HOISINGTON — Hoisington Public Library will host “The Civil War in Kansas,” a presentation and discussion by Will Haynes, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8. Members of the community are invited to attend the free program. The program is made possible by Humanities Kansas. Refreshments will be served.
For Kansans, the violent guerrilla warfare between proslavery and antislavery forces known as Bleeding Kansas foreshadowed the national Civil War to come. From 1861-65, the border struggle continued to heat up as Kansans fended off Confederate attacks, accepted the formerly enslaved into their communities, and engaged in bitter political debates. Men of all backgrounds – white, black, and Native American – served in uniform, while women managed farmsteads and formed societies to help the needy. This talk presents the story of Kansas during the Civil War and how it helped shape the state’s image for years afterward.
Haynes is the director of engagement and learning for Watkins Museum of History in Lawrence. He earned a PhD in history from the University of Kansas and has contributed to public history projects involving the New York Times, the Truman Library Institute, and the Kansas City Public Library.
“The Civil War in Kansas” is part of Humanities Kansas’s Speakers Bureau and “21st Century Civics,” a collection of resources that invite Kansans to participate in community discussions and learn more about the history of American democracy and the shared responsibilities of citizenship. “21st Century Civics” is made possible with support from “A More Perfect Union: America at 250,” an initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Support for “The Civil War in Kansas” has been provided by the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area.
“We received a $500 grant from Humanities Kansas to pay for this,” said Karen La Pierre, director of Hoisington Public Library. “I anticipate it will be a wonderful, informative program.”
Humanities Kansas is an independent nonprofit leading a movement of ideas to empower the people of Kansas to strengthen their communities and our democracy. Since 1972, its pioneering programming, grants, and partnerships have documented and shared stories to spark conversations and generate insights. Together with its partners and supporters, Humanities Kansas inspires all Kansans to draw on history, literature, ethics, and culture to enrich their lives and serve the communities and state we all proudly call home. Visit humanitieskansas.org.
