Jackson County Historical Society

Speaker’s Bureau

The Jackson County Historical Society believes that it is important for people to learn about the history of their community, about the lives and legacies of those who have gone before us, and about the rich, diverse history that encircles our lives on a daily basis.

To that end, the Society strives to be an educational resource for individuals, youths and adults, as well as for area service clubs, social clubs, business associations, schools, or cultural groups. Society staff has developed a Speaker’s Bureau that is intended to offer useful, educational information about Jackson County’s history and its preservation.

Evening and weekend presentation times are available to organizations and clubs in Jackson County, Missouri. Programs may be formatted for up to one-hour segments. Advanced registration is required. A $75 stipend payable to the “Jackson County Historical Society” due at the time of scheduling recognizes the Society’s staff time and travel commitments.

The following presentation topics are currently available:

h Prisoners of World War II in Jackson County, Missouri? Jim Beckner unlocks the secrets to a time in the 1940s when German and Italian POWs were transported to the heart of our nation for internment. What did these unexpected visitors do while in Jackson County? Where were the camps? How were they treated? Where did they go after World War II? Answers to these questions and more are revealed in a fascinating presentation. This presentation is a special engagement, and is scheduled directly with the presenter, Jim Beckner, by calling 816-322-3736 or E-mail. Additional fees may apply.

h Elmwood Cemetery Revealed! Former Elmwood Cemetery historian Richard Stewart provides a fascinating and in-depth presentation about the famous, forgotten history of Elmwood Cemetery, complete with stories with connections to Abraham Lincoln, William Clarke Quantrill, Jesse James, John Brown, and many others. Don’t miss this opportunity to see how Elmwood history has significance to Kansas City, Missouri, and United States history. E-mail us or call 816.252.7454 for more information, or to schedule a speaking engagement.

h Meet Mathew Brady, Civil War Photographer. Thanks in large part to Mr. Brady, the we have available to us today a tremendous visual record of our nation’s greatest trial. The Civil War. Grant. Lee. Lincoln. He met them all, and he can tell you all about it. Come to listen to his fascinating stories about the early days of photography, and the behind the scenes tales of some of America's greatest portraits. This presentation is a special engagement available only on weeknights and weekends, and is scheduled directly with the presenter, Mark Armato. Additional fees may apply. Contact Armato at 816-734-1745 or by E-mail.

hAlexander Majors and the Santa Fe Trail. Meet Majors, one of the most colorful characters to travel on the Santa Fe Trail, as impersonated by Mark Armato. A successful businessman and pious Christian, Majors built a freighting empire while insisting that his employees refrain from cursing and other frontier vices. Come to listen to his rousing stories of the trail and he might even tell you the secret to his great success. This presentation is a special engagement available only on weeknights and weekends, and is scheduled directly with the presenter, Mark Armato. Additional fees may apply. Contact Armato at 816-734-1745 or by E-mail.

h Meet Jesse James! Who was Jesse really? Was he a hero and southern patriot or just a villain and a bandit? Jesse is getting ready to retire from his life of crime and is in the mood to tell a few stories. Come to listen to his tales of the Civil War and the outlaw trail and make up your own mind as to what kind of man he was. As interpreted by Mark Armato. This presentation is a special engagement available only on weeknights and weekends, and is scheduled directly with the presenter, Mark Armato. Additional fees may apply. Contact Armato at 816-734-1745 or by E-mail.

h Practical Preservation: Preserving Documents and Heirlooms: Discover simple, practical, and inexpensive steps you can take to preserve your family’s heirlooms, and how the Jackson County Historical Society works to preserve its rare and valuable 19^th and 20^th Century collections. A helpful 12-page booklet by the same title is also available. E-mail us or call 816.252.7454 for more information, or to schedule a speaking engagement.

hTales of Lewis and Clark. Meet John Shields one of the members of the Corps of Discovery. Like he says you won't see his name in the history books but he was with Lewis and Clark every step of the way, and he's got a few stories to tell. He'll tell you stories of loyal dogs and desperate men, the kind of stories the history books forgot. This presentation is a special engagement available only on weeknights and weekends, and is scheduled directly with the presenter, Mark Armato. Additional fees may apply. Contact Armato at 816-734-1745 or by E-mail.

h Connecting the Dots . . . Westport and the Shawnee Indian Mission. There were close ties between the early missionaries and teachers at the Mission with prominent Westport families, such as the McCoys, Wornalls, Chicks, Scarritts and Bernards. Help us connect the dots as our presenter relays interesting details about pioneer life on the frontier. E-mail us or call 816.252.7454 for more information, or to schedule a speaking engagement.

h Fast Facts About Jackson County Historical Society. Learn about the work of the nonprofit Jackson County Historical Society to see how a dedicated staff vigorously pursues its mission to collect, preserve, and promote the study, appreciation and interpretation of our local and regional history. E-mail us or call 816.252.7454 for more information, or to schedule a speaking engagement.

