The Famous Kansans Chautauqua is a revival of the traveling tent programs that entertained and educated Kansans during the first decades of the 20th century.

Today people gather each evening on the plains of Kansas under the Chautauqua tent to visit with scholars portraying famous Kansans from history.

Daily workshops for adults (click here for workshop details) and special history events are offered throughout the community during the four-day Chautauqua event.

Each evening will feature a first-person historical characterization of a famous Kansan: “barroom smasher” Carry A. Nation, poet Langston Hughes, Emporia Gazette editor William Allen White, and “goat gland doctor” J.R. Brinkley.

To learn about these famous Kansans, click on each name or photo.

National Oral History Project Coming to Kansas!

StoryCorps Door-to-Door is coming to Kansas as part of the Kansas Humanities Council's ongoing statewide initiative called Kansans Tell Their Stories. This initiative invites Kansas communities, and their residents, to preserve and interpret their local stories. In addition to providing grant opportunities to non-profits statewide, KHC is conducting a special Chautauqua featuring the Kansans Tell Their Stories theme. For four days in Medicine Lodge and Baldwin City, “Famous Kansans” will take the stage, telling of their life and times. Carry Nation, William Allen White, Langston Hughes, and Dr. Brinkley will share with us stories of famous Kansans, while everyday Kansans will be recording their own oral histories with the national StoryCorps project. Click here to learn more.

KHC is pleased to partner with the Kansas Health Foundation, KHC's statewide StoryCorps partner, and Kansas Public Radio, sponsor for the StoryCorps stop in Baldwin City.

Special Events for Youth

Children and families will enjoy the many activities offered under the Kid-Tauqua Tent. The tent is open each evening from 5:30-7:30 PM and on Sunday from 1-2 PM. Young Chautauqua visitors can explore history through a dress-up area, hands-on activities, and a coloring station.

Youth Chautauqua Camp: This 5-day camp (2-5 PM daily) offers youth the opportunity to become historians, researchers, scriptwriters, and performers. 5th-8th grade participants will research a historical figures, write a first-person portrayal, and perform in costume under the main tent for Friday evening’s Chautauqua audience. Registration required (see schedules for Medicine Lodge or Baldwin City for registration information). Ann Birney and Joyce Thierer, co-directors of Ride into History, teach the Youth Chautauqua Camp.

For more information on youth activities in Medicine Lodge and Baldwin City, see the complete schedules below. All youth activities are free!

2007

Medicine Lodge • June 14-17, 2007

June 13 Meet the Chautauquans Ice Cream Social
June 14-17 Daytime programs for children and adults
June 14 Evening tent presentation by Carry A. Nation
June 15 Evening tent presentation by Langston Hughes
June 16 Evening tent presentation by William Allen White
June 17 Daytime tent presentation by Dr. J.R. Brinkley

Click here for schedule of events in Medicine Lodge. See you there!

Baldwin City • June 21-24, 2007

June 20 Meet the Chautauquans Ice Cream Social
June 21-24 Daytime programs for children and adults
June 21 Evening tent presentation by Carry A. Nation
June 22 Evening tent presentation by Langston Hughes
June 23 Evening tent presentation by William Allen White
June 24 Daytime tent presentation by Dr. J.R. Brinkley

Click here for schedule of events in Baldwin City. See you there!

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