Kansas Alliance of Professional Historic Performers

First Person Portrayals
To book one of these historical characters, please contact the individual directly to discuss event details and honorarium.

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Ann Birney - Ann is an independent scholar of American Studies and co-director of Ride Into History.

2886 N. Hwy 99
Admire KS 66830-9171 620/528-3580 (h); ridehist@satelephone.com

Amelia Earhart, First Lady of the Air (1897-1937)
She was the most famous woman of her day, a daring pilot whose aviation firsts made her a media idol and a symbol of what women could accomplish in a man’s world. On the eve of her attempt to fly around the globe, Earhart speaks candidly about her Kansas childhood, her love of flying, and her ambivalence toward fame.
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Diane Eickhoff - Diane recently completed a biography on Nichols.

3808 Genessee St.
Kansas City MO 64111-3924 816/561-6693 (h); diane@tvbarn.com

Clarina Nichols, Freedom Fighter (1810-1885)
Clarina Nichols came to Kansas Territory in 1854 determined to keep out both slavery and whiskey and bring in rights for women. Speaking out at the Wyandotte Constitutional Convention, she convinced members to include rights for Kansas women that were far in advance of most states. Nichols shares her personal story as a single mother, farmer, editor, lay doctor, co-founder of an integrated school, and Underground Railroad conductor.
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Frederick A. Krebs - Fred teaches American history at Johnson County Community College.

8520 W. 61st St.
Merriam KS 66202-2935 913/677-4419 (h); 913/469-8500 x3982 (w); fkrebs@jccc.edu

L. Frank Baum, Royal Historian of Oz (1856-1919)
Lyman Frank Baum was born in New York, a timid, shy, and sickly child. In his teenage years he began writing, finding a natural affinity to storytelling. Married to Maud Gage, daughter of feminist Matilda Joslyn Gage, Baum is remembered best for authoring The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, a tale originally told to his children. Join Baum as he reminisces about Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, Toto, and the characters we’ve all come to know by heart.
Stephen A. Douglas, Senator (1813-1861)
A U. S. Senator from Illinois and author of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, Douglas’s debates with Abraham Lincoln on the extension of slavery to the territories electrified the nation. Find out from Senator Douglas about his views about slavery, popular sovereignty, and Lincoln.
Benjamin Franklin, Founding Father (1706-1790)
America’s greatest statesman was also a brilliant scientist, an inventor, a ladies’ man, and one of the richest businessmen of his day, though he started life as a runaway printer’s apprentice. Franklin’s wit and wisdom will enchant audiences as he recalls the excitement and turmoil that swirled around the founding of our nation.
William Allen White, Sage of Emporia (1868-1944)
White enjoyed a national spotlight as he molded public opinion with his books, stories, and editorials in the Emporia Gazette. A Republican party leader, White knew Teddy Roosevelt and Alf Landon, and even ran for Kansas governor himself. Come enjoy the small-town philosopher and editor as he reflects on politics and his remarkable life.
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Joyce Thierer - Joyce teaches history at Emporia State University and is co-director of Ride Into History

2886 N. Hwy 99.
Admire KS 66830-9171 620/528-3580 (h); ridehist@satelephone.com

Calamity Jane, Wild West Legend (1852-1903)
By the time the frontier closed in 1892, “Calamity Jane” had become a legend in her own time, the heroine of pulp fiction and the star of the Wild West shows. Hear her amazing story in her own words: how she learned to shoot and ride, the daughter she gave up for adoption, and her reaction to the many myths spun around her name.
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Phillip D. Thomas - Phillip has broad interests in the history of science, art, and the West.

7104 E. 17th St.
Wichita KS 67206-1034 316/687-5029 (h); 316/978-3150 (w); thomastrac@aol.com

C. J. “Buffalo” Jones, Buffalo Hunter (1844-1919)
In the 1860s, many farmers, ranchers, railroad companies, and townbuilders saw the buffalo as in the way of progress. Professional hunters and sportsmen hunted the buffalo not only for food but for the money they could make selling hides and bones. So few were left that Jones, originally a hunter, started his own herd, selling buffalo to zoos and parks. Enjoy this tale of adventure as Jones talks about the buffalo hunts, his change of heart, and the founding of Garden City.
Theodore Roosevelt, President (1858-1919)
The life and career of the nation’s 26th president has been frequently chronicled. He led America in developing policies to preserve the natural heritage of America. Less well known is the role the west and Kansas (and Kansans) played in his life. Engage President Roosevelt in a discussion about his views on the Sunflower state and the importance of the natural world.
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Doug Watson - Doug teaches literature at Oklahoma Baptist University.

46 Serenada
Shawnee OK 74804-3308 405/275-0235 (h); 405/878-2202 (w); doug.kay.watson@sbcglobal.net

Will Rogers, Humorist (1879-1935)
Will Rogers was America’s most beloved humorist, reaching millions with his radio show and newspaper columns. As a cowboy and trick ropester, he starred in Wild West shows, vaudeville, and movies. Meet Rogers as he offers his commentary on the social and political issues of the day with the gentle humor that Americans adored.
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Carmaletta M. Williams - Carmaletta teaches English at Johnson County Community College.

13244 Park Hills Dr.
Grandview MO 64030-3582 816/763-9466 (h); cwilliam@jccc.net

Zora Neale Hurston, Queen of the Harlem Renaissance (1891-1960)
Flamboyant and outspoken, Hurston joined Langston Hughes and other Black writers in Harlem to create a renaissance of African American culture in the 1920s. Her work was forgotten until the 1970s, when she inspired a new generation of Black writers. Hurston shares her stories, her life’s joys and tragedies, in this dynamic presentation. Carmaletta teaches English at Johnson County Community College.
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William S. Worley - Bill teaches history.

3627 Locust St.
Kansas City MO 64109-2625 816/531-6746; kcbillsw@aol.com

August Bondi, Soldier and Settler (1833-1907)
Bondi came to the United States from Austria, finding his way to Kansas Territory. He rode with John Brown and served in the Union Army. After settling in Saline County, he farmed, operated a store, and served as Postmaster. Bondi offers a rare look into the settlement of Kansas by Jewish families and the unique challenges they faced.
James Naismith, Inventor of Basketball (1861-1939)
In 1891, Naismith invented basketball as a class assignment at the YMCA Training School in Springfield, MA. After completing his medical degree, he came to Lawrence in 1898 to serve as the college chaplain and physical education professor for the University of Kansas. Popularized through the “Y” network across North America and Europe, basketball quickly became Naismith’s legacy. Come and enjoy listening to this Canada-born professor talk about his invention.
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This site was created in 2003 by the Kansas Alliance of Professional Historic Performers and Ride into History Cultural and Educational Project, Inc. with an Attraction Development Grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing Travel & Tourism Development Division

Original site concept and development by Danny C. Boyce Computer and Network Support and Consulting, Emporia Kansas

Significant revision by G R Dobbs 6/6/2007
retaining much of the original design concept

Revisions and Layout Updates in 2008 were made by Megan Matile