Kansas Paper Reviews

Teri Blancho: The Clay Industries of Pittsburg, Kansas
Paper was very informative. I did not know that Kansas brick had been used at the Indianapolis Speedway. This topic would be good to include in a unit on labor issues in American History.

Mike McEwan: The Early History of Moran, Kansas
The paper was very informative. As a former resident of Allen County, I never knew much about Moran. I like the “Indian” explanation for the name of the town.

B. Jolene Pennington: Orphan Trains
This paper had a lot of information of orphan trains. I didn’t realize that some children did not know what was happening, they just thought they were going on a train ride. I would like to find more diary entries or first-hand accounts of these.

Michell Piva: Pleasures of the Past in Parsons
This paper gave me deeper insight into Parsons. It is interesting how each little town has its own personality based on its past. I would like to know how many bars are in Parsons today…

Eddie Kearns: The History of the Army Ammunition Plant in Parsons
I like how personal accounts of living alongside the ammunition plant were used in this paper. I had always heard of this ammunition plant but had very little knowledge of it. This paper was very informative.

John Seal: Bourbon County: The Little Known Places
I found this paper very interesting. It would be fun to take a road trip and try to find the remnants of these towns. It makes one wonder how much history has been lost as these towns disappeared.

Diane Reeves: The History of Dorrance
Before this paper, I had never even heard of Dorrance, Kansas. I never thought about the fact that a prairie fire could be so random and so devastating. The paper was well-written and I could tell there was a personal fondness for the town. I guess we are all tied to the place of our origins no matter where we go.

Rob Barcus: The History of the Katy Hospital
This was an interesting account of the beginnings and end of a town’s landmark. I had always heard the Katy name mentioned with Parsons, but I didn’t realize the extent of its influence. It was interesting to me that so many people thought so fondly of the hospital. In a world where hospitals have become so similar, like chain restaurants, it is nice to hear these stories of something that was known for its stories.

Mark McFarland: Julius Augustus Wayland, The Rise, Fall, and Remains
Wow! A great story on the history of J.A. Wayland the Appeal to Reason. I think I will use this background along with excerpts from the Appeal to Reason in my class.

Greg Traxon: Civil War Massacre in Southeast Kansas
This was a fascinating story. I would also like to find out more. I wonder what a metal detector in that area would turn up. This would also be a great class research topic. Tell the kids enough to get them started and then let them do some digging to see what they can come up with.

Mark Boyd: Mayhem in Marmaton Township: Allen County Land Wars, 1882-1888
This was a heavily-researched, well-written paper. As a life-long resident (until recently) of Allen County, I find this topic very interesting. I especially liked the maps and other documents that were scanned and attached.

Bill Wolff: Parsons and the New Deal
I have been interesting in finding this kind of information for other Kansas towns and counties. I wonder if other towns have a scrapbook collection similar to the one used for this paper. This is a great topic to address with kids because it brings home the W.P.A and C.C.C. more than just reading about it in a book.

Steven A. Clark: Douglass School: Disintegration or the Black Community
Mr. Clark is a great writer. This paper was the most well-written of any in this collection. I really appreciated what he had to say and I believe it is an important message that needs to be spread. Great Job!

Mary C. Colvin: Parsons, Kansas Public Education System Through The Years
This was a concise overview of the history of the Parsons’ educational system. The paper was very informative and I learned a lot that I didn’t know. I found it especially interesting when it was mentioned that the buried remains of the old school would resurface in the playground and have to be removed. Also, it is such a shame that they would demolish a school with all of the trophies and memorabilia still inside.

Julie D. Dunham: Race Riots in Independence
This paper was very well-written and the students of Independence will be very interested in knowing more about this. I found it interesting that the namesake of the zoo was once the president of the local KKK. This topic would be a great tie-in with race riots of larger cities.

Daniel P. Moss: The History of Education in Pittsburg, Kansas
This paper did a good job of showing the progression of education in Pittsburg over time. I like how the theme of “Dedicated to the education of all the children of all the people” was demonstrated throughout the years.

