What is the difference between a editor and a managing editor?
Lisa Sandmeyer (long time Topeka Capital Journal editor--copy I think) " The
ME generally runs the newsroom. "Editor" is more a job description. In a
newsroom, you'll have a city editor, who manages assignments; a news
editor, who runs the copy desk; a sports editor, who runs that section; a
features editor, who runs those sections; and copy editors, who edit
stories and write headlines."
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Sunday, October 21, 2018
Why I started this..
Why I started this...
It all begins about ten years ago when I first started the This Day in Topeka History blog for TOPEKA magazine. For this project that ran three years--- discontinuing after I was working full-time at the school and chose to move on to other projects--from a time perspective it was a huge commitment---I almost exclusively used old newspapers. In the course of the three years, I read thousands of newspapers. Nathan Pettengill, my editor and I, being who we are, tried to have equal representation from each newspaper and we tried to have a wide range of topics (although early on we discovered that quirky items and bicycle related items got the most hits so we changed strategies--some) and I discovered the Plaindealer and Nick Chiles.
The Plaindealer stood out not for it's great verbage--which it had/has; but because Nick Chile's daughter, Thelma. Her picture was on the front page or there was a couple line blurb about her in nearly every edition. This was unusual, endearing and fascinating. Who was this newspaper owner? Obviously he was not a run of the mill guy. I was intrigued. So was my editor, Nathan . And I have been ever since. But, never have I had the time or the reason to thoroughly research him. So, this spring while searching for scholarship opportunities, I found the Tilden non-academic research grant through KSHS. I talked to Cherylene Lovett the librarian at school and I decided on a lark, never thinking that I would get a grant to apply. I wrote the application and sent it off. To my surprise, in late June I got a letter--I received the grant. In no way is this grant enough to pay for my time or research costs, but it is something that is making me focus in and research.
I see this as a 3-5 year project, with periodically published articles that spin off from it and at the end a book? If nothing else, a Shawnee County Historical Society bulletin.
10/27
So, today I am deep into reading about Chiles, Vardeman and William Jennings Bryan. Yikes! I have always found Benjamin "Pitchfork" Tillman to be repugnant and I have generally avoided him. It makes me uncomfortable. Physically as well as mentally. As I read, I writhe in my seat, shift my position, get up and get more coffee. I try to avoid it by surfing facebook, writing on this blog, whatever, but I have a goal for each day--which is really a minimum and I am disciplined, I am a historian, my mantra is "learning begins at the end of your comfort zone" and this puts it to the test. I need to know more about Tillman and guys like Tillman to understand the time period, the South, and of course Chiles. Tillman and Chiles were both from South Carolina, Chiles left, Tillman became a symbol for the state..if I saw that coming I would have left too, it makes me think more of Chiles, smart, smart guy. William Jennings Bryan is a little easier to swallow, but also difficult to understand, he flip flopped, he was inconsistent.
It all begins about ten years ago when I first started the This Day in Topeka History blog for TOPEKA magazine. For this project that ran three years--- discontinuing after I was working full-time at the school and chose to move on to other projects--from a time perspective it was a huge commitment---I almost exclusively used old newspapers. In the course of the three years, I read thousands of newspapers. Nathan Pettengill, my editor and I, being who we are, tried to have equal representation from each newspaper and we tried to have a wide range of topics (although early on we discovered that quirky items and bicycle related items got the most hits so we changed strategies--some) and I discovered the Plaindealer and Nick Chiles.
The Plaindealer stood out not for it's great verbage--which it had/has; but because Nick Chile's daughter, Thelma. Her picture was on the front page or there was a couple line blurb about her in nearly every edition. This was unusual, endearing and fascinating. Who was this newspaper owner? Obviously he was not a run of the mill guy. I was intrigued. So was my editor, Nathan . And I have been ever since. But, never have I had the time or the reason to thoroughly research him. So, this spring while searching for scholarship opportunities, I found the Tilden non-academic research grant through KSHS. I talked to Cherylene Lovett the librarian at school and I decided on a lark, never thinking that I would get a grant to apply. I wrote the application and sent it off. To my surprise, in late June I got a letter--I received the grant. In no way is this grant enough to pay for my time or research costs, but it is something that is making me focus in and research.
I see this as a 3-5 year project, with periodically published articles that spin off from it and at the end a book? If nothing else, a Shawnee County Historical Society bulletin.
10/27
So, today I am deep into reading about Chiles, Vardeman and William Jennings Bryan. Yikes! I have always found Benjamin "Pitchfork" Tillman to be repugnant and I have generally avoided him. It makes me uncomfortable. Physically as well as mentally. As I read, I writhe in my seat, shift my position, get up and get more coffee. I try to avoid it by surfing facebook, writing on this blog, whatever, but I have a goal for each day--which is really a minimum and I am disciplined, I am a historian, my mantra is "learning begins at the end of your comfort zone" and this puts it to the test. I need to know more about Tillman and guys like Tillman to understand the time period, the South, and of course Chiles. Tillman and Chiles were both from South Carolina, Chiles left, Tillman became a symbol for the state..if I saw that coming I would have left too, it makes me think more of Chiles, smart, smart guy. William Jennings Bryan is a little easier to swallow, but also difficult to understand, he flip flopped, he was inconsistent.
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Friday, October 19, 2018
Law enforcement
What is the difference between sheriff, police, justice of the peace and
constable? Do we still have these positions? They all existed in
Topeka in 1897. I have found them all in my research so far. So, I put this question to Doug Mauck, a retired deputy sheriff. Here is our conversation:
DM : The Sheriff has responsibility for everything in the county, including the towns and cities. The police have responsibility to enforce ordinances governing their city. Small towns may elect a Justice of the Peace to try offenders of city ordinances. The JP need not be an attorney. Larger towns may establish city courts and elect or appoint judges to preside over them. City police usually have agreements for mutual aid, etc. with the County Sheriff.
Me: What about the constable? So, the Justice of the Peace was sort of like a local district attorney is now? They were elected--it appears annually at this time.
DM: Constables could be elected or appointed, depending on the city ordinance establishing the office. They may or not be sworn in as special deputy sheriffs. The JP served as a judge on violations of city ordinances brought forth by the constable or city police. Cases ruled upon by the JP could be appealed to the District Court.
The Justice of the Peace is a judge, so it's not a district attorney.
DM : The Sheriff has responsibility for everything in the county, including the towns and cities. The police have responsibility to enforce ordinances governing their city. Small towns may elect a Justice of the Peace to try offenders of city ordinances. The JP need not be an attorney. Larger towns may establish city courts and elect or appoint judges to preside over them. City police usually have agreements for mutual aid, etc. with the County Sheriff.
Me: What about the constable? So, the Justice of the Peace was sort of like a local district attorney is now? They were elected--it appears annually at this time.
DM: Constables could be elected or appointed, depending on the city ordinance establishing the office. They may or not be sworn in as special deputy sheriffs. The JP served as a judge on violations of city ordinances brought forth by the constable or city police. Cases ruled upon by the JP could be appealed to the District Court.
The Justice of the Peace is a judge, so it's not a district attorney.
