Articles

Any Activisim Arts Business Community Education Healthcare Introduction Military Music Politics Sports

NEW!

portrait of man in suit

Henry Perry

Henry Perry, known as the Barbecue King of Kansas City, was born in Tennessee in 1875. He learned to barbecue as a cook on Mississippi River steamships. Like many Black southerners who moved north during the Great Migration in search of better opportunities, he traveled through several Midwestern cities before settling in Kansas City in 1907.

NEW!

portrait of man standing

Henry V. Plummer

Henry Vinton Plummer settled in Kansas City later in life, where he became a respected pastor known for speaking out against racism and supporting Black rights. Plummer was born into slavery in Maryland on July 30, 1844. When he was 18, during the height of the Civil War, he escaped and joined the U.S. Navy. After the war, Plummer married Julia Lomax, and in 1872, enrolled at Wayland Seminary in Washington, D.C. After graduating, he served as pastor at St. Paul Baptist Church in Bladensburg, Maryland, and later at Mount Carmel Church in Washington, D.C.

NEW!

portrait of man taken outside

John Lennis Preciphs

Rev. John Lennis Preciphs was a minister and community organizer who was active in the local civil rights struggle for over 25 years.

Samuel W. Bacote

Samuel W. Bacote

The son of former slaves, Samuel W. Bacote in 1895 became pastor of Second Baptist Church, one of Kansas City’s oldest and largest African American congregations.

Mary Groves Bland

Mary Groves Bland

For more than two decades in the Missouri State Legislature as a Democratic representative, Mary Groves Bland was an advocate for the rights of minorities and a champion of equality and social justice.

G. Lawrence Blankinship Sr.

G. Lawrence Blankinship Sr.

One of Kansas City’s best-known Black businessmen, G. Lawrence Blankinship Sr. was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in 1913 and moved to Kansas City as a teenager.

Girard T. Bryant

Girard T. Bryant

Longtime teacher and administrator Girard T. Bryant was the first African American to serve as president of Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City, Missouri.

Portrait of Jeremiah Cameron

Jeremiah Cameron

A champion of education and literacy, Dr. Jeremiah Cameron dedicated his life to a teaching career that spanned nearly 50 years. Cameron was born in the 18th and Highland block of Kansas City’s east side, where he first attended school at Attucks Elementary.

R.T. Coles

R.T. Coles

Richard Thomas Coles was an educator who focused on teaching manual arts — practical, job-related skills — to his students. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1859 to parents who instilled the value of education.

NEW!

portrait of man in suit

Henry Perry

Henry Perry, known as the Barbecue King of Kansas City, was born in Tennessee in 1875. He learned to barbecue as a cook on Mississippi River steamships. Like many Black southerners who moved north during the Great Migration in search of better opportunities, he traveled through several Midwestern cities before settling in Kansas City in 1907.

NEW!

portrait of man standing

Henry V. Plummer

Henry Vinton Plummer settled in Kansas City later in life, where he became a respected pastor known for speaking out against racism and supporting Black rights. Plummer was born into slavery in Maryland on July 30, 1844. When he was 18, during the height of the Civil War, he escaped and joined the U.S. Navy. After the war, Plummer married Julia Lomax, and in 1872, enrolled at Wayland Seminary in Washington, D.C. After graduating, he served as pastor at St. Paul Baptist Church in Bladensburg, Maryland, and later at Mount Carmel Church in Washington, D.C.

NEW!

portrait of man taken outside

John Lennis Preciphs

Rev. John Lennis Preciphs was a minister and community organizer who was active in the local civil rights struggle for over 25 years.

Samuel W. Bacote

Samuel W. Bacote

The son of former slaves, Samuel W. Bacote in 1895 became pastor of Second Baptist Church, one of Kansas City’s oldest and largest African American congregations.

Mary Groves Bland

Mary Groves Bland

For more than two decades in the Missouri State Legislature as a Democratic representative, Mary Groves Bland was an advocate for the rights of minorities and a champion of equality and social justice.

G. Lawrence Blankinship Sr.

G. Lawrence Blankinship Sr.

One of Kansas City’s best-known Black businessmen, G. Lawrence Blankinship Sr. was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in 1913 and moved to Kansas City as a teenager.

Girard T. Bryant

Girard T. Bryant

Longtime teacher and administrator Girard T. Bryant was the first African American to serve as president of Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City, Missouri.

Portrait of Jeremiah Cameron

Jeremiah Cameron

A champion of education and literacy, Dr. Jeremiah Cameron dedicated his life to a teaching career that spanned nearly 50 years. Cameron was born in the 18th and Highland block of Kansas City’s east side, where he first attended school at Attucks Elementary.

R.T. Coles

R.T. Coles

Richard Thomas Coles was an educator who focused on teaching manual arts — practical, job-related skills — to his students. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1859 to parents who instilled the value of education.

