Individuals have Rights, Responsibilities

The Legislative Wars of 1893

After 30 years of Republican Party domination in Kansas, the Populist Party was swept into office in the 1892 election. In addition to controlling the state Senate, Populists managed to place a Governor in the Statehouse and win five congressional seats. Both the Populists and the Republicans claimed control of the House, the Populists asserting that the Republican elections were illegal. Rather than compromise, the floor leaders of each party called the House to order--in the same room. The Republicans passed a resolution accusing the Clerk of the Populist House of disturbing the peace. The Show MoreSergeant-at- Arms arrested the clerk, thus starting the "legislative war." Both parties enlisted sergeants-at-arms and guards and the Governor called the militia. On February 15, 1893 the Republicans marched to the Statehouse and smashed the locked doors. Armed hostilities continued for two days. On February 25th, 1893 the Kansas Supreme Court held that the Republican House was the legal body and the conflict ended. Show Less

The Very Strange Life of Boston Corbett, as told by Bill Jensen, April 12, 2015 in the Washingtonian

Boston Corbett achieved notoriety by shooting John Wilkes Booth after Booth killed President Lincoln. Booth had been cornered by soldiers who had orders to take Booth alive, but Corbett defied orders and pulled the the trigger, killing him. Much later Corbett moved to Kansas and achieved notoriety again as a Doorman in the House of Representatives. By 1878 Corbett decided to "go west" to Cloud County, Kansas where he homesteaded 80 acres, living in a "one-room hovel with a wooden floor and rocked walls." In 1886 he was hired as an assistant doorkeeper at the Kansas Show MoreLegislature in Topeka, at the urging of a veterans organization. One day after some sort of dispute, he brandished his gun in the Statehouse and Kansas officials shut him away in a mental hospital in Topeka. Corbett escaped on May 26, 1988. There were many rumors of what happened to Corbett, but none were substantiated. The full article by Bill Jensen is found online here.

washingtonian.com/2015/04/12/the-man-who-killed-john-wilkes-booth/

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Study Guide for Brown v. Board of Education Mural

In 2018, Kansas artist Michael Young created the Brown v. Board of Education mural, which is located on the third floor of the Kansas Capitol. The painting depicts the legacy of the 1954 landmark U.S. Supreme Court desegregation case that had its roots in Topeka. In 2025 The Kansas Oral History Project interviewed Michael Young in front of a live audience at the Statehouse. Creating this study guide for students was a suggestion of the audience. Many of the materials for students are found under Resources for Educators, History which is one of the five areas designated by Show Morethe state Board of Education. Students should watch the full Kansas Oral History interview of the artist by Linda Jeffrey which is available in the collection, Notable Kansans. In addition, two other interviews in the Diversity collection (Ben Scott and Carolyn Wims Campbell) deal with segregation of schools and similar topics. Show Less

Study Guide for Rebel Women Mural in Capital.

This student Study Guide explores Compelling Questions and helps students learn more about the artist and her work. The full KANSAS ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW of the artist, Phyllis Garibay-Coon by interviewer Linda Utoff is available under Notable Kansans.

Lessons in Leadership from Kansas Leaders

Interesting short clips from oral history interviews that address various aspects of leadership from public officials in Kansas.

Leadership Challenges

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Why Railroads Are Important to Kansas

The railroad industry was suddenly in danger of collapsing in the 1970's because some its lines, such as the Rock Island, Penn Central and others were in bankruptcy. Kansas agriculture would be harmed without rail service to ship its products. Kansas Senators Dole and Pearson, later joined by Rep. Slattery and Senator Kassebaum worked to create a method of deregulation in the form of the 4-R Act. Pat Hubbell, a lobbyist with the railroad industry described in this 17 minute excerpt how "he was on a mission" to save the industry because of its importance Show Moreand the need to transport Kansas coal and agricultural products. He recalls passenger trains of the past that have disappeared and mergers that have left Kansas with only two major railroads, the Union Pacific and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe. The Study Guide that is attached raises questions for students to consider. Show Less

What Do Lobbyists Do?

This 13 minute portion of an oral history interview with experienced lobbyist Pat Hubbell focuses on how he became a lobbyist, first for Kansas Beer Wholesalers and then several railroads. He stresses the importance of his work to "save" the railroads from financial collapse and pass the 4-R Act which changed the way they were regulated federally and at the state level. His description of the hospitality rooms at the Jayhawk hotel shows the contrast with how lobbying worked in the 1970's and today. The entire interview can be found on this website at Statehouse Conversations.

Kansas Oil and Gas Fields

Oil and gas resources are not found everywhere in the state, but at least some production has occurred in most counties, as the map here shows. John O. Farmer III whose company is located in Russell described in his 2023 interview his company's exploration and production activities in the area around Russell. When Roger McCoy was interviewed in 2024 for the oral history project, he described becoming interested in geology almost by accident in the 1950s. He also recalled working in the southcentral and southwest part of Kansas where both oil and gas are found.

Flint Hills — A Unique Area

The Flint Hills form one of 11 physiographic regions in Kansas. The combination of topography, climate, and human activity have made part of the region one of the last remaining expanses of tallgrass prairie in the world. In excerpts from separate oral history interviews of two former Kansas Governors, you hear how a unique approach was implemented to prevent windfarm development in a portion of the Flint Hills to protect the tallgrass prairie. Governor Sebelius adopted the initial policy with a moratorium on windfarm development in a section of the Show MoreFlint Hills in 2004. As described in his oral history interview, Governor Brownback expanded the original area and renewed the protection. In 2020 Governor Laura Kelly continued the protection of the "Tallgrass Heartland." Show Less

Frank Carlson Study Guide

Frank Carlson, Kansas Native Son, former state legislator, Congressman, Governor, and U.S. Senator was the subject of an interview with Eunice Rolfs, his daughter, in order to gain information about her father and the times in which he lived. There is a study guide attached that is based on the interview transcript and other materials provided by the Carlson Library in Concordia, KS. The material is intended for use in middle school Kansas History classes.

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Individuals have Rights, Responsibilities