Monday, October 15, 2018
Black Ghost Towns in Kansas
I think that most of these are a result of failed Exoduster experiences but I don't know. More to find out. Here is what I have gathered so far:
Dunlap, Kansas --outside of Council Grove--http://www.legendsofkansas.com/dunlap.html
Nicodemus, Kansas -- not quite a ghost town yet, but has had a severe population decline https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ks-nicodemus/
Morton City-- http://kansasghosttowns.blogspot.com/2015/12/morton-city-dead-exoduster-colony-in.html
Quindaro--https://www.kshs.org/p/kansas-historical-quarterly-annals-of-quindaro-a-kansas-ghost-town/13128, perhaps one of the most successful and the best documented.
I am looking for information on Sumner City and Redmondsville which were mentioned in the Exodusters book that I am reading.
Chautauqua County...https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/alfred-fairfax/11733
Reno...
Dunlap, Kansas --outside of Council Grove--http://www.legendsofkansas.com/dunlap.html
Nicodemus, Kansas -- not quite a ghost town yet, but has had a severe population decline https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ks-nicodemus/
Morton City-- http://kansasghosttowns.blogspot.com/2015/12/morton-city-dead-exoduster-colony-in.html
Quindaro--https://www.kshs.org/p/kansas-historical-quarterly-annals-of-quindaro-a-kansas-ghost-town/13128, perhaps one of the most successful and the best documented.
I am looking for information on Sumner City and Redmondsville which were mentioned in the Exodusters book that I am reading.
Chautauqua County...https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/alfred-fairfax/11733
Reno...
Sunday, October 14, 2018
Names of Prominent Blacks Topeka people and organizations from Cox's Blacks in Topeka
Names of Prominent Blacks
from Cox’s Black in Topeka,
Kansas 1865-1915
Nick Chiles --“”resident of the Third Ward, editor of the
Plaindealer, and a party to sundry legal and illegal business ventures, also
exercised considerable influence in the city and state Republican
councils. Throughout the 1900s, Chiles
had a reputation as a ward heeler, as one through whom elections could be
bought and who meted out patronage, primarily to the Third Ward. ..not documented “
William Carter-- Principal of Lane School
Martin Oglesvie,--Tennessee Exoduster, came to Topeka in
1878, gardener, laborer, 1/3 owner of the Apex Theatre, member of St. John AME
and charter member of the NNBL
Dr. Seth Varnella –Topeka’s first black physician, his wife
taught sewing classes at Topeka Industrial
J.C.S. Owens—pastor, his wife taught sewing classes at
Topeka Industrial
Lutie Lytle-- lawyer, Populist campaigner
Pearle McNeal-- stenographer in the county clerk’s office
Lena Thompson--bread maker
Mack Walker--barber
William Schroud--janitor at the State House
John W. Barber-- black minister of the North Topeka Baptist
Church, involved in real estate and insurance business. Supported by black independents in a
unsuccessful bid for state representative.
Thomas W. Henderson,--assistant editor of the Colored Citizen
John Wright--from Michigan, came to Topeka at 15 in 1882,
graduated from THS, postal clerk, 1897 appointed deputy county clerk from 1897
to 1901, NNBL, St. Simon’s, many social and political groups. An accountant who served as city treasurer
and country clerk off and on between 1900 and 1916.
John M. Brown—gentleman farmer, emigrated from Mississippi in
1877, was responsible for the management of the Barracks and superintendent of
the Kansas Freedman’s Relief, member of the Colored State Emigration Board
Mabel Jeltz (daughter of Fred)
Fred Jeltz—editor-publisher of the Kansas State Ledger
William Carter-- first superintendent of operations/principal
of Topeka Industrial, 1900, student of Booker T. Washington at Tuskegee
George Bridgeforth--former director of the
agricultural department at Tuskegee became principal of Topeka Industrial in
1917
Elizabeth Cooper
William Damascus Cooper
Lulu Harris--president of National Colored Women’s Club federation state convention 1906 and
1916
Willliam Eagleson-- political iconoclast, editor of the
Colored Citizen, leader of black independents in Topeka until death in 1901 .
(Colored Citizen ended in 1905), had been the editor of the Colored Citizen in
Ft. Scott
E.H. White-- founded the Topeka Tribune, a short run
newspaper
David Ware-- was in the 1st Kansas Colored, worked
at the State House, member of Second Baptist, Great Western Lodge and Shawnee
County Colored Horse Fair Association
--in 1906 wrote a pamphlet “Thoughts for Careful
Consideration” –pro Republican
Spencer and Lucinda Hawkins--11 kids, Exodusters, carpenter,
and trash collector, municipal garbage collector , streetcleaners and watchman
for the city dump. NNBL, St. John’s AME
William B. Townsend--municipal coal inspector
William Sharp-- messenger at the mayor’s office
James Boyd-- overseer of the rock pile at the Topeka jail
Wesley Jamison--the Squire, 1885 Tennessee—some legal
training in Nashville at the central college, served three terms as justice of
the peace and was a criminal lawyer
Robert Buchner--born in Canada, carpenter for the Santa Fe,
member St. John’s AME, well to do, single minded advocacy of education for
trades
Dr. Oliver A. Taylor-- physician
Julia Roundtree-- elementary school teacher at Douglass
Elementary, member of Alpha Assisi Charity Club and St. John’s.
Rev. C.G. Fishback-- pastor Shiloh Baptist
Solomon G. Watkins--Topeka's second Negro teacher arrives
from Tennessee, protested segregated schools and with the Anti-Taft league,
later NAACP , Colored Republican's Club and St. John. He and his wife both taught at Quincy
school. Member of the Populist Democrats
Tolliver Byrd-- laborer, founding member of the Prayer Circle
which later became ST. John AME, member of the Freemason’s, worked at the State
House
Henry Clay Wilson—house painter, barber, restaurateur,
operated a 15- chair barber shop across from the capitol, controlling interest
in a recreation park on the eastern outskirts of the city, business membership
in Second Baptist Church
James H. Stuart--Topeka’s first black lawyer came from
Tennessee and began practicing in 1878
John J. Jennings--a professor and tonorialist, operated a
barbershop on Kansas Avenue adjacent to the Taft House
C.C. de Randamie--Topeka’s first black real estate agent,
his office and home was at 106 E. Kansas Ave.
Alonzo D. DeFrantz--partner with Benjamin Singleton and the
Tennessee Real Estate and Homestead Association, barber, and founded the United
Colored Links with Singleton, president of the Southern Kansas colonization
Society, Colored State Emigration Board
Columbus M Johnson--partner with Benjamin Singleton and the
Tennessee Real Estate and Homestead Association, member of the Colored State
Emigration Board
Nathaniel Sawyer-- teacher, Exoduster, wrote articles for the
black press, involved in Interstate Literary Assoc.
