognizes individuals who have served in the Kansas National Guard or it's predecessor, Kansas State Militia, who have made a significant contribution to the National Guard achievements, tradition, or history)

Kansas Newspaper Hall of Fame
http://www.kspress.com/img/hof05.pdf
(An honor roll of journalists who have made outstanding contributions to the profession and to Kansas)

Kansas Oil Gallery
El Dorado (Museum)
http://www.kansasoilmuseum.org/inductees.cfm?bio=criteria
(Honors those men and women who have made contributions to Kansas’ oil heritage)

Kansas Poker Hall of Fame
http://www.kansaspokerhalloffame.com/
(Meet the legends of Kansas poker history)

Kansas Sports Hall of Fame
Wichita
http://www.kshof.org/
(Honors Kansans who have excelled in athletics)

Kansas State High School Activities Assn Hall of Fame
Topeka
http://www.kshsaa.org/HOF/HOF-front.html
(Recognizes individuals who have contributed their time and talent to their school, community and/or state through secondary school activities)

Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame
Dodge City
http://www.visitdodgecity.org/index.aspx?NID=86
(Dedicated to the early and present day teachers who have devoted their lives to the profession of teaching)

Kansas Wheat Hall of Fame
http://www.k-state.org/wgrc/Germplasm/kansastop10.html
(The Kansas Wheat Hall of Fame is composed of the State's most popular wheat varieties. These varieties have demonstrated good staying power, having been grown on more than 1 % of the State's acreage at least 20 years. They also have contributed greatly to the Kansas economy and to the farm communities where they were grown)

Article by: Bill Sowers
(My thanks to Rhonda Machlan for suggesting this topic and supplying the links!)
Please use the "Comments" link below for questions and comments.

The Rock Band, Kansas

This week we will rise above the noise and confusion, just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion... And for those of you who are sitting there wondering just what the heck I'm writing about, carry on my wayward son (or daughter) and keep reading!

Do an Internet search for the word, "Kansas," and you'll find hits for the state of Kansas and Kansas City along with many sites about the rock band, Kansas. The band and its name have a history going back 40 years. A band formed with the name, Kansas, by Topekans, Dave Hope, Phil Ehart and Kerry Livgren in 1970 folded, reformed and merged with different names and members before a newly formed band was brought together in 1973 with the name, Kansas, affixed permanently. Kansas band members by then were Phil Ehart, Dave Hope, Kerry Livgren, Robbie Steinhardt, Steve Walsh and Rich Williams.

With the release of their first major album, "Kansas," in 1974 Kansas moved into the national music spotlight as a progressive rock band, offering music which combined rock interwoven with classic symphonic tones and complex arrangements. Years later Kansas is still entertaining crowds of new and old fans with its distinctive, musical style and rich, reflective lyrics.

Enthusiastic followers known as "wheatheads" travel great distances to attend Kansas concerts such as the sold out January, 2008, performance at the Topeka Performing Arts Center. The band rocked the house that night with an assist from the Topeka Symphony Orchestra. Reviewer Bill Blankenship from the Topeka Capital-Journal commented after the concert, "More often than not, Kansas performs opuses, not songs. They are rich and textured and far too long for radio. They have movements, tempo changes, counterpoint and other symphonic forms that go well beyond the verse-chorus 'Roll Over Beethoven' roots of rock."

So let's sit back, pop in a CD and listen to some great music while perusing information on a band that named itself after a state.

Kansas, the Official Website
http://www.kansasband.com/
Includes information on:

Current Band Members

History

Multimedia

News and Reviews

Some Current* & Former Band Members' Websites

Phil Ehart* (Wikipedia)

John Elefante

Billy Greer*

David Hope (Wikipedia)

Kerry Livgren

Steve Morse

David Ragsdale*

Robby Steinhardt (Wikipedia)

Steve Walsh*

Richard Williams*

Discographies

Official website

MusicMoz

Wikipedia

Billboard Charts and Awards

Fan Clubs

People of the South Wind (POTSW)

KansasFans.com

Other Resources

Kerry Livgren Interview (2006)

Rich Williams Interview (2008)

Billy Greer Interview (2001)

Phil Ehart Interview

Song Lyrics (Rock Lyrics)

1kansasfan has a large array of Kansas videos on YouTube

Miscellaneous

Kansas Platinum Record (Kansas State Historical Society)

A Review of the Kansas concert with the Washburn Symphony Orchestra held February 10, 2009 in Topeka. The concert was later released on DVD titled "There's Know Place Like Home," and shown on KTWU Public Television.

Resources found in the ATLAS online catalog (Includes State Library of Kansas holdings)

Article contact: Bill Sowers
(My thanks to Cindy Roupe for suggesting this topic)