A Moment in Time"During Times of Strife, Kansans Remember"October 2001 A monthly series from the Kansas Historical Society From the Civil War to the war on terrorism, Kansans have expressed patriotism, concern, sorrow, and thankfulness in many forms. The Kansas Historical Society's collections include remembrances from those earlier times. These expressions parallel current sentiments with initial shock, letters to loved ones; creations of red, white and blue; and efforts to support war victims and the military. These remembrances give us insights into the concerns Kansans faced. One collection in the libary and archives contains correspondence between a World War II soldier and his father, beginning with reaction to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941 and concluding with the end of the war. Monday, December 8, 1941 Dear Folks: I hardly know what to say, everything is in such confusion around here. I was listening to the radio yesterday noon when the first news came and I've hardly been away from it since. It was certainly a shock and I guess noone expected war to come so suddenly and in such a manner. I was glad to here the roll call of the house and senate was practically unanimous. I can hardly make myself believe that what I am hearing is really history in the making. . . Paul Thursday, August 9, 1945 Dear Paul: This may seem like a crazy idea to be writing you after receiving yesterday morning a telegram from the Navy Personnel at Washington that you were missing after a plane crash on July 28. However, there have been so many cases of boys crashing in enemy territory and the boys were saved or of their crashing on an island or in the sea and in some miraculous way they were saved. . .And therefore son we are clinging to hope that in some way later on we will be informed that you are still living and O.K. . . .Still living in expectancy & with all our love, Dad. Kansans confronted the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, with shock, national unity, and preparation for war. A Wichita Beacon on December 8, 1941, asserts "A fighting-mad Wichita population rallied behind President Roosevelt Monday and took every precaution to guarantee the ceaseless supply of defense materials from this area, will continue to flow to America's armed forces." This is among the extensive Kansas newspaper collection in the library and archives. During the Spanish-American War, the daughter of Kansas Assistant Adjutant General H. N. Boyd formed a drill team with her young friends. The drill team of forty Boyd's Girl Cadets made their uniforms of blue jackets, long skirts, and military caps. The team was armed with discarded Springfield rifles, with hollowed broomsticks as barrels. H. N. Boyd, a Civil War veteran, declared them to be "the only drilled, uniformed and regularly armed company of girl soldiers in the United States." The team marched in parades and offered services for military duty in Cuba. In 1899, the team made a quilt with seven red stripes, six white stripes, and 45 stars with names. That quilt is a part of the collection of the Kansas Museum of History. Women during World War I also assisted relief efforts by making clothing and bedding for refugees and soldiers. Red Cross quilts became popular fund raising projects. In Eudora, a community founded by German immigrants, women gathered to create a Red Cross quilt. The wars with Germany presented many problems for German Americans, who were eager to prove their American patriotism. The 83" by 68" quilt is red and white quilt with four small crosses and one large center cross is part of the museum's collection. Today, as the United States faces a war on terrorism, Kansas are again responding with expressions of support. As part of the Kansas Historical Society's mission to collect, preserve and interpret Kansas history, several projects have been initiated to preserve current remembrances for future generations. The "Kansas Book of Remembrance" project invites visitors to share thoughts, feelings, and reactions about the events of September 11, 2001. Books have been placed at the Kansas History Center in Topeka, the Kansas State Capitol, and state historic sites in Council Grove, Fort Riley, Hanover, Hays, Highland, Kansas City, Lecompton, Manhattan, Osawatomie, Pleasanton, Republic, and Studley. The documents will become a part of the permanent KSHS collections and preserved for future generations. At this time, there are no plans to publish these materials. The Society also is collecting written remembrances, printed materials, photographs, objects, and other expressions in responses to the terrorist attacks and the war on terrorism. Information can be found online at www.kshs.org/research/collections/remember.htm The Kansas Historical Society is headquartered at the Kansas History Center, 6425 SW Sixth Avenue, Topeka KS 66615-1099; 785-272-8681; TTY 785-272-8683; www.kshs.org The Kansas Historical Society does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to, access to, or operation of its programs. The Society requests prior notification to accommodate individuals with special needs or disabilities. |
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