Extra Credit

I went to the Brown versus Board of Education Historic Site in Topeka for my extra credit assignment. The museum is free to the public although donations are welcome at the entrance.  The site is what used to be Monroe Elementary one of the African American schools in Topeka.  As you first walk in you are greeted by a ranger(the historic site is a park)at the front door, the ranger told me that normally guests were supposed to visit the auditorium to watch a film but I was unable to due to an upcoming event that was being set up in the museum.  The ranger was very helpful in answering my questions and let me explore the school on my own.   The exhibits include an Education gallery, where you learn the people involved and the decision itself.  The next is a wing the legacy of the Brown vs. Board decision where you learn about civil rights movements that came about after the legendary decision.  The third and final exhibit Expression and reflections exhibit where you can record your own personal thoughts after going through the site.  Overall I really enjoyed this historic site, the Education gallery was my favorite part of the whole experience.   I never understood how hard it must have been to be one of the students going through this until I walked through this exhibit.  At one point in time it house video screens around you with people yelling hateful things and chanting against you.  I couldn’t believe that children my little brother’s age were forced to go through such a mess.  I also realized watching interviews not only did these pioneers of race relation have to succeed to prove white detractors wrong, they also had to be succeed to show many people in their own race that they could succeed. I would greatly recommend this historical site to anyone interested in the topic and will visit again sometime in the near future.

Jeff Shull

Extra Credit: WWI Museum in Kansas City

For my extra credit blog, I visited the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial in Kansas City.  As you can see in the picture the memorial is a tower with two sphinxes on each side. The two square buildings on the sides are called Memory Hall and Exhibit Hall. These halls are extensions of the musuem and have more exhibits and show more of the World War I collection that Kansas City has. Memorial Hall also has the names of people from Kansas City that died in the war. Tickets to the main part of the museum also get you into the halls. Tickets to the museum were $8 and if you want to go to the top of the tower it is $10 for both.

This what the top of the Memorial Tower looks like. There are four Guardian Spirits and each one stands for either courage, honor, patriotism or sacrifice.

This is one of the sphinxes that is one either side of the Tower. Both of them are shielding their faces with their wings. The one facing the East is sheilding itself from the “horrors of the European battlefield” and the one facing the West is covering its face “to symbolize the future which is yet unseen.”

This is the entrance of the museum part of the memorial. There is a fountain across from the doors and above the staircase down to the entrance are bricks that are dedicated to veterans and their families.

Once you enter the museum there is a large glass bridge you cross to start the exhibit. Underneath the bridge is 9,000 poppies. Each poppy represents one thousand soldiers’ deaths in WWI. The musuem is a giant circle that runs counter-clockwise. The first part of the musuem is called “The Years 1914-1917” and is about the beginning of the war and before the U.S. entered the War.  The museum has many interactive maps and galleries. There is also an exact replica of the gun used to kill Archduke Franz Ferdinand. They also have real weapons and uniforms used in combant. They have military badges from different countries and many more objects from the War. One of my favorite parts is a replica of  trenches used in WWI as shown below. They also have a soundtrack of guns and bombs and people giving orders so the museum patrons can get a real feel for the trench.

The next part of the musuem leads into the Horizon Theather which was my favorite part. The theather looks over a part of “no-man’s land” and has the movie screen as the backdrop. While the movie is playing, it looks like the “no-man’s land” is being bombed and shot at. It really makes the movie experience more real. The movie is about 15 min long and discuss the reasons the United States entered the war and if the U.S. should have entered at all.

After the movie, you continue into the next part of the museum called ” The Years 1917-1919.” The part of the museum focuses on the U.S. involvement in the War. There are many American military and medical uniforms, along with propaganda posters used. They also have a Ford Model-T used to carry equipment and supplies and they have an ambulance, mobile operating table and hospital beds. There is also a giant crater that was created to show what artillery could do to a building. This side of the museum also has interactive maps and tables. The museum also has interactive portrait galleries, a gift shop and a cafe.

I was really impressed with this museum. I would say this is one of the better museums I have been to in Kansas City and we are really lucky to have the only National World War I memorial in the country. Earlier this semester I went to Washington D.C. and saw all the other war memorials and this one is just as grand and yet humbling at the same time. As a future teacher, I would definitely love to take my history classes to this museum. It is really students friendly with all the maps and figures it shows and students could really learn a lot from it. I would definitely recommend this museum to anyone interested in history.