Sarah Malone--supervisor of the black Florence Crittendon
Home, attended annual conferences on charities and corrections
James Guy-- from Ohio, lawyer, came to Topeka in 1885,
charter member of St. Simon’s, deputy county attorney 1896, many and varied
social, political and protest organizations,
Ira Guy-- barber, James Guy’s brother, first vice president
of national organization of NNBL
William McKnight-- 1895 from Tennessee, custodian at the KS
state house
Benjamin Perkins-- laborer from Kentucky
George Hagan--stonemason from Missouri, NAACP and Populist
Party member
William O. Lynch-- pastor of the Asbury AME church, presiding
elder in the black Kansas Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, involved with
KFRA
Andrew Jordan, owner of Tennessee town tavern, made available
to house Sheldon’s Tennesseetown library
Edward Stephens--co-founder of Kansas Industrial, 1895
Lizzie Reddick--co-founder of Kansas Industrial, 1895
Rev George Shaffer-- St. John’s AME
B.C. Duke--came from Tennessee. First librarian of the Tennessee town
library, member of the Second Christian Church , later a pastor at St. Mark’s
Christian Church, member of 1905 governing board of black and white Kansas
Christian churches.
Rev. J. Barrett--pastor
of the North Topeka Baptist Church
George Wellington Gross-- journalist, Republican
From King's History of Topeka, 1905
Black Elementary School Principals:
Washington |
J. L. Harrison | |
|
Monroe |
Fred Roundtree |
|
|
Douglas |
Mary E. Langston | |
|
Buchanan |
C. F. Clinkscale |
|
Oct. 28, 1908--The Carbondalian.
Teachers:
E. Ridley, Mrs. Sadie McClain, Mrs. WI Jamison, Miss Lillian Jeltz, Miss Irene Smith, Fannie Foster, Inez Wood, Etta McClain, Bessie Hawkins, Mary Jordan, Effie Burge, Lily Cooper and Missouri Bennings
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Black Newspapers in Topeka
From KSHS;
1878 to ???
The Colored Citizen, a Topeka newspaper, promoted education of African Americans. As early as 1878 editor William Lewis Eagleson and other publishers spoke out against segregation in schools. A proponent of colonization, The Colored Citizen encouraged Black migration in the late 1870s and provided a unique message of realism. "Never leave home for Kansas without having some money over and above what it takes to pay your transportation," Eagleson warned." For the old men and women chances for great success in Kansas are not flattering."--From KSHS
I believe that this was edited by Col. Jantz and owned by Wm. Eagleton.
1899 to 1958 (to 1930 in Topeka, later in Leavenworth then in Kansas City)
The Plaindealer
1891 to 1893
The Call
The American Citizen, Feb. 23, 1888 - Jul. 19, 1889
The Baptist Headlight, Sept. 15, 1893 - Aug. 8, 1894
The Benevolent Banner, May 21, 1887 - Oct. 22, 1887
Capital Plaindealer, Sep. 30, 1936 - Aug. 6, 1938, (This was Thelma Chiles' husband)
The Colored Citizen, Jul. 26, 1878 - Nov. 16, 1900
The Colored Patriot, Apr. 20, 1882 - Jun. 22, 1882
Daily Ledger, Jun. 13, 1893 - Jun. 20, 1893
The Evening Call, Jun. 13, 1893 - Jul. 8, 1893
Herald of Kansas, Jan. 30, 1880 - Jun. 11, 1880
The Kansas American, Mar. 21, 1936, single issue, see also Kansas Whip
Kansas Baptist Herald, Nov. 11, 1911 - May 3, 1913
The Kansas Eagle, Dec. 21, 1934 - Dec. 19, 1935 see also Kansas Whip
Kansas Sentinel, Jul. 7, 1960 - Nov. 26, 1960
Kansas State Tribune, Oct. 6, 1881, single issue
The Kansas Watchman, May 25, 1905 - Nov. 17, 1905
Kansas Herald, Jan. 30, 1880 - Feb. 6, 1880
The Little Weekly, Apr. 9, 1938 - Jun. 25, 1938, incomplete
Messenger, Jun. 14, 1969 - Jan. 21, 1970, N13
The National Watchman, May 9, 1914, single issue
The People's Friend, Dec. 11, 1896, single issue
The Plaindealer, Jan. 6, 1899 - Dec. 25, 1931
Sentinel, Jul. 7, 1960 - Jul. 8, 1964
The State Ledger, July 22, 1892 - Jun. 16, 1906
The Times-Observer, Sep. 4, 1891 - Sep. 10, 1892
Topeka Call, Jun. 28, 1891 - Mar. 26, 1893
Topeka Daily Plaindealer, Aug. 12, 1907 - Aug. 16, 1907
Topeka Ebony Times, Mar. 7, 1974 - May, 1974, incomplete, not on film
Topeka Post-Review, Oct. 1, 1970 - Feb. 1, 1971, three issues
The Topeka Tribune, Jun. 24, 1880 - Dec. 25, 1880, T2054
Topeka Tribune & Western Recorder, May 9, 1885 - Oct. 24, 1885
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Monday, September 24, 2018
Liquor licenses??
 |
| The mystery of Kansas liquor laws continues. I have to read more on this. Robert Bader Smith, the author of the Great Finney Bond Scandal, has a book on it. He is a good researcher and solid, albeit dense writer, therefore I will will write in the margins and underline a lot so I don't want to use the copy I got from the library, but I also am not wanting to get another book until I finish one, I am trying not to stack up too many books. |
Sunday, September 23, 2018
Beliot Industrial
Dr. Chris Lovett at ESU has been researching women in institutions in Kansas and recently had an article in KSHS' journal. I wonder what they story is on this one, what the girl really did and what the outcome was. This is not talked about much, but this was usually awful for the women. See https://klcjournal.com/the-colorful-contentious-story-behind-health-advocate-samuel-crumbines-leadership/ and Christopher Lovett, Topeka. "Bad Girls: Sex, Shame, and the Legacy of Samuel J. Crumbine in Kansas, 1917-1955." Kansas History, Spring 2018.
Medicine
Sunday, September 16, 2018
More on medical care
 | ||
| Interesting article a) because how they spell out what happened--they are up front, one guy was messing around with another guy's wife. The husband found out, shot the guy. These days they would say that members of the community were not in danger and that it was alleged or unknown. b) the patient was treated with opiates. Not sure exactly which ones they are talking about but I am pretty sure that those are illegal now. c) woman Dr. Agnes Wallace--I haven't heard of her before. |
In the Chiles' plot at Mt. Auburn Cemetery
 |
 |
| Carrie and Foster Chiles--from the dates they appear like they may have been a niece and nephew or cousins. |
Sorry this is upside down, Harry Earl Chiles--luckily he was in the military. I should be able to find him at KSHS.
I don't know why this one is on it's side..Ulysess Chiles
And where Nick and Minnie are there is no gravestone. Getting them a gravestone is one of my objectives.
Prohibition
I also love how the guys (and it does appear to be all guys although in reality I doubt that this was true, they had the larger more legit operations is my guess) who run the clubs or joints are called "joinists" --simple, clear, easy to understand name and not an acronym. I wonder where all the stills were around town. I have heard that there was one back in Martin's hill (what later became SBG/then Menningers/part of the Governor's mansions trails) but there had to be more. Interesting stuff.