Tamara L. Ponce: The Heritage of the Joplin & Pittsburg Electric Railway Company
This was a very informative paper about a topic I knew nothing about. The graphic descriptions of accidents added to it. I would like to see some pictures of the railroad cars.

Faith E. Rosson: History of Edna, Kansas
I had always heard of Edna, Kansas—mainly for the mattress factory in its commercials—but I found it interesting that there was a real history there. Hearing about towns like this makes me wonder what the future holds for these towns. With populations rising, why are these areas declining?

Deborah C. Shaffer: The Katy Railroad and its Impact on Parsons, Kansas
I always wondered where the name Katy Railroad came from. Good paper. Paper shows evidence of extensive research on the topic. I wonder what the early history of Parsons is related to the Parsons of today.

Timothy J. Warsnak: African American Life In Wichita Through 1954
Great job on the history of the African American experience in Wichita. I would like to see the guide that was written about. It was obvious that a great deal of research went in to this paper.

Miner Chapter 9: Like the Nations

I remember when the Wolf Creek nuclear power plant was put into operation. As a child growing up in Iola, I remember my parents talking about how it would be a target for the Soviets and that it could end up killing us, yet we didn't get the tax benefits from it. Yeah, a nice thing for a kid to worry about. Wolf Creek brought controversy with it, but today, the fears seemed to have eased.

I really like the poem on page 383. I could use this poem in class having my students put it into historical perspective to see what the author is saying. We could then compare it to what is going on in Kansas today.

Finally, Western Kansas' dissatisfaction and threats to break away will be of special interest to my students. We could discuss whether or not they would ever be successful and what the rest of Kansas can do to satisfy them.

Miner Chapter 8: Concrete Steps

Although this was not the most interesting chapter, there were a number of things that I can use in the classroom. Labor issues were the focus of this chapter. The Right to Work initiative was unpopular with unions, but favored by employers. The labor issue continued to gain speed. As this was happening, Kansas was moving forward with building projects such as the Kansas Turnpike. Most of these projects brought with them controversy, but when was Kansas without that?

I could use the information in this chapter when talking about labor issues in American history. Students could also investigate the Right to Work issue further.

Miner Chapter 7: Dust and Democrats

The Great Depression hit the United States hard. Kansas farmers had been hurting for some time and the Dust storms made things even worse. The areas of Kansas that had manufacturing suffered least at first. Eventually, however, Kansas was also seeking help from the New Deal. The New Deal had provisions for farmers, others benefited from the W.P.A. and C.C.C. branches of the New Deal. (My grandfather was one of those)
Ultimately, WWII pulled Kansas and other states out of the Depression. Kansas manufacturers benefited especially from the war effort.

I think I would focus on the last part, Kansas during WWII. I think by focusing on the Home Front from Kansas' point-of-view might make it more relavent to my students.

Miner Chapter 6: Chastened and Changed

Kansas has gone through periods of peace and period of conflict. This chapter is about yet another period of conflict in Kansas history. During WWI, people were harrassed if they didn't purchase war bonds. German immigrants were the focus of many people's aggression if they didn't display the American flag or purchase the bonds. There was a fear of socialism and many tried to stifle the rhetoric coming out of newpapers like Girards Appeal to Reason. The KKK turned on many more groups than just blacks. All the while, industry is developing and Kansas is prospering. This was a turbulent time and the tolerance was not a virtue of the average Kansan.

There are a number of ways I could use the information in this chapter. I could use the debate about immigrants then compared to the controversy about immigrants today. Students could address the question of whether or not immigrants take American jobs (then and now).

Richmond Chapter 18: Change, Controversy, and Commemoration

The recent history of Kansas has been less controversial than its beginnings, but Kansas will never be boring. Kansas is a land of contrasts and for that reason there will always be controversy in Kansas. There is a lot in this last chapter to explore further. My students would be interested in theose athletes and other performers who have made a name for themselves. The natural disasters would also draw interest. I think I will use the change in Kansas in the last 50 years and have students speculate on its future.