-Jenny Jordan

G.I Bill and Harry W. Colmery

Considered one of the most important bills not only in American military history, but also in American economic, social and political history, the GI Bill is a piece of legislation that has had a lasting impact with millions of Americans.  Originally called the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, the GI bill was first thought up in order to help solve the problem of reintegrating soldiers into civilian life.  A Kansan, Harry Walter Colmery, was the brain behind the bill and drew up its first drafts in 1944.  Colmery had been in army during WWI, and after the war moved to Topeka where he became a lawyer. Along with practicing law Colmery was also the commander of the American Legion. After scribing the first drafts of the GI bill, Colmery introduced the bill to the House on January 10, 1944. The key provisions of the bill were; education, loan guarantees, and 200 dollars a week in unemployment pay for those who qualified. Not everyone in Congress supported the bill however, and it took nearly six months for President Roosevelt to sign it into law.   Finally on June 22 1944, Roosevelt signed the bill into law and immediately millions of veterans began utilizing the benefits the bill created for them.

For President Roosevelt, the signing of the bill into law was a symbol of Americans wanting to help the soldiers and now veterans who had won the war.  After signing the legislation the President said, “With the signing of this bill a well-rounded program of special veterans’ benefits is nearly completed. It gives emphatic notice to the men and women in our armed forces that the American people do not intend to let them down.”*

Over the years the GI bill has evolved with the times. There have been several changes made to the original law, the most recent coming in 2008.  The updated law now gives veterans with service duty after September 11 2001, greater educational benefits.

For me this bill is historically important because of the debt I believe this country owes to all veterans, but also because I have a close friend who has been able to get a college education because of the benefits he has received.  Had it not been for the GI Bill, after returning from one year in South Korea and three years in Iraq, my friend would have not had the opportunity to attend college.  Even the other provisions of the law have helped him tremendously in acclimating back into civilian life.  Had the bill failed to make it through the house and the senate, I believe you would see a very different United States today.  Millions of soldiers returning from war would have had no place in the American workforce and unemployment and poverty could have skyrocketed because of it. Luckily the law was passed, and our returning soldiers are giving the opportunities they deserve.

*http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/history.htm

http://www.kshs.org/real_people/colmery_harry.htm

http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/208001

 

-Mark Garretson

WWII Airbases in Kansas

In March 1935 when the War Department established the General Headquarters Air Force (GHQAF) a new role was assumed for the air branch of the United States Army.  The coming war in Europe looming closer and seeming to be certain made President Franklin D. Roosevelt ask Congress to increase Americas air power in January 1939.  Quickly Americas air forces grow from a small ill-equipped force to the world-class force it became by the end of WWII. After the attack on Pearl Harbor the expansion of airbases in KS quickly took hold.  The flat plains make KS ideal for accommodating the large aircraft and the training of operators.  There were 18 airbases in KS during WWII.  Two were Naval air stations (NAS) and 16 were Army airfields (AAF).  Several hundred auxiliary fields were also planned, they ranged from sod landing strips to concrete fields or asphalt fields with housing facilities. The bases that were primarily used were scattered across the state’s central and southern plains.  The airfields employed thousands of military and civilian workers. At the peak of enrollment, during World War II , more than 2.4 million men and women served the United States Army Air Forces. All the bases were completed in 18 months or less.  Most base buildings were not meant for long-term use and were constructed of temporary or semi-permanent materials such at tar paper and plywood on a concrete base. Some of the hangars were constructed of bricks and concrete with and steel frames. With the end of WWII, the military decommissioned many Kansas bases and then sold them or deeded them to nearby cities for use as municipal airports.  Today several continue to operate as industrial parks and small airfields.  (Kansas State Historical Society web page)1

I think the airbases in Kansas were crucial in training pilots of large bombers and greatly helped the war effort.  The airbases combined with the food being grown and the production of aircraft made Kansas a very important state for insuring that the troops had food to eat and aircraft to fight the axis powers.  I grew up fairly near Waller and have heard stories about the airbase that was there in WWII.  My favorite story was that a German spy parachuted from a plane and landed in a field near the Walker Airbase once during the war and was caught by a farmer.

1. http://www.kshs.org/resource/national_register/HSBR/WWWIIAirbases_SurveyReport_SFord.pdf

German POW Wood Carvings

 

The carvings above were made by German WWII POWs while they were held in Kansas. The carvings show a good relationship the prisoners has with the local farmers and other memebers of the community. Some of the carvings were sent to local people to thank them for their kindness while the POWs were being held captive.  As said in class, the POWs that were held in Kansas were used for manual labor such as farming. Many Kansans did not like the idea of foreign enemies helping with their crops and contributing to the U.S. was effort. However, there were some that thought the idea was good and were kind to the POWs. I think using the German POWs was a great idea. They were there in camp, they might as well get some use out of the soldiers. There was so much work to be done because they were producing food for two continents, the local farmers probably needed the extra help.

I can why people would be worried though. It would be strange to have the enemy working in your wheat field. I would probably be worried about them destroying the crops. I can see why people would also be worried about neighbors with German ancestry. Wartime is stressful enough worrying about what is happening overseas, let alone that your neighbor might be spy or trying to sabatoge the war effort. Many groups are discriminated against during times of war such as the Japanese, Muslims and Germans.