More on prohibition from Lisa Sandmeyer; " Ferdinand Poppendick thrived, I think Bogardus isn’t so strange. Poppendick left,by the way, when the liquor laws got too strict. His hotel and restaurant were top of the line in the day, and he hosted many legislators in town for the session."
Saturday, September 15, 2018
Chiles' hotel
Up early, as usual, working on the Nick Chiles project. I am deep in the year of 1897 and Nick has just purchased the three story building that will be Chiles' for the next 30 years. He bought it for $6,200 from T.G. Shillinglaw and it was known as the "Case"building. I haven't looked it up yet but I am betting that it was built by the "Hib" Case--an early Topeka attorney and a cohort of James Lane (he is buried at Topeka Cemetery--Lisa Sandmeyer does a great tour which includes him).
This is from the the appraiser's website. Chiles' hotel is the most non-descript of the three and the farthest to the left. I think that Chiles' eventually buys all three of these buildings but I am not there yet.. The Chiles hotel opened on January 1st, 1897--with some 200 people coming out for dinner at a cost of 25cents--evidently, beer and port wine were served--openly and advertised on hand bills which created quite the controversy in a dry state. Papers as far west as Stockton have pieces in the paper about it ,C.K. Holliday, who was on the Board of Police Commissioners at the time, writes a letter to the editor defending the police decision not to stop the sale--Chiles was technically not selling alcohol, he was giving it away and an emergency meeting of the WTCU ( Women's Christian Temperance Union) is held--they decide that they cannot do anything and to try with the new slate of Populist politicos coming in, to hold the police to a higher standard.
Chiles was never one to play it safe, doing it was one thing, but advertising was a bold move. Could be called flaunting it. There were 11 furnished rooms which rented for $1.00/week. After Chiles gets the paper quite often the guest register will appear in the society pages.
Currently, this is owned by "AIM Strategies" who own several other properties downtown. From what I can tell by driving by (I may go by today for more pictures) they are not doing anything with it. Sad. When I first came to town, on the first floor was Custom Photographic--I remember taking film there (I had a Pentax K-1000--I wish I knew what I did with that camera, I would like to play around with it again--black and white rules) and get back cut sheets with the strips of negatives in a waxy paper sort of sheet and then I would use a grease pencil to indicate the photos that I wanted developed. Neat place.
Chiles was never one to play it safe, doing it was one thing, but advertising was a bold move. Could be called flaunting it. There were 11 furnished rooms which rented for $1.00/week. After Chiles gets the paper quite often the guest register will appear in the society pages.
Currently, this is owned by "AIM Strategies" who own several other properties downtown. From what I can tell by driving by (I may go by today for more pictures) they are not doing anything with it. Sad. When I first came to town, on the first floor was Custom Photographic--I remember taking film there (I had a Pentax K-1000--I wish I knew what I did with that camera, I would like to play around with it again--black and white rules) and get back cut sheets with the strips of negatives in a waxy paper sort of sheet and then I would use a grease pencil to indicate the photos that I wanted developed. Neat place.
Saturday, September 8, 2018
Medical care/patent medicines
As much as we lament the FDA approval process, the exorbitant costs of medical care, insurance and the like. Medical care has come a long way in 120 years. In 1899, the year that this ad appeared, there was no regulation of medical doctors, medicine, or hospitals, the patient was at the mercy of luck.
Here is an ad for a cure for pain by magnets and a school of medicine--I have never heard of either but these sort of things proliferated, every town had it's own patent medicine, Topeka's best known was Gavitt's https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/patent-medicines/12165
One of my favorite books on the history of hospitals is Bellevue https://www.amazon.com/Bellevue-Centuries-Medicine-Americas-Hospital-ebook/dp/B01A4ATWJU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536403406&sr=8-1&keywords=Belleview.
The following ad appeared in the Plaindealer in November of 1899. This is something that I will go back to.
Here is an ad for a cure for pain by magnets and a school of medicine--I have never heard of either but these sort of things proliferated, every town had it's own patent medicine, Topeka's best known was Gavitt's https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/patent-medicines/12165
One of my favorite books on the history of hospitals is Bellevue https://www.amazon.com/Bellevue-Centuries-Medicine-Americas-Hospital-ebook/dp/B01A4ATWJU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536403406&sr=8-1&keywords=Belleview.
The following ad appeared in the Plaindealer in November of 1899. This is something that I will go back to.
Monday, September 3, 2018
Sites to remember and bibliography
Topeka Church History by King 1905 http://history.rays-place.com/ks/sh-church.htm
Prohibition in Kansas https://wabaunseecomuseum.org/2017/06/22/prohibition-blues-the-life-and-times-of-bill-page/
Radical Cartography of Slavery in the North http://www.radicalcartography.net/index.html?slavery_north
Dr. Chris Lovett, of ESU's bibliography of African American history;http://www.esuhistoryprof.com/bibliographies-for-teachers/102-african-american-history.html
Prohibition in Kansas https://wabaunseecomuseum.org/2017/06/22/prohibition-blues-the-life-and-times-of-bill-page/
Radical Cartography of Slavery in the North http://www.radicalcartography.net/index.html?slavery_north
Dr. Chris Lovett, of ESU's bibliography of African American history;http://www.esuhistoryprof.com/bibliographies-for-teachers/102-african-american-history.html
Timeline from Cox-- Events in Topeka Black History
From Cox's Black's in Topeka Kansas; 1865-1915 by Thomas Cox. Cox based this largely on the Plaindealer I am told. The book is a resource, it is problematic for the number of errors,but it is important and all work has errors, new things come to light, etc..
In historical research, there is the 3-legged stool approach, which should be done with everything. I don't know if they use this metaphor or not, when I was learning to research, I was taught that you wanted to find something in three places before considering it a fact up to that point it was unconfirmed. Today's facts are pretty easy to confirm but lots of stories in the Plaindealer will not be and not all of history is confirmable or not at the time you are working on it. So, it is like science until then there is a strong likelihood, theory until proven. I am using wikipedia--which I know is a non-quotable source but it is a good place to get links and to begin and that is my purpose in using it.
I am a big timeline fan, so putting events into context.
1859--white First Presbyterian Church is established in the First Ward, they organize the Second Church as a mission for runaway slaves.
1862 Homestead Act-- https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/homestead-act/15142
1863 Charles L. Langston, KC attr. (black) protests racial qualifications for suffrage
1863--Black Congregational church organized as Freedmen's Church when the area became Tennesseetown it was renamed the Second Colored Congregational Church (1866)
1864 Kansas legislature reaffirms it's position on suffrage, because a change would cause an overwhelming influx of blacks to the state (look up what states had black suffrage at this point).
1865 Topeka schools mixed
Second Baptist Church, later called First African Baptist, worship service at "bush arbor" at First and Crane streets and claims to be Topeka's first black church.
**** (I have to check on what black church met in the basement of Constitution Hall)
1866 Topeka elementary segregated, whites on first floor, blacks on second.
Colored convention for suffrage meets in Lawrence.
1867 Samuel Wood organizes the Impartial Suffrage Association of Topeka to provide agency to disseminate information to garner support for equal voting rights "in the broad sense, without regard to sex,race or color."
