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The Local Investment Commission (LINC) Produced Black History Month The Local Investment Commission (LINC) produced this set of educational posters in partnership with The Kansas City Public Library and The Black Archives of Mid-America, with contributions from The State Historical Soci- ety of Missouri; Kansas Collection, Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas Libraries; and The Kansas City Star. The poster set celebrates and sup- ports Black History Month from a local perspective. The seven individuals included in this series are notable for their contributions to the Kansas City community. Through immense effort and determination, each reached the top of his or her field and paved the way for the accomplishments of later generations. For more information about these and other well-known Kansas Citians, visit the Missouri Valley Room at Central Library, 14 W. 10th St. Tom Bass (1859-1934) Bass left an important legacy in Kansas City as the founder of the American Royal Horse Show, a tradi- tion that continues today. He was born into slavery in Columbia, Missouri, but after the Civil War, Bass used his abilities with horses to become a well-known trainer and showman. During his life he performed for five United States presidents and Queen Marie of Romania, and won over 2,000 blue ribbons. Minnie Lee Crosthwaite (1872-1963) Crosthwaite was one of the first African American social workers in Kansas City and spent decades working to improve health care for the local black community. Though she had already taught public school, raised a fam- ily, and owned two businesses, in middle age Crosthwaite began working at Wheatley-Provident Hospital at 18th and Forest Streets, established in 1910 specifically for African Americans. As president of the Hospital Auxiliary, Crosthwaite led an immensely suc- cessful annual fashion show that attracted thousands of people and raised money for the hospital. Daniel Arthur Holmes (1876-1972) Holmes was the pastor at Paseo Baptist Church for 46 years and used his role in the commu- nity to advocate for better conditions for local African Americans. Holmes’s parents were former slaves, but he was able to earn degrees from three colleges and become one of the most respected leaders in Kansas City. Holmes worked to integrate the Univer- sity of Missouri-Columbia and won the battle to build a new Lincoln High School at 21st and Woodland Streets. Leon Jordan (1905-1970) & Orchid Jordan (1910-1995) The Jordans worked throughout their careers to expand the influence of African American voters and to increase the number of black candidates for political office. Leon Jordan served the Kansas City Police Department for 16 years, and in 1947 left for Liberia, where he organized a national police force. In 1962, Leon Jordan co- founded Freedom Inc., a political club that championed black participation in local politics. He was elected to three terms in the Missouri House of Representatives, an office Orchid Jordan filled after her husband was killed in 1970. Lucile H. Bluford (1911-2003) Bluford served as editor of The Kansas City Call for nearly 50 years and played an important role in the major civil rights battles of the 20th century. Her fight to enter the graduate program in journalism at the University of Mis- souri-Columbia in the 1930s and 1940s helped integrate higher education. Known as “Miss Bluford,” her editorials in The Call sharply criticized discrimination, mourned the loss of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., and supported the election of Afri- can American politicians. Horace M. Peterson III (1945-1992) Peterson was best known for establishing the Black Archives of Mid-America in Kansas City’s 18th and Vine District. He moved to Kansas City from Tulsa, Oklahoma, as a child and graduated from Central High School. His interest in African American culture and reputation as a historian allowed him to collect materials for the archives, which con- tinue to serve the Kansas City community today. Collections include photographs and artifacts from former slaves, the Buffalo Soldiers, and choreographer Alvin Ailey. Black History Month Tom Bass (1859-1934) Bass left an important legacy in Kansas City as the founder of the American Royal Horse Show, a tradition that continues today. He was born into slavery in Columbia, Missouri, but after the Civil War, Bass used his abilities with horses to become a well-known trainer and showman. During his life he performed for five United States presidents and Queen Marie of Romania, and won over 2,000 blue ribbons. Image courtesy: State Historical Society of Missouri LINC Local Investment Commission www.kclinc.org B lack History Black Month Lucile H. Bluford (1911-2003) Bluford served as editor of of editor as served Bluford The important Kansasan played and years City50 Callnearly for role in the major civil rights battles of the 20th century. Her fight to enter the graduate program program graduate the enter to fight Her century. 