A Kansas Memory Podcast

Ned Beck's July 4th

The document used in the Beck Diary podcast is available on

• Ned Beck's Diary, 1880
• Historic issues of the Holton Recorder are available on microfilm from our library. To see what dates are available, check our Kansas newspaper database.

Ned Beck continued writing in his diary throughout the summer of 1880, so we have his first-hand account of Holton, Kansas' 4th of July festivities. Holton planned to hold a community picnic on July 3rd, since July 4th fell on Sunday that year, but it was an unusually rainy summer and that Saturday was no exception, so the celebration was somewhat subdued. Just like kids today, Ned's favorite part of the holiday was the fireworks. Here's his description of the events of that week.