Kansas electorate rejects amendment to remove racial voting qualifications.
1868 Prayer Circle and religious services held in a rented barn between Harrison and Van Buren streets with no denomination or a pastor. Becomes St. John's AME in 1878. (National Register nomination https://www.kshs.org/resource/national_register/nominationsNRDB/Shawnee_StJohnAfricanMethodistEpiscopalChurchNR.pdf and http://www.stjohnametopeka.org/about.htm)
1869--Colonization Council founded by Henry Adams in Louisianan
Tennessee Real Estate and Homestead Association founded by Benjamin "Pap" Singleton, Columbus Johnson and Alonzo De Frantz
1870 Fifteenth Amendment--Although the word "white" remains affixed to the suffrage clause of the Constitution until 1888.
Black population 473, total population of Topeka 5,790
1871--Solomon G. Watkins, Topeka's second Negro teacher arrives from Tennessee, protested segregated schools adn with the Anti-Taft league, later NAACP , Colored Republican's Club and st. John.
1870 to 1880--Approximately 20,000 to 40,000 blacks come to Kansas
1872--Meeting at African Baptist Church (Second Baptist is from Cox, which is currently in North Topeka.)
*** In the Plaindealer's church directory in 1899 there is a First African Baptist on 1st and Madison, so I need to do more work here to figure it out.)to discuss supporting a bond issue, discrimination at Santa Fe and with the King Bridge Company discussed.
1875 Education only area of public accommodations in which discrimination had the force of law. Segregation in public facilities that were licensed by the state (which were these?) was a misdemeanor by state statute.
Black population 724; Total population of Topeka 7,272.
15% of blacks lived in neighborhoods that were 3/4 black--majority lived in neighborhoods that were 1/8 black
1873 St. John AME segregation in education, public accommodations and common carriers belies the reputation of Kansas.
"Pap" Singleton's first visit to Kansas.
1874--Topeka High School founded. Integrated from the beginning.
1875--Wesleyan AME (not in Plaindealer's 1899 directory)
Second Colored Presbyterian (also not in 1899 directory) founded
Occidental Lodge (in PD 1899 directory and meeting at 618 Kansas with No. 2 attached to the name)
Euclid Lodge (in PD's 1899 directory and meeting at 618 Kansas with N.M. S. attached to the name)
--Masonic founded and meeting at the Masonic hall at 127 Kansas
The date is unknown but sometime before 1875 the Great Western Lodge and the Good Samaritan Lodge were founded. They met on the second floor of 108 Kansas. Neither of these appear in the PD's 1899 directory.
***Are these groups Prince Hall Masons?
1877--Compromise of 1877-- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compromise_of_1877
Nicodemus founded
Exoduster Movement begins to move to frontier opportunities and to escape Southern deteriorating conditions https://www.amazon.com/Exodusters-Black-Migration-Kansas-Reconstruction/dp/0393009513/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1535977634&sr=8-1&keywords=exodusters
Santa Fe and Union Pacific promote immigration to Kansas ( https://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/bitstream/handle/.../kansas_immigrants_pt2.pdf?...1...)
1878 Shiloh Baptist formed http://etext.ku.edu/view?docId=ksrlead/ksrl.kc.shilohbaptistchurch.xml;route=ksrlead;brand=ksrlead;query= is a link to records at KU's Spencer library, https://www.kshs.org/resource/national_register/nominationsNRDB/Shawnee_ShilohBaptistChurchNR.pdf is a link to the National Register nomination for the building.
1878--Rev. Thomas W. Henderson unsuccessful candidacy for lt. governor on the Republican ticket
1879--rev. L. W. Winn form Cherokee County appointed to an unexpired state senate term
1879--250 to 300 blacks per month came to Kansas. This was more than any other city in Kansas.
1879--C.L. de Randamie---Topeka's first black real estate agent
1879--William Eagleson--Colored Citizen editor; candidate for assistant doorkeeper for the Kansas legislature
Dr. Seth Vernella, candidate for Shawnee County coroner
A Kuykendall elected as constable
1880-3,648 black population of Topeka; 15,528 total population of Topeka--this is in part because of the Kansas Freedman's Relief Association and the efforts of Gov. St. John and Elizabeth Comstock. https://www.nps.gov/mwac/brvb/history.htm
1880--Colored convention???
1880--Garfield Club formed to support Republican presidential ticket
John L. Buckner, a barber active in politics
Negro enclaves within the city included Redmondsville (or Up in the Sands) and Tenneseetown.
1881--E.H. White, Topeka's first black teacher established a night school.
August 31, 1881, Commonwealth--black man lynched in Ft. Scott
1882--first black student receives diploma from Topeka High School
1882--Edwin P. McCabe of Nicodemus elected as state auditor on the Republican ticket
1883--Colored Convention meeting in Lawrence/ Alfred Fairfax, from Chautauqua Country backed by convention and by Topeka's black newspapers to be the state congressman-at-large
August 8,1885, Kansas Herald--Topeka hires it's first black policeman
August 1887--Colored Men's State Convention in Topeka
1888--Weley I Jamison, Exoduster, justice of the peace, reelected two times defeated in 1894 when (black) Soloman Watkins ran against him and split the vote.
1889--Alfred Fairfax elected to the Kansas House
1889--Nat Oliphant lynched by mob in Topeka for killing an unarmend white man and injuring his wife after being caught burglarizing their home.
1890--William Reynolds, plaintiff in a suit against the Topeka Board of Education alleged that the school Lowman Hill was "unsanitary, inconvenient, and undesirable.....a veritable cesspool" Board asserted that negro children in their early years have different discipline and intellectual needs, and said that materials were equal.
???Afro-American League Topeka branch formed
http://www.blackpast.org/aah/national-afro-american-league-1887-1893 on the national
1890--Blanche Foster, Topeka minster was the alliance (populist) candidate for state auditor
May 28, 1892--Times-Observer --James Guy, "We should not attempt to be in places that we are not wanted. We should recognize our differences and need to establish race pride and confidence."
July 28, August 18, 1893--Kansas State Ledger--W.J. Johnson, "We are not seeking amalgamation or assimilation....we feel hat we are justified in insisting that (whites) not obtrude their equally unwelcome prescience upon us."
1893-94--22 black teachers in Topeka with state certificates , 11 had regular jobs
1893--People's Party Organized
Populist Flambeau Club integrated with Lytle, Brown and Eagleson receiving support for their nominations for municipal office
State wide Populist Central Committee--Lytle, Brown and Eagleson
1893--First general conference of Negro Democrats held in Topeka
1893--William Eagleson attends the National Democratic Negro League in Indianapolis
1893--Sheldon opens the Tennessee town kindergarten
1894--Topeka Board of Education agrees to appoint only black teachers to black schools.
1895--Independent Voting League--John M. Brown, William Eagleson, John W. Barber actively involved
18895--severe winter, any Topekans of both race sought shelter in the jail
Outbreaks of scarlet fever and diphtheria
Summer flooding
1895--Tennesseetown kindergarten moves to Central Congregational Church, served 210 children with average daily attendance of 28. The auxiliary, 40 negro women residents, instructed black mothers in child care, health, and hygiene.