Richmond Chapter 17: Kansas and the Arts

Wow! I had no idea there were so many famous people that have roots in Kansas. It was also neat to see a long-time friend of my father, Gary Hawk of Iola, mentioned in print.

I think a good acivity for my students would be for them to compile a list much like Richmond did. Perhaps a museum panel could be made and these Kansans can be displayed along with a photograph or example of their work. The display could be set up so that everyone in the school can also benefit.

Richmond Chapter 16: Changing Times: The Second World War and Its Aftermath

WWII is given credit for bringing the U.S. out of the depression. That was especially true in Kansas. With money coming in for airplanes, munitions, and for the expansion of forts Leavenworth and Riley, soon more people were also moving into Kansas. For most Kansans, wages went up as they moved out of the depression.

The war did increase the debate over prohibition. Basically, people want to drink during difficult times like war. Using Prohibition to discuss current issues over illegal substances would be a great way to bring this to life. The debate over prohibition could become more relevant to them.

Because WWII changed Kansas so much, a good activity for students would be to select one area such as population, average income, etc., to chart before and after the war on these issues.

Richmond Chapter 15: The "Dirty Thirties": Kansas and the Great Depression

Kansas was hit hard by the Great Depression. Parts of western Kansas got double the trouble with the compunded problems of the dust storms. This period of Kansas History is one of the most fascinating for me. It is hard for me to imagine what it must have been like for the people living in the houses pictured with the dust approaching. I can see why many thought it might have been a plague. However, Richmond points out that Kansans kept their sense of humor, joking about the dust. There was a scramble to figure out how to fix the problems of the depression. Even a third-party candidate made a nice run for the governor's office. FDR's New Deal programs offered some relief for Kansans especially in the area of rural electrification. Kansas' most famous governor, Alf Landon, made a number of contributions as well.

The best way to teach this would be to correlate Kansas' experience of the depression years with that of the rest of the country. It would be an easy fit into an American history unit on the Depression. I would also use a number of primary sources such as diaries and photographs in this unit.

Richmond Chapter 14: The Changing, Troubled Twenties

The automobile was a very important invention in the lives of Kansans. Not only did its introduction into Kansas families make their world's smaller, the auto also helped the oil business continue to boom. The automobile brought out a demand for better roads and soon Kansas was a leader here too. Kansans were not far behind the rest of the country in other areas too. Because of radio and movies, Kansans were exposed to the same marketing for goods that others got. Demand for refrigerators and other household convenience items increased and even the Flapper movement made it to Kansas.

The good times in Kansas didn't last as the depression hit Kansas farmers hard. Despite a few ups, farmers experienced mostly downs for the next several years. Farming in Kansas has never been the same since.

A good activity to do with this information would be to have students play the role of problem-solver and offer solutions to the problems created by the depression. Next, they will compare their ideas to those things that were tried by leaders of the time.

Richmond Chapter 13: The First World War and a "Return to Normalcy"

This chapter begins by mentioning the efforts of Kansas regiments in WWI. A good activity for this would be to study each of the regiments and plot the action they saw all within a WWI American History unit.
The rest of the chapter discusses Kansas in the post-war years. I found it interesting that Kansas has a history of taking issues to the extreme. For example, Richmond tells of the christening of the ship Kansas with water because the state was dry. Why is it that Kansas always seems to make national headlines by going a bit too far on 'moral' and other issues?

Richmond Chapter 12: Progressive Politics and Progress

This chapter covered some of the best times in Kansas. After Kansas became a state, she continued to grow and develop at a rate equal to or exceeding that of other states. New technologies like the telephone and automobile were popping up throughout the state to the extent that it was no longer necessary to speak of them.

I especially found the information about Frederick Funston interesting. Growing up in Iola, I had always known of Funston, but to finally read of the specific things he is credited with is neat. Richmond also mentions that Allen County was the site of the first concrete highway in Kansas--something else I didn't know.