20th the of battles rights civil major the in role in journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia in the 1930s and 1940s helped integrate integrate helped 1940s and 1930s the in Missouri-Columbia of University the at journalism in higher education. Known as “Miss Bluford,” her editorials in in editorials her Bluford,” “Miss Known as education. higher Thecriticized Call sharply discrimination, mourned the loss of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., and supported the the supported and Jr., King, Luther Martin leader rights civil of loss the mourned discrimination, election of African American politicians. American African of election Image courtesy: Kansas Collection, Spencer Research Library, University of KansasLibraries of University SpencerResearchLibrary, KansasCollection, Imagecourtesy: LINC Local Investment Commission Investment Local www.kclinc.org B lack History Black Month Minnie Lee Crosthwaite (1872-1963) Crosthwaite was one of the first African American social workers in Kansas City and spent decades decades spent and City Kansas in workers social American African first the of one was Crosthwaite working to improve health care for the local black community. Though she had already taught public public taught already had she Though community. black local the for care health improve to working school, raised a family, and owned two businesses, in middle age Crosthwaite began working at at working began Crosthwaite age middle in businesses, two owned and family, a raised school, W heatley-Provident Hospital at 18th and Forest Streets, established in 1910 specifically for African African for specifically 1910 in established Streets, Forest and 18th at Hospital Wheatley-Provident Americans. As president of the Hospital Auxiliary, Crosthwaite led an immensely successful annual annual successful immensely an led Crosthwaite Auxiliary, Hospital the of president As Americans. fashion show that attracted thousands of people and raised money for the hospital. the for money raised and people of thousands attracted that show fashion Image courtesy: The Black Archives of Mid-America of Archives TheBlack Imagecourtesy: LINC Local Investment Commission Investment Local www.kclinc.org B lack History Black Month Daniel Arthur Holmes (1876-1972) Holmes was the pastor at Paseo Baptist Church for 46 years and used his role in the community the in role his used and years 46 for Church Baptist Paseo at pastor the was Holmes to advocate for better conditions for local African Americans. Holmes’s parents were former former were parents Holmes’s Americans. African local for conditions better for advocate to slaves, but he was able to earn degrees from three colleges and become one of the most respected respected most the of one become and colleges three from degrees earn to able was he but slaves, leaders in Kansas City. Holmes worked to integrate the University of Missouri-Columbia and and Missouri-Columbia of University the integrate to worked Holmes City. Kansas in leaders won the battle to build a new Lincoln High School at 21st and Woodland Streets. Streets. Woodland and 21st at School High Lincoln new a build to battle the won Image courtesy: The Kansas City Star/Times TheKansasCity Imagecourtesy: LINC Local Investment Commission Investment Local www.kclinc.org B lack History Black Month Leon Jordan Orchid Jordan (1905-1970) (1910-1995) The Jordans worked throughout their careers to expand the influence of African American voters voters American African of influence the expand to careers their throughout worked Jordans The and to increase the number of black candidates for political office. Leon Jordan served the Kansas Kansas the served Jordan Leon office. political for candidates black of number the increase to and City Police Department for 16 years, and in 1947 left for Liberia, where he organized a national national a organized he where Liberia, for left 1947 in and years, 16 for Department Police City police force. In 1962, Leon Jordan co-founded Freedom Inc., a political club that championed championed that club political a Inc., Freedom co-founded Jordan Leon 1962, In force. police black participation in local politics. He was elected to three terms in the Missouri House of of House Missouri the in terms three to elected was He politics. local in participation black Representatives, an office Orchid Jordan filled after her husband was killed in 1970. in killed was husband her after filled Jordan Orchid office an Representatives, Images courtesy: The Kansas City Star/Times TheKansasCity Imagescourtesy: LINC Local Investment Commission Investment Local www.kclinc.org B lack History Black Month Horace M. Peterson III (1945-1992) Peterson was best known for establishing the Black Archives of Mid-America in Kansas City’s City’s Kansas in Mid-America of Archives Black the establishing for known best was Peterson 18th and Vine District. He moved to Kansas City from Tulsa, Oklahoma, as a child and graduated graduated and child a as Oklahoma, Tulsa, from City Kansas to movedHe District.
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