1895--Topeka Industrialist and Educational Institute (later becomes Kansas Industrial) opens in Mudtown of the Fifth Ward with sewing, kindergarten and a reading room. Founded by Edward Stephens and Lizzie Reddick.
1896--John Lytle, policeman, runs for city jailer on Populist ticket
Lutie Lytle (later becomes 2nd black woman lawyer in US) gets patronage position as asst. enrolling clerk for Populists
1896--Ladies Free Silver Club meets every Thursday at 6:00p
1896--Rev. Sheldon lives in the Tenneseetown district for two weeks to better understand; member fo the Social Gospel movement, Sheldon believed that poverty was not solely the evidence of sin but the result of social and economic imbalances created by society. Responsible Christian stewardship required that the preacher should preach less and the congregation work more .
1896--Sheldon begins social services programs in Tennessee town
1897--Booker T. Washington visits
1897--(p. 124) 5 policemen, ten firemen, and one postman were black in Topeka.
Fred Roundtree, Exoduster, teacher at Monroe School elected Fifth Ward councilman
Fred Stonestreet, janitor, elected constable
James H. Guy justice of the peace
Soloman G. Watkins, Republican, principal for (black) Lane school defeated for city clerk.
1897--Populist Democratic governor John Leedy--actively encouraged black participation in politics, and civil service reform
1898--Rev. William L. Grant, Populist, urged blacks to join Republican party
1898--Topeka Industrial and Educational Institute moves to 2nd and Kansas Ave.
1898--John Wright, Blanche Foster, William Eagleson, John M. Brown --Topeka's leading black Populists
1898--Sheldon's Village Improvement Society in Tennessee town is founded, endorsed by Rev. William Grant of Shiloh Baptist
1898--Colored Free Silver League organized; club met weekly
League claims 21 chapters in Kansas
1898--John W. Barber unsuccessfully runs for the Independent League for state representative
1899--Vaccinations against smallpox become mandatory in Topeka
1899--Central Congregational Church founded
1899--Tennessee town according to Leroy Halbert, asst. pastor of Central Church and chronicler; 585 residents, 5,306 books, 147 newspaper subscriptions, 87% literate; 145 laborers, 52% owned their own homes.
1899--Sheldon stats for the city; $1.50/day for street work; 58.5% female sworked and were employed as domestics at a average rate of $1/day; household annual median income $399; real and personal property valued at $92. 11% received county/city aid.
1899--blacks in KS numbers according to KS bureau of Labor 33% blacks were homeowners, average of 4 in a family, wages for men $1.43/day; $33.31/month.
1890's??? Tennessee town town tavern, owned by Andrew Jordan houses the Tennessee town library, B.C. Duke, serves as the first librarian.
1892 Interstate Literary Association organized
1893 Topeka affiliate of the National Federation of Colored Women's Clubs was organized
??? Library and Literary Society, the Christian Endeavor Society--to encourage Sunday School attendance and the Mother's Club founded through Sheldon
1899--Auxiliary founded to support Topeka Industrial
1900--Booker T. Washing ton sends Tuskegee graduate, William Carter to superintend Topeka Industrial, state legislature restores $1,500 appropriation.
1900--smallpox epidemic; city-wide quarantine
1903--Flood
1903--Topeka Industrial purchases a 105 acre farm, one half mile east of Topeka for $10,000,.
1907 NNBL --National Negro Business League national meeting in Topeka
Keynote speech by Booker T. Washington
1913--Fisk University Jubilee Singers do a series of musicales at Central church
1914--Russell Sage Foundation;
Topeka's negro population is 10.4%; state is 3.2%
Crude death rates for 1912: 22.9% for blacks, 13.2% for whites
1880s-1915 justice of the peace position rotated among a succession of black Topeka lawyers Judge Wesley I. Jamison, served between 1897 and 1903, cases not confined to Negros.
1900 Rev. George Shaffer of St. John AME--Not a lunch counter in town where you could get coffee. (also comments on the lack of black hotels--but what about Chiles' on 7th?)
1900--Commercial Club changes to NNBL (National Negro Business League)
1908--Tennessee town kindergarten becomes part of the public schools
1908--Andrew Carnegie gives $5,000 to Topeka Industrial Institute
1910--Andrew Carnegie gives $10,000 to Topeka Industrial Institute.
??Somewhere around the turn of the century the Topeka Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis founded
Blacks treated in white hospitals, by white staff but with their own ward.
Topeka had two Florence Crittendon Homes for Unwed Mothers--Mrs. Sarah Malone supervised the black home, attended annual conferences on charities and corrections (according to Marilyn Waugh this was at 911 College--which I think is now a parking lot)
Alpha Assisi Charity Club broad spectrum of philanthropy ; medicines for charity patients, food and household goods, private subscriptions financed the club.
1913--Eight black physicians and 2 pharmacists
1914--Gov. Hodges, Democratic governor placed negro women as attendants at the State Hospital.
1914--NAACP begins in Topeka. Arthur Capper president through 1917. Julia Roundtree was secretary and on the board of directors.
1915 The Young Men's Educational Organization of Kansas , concentrated on segregated education
1916--Paul Jones Magazine a black Topeka journal of current events and social activity founded. Founding members also members of St. Simon and st. John AME
1916--William Carter, superintendent of Topeka Industrial investigated by James Guy and John Wright for being too friendly with women on the faculty. No charges were filed, but George Bridgeforth, director of the agricultural department of Tuskegee, becomes principal in 1917.
1917 National Federation of Colored Women's Club made of 8 organizations. Mrs. John Wright, Mrs. James Guy and Mrs. Jamison active and prominent in the organization.(included the Oriental Club, Alpha Assisi and the Oak Leaf Club)
1919--Kansas Hospital Aid Association organized under the Kansas Industrial and Educational Institute (formerly the Topeka Industrial and Educational), the board was dominated by Topeka women.
1919--Topeka Industrial and Educational Institute is receiving the majority of it's funding from the Kansas legislature and the legislature assumes full control, renaming it the Kansas Vocational Institute.
1922--Hospital and school for nursing facilities became a permanent part of the Kansas Industrial and Educational Institute. Named for Nellie Johns, a white Topekan who willed $1,000 to the cause, state legislature contributed $10,000, Negros contributed $4,000.
In historical research, there is the 3-legged stool approach, which should be done with everything. I don't know if they use this metaphor or not, when I was learning to research, I was taught that you wanted to find something in three places before considering it a fact up to that point it was unconfirmed. Today's facts are pretty easy to confirm but lots of stories in the Plaindealer will not be and not all of history is confirmable or not at the time you are working on it. So, it is like science until then there is a strong likelihood, theory until proven. I am using wikipedia--which I know is a non-quotable source but it is a good place to get links and to begin and that is my purpose in using it.
I am a big timeline fan, so putting events into context.
1859--white First Presbyterian Church is established in the First Ward, they organize the Second Church as a mission for runaway slaves.
