Welcome to the Jackson County Historical Society e-Journal
Since 2020, the JCHS e-Journal arrives monthly to our subscribers inboxes. Under the direction of Brad Pace, editor, our Publications Committee is actively engaged in bringing new content to our readers monthly. The Jackson County Historical Society e-Journal ranges broadly over time and thematic focus while maintaining a pledge to share minority voices and forgotten Jackson County stories.
Submissions
The Jackson County Historical Society welcomes submissions for publication in our e-Journal. Articles, both academic and non-academic, pertaining to any aspect of Jackson County, Missouri history are actively solicited. For a submission guide, or to discuss a project, please email journal@jchs.org
Old Cars - and Memories
Summer traditionally signals the start of vacation season, when thousands take to the highways for the great American road-trip. While today we complain about the state of the nation’s highways, one hundred years ago road-trippers endured privations hard for us to imagine. What follows is an article which first appeared in the JCHS Journal in August of 1976, describing cross-country “brass era” motoring.
This account of pre-superhighway auto travel in the early part of the century is written by Beatrice Morse Washburn, wife of a past Society president, Edward S. Washburn.
Recalling ‘Cactus’ Jack Call, the Man Patsy Cline Came to KC to Honor
While the story of singer Patsy Cline is largely centered in Nashville, the country music capital, Jackson County – specifically, Independence – played a melancholy role in Cline’s 1963 death in an airplane crash in Tennessee. The January death of an Independence country music disc jockey from injuries sustained in two-vehicle collision near U.S. 40 and Sterling Avenue brought Cline to Kansas City several weeks later. What happened then – as well as during the decades since – continues to resonate with the late disc jockey’s two sons.
Recalling ‘Cactus’ Jack Call, the Man Patsy Cline Came to KC to Honor
Umpires Weren’t Safe in Old KC
Calling balls and strikes continues to represent challenging work for baseball umpires, but conditions have improved in Kansas City, where fans attending games in the late 19th century sometimes brought their guns with them, making umpires – as well as league investors – nervous. As the Kansas City Royals open their 2021 season, the E-Journal presents the following article by Pat O’Neill and Tom Coffman, local authors of the forthcoming book, “Ted Sullivan, Barnacle of Baseball: The Life of the Prolific League Founder, Scout, Manager and Unrivaled Huckster.”
Alexander Doniphan Goes to Court
This article is reprinted with permission from the new book The Will of Missouri: The Life, Times and Influence of Alexander Doniphan. The book was a community history project organized by the Alexander Doniphan Committee and published by Woodneath Press, an imprint of the Mid-Continent Public Library. The book contains articles and contributions from 18 contributors exploring Doniphan’s life and influence and was endorsed by the State Historical Society of Missouri as one of the many projects to help celebrate Missouri’s 2021 Bicentennial.
Kansas City Black History
Our latest E-Journal article was written by Joe Roberston with the Local Investment Commission and describes a new 44-page digital and print publication Kansas City Black History: The African American story of history and culture in our community. The project shares the stories of over 70 African Americans from the Kansas City region who have passed along with current essays including one from Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Quinton Lucas.
King in Kansas City
In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday observance, the e-Journal focuses on the six visits King made to Kansas City from 1957 to 1968.
Photo courtesy of the Kansas Historical Society
Old Railroad Depots of Independence
We will periodically republish classic articles pulled from the archives. We hope you will enjoy this article, Old Rail Depots in Independence, which was originally published in the April-May-June issue of 1982.
Great Taste: A Remembrance of Virginia Jennings Nadeau
The former JCHS president lived a life full of "creativity, intelligence and grace." We are grateful to share this telling of her story by Brent Schondelmeyer.
Fans Tip Their Cap to Celebrate Negro Leagues Centennial
The JCHS E-Journal explores how the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is recognizing their centennial despite the challenge of COVID-19. Read about how fans are tipping their cap to celebrate this historic event.
FANS TIP THEIR CAP TO CELEBRATE NEGRO LEAGUES CENTENNIAL
Photo courtesy the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
THE 1918 KANSAS CITY INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC
Just like today, Jackson Countians roughly 100 years ago were wearing masks and working from home. In this latest edition of the JCHS E-Journal we're featuring an article that originally appeared in the Missouri Historical Review in 1968. Writer Kevin McShane explores how Kansas City coped with the great influenza of 1918. Lessons learned 100 years ago can help guide our way today.
FOR BIRD’S 100TH, A BIBLIOPHILE’S GUIDE TO BIG-HEARTED BOOKS
A review of three books that tell the life of Kansas City Jazz Musician Charlie Parker.
FOR BIRD’S 100TH, A BIBLIOPHILE’S GUIDE TO BIG-HEARTED BOOKS
One Hundred Years of Bird: Kansas City Celebrates Charlie Parker Centennial