There is an effort afoot to compile a history of the Boy Scouts of America’s Wichita-based Quivira Council. This is being done in honor of its 100th anniversary in 2018.
Now, organizers are looking for historical items to help with this effort. They are looking for the following:
• Newspaper stories
• Kanza scouter newsletters
• Nani newsletters
• Maps and pictures of the camps
• Camp Pawnee information
• Camp Kanza information
• Camp Hap Stevens information
• Names of the scouting executives and the council presidents, and pictures of the Scout office
• Any information about southwest Kansas area scouting
For more information, contact Jan Medlam at drmicrowave72@yahoo.com or Greg Berglund at berglund405@mindspring.com. They ask those contacting them put “council history” in the subject line.
In 2018, the Boy Scouts of America’s Quivira Council will celebrate 100 years. Now, the council’s Centennial Committee wants to compile this history into a book to mark the occasion.
“We have an opportunity in front of us,” said Jan Medlam, a former scout who is now a trainer for the council. He is looking for newspaper clippings, photos and other historical items regarding the council, as well as for scouts and scouters that would like to help in the collection and compiling the information.
The Wichita-based Quivira Council serves over 11,000 youth and 5,000 adult volunteers in 30 central and south central Kansas counties. The council is divided into six geographic districts including include High Plains, Kanza, Osage Nation, Pawnee, South Winds and White Buffalo.
Great Bend, Larned and the surrounding area fall in the Kanza district, Medlam said. “It has a very rich history.”
The book will have a chapter or chapters for each district written by scouts in their area. He is hoping to get a history book committee together so they can get started.
“We are in the being phase of collecting the history,” he said. This will take some time, going though newspapers, conducting interviews and going to museums like the Barton County Historical Village.
“We are losing our heritage as scouters are going on down the trail,” said Medlam who has done extensive research on area scouting. Like a lot of folks, scouters haven’t written down their history so it is at risk of fading away.
“We hope to have the book done before the middle of 2018,” he said. “I know this may seem to be a long time away, but as we know it will be here soon.”
Those who may not have an direct connection are encouraged to ask around, he said. “You may know a scout or scouter that would like to help with this project.”
A big set back
In April of last year, the Central States Scout Museum in downtown Larned was destroyed by fire. It was packed with Boy Scout and Girl Scout artifacts, some more than 100 years old, which ignited quickly.
A propane stove used for heating was blamed for the blaze.
“The loss of the museum in Larned was a great loss,” Medlam said. “I have been there a few times doing research on the Order of Arrow. Some of the items that were loss were one of kind and can’t be replaced.”
For more information on the book project, contact Medlam at drmicrowave72@yahoo.com or Greg Berglund at berglund405@mindspring.com. They ask those contacting them put “council history” in the subject line.