h A River Runs By It: The Story of Jackson County’s 175-Year History: Travel through time over more than 175 years of Jackson County history as you examine the challenging and triumphant events that residents have met and overcome. Enjoy a lively discussion about some highlights of our history from 1826 through to the present, and gain insights into the wealth of area history and heritage sites that are preserved for your enjoyment. An informative 16-page booklet by a similar title is also available. E-mail us or call 816.252.7454 for more information, or to schedule a speaking engagement.

h How to Research Your House’s History: Ever wanted to learn more about the house you live in, or the property you own? Unlock the door to a number of possibilities in this informative session. The presenter will share tips on what kinds of records are available at the Jackson County Historical Society’s Archives as well as other local government and archival repositories. A helpful 12-page booklet by the same title is also available. E-mail us or call 816.252.7454 for more information, or to schedule a speaking engagement.

h Kansas City Women of Independent Minds. They are recognizable Kansas City personalities. Some famous. Some infamous. Some more vividly remembered than others. Their influence was broad and varied. Some helped shape policy by participating in the political system, while others made their presence known in areas such as business, education, medicine, law, entertainment, volunteer work, sports, and philanthropy. They are "Kansas City Women of Independent Minds," as local historian and preservationist Jane Fifield Flynn called them. This presentation discusses the importance of collecting and preserving local history resources in the context of the women’s' history (or HERstory) collections of the Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society that Flynn, with the help of former Independence Mayor Barbara Potts, helped to invigorate in the early 1990s. Today, the Society boasts upwards of 80 collections about individual local women or women’s' organizations, a listing of which is posted on the Society's website at: www.jchs.org/archives/archhives.html Ã‚ E-mail us or call 816.252.7454 for more information, or to schedule a speaking engagement.

h Meet Jeremiah Piper, Civil War Soldier. Ever wonder what it was like to fight as a soldier in the Civil War? Well Jeremiah Piper can tell you all about it. Learn about his uniform, equipment, and experiences. He'll tell you the stories the history books leave out. This presentation is a special engagement available only on weeknights and weekends, and is scheduled directly with the presenter, Mark Armato. Additional fees may apply. Contact Armato at 816-734-1745 or by E-mail.

h Historic Preservation Laboratory, A Twenty-First Century History Experiment in Progress: Learn a little about the four components of a historic preservation program, and how the Jackson County Historical Society accomplishes its work in these four areas. E-mail us or call 816.252.7454 for more information, or to schedule a speaking engagement.

h Was it Murder? Re-Tracing Events Surrounding the Swope Murder Trial: It rocked a community and made headline news around the country. Â Retrace the events leading up to and surrounding the mysterious deaths that occurred in the Swope family. E-mail us or call 816.252.7454 for more information, or to schedule a speaking engagement.

hSongs and Stories of the Civil War. The Civil War produced a lot of memorable music and it can tell us a lot about that terrible time. Come to listen to Mark as he gets out his guitar and sings some of the well known and not so well known songs of the war. Be prepared to reflect, laugh and be moved by the songs and stories of those dark days. This presentation is a special engagement available only on weeknights and weekends, and is scheduled directly with the presenter, Mark Armato. Additional fees may apply. Contact Armato at 816-734-1745 or by E-mail.

hMeet Moses Hopkins, Continental Soldier of the American Revolutionary War. Are you looking for a great program for a Fourth of July event? Or maybe you would simply like to learn more about the American Revolution. Well Moses Hopkins can tell you all about what it was like to fight for America's independence. You will discover that the continental soldier was no summer soldier or sunshine patriot. Learn more about America's beginnings by someone who was there. This presentation is a special engagement available only on weeknights and weekends, and is scheduled directly with the presenter, Mark Armato. Additional fees may apply. Contact Armato at 816-734-1745 or by E-mail.

h How Jackson County's History Relates to American History: Each and every one of us with every thought and action are participating in local history. But how does local history relate--or even contribute to United States history that students read in textbooks? The vibrant history of Jackson County, Missouri, has been significantly impacting American history for nearly 200 years . . . from the trails that led people west to the Truman years. E-mail us or call 816.252.7454 for more information, or to schedule a speaking engagement.

h Jackson County Counts: Counting Our Stories One at a Time: Lean about the importance of recording your own memories and stories for future generations to learn from. This program is based on, and helps promote our campaign Jackson County Counts-Counting Our Stories One at a Time, that is designed to encourage individuals to document their own contributions to local history. E-mail us or call 816.252.7454 for more information, or to schedule a speaking engagement.

h Veteran’s History Project: Preserving Stories of Service for Future Generations: A one-hour workshop designed to teach individuals how to conduct oral history interviews of war veterans from World War I. World War II, and the Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf Wars. The Library of Congress and its American Folklife Center sponsor the Veteran’s History Project. The memories, accounts and documents of our local war veterans that are collected as part of the Veteran’s History Project will be preserved at the Jackson County Historical Society for future generations to learn from. Further, cataloging information will be added to the Library’s comprehensive, searchable national catalog of all oral histories and documents collected as part of the Veteran’s History Project. E-mail us or call 816.252.7454 for more information, or to schedule a speaking engagement.