Hugh O. Cook

Hugh O. Cook

Hugh O. Cook, one of the longest-serving principals of Lincoln High School in Kansas City, Missouri, was born in Washington, D.C., graduated from Cornell University, and taught at Normal A&M College in Huntsville, Alabama.

Minnie Lee Crosthwaite

Minnie Lee Crosthwaite

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.

Phillip B. Curls Sr.

Phillip B. Curls Sr.

Longtime Missouri legislator and political activist Phil Curls Sr. worked tirelessly to bring positive change to the lives of his Black constituents.

Aaron Douglas

Aaron Douglas

Known as the “Father of African American Arts,” Aaron Douglas was born in Topeka, Kansas, and developed an interest in drawing and painting at an early age.

portrait of Chester Arthur and Ada Crogman Franklin

Chester Arthur and Ada Crogman Franklin

By the time Chester Franklin arrived in Kansas City in 1913, he was well experienced in the newspaper business.

NEW!

portrait of man in suit

Henry Perry

Henry Perry, known as the Barbecue King of Kansas City, was born in Tennessee in 1875. He learned to barbecue as a cook on Mississippi River steamships. Like many Black southerners who moved north during the Great Migration in search of better opportunities, he traveled through several Midwestern cities before settling in Kansas City in 1907.

NEW!

portrait of man standing

Henry V. Plummer

Henry Vinton Plummer settled in Kansas City later in life, where he became a respected pastor known for speaking out against racism and supporting Black rights. Plummer was born into slavery in Maryland on July 30, 1844. When he was 18, during the height of the Civil War, he escaped and joined the U.S. Navy. After the war, Plummer married Julia Lomax, and in 1872, enrolled at Wayland Seminary in Washington, D.C. After graduating, he served as pastor at St. Paul Baptist Church in Bladensburg, Maryland, and later at Mount Carmel Church in Washington, D.C.

NEW!

portrait of man taken outside

John Lennis Preciphs

Rev. John Lennis Preciphs was a minister and community organizer who was active in the local civil rights struggle for over 25 years.

Samuel W. Bacote

Samuel W. Bacote

The son of former slaves, Samuel W. Bacote in 1895 became pastor of Second Baptist Church, one of Kansas City’s oldest and largest African American congregations.

Mary Groves Bland

Mary Groves Bland

For more than two decades in the Missouri State Legislature as a Democratic representative, Mary Groves Bland was an advocate for the rights of minorities and a champion of equality and social justice.

G. Lawrence Blankinship Sr.

G. Lawrence Blankinship Sr.

One of Kansas City’s best-known Black businessmen, G. Lawrence Blankinship Sr. was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in 1913 and moved to Kansas City as a teenager.

Girard T. Bryant

Girard T. Bryant

Longtime teacher and administrator Girard T. Bryant was the first African American to serve as president of Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City, Missouri.

Portrait of Jeremiah Cameron

Jeremiah Cameron

A champion of education and literacy, Dr. Jeremiah Cameron dedicated his life to a teaching career that spanned nearly 50 years. Cameron was born in the 18th and Highland block of Kansas City’s east side, where he first attended school at Attucks Elementary.

R.T. Coles

R.T. Coles

Richard Thomas Coles was an educator who focused on teaching manual arts — practical, job-related skills — to his students. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1859 to parents who instilled the value of education.

Hugh O. Cook

Hugh O. Cook

Hugh O. Cook, one of the longest-serving principals of Lincoln High School in Kansas City, Missouri, was born in Washington, D.C., graduated from Cornell University, and taught at Normal A&M College in Huntsville, Alabama.

Minnie Lee Crosthwaite

Minnie Lee Crosthwaite

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.

Phillip B. Curls Sr.

Phillip B. Curls Sr.

Longtime Missouri legislator and political activist Phil Curls Sr. worked tirelessly to bring positive change to the lives of his Black constituents.

Aaron Douglas

Aaron Douglas

Known as the “Father of African American Arts,” Aaron Douglas was born in Topeka, Kansas, and developed an interest in drawing and painting at an early age.

portrait of Chester Arthur and Ada Crogman Franklin

Chester Arthur and Ada Crogman Franklin

By the time Chester Franklin arrived in Kansas City in 1913, he was well experienced in the newspaper business.

Daniel Arthur Holmes

Daniel Arthur Holmes

Holmes was the pastor at Paseo Baptist Church for 46 years and used his role in the community to advocate for better conditions for local African Americans.

Herman & Dorothy Johnson

Herman & Dorothy Johnson

Herman and Dorothy Johnson achieved success in numerous endeavors while contributing to institutions and causes that strengthened the social and economic interests of the African American community.

Gertrude Keith

Gertrude Keith

Gertrude Keith worked for many years to ensure that Kansas City’s disadvantaged residents had access to safe and affordable housing.

Fannie L. Meek

Fannie L. Meek

As the founder and operator of Mrs. Meek’s Mortuary — recognizable for its pink limousines and building facade — Fannie L. Meek was a trailblazer, one of the few women of her time to go into the funeral business.