Kansas 1972

Humanities Kansas
  • 4.8 (6)
  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Welcome to Kansas 1972. A lot happened during that pivotal year, including the founding of Humanities Kansas. In celebration of our 50th anniversary, we’ll be telling stories from that era of Kansas history. So tune in, chill out, and get the lowdown on Kansas 1972.

  1. 12/31/2022

    Voices of Vietnam Veterans

    After more than two decades of involvement in the conflict in Vietnam, on October 26, 1972, National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger declared, “peace is at hand.” A peace agreement was signed just a few months later, and US troops left Vietnam. This episode features stories from Kansans who served in the Vietnam War. What led these Kansans to serve? What did they experience during the war? How did they navigate the complicated reactions to their service when they returned home? How did their service affect their lives? And what can we learn from these Kansas veterans’ experiences today?

    51 min

  2. 12/29/2022

    Rattlebone Hollow

    Founded by Exodusters in the late 1800s, the story of Rattlebone Hollow has been mostly forgotten by Kansans. A thriving African-American community for the first part of the 20th century, Rattlebone Hollow was a neighborhood of black professionals, businesses, and homeowners. But decline set in, and in 1972, the US federal government was building a landfill in this Kansas City, KS neighborhood. Learn about the history of this important community and the five-decade fight against environmental discrimination from two individuals who are trying to keep the Rattlebone Hollow story alive.

    33 min

  3. 12/21/2022

    Urban Renewal on the Plains

    Urban renewal comes to Kansas and irrevocably altered historic communities. In a spotlight on Wichita, hear about the efforts of one woman to save the historic Calvary Baptist Church from demolition. Also, learn how the construction of I-135 in Wichita in the 1970s disrupted an African American community on the North side. And explore the contemporary Horizontes mural project, which uses socially engaged art to help heal the damage done by urban renewal to communities of color in Wichita.

    52 min

  4. 10/07/2022

    Kansas Through the Camera's Eye

    How did Kansas photographers in the early 1970s engage with Kansas and Kansans in their work? Terry Evans used her camera to capture the stories of Kansans, especially in rural spaces, who were experiencing the effects of social and economic change. And Gordon Parks used the camera’s perspective to work through his complicated relationship with his home state.

    50 min

  5. 08/27/2022

    Returning to Roots Music

    In the Fall of 1972, around 10,000 people descended on the Winfield, Kansas fairgrounds to enjoy a long weekend of camping, crafts, and bluegrass music. Fifty years later, the Walnut Valley Festival and National Flat-Picking Championships is still going strong. Learn about the origins of the festival, why the early 1970s was the right moment for the creation of this kind of event, the camp culture that has made the festival so unique, and the larger community created around Bluegrass.

    39 min

  6. 06/29/2022

    Decision 1972

    Explore the election year 1972 in Kansas. Republican President Nixon won re-election by a landslide, including carrying every single county in Kansas. Hear about the connection between the Catholic Volga German community, a noted Democratic political strategist from Ellis County, and the 1972 governor's race. 1972 also saw the re-election of the controversial, and popular, Kansas attorney general Vern Miller. What does the "folklore" surrounding Miller make us miss about his larger legacy?

    52 min

  7. 05/25/2022

    To the Stars!

    Outer space was on the minds of Kansans in 1972. Kansas astronaut Ron Evans journeyed to the moon on the Apollo 17 mission. Western Kansas was being considered for the new Space Shuttle launch site, and some locals did not like that idea. And the state was a hotbed of UFO sightings, including notable encounters in Dighton and Delphos. (Note: Segment 2 starts at 0:19:20 and segment 3 starts at 0:36:02)

    1h 5m

  8. 04/29/2022

    Only You - Mini Episode

    Did you know that Smokey Bear has a Kansas connection? Learn about the origins of this beloved character and the Kansas roots of his illustrator, Rudy Wendelin. Along the way, we’ll discuss New Deal public works programs, fears about Nazi spies during WWII, the environmental movement, and a mural in Rawlins County, Kansas.

    18 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Welcome to Kansas