Because this chapter mentioned a number of Kansas governors, it gave me the idea to have my students choose one of the governors of Kansas from the beginning to today to do research on. They will report on their lives, but most importantly, how they contributed to the Kansas we know today.

Another idea is to have them research and report on the inovators from Kansas. In the end, we could bring them all together in a collage showing what came out of Kansas.

Richmond Chapter 11: Prohibition to Populism, 1870-1900, 17 November 2005

I really enjoyed reading this chapter. This chapter was about the political and social movements in Kansas at the end of the 19th century. Richmond discussed prohibition in Kansas. I did not know that Kansas was the first state to have constitutional prohibition. I guess that it is not a surprise that in 2005 we are still talking about Sunday liquor sales.

Richmond did a great job of discussing Populism through the eyes of Kansas. I think I will use this approach when I teach about Populism. I can combine Kansas History and American History together and it will be relevant to my students. One of the things I really got from this chapter was a real look at who Populists were. Populists were thought of as rugged farmer-types. The vision I see is one similar to "The Beverly Hillbillies". I think I will spend more time giving the kids a real picture of who these people were and what they accomplished. I want them to see that they were average people that changed America.

HIST 813 Primary Sources 17 November 2005

While preparing for the NCSS conference this week, I had trouble finding some of the projects that I had already put together. Therefore, I began almost all over and it didn't take me long to find exactly what I was looking for. I am using some photographs from NARA, some clips from campaign commercials from TheLivingroomcandidate.com and United Streaming, etc. I was also able to use ideas from NARAs teaching resources to get ideas for activities to suggest. This, combined with what I already had will make a nice presentation. I am looking forward to it.

HIST 813 Primary Sources 12 November 2005

I found a couple of really great web-sites that are a holding for some valuable primary sources. The first site is at http://www.usda.gov/oc/photo/histfeat.htm This is a site by the USDA and has a large collection of photographs taken by the Farm Security Administration in the 1930s.

I got really excited when I found the second site. It is http://www.archive.org/. This site has a huge database full of cultural artifacts from moving images, music, text and audio. For moving images, they have movies that have been released from copywrite that you can download. I found the "Duck and Cover" video I have been looking for here. I have a lot left to explore on this site.

Hist 813: Primary Sources 7 November, 2005

This blog is for the week of October 31. Due to an illness and pure forgetfulness, I am late submitting it.

Recently, our department was asked to create assignments that focused on persuasive reading. Before beginning this program, I might have been intimidated by this task. However, that was not the case. Not only was I able to find appropriate primary sources that fit the task easily, I was able to direct my colleagues in finding and using these sources. From my experience with eHIKES and my "surfing" assingments with this class, I have become quite proficient in locating and these and turning them into learning experiences.

The area I primarily focused on for my part was speeches. You cannot get more persuasive than that. I used the holdings at the Library of Congress and American Rhetoric to find what I needed.

Miner Chapter 5: The Bone and Sinew of the State

This chapter starts out discussing some of the early innovators of Kansas. Kansas was not a backwards state when it came to new products. From the airplane to the car and telephone, Kansans were eager to obtain these new luxuries. Soon, Kansas began to develop its educational system, recreation facilities and public works proving that Kansas was a place to be.

I think it is important to study this time in Kansas history because it helps students appreciate Kansas today and see their home from a new perspective. I would probably break the information in this chapter into smaller chunks and focus on one topic. Having students compare this time of innovation to the results we see today (the airline industry for example).

Miner Chapter 4:Toward a Brighter Day

This chapter was about the great migration of blacks to Kansas. I found it interesting that despite efforts to encourage blacks to come to Kansas, there were many who didn't want them to settle in their towns. A sort of "not in my backyard" thing. This chapter helped me with evidence to prove my thesis for my research paper that Kansas is schizophrenic when it comes to race issues.

I think an in-depth study of this time would be great for my students. This is one of those issues that is quickly passed over for the sake of time. I would probably have them find personal accounts of both townspeople and black settlers. Finally, I would have them speculate as to why the black population declined.