Kansas Folktales, Railroads Lectures Free at Museum of World Treasures in March
February 22, 2023
Humanities kansas sponsors lectures about railroads, kansas legends
Wichita, KS – Museum of World Treasures in will host “Railroaded: The Industry That Shaped Kansas” and “Kansas Legends and Folktales” this March in partnership with Humanities Kansas. “Railroaded” will be presented by Leo Oliva at 1:30pm on Wednesday, March 1. “Kansas Folktales” will be presented by Jim Hoy on Thursday, March 16 at 9:00am. Members of the community are invited to attend the free programs. Contact the Museum of World Treasures at 316.263.1311 for more information. The program is made possible by Humanities Kansas.
Light refreshments will be provided for both events. Space is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Both talks will also be livestreamed on Museum of World Treasures’ YouTube channel.
Railroaded: The Industry That Shaped Kansas with Leo Oliva
Few industries dominated the economy of the nation in the 19th century more than the railroad. Railroads brought immigrant settlers, created jobs, and fed beef markets in the East. They enabled regular mail service and the adoption of standard time. Most Kansas towns were founded because of the railroad, and few survived without it. Yet the advancement of the railroad industry came at a significant cost to the Plains Indians who were forcibly displaced by this westward expansion. This presentation examines the complicated legacy of railroads and the impact on native peoples who called Kansas home.
Leo Oliva is a historian with a research focus on 19th-century Kansas. He is the author of “Soldiers on the Santa Fe Trail,” six books for the Kansas Fort Series, and a founding member of the Santa Fe Trail Association and Fort Larned Old Guard.
“Railroads are the key to understanding the development of Kansas,” said Oliva.
Kansas Legends and Folktales with Jim Hoy
Grasshoppers so big that cowboys can ride them to herd cattle. Summers so hot that corn pops in the field. Rancher Henry Mudge wrecking pianos, shooting sheep, and fooling European dignitaries. Kansas is a place of big skies and tall tales, and big exaggerated narratives like these help us understand the character of our state and its people. This talk will explore some of Kansas’s most outlandish legends and folktales and help audiences decipher between a myth (folk religion), legend (folk history), and tale (folk literature).
Jim Hoy is a professor of English and folklorist who works with the Center for the Great Plains Studies at Emporia State University. He has lectured internationally on the folklife of ranching and is the co-author of “Plains Folk,” a syndicated newspaper column.
About Humanities Kansas
Both lectures are presented as a part of Humanities Kansas's Speakers Bureau, featuring humanities-based presentations designed to share stories that inspire, spark conversations that inform, and generate insights that strengthen civic engagement.
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, our pioneering programming, grants, and partnerships have documented and shared stories to spark conversations and generate insights. Together with our partners and supporters, we inspire 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.
