A Moment in Time"To the Stars With John J. Ingalls: Celebrating Kansas Day"January 2002 A monthly series from the Kansas Historical Society "Kansas," said John J. Ingalls, "is the core and kernel of the country, containing the germs of its growth and the quickening ideas essential to its perpetuity." An orator, scholar, lawyer, and statesman, known for his keen sarcasm and quick wit, John J. Ingalls was, at age 26, a primary force behind the Wyandotte Constitutional Convention that brought about Kansas statehood. Ingalls, who represented Kansas as a U.S. Senator from 1873 - 1891, coined the phrase "Ad astra per aspera" (to the stars through difficulty) that became the Kansas state motto. Born in Massachusetts in 1833, Ingalls came to Kansas territory in 1859 and settled in Atchison to practice law. He believed in Kansas, and wrote that "the aspiration of Kansas is to reach the unattainable; its dream is the realization of the impossible." Ingalls chose to live in Kansas because he believed the state had a bright and promising future.
Ingalls spent his life pursuing his dreams for his adopted state. Following his public service time, he wrote magazine and newspaper articles extolling the virtues of the state. Ingalls died in 1900 and was buried in his hometown of Atchison. When we celebrate Kansas Day on January 29, we remember Ingalls dreams for the state and the flag he helped to design. The Kansas History Center presents a celebration of the state's 141st birthday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 29. Designed for students and families, the day includes presentations, living history demonstrations, craft presenters, hands-on activities, and games. All programs are free. The Kansas History Center is located at 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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served as secretary of the state senate during the first legislative
session following statehood. During this time he designed a seal for
the state. He wanted it to be simple, with a single star rising from
the clouds at the base of a field. A constellation of stars at the top
of the seal represented the other states then in the Union. The rising
star symbolized Kansas joining the Union after a stormy struggle. Ingall's
proposal was modified considerably before it was accepted by the state
legislature. However, Ingall's idea of the rising star remains a prominent
part of today's Kansas state seal.