I think the carvings show and interesting relationship between the POWs and the local community members. It’s interesting that they would form a type of friendship. It shows that human compassion can come from anywhere and people can surprise you. These wood carvings show the kindness the POWs received from the farmers and community members. However, the were still prisoners of war so life still wasn’t great for the Germans.

-Jenny Jordan

Aliens in Kansas?…well, not quite

As mentioned in class, people who had emigrated from other countries to Kansas (as well as the rest of the United States) were kept under careful scrutiny during WWI and WWII. It was not uncommon for people to be worrisome and suspicious of their non-American born neighbors. Especially those from Germany, considering we were at war with them.

It must have been very difficult for those people who chose to move to the U.S. To live everyday with eyes following your every move and dissecting your actions, would have felt demoralizing and lonely. Though not all residents were unattached to their previous countries. Some most likely still had ties and expressed their feelings openly. In one situation, two German men were unfortunate enough to have their wives report them to the government. One of the wives “was so angered…she sued him for divorce” because he commented on how devoted he still was to Germany.¹A devoted woman to America she was to toss out her husband because of his background. Although at the same time, it could have been unnerving to wonder if your spouse was a spy or planning a revolt of some kind.

As suspicions were becoming more and more prominent in citizen’s minds, cities and states began making it a requirement for all non-native born residents to register. Not only were they to submit their personal information and background whether or not they were still connected with Germany, but they were even permitted from going near city zones (similar to a restraining order, one can’t go within a certain amount of feet of a building, etc.)² One man, Daniel Klege a 75 year old man, refused to register with Kansas. He fought in the Civil War for the Union army and claims “such service establishes him as a citizen” .³ He was banished from Topeka and not allowed to return until he registered.

After 911 and when President Bush began the War on Terror, it is not surprising that many people felt similar discomfort towards those from those areas of the world. I’m not accusing anyone specifically of feeling this way, but stories erupted on the evening news about people being targeted. It is sad and a little pitiful to forge such a strong hatred to someone of another country, possibly a country America is at war with, for reason unknown besides their features. But it does not give the right to make hateful accusations. Many people were humiliated and ostracized and only because of their ethnicity. Hopefully people in Lawrence have a more humble attitude towards others.

-Rachel Moler

1. Alien Enemie’s Wives Are Loyal.  Topeka Capital. 1 June 1918. Accessed 18 November 2009 from http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/213500/page/1

2. To Register All.  Topeka Journal. 3 January 1918. Accessed 18 November 2009 from http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/213501/page/1

3. Aged German is Given 48 Hours to Leave City!. Topeka Journal. 19 February 1918. Accessed 18 November 2009 from http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/213505/page/1

 

For Whom the Bell Tolls

In 1947, University of Kansas Chancellor Deane Malott sent letters to the family members of students and faculty members that had given the ultimate sacrifice for their country in World War II.

“The days of the war are receding, and with the passing months is coming a clearer realization of the meaning and importance of the great sacrifices made by the young men and women who lost their lives in the service of the United States.”

In 1950, construction began on what would become not only the most recognizable structure on the KU campus, but a solemn reminder of the costs of war.  The 120 foot Campanile was dedicated in 1951 as a memorial to the 277 students and members of faculty who died during the course of World War II.  To many current and past students, the Campanile symbolizes the end to a long academic career, the start of what many refer to as the “real world.” Over 4,000 graduating seniors passed through the Campanile on their way to commencement last May, and many of them likely did so without knowing the significance of the structure.  The Campanile memorializes the entire war effort, pays respect to the fallen students and faculty, and displays how the war effort changed Kansas history.  Many of the names engraved into the bronze doors are of students and faculty that were born and raised in Kansas.

The committee in charge of deciding what memorial structure would be built had to decide between seventeen choices, from an outdoor swimming pool to a new dormitory building or scholarship hall.  The two choices made were the Campanile and the memorial roadway, a project that cost nearly half a million dollars to complete.  The costs of upkeep on the structure including repairs and scheduled maintenance is expensive, as the tower is aging and is constantly exposed to the elements.  The Campanile and memorial roadway were chosen because they best exemplified the four criteria set out by the choosing committee: it should serve a memorial function, it should be unlikely to be provided otherwise, it should serve most students, and it should endure.

The Campanile not only memorializes an important time in Kansas and American history, it is also an integral part of University tradition alongside the Alma Mater and the Rock Chalk Chant.  Every student should take the time to reflect on the real meaning of the structure before they walk through it on Commencement Day.  For more information on the Campanile and Memorial Roadway without jinxing graduation, visit the website at http://www.carillon.ku.edu/.