1862 Homestead Act-- https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/homestead-act/15142
1863 Charles L. Langston, KC attr. (black) protests racial qualifications for suffrage
1863--Black Congregational church organized as Freedmen's Church when the area became Tennesseetown it was renamed the Second Colored Congregational Church (1866)
1864 Kansas legislature reaffirms it's position on suffrage, because a change would cause an overwhelming influx of blacks to the state (look up what states had black suffrage at this point).
1865 Topeka schools mixed
Second Baptist Church, later called First African Baptist, worship service at "bush arbor" at First and Crane streets and claims to be Topeka's first black church.
**** (I have to check on what black church met in the basement of Constitution Hall)
1866 Topeka elementary segregated, whites on first floor, blacks on second.
Colored convention for suffrage meets in Lawrence.
1867 Samuel Wood organizes the Impartial Suffrage Association of Topeka to provide agency to disseminate information to garner support for equal voting rights "in the broad sense, without regard to sex,race or color."
Kansas electorate rejects amendment to remove racial voting qualifications.
1868 Prayer Circle and religious services held in a rented barn between Harrison and Van Buren streets with no denomination or a pastor. Becomes St. John's AME in 1878. (National Register nomination https://www.kshs.org/resource/national_register/nominationsNRDB/Shawnee_StJohnAfricanMethodistEpiscopalChurchNR.pdf and http://www.stjohnametopeka.org/about.htm)
1869--Colonization Council founded by Henry Adams in Louisianan
Tennessee Real Estate and Homestead Association founded by Benjamin "Pap" Singleton, Columbus Johnson and Alonzo De Frantz
1870 Fifteenth Amendment--Although the word "white" remains affixed to the suffrage clause of the Constitution until 1888.
Black population 473, total population of Topeka 5,790
1871--Solomon G. Watkins, Topeka's second Negro teacher arrives from Tennessee, protested segregated schools adn with the Anti-Taft league, later NAACP , Colored Republican's Club and st. John.
1870 to 1880--Approximately 20,000 to 40,000 blacks come to Kansas
1872--Meeting at African Baptist Church (Second Baptist is from Cox, which is currently in North Topeka.)
*** In the Plaindealer's church directory in 1899 there is a First African Baptist on 1st and Madison, so I need to do more work here to figure it out.)to discuss supporting a bond issue, discrimination at Santa Fe and with the King Bridge Company discussed.
1875 Education only area of public accommodations in which discrimination had the force of law. Segregation in public facilities that were licensed by the state (which were these?) was a misdemeanor by state statute.
Black population 724; Total population of Topeka 7,272.
15% of blacks lived in neighborhoods that were 3/4 black--majority lived in neighborhoods that were 1/8 black
1873 St. John AME segregation in education, public accommodations and common carriers belies the reputation of Kansas.
"Pap" Singleton's first visit to Kansas.
1874--Topeka High School founded. Integrated from the beginning.
1875--Wesleyan AME (not in Plaindealer's 1899 directory)
Second Colored Presbyterian (also not in 1899 directory) founded
Occidental Lodge (in PD 1899 directory and meeting at 618 Kansas with No. 2 attached to the name)
Euclid Lodge (in PD's 1899 directory and meeting at 618 Kansas with N.M. S. attached to the name)
--Masonic founded and meeting at the Masonic hall at 127 Kansas
The date is unknown but sometime before 1875 the Great Western Lodge and the Good Samaritan Lodge were founded. They met on the second floor of 108 Kansas. Neither of these appear in the PD's 1899 directory.
***Are these groups Prince Hall Masons?
1877--Compromise of 1877-- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compromise_of_1877
Nicodemus founded
Exoduster Movement begins to move to frontier opportunities and to escape Southern deteriorating conditions https://www.amazon.com/Exodusters-Black-Migration-Kansas-Reconstruction/dp/0393009513/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1535977634&sr=8-1&keywords=exodusters
Santa Fe and Union Pacific promote immigration to Kansas ( https://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/bitstream/handle/.../kansas_immigrants_pt2.pdf?...1...)
1878 Shiloh Baptist formed http://etext.ku.edu/view?docId=ksrlead/ksrl.kc.shilohbaptistchurch.xml;route=ksrlead;brand=ksrlead;query= is a link to records at KU's Spencer library, https://www.kshs.org/resource/national_register/nominationsNRDB/Shawnee_ShilohBaptistChurchNR.pdf is a link to the National Register nomination for the building.
1878--Rev. Thomas W. Henderson unsuccessful candidacy for lt. governor on the Republican ticket
1879--rev. L. W. Winn form Cherokee County appointed to an unexpired state senate term
1879--250 to 300 blacks per month came to Kansas. This was more than any other city in Kansas.
1879--C.L. de Randamie---Topeka's first black real estate agent
1879--William Eagleson--Colored Citizen editor; candidate for assistant doorkeeper for the Kansas legislature
Dr. Seth Vernella, candidate for Shawnee County coroner
A Kuykendall elected as constable
1880-3,648 black population of Topeka; 15,528 total population of Topeka--this is in part because of the Kansas Freedman's Relief Association and the efforts of Gov. St. John and Elizabeth Comstock. https://www.nps.gov/mwac/brvb/history.htm
1880--Colored convention???
1880--Garfield Club formed to support Republican presidential ticket
John L. Buckner, a barber active in politics
Negro enclaves within the city included Redmondsville (or Up in the Sands) and Tenneseetown.
1881--E.H. White, Topeka's first black teacher established a night school.
August 31, 1881, Commonwealth--black man lynched in Ft. Scott
1882--first black student receives diploma from Topeka High School
1882--Edwin P. McCabe of Nicodemus elected as state auditor on the Republican ticket
1883--Colored Convention meeting in Lawrence/ Alfred Fairfax, from Chautauqua Country backed by convention and by Topeka's black newspapers to be the state congressman-at-large
August 8,1885, Kansas Herald--Topeka hires it's first black policeman
August 1887--Colored Men's State Convention in Topeka
1888--Weley I Jamison, Exoduster, justice of the peace, reelected two times defeated in 1894 when (black) Soloman Watkins ran against him and split the vote.
1889--Alfred Fairfax elected to the Kansas House
1889--Nat Oliphant lynched by mob in Topeka for killing an unarmend white man and injuring his wife after being caught burglarizing their home.
1890--William Reynolds, plaintiff in a suit against the Topeka Board of Education alleged that the school Lowman Hill was "unsanitary, inconvenient, and undesirable.....a veritable cesspool" Board asserted that negro children in their early years have different discipline and intellectual needs, and said that materials were equal.
???Afro-American League Topeka branch formed
http://www.blackpast.org/aah/national-afro-american-league-1887-1893 on the national
1890--Blanche Foster, Topeka minster was the alliance (populist) candidate for state auditor
May 28, 1892--Times-Observer --James Guy, "We should not attempt to be in places that we are not wanted. We should recognize our differences and need to establish race pride and confidence."
July 28, August 18, 1893--Kansas State Ledger--W.J. Johnson, "We are not seeking amalgamation or assimilation....we feel hat we are justified in insisting that (whites) not obtrude their equally unwelcome prescience upon us."