Information found at:

-World War II Memorial Carillon and Campanile. http://www.carillon.ku.edu/

-KU Endowment. http://www.kuendowment.org/carillon

 

AJ Brenn

Andrew H. Reeder

Andrew H. Reeder was the first “territorial” govern of Kansas.  Born in 1807, Reeder became govern of the Kansas territory in 1854.  Considered a strong democrat, Reeder supported the popular sovereignty idea of settling slavery issues around the country. To take office, Reeder had been appointed by President Franklin Price, and within only a short amount of time he had scheduled and conducted an election for the congressional delegate for the Kansas territory.  As many of you already know, in those days congressman were not elected the same way as they are today.

Initially Reeder tired to remain neutral between pro and anti slavery forces, and though he backed the Kansas-Nebraska act of 1854, he was still considered to be soft on the issue of slavery.  As Reeder held office over the months he became more established with the anti-slavery cause. Soon after gaining the title of someone who supported the free-staters, Reeder began to describe himself as a “Douglas-Democrat”, and was determined to give popular sovereignty a chance in the Kansas region.

During the first territorial legislature on July 2nd, 1855, proslavery men from both Missouri and Kansas accused Reeder of voter fraud.  After only four days of being in session the legislature ended and proslavery men from both Kansas and Missouri began to demand for Reeders removal from office.  For many of these men, the legislature that had just taken place was “bogus” and unsubstantiated, yet President Price was already beginning to consider removing Reeder from his position.  At the end of July in 1855, Reeder was removed from his office by the President, and refused to be appointed to another position. President Price cited illegal land speculation as the reason for removing Reeder from office.

Soon after being removed from his position as territorial governor, Reeder aligned himself with antislavery forces in the territory.  Proslavery men however accused Reeder of high treason, and Reeder was forced to flee the Kansas territory in order to escape the charges. He did however stay involved with politics and turned down a position offered by President Lincoln in 1861, just three years before his death in 1864.

-Mark Garretson

1) http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/209869

2) http://www.territorialkansasonline.org/~imlskto/cgi-bin/index.php?SCREEN=bio_sketches/reeder_andrew

Carrry Nation

Carry Nation was a devout prohibitionist who went around literally destroying bars with her own hatchet. Carry Nation married an Ohio man who had a devout alcohol issue, her natural tendencies to reform led to them constantly fighting. The fighting and his drinking ultimately led to the dissolution of their marriage. Carry Nation then remarried a Texas minister; they relocated to Medicine Lodge, Kansas in 1889. Carry Nation at 6 foot 175 pounds was q very intimidating sight, and once she started her anti bar campaign she was able to strike fear into the hearts of bar owners and patrons both. By January 26th 1901, people could recognize her even when she was veiled walking into towns. This day was the day Carry Nation decided to take her violent temperance movement to Topeka. Nation and her followers started destroying as many bars and saloons in Topeka as they could taking hatched, hammers, and other rocks to barrels of whiskey, windows, mirrors, and any other expensive bar fixture that they could destroy. For the next three weeks Carry Nation led her band of temperance woman across the city, many bar owners wife’s would try and beat Carry Nation, angry mobs would scream and taunt her, repeatedly jailed and arrested, nothing could stop the spread of the violent temperance movement. Carry Nation went on to become the most prominent and well known temperance leader. Agreeing with her motives or her cause, Carry Nation was and forever will be a household name.

Jeff Shull
Information found at http://www.kshs.org/cool2/hammer.htm

The Legislative War of 1893

With the election of 1892 came a controversy.  The House of Representatives was claimed by both Populists and Republicans The Populists accused the Republicans with election fraud,which caused a bizarre scenario.  A Populist and a Republican-led House were seated in 1893.  Both were sent messages to the governor and Senate that they were ready to do assume control. They were seated in the same chamber, but agreed to meet at separate times. The  governor, Lorenzo Lewelling, was a  Populist and the Senate was Populist-controlled so he recognized the Populist House exclusively.  On February 14, 1893, Ben Rich, the clerk of the Populist House was arrested on charges of disturbing the peace, which was a complaint submitted by the Republicans. Mr. Rich was saved by his friends, and this would lead to a confrontation.

The following morning the Republican House,which was led by Speaker George L. Douglass, began a march on the Capitol and their demands were to be admitted to the House chamber. Armed with a sledge-hammer, they smashed the doors and took control of the chamber. Shawnee County Sheriff J.M. Wilkerson deputized several hundred citizens to maintain order in the city on February 16.  Both continued to meet and pass legislation about the changes in the state’s mortgage laws use of secret ballot.  The Populists tried to pass legislation which was of course not recognized by the Republicans.

In the end, the Kansas Supreme Court decided to support the Republican House, and the Populist House dissolved.

I believe if the Populists accusations of voting fraud were true they should have been allowed to remain in office.  It is interesting that the court ruled in favor of the Republicans but since the Republicans still are one of the main parties it is not surprising.

~ Thomas Shiroky