1893-94--22 black teachers in Topeka with state certificates , 11 had regular jobs
1893--People's Party Organized
Populist Flambeau Club integrated with Lytle, Brown and Eagleson receiving support for their nominations for municipal office
State wide Populist Central Committee--Lytle, Brown and Eagleson
1893--First general conference of Negro Democrats held in Topeka
1893--William Eagleson attends the National Democratic Negro League in Indianapolis
1893--Sheldon opens the Tennessee town kindergarten
1894--Topeka Board of Education agrees to appoint only black teachers to black schools.
1895--Independent Voting League--John M. Brown, William Eagleson, John W. Barber actively involved
18895--severe winter, any Topekans of both race sought shelter in the jail
Outbreaks of scarlet fever and diphtheria
Summer flooding
1895--Tennesseetown kindergarten moves to Central Congregational Church, served 210 children with average daily attendance of 28. The auxiliary, 40 negro women residents, instructed black mothers in child care, health, and hygiene.
1895--Topeka Industrialist and Educational Institute (later becomes Kansas Industrial) opens in Mudtown of the Fifth Ward with sewing, kindergarten and a reading room. Founded by Edward Stephens and Lizzie Reddick.
1896--John Lytle, policeman, runs for city jailer on Populist ticket
Lutie Lytle (later becomes 2nd black woman lawyer in US) gets patronage position as asst. enrolling clerk for Populists
1896--Ladies Free Silver Club meets every Thursday at 6:00p
1896--Rev. Sheldon lives in the Tenneseetown district for two weeks to better understand; member fo the Social Gospel movement, Sheldon believed that poverty was not solely the evidence of sin but the result of social and economic imbalances created by society. Responsible Christian stewardship required that the preacher should preach less and the congregation work more .
1896--Sheldon begins social services programs in Tennessee town
1897--Booker T. Washington visits
1897--(p. 124) 5 policemen, ten firemen, and one postman were black in Topeka.
Fred Roundtree, Exoduster, teacher at Monroe School elected Fifth Ward councilman
Fred Stonestreet, janitor, elected constable
James H. Guy justice of the peace
Soloman G. Watkins, Republican, principal for (black) Lane school defeated for city clerk.
1897--Populist Democratic governor John Leedy--actively encouraged black participation in politics, and civil service reform
1898--Rev. William L. Grant, Populist, urged blacks to join Republican party
1898--Topeka Industrial and Educational Institute moves to 2nd and Kansas Ave.
1898--John Wright, Blanche Foster, William Eagleson, John M. Brown --Topeka's leading black Populists
1898--Sheldon's Village Improvement Society in Tennessee town is founded, endorsed by Rev. William Grant of Shiloh Baptist
1898--Colored Free Silver League organized; club met weekly
League claims 21 chapters in Kansas
1898--John W. Barber unsuccessfully runs for the Independent League for state representative
1899--Vaccinations against smallpox become mandatory in Topeka
1899--Central Congregational Church founded
1899--Tennessee town according to Leroy Halbert, asst. pastor of Central Church and chronicler; 585 residents, 5,306 books, 147 newspaper subscriptions, 87% literate; 145 laborers, 52% owned their own homes.
1899--Sheldon stats for the city; $1.50/day for street work; 58.5% female sworked and were employed as domestics at a average rate of $1/day; household annual median income $399; real and personal property valued at $92. 11% received county/city aid.
1899--blacks in KS numbers according to KS bureau of Labor 33% blacks were homeowners, average of 4 in a family, wages for men $1.43/day; $33.31/month.
1890's??? Tennessee town town tavern, owned by Andrew Jordan houses the Tennessee town library, B.C. Duke, serves as the first librarian.
1892 Interstate Literary Association organized
1893 Topeka affiliate of the National Federation of Colored Women's Clubs was organized
??? Library and Literary Society, the Christian Endeavor Society--to encourage Sunday School attendance and the Mother's Club founded through Sheldon
1899--Auxiliary founded to support Topeka Industrial
1900--Booker T. Washing ton sends Tuskegee graduate, William Carter to superintend Topeka Industrial, state legislature restores $1,500 appropriation.
1900--smallpox epidemic; city-wide quarantine
1903--Flood
1903--Topeka Industrial purchases a 105 acre farm, one half mile east of Topeka for $10,000,.
1907 NNBL --National Negro Business League national meeting in Topeka
Keynote speech by Booker T. Washington
1913--Fisk University Jubilee Singers do a series of musicales at Central church
1914--Russell Sage Foundation;
Topeka's negro population is 10.4%; state is 3.2%
Crude death rates for 1912: 22.9% for blacks, 13.2% for whites
1880s-1915 justice of the peace position rotated among a succession of black Topeka lawyers Judge Wesley I. Jamison, served between 1897 and 1903, cases not confined to Negros.
1900 Rev. George Shaffer of St. John AME--Not a lunch counter in town where you could get coffee. (also comments on the lack of black hotels--but what about Chiles' on 7th?)
1900--Commercial Club changes to NNBL (National Negro Business League)
1908--Tennessee town kindergarten becomes part of the public schools
1908--Andrew Carnegie gives $5,000 to Topeka Industrial Institute
1910--Andrew Carnegie gives $10,000 to Topeka Industrial Institute.
??Somewhere around the turn of the century the Topeka Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis founded
Blacks treated in white hospitals, by white staff but with their own ward.
Topeka had two Florence Crittendon Homes for Unwed Mothers--Mrs. Sarah Malone supervised the black home, attended annual conferences on charities and corrections (according to Marilyn Waugh this was at 911 College--which I think is now a parking lot)
Alpha Assisi Charity Club broad spectrum of philanthropy ; medicines for charity patients, food and household goods, private subscriptions financed the club.
1913--Eight black physicians and 2 pharmacists
1914--Gov. Hodges, Democratic governor placed negro women as attendants at the State Hospital.
1914--NAACP begins in Topeka. Arthur Capper president through 1917. Julia Roundtree was secretary and on the board of directors.
1915 The Young Men's Educational Organization of Kansas , concentrated on segregated education
1916--Paul Jones Magazine a black Topeka journal of current events and social activity founded. Founding members also members of St. Simon and st. John AME
1916--William Carter, superintendent of Topeka Industrial investigated by James Guy and John Wright for being too friendly with women on the faculty. No charges were filed, but George Bridgeforth, director of the agricultural department of Tuskegee, becomes principal in 1917.
1917 National Federation of Colored Women's Club made of 8 organizations. Mrs. John Wright, Mrs. James Guy and Mrs. Jamison active and prominent in the organization.(included the Oriental Club, Alpha Assisi and the Oak Leaf Club)
1919--Kansas Hospital Aid Association organized under the Kansas Industrial and Educational Institute (formerly the Topeka Industrial and Educational), the board was dominated by Topeka women.
1919--Topeka Industrial and Educational Institute is receiving the majority of it's funding from the Kansas legislature and the legislature assumes full control, renaming it the Kansas Vocational Institute.
1922--Hospital and school for nursing facilities became a permanent part of the Kansas Industrial and Educational Institute. Named for Nellie Johns, a white Topekan who willed $1,000 to the cause, state legislature contributed $10,000, Negros contributed $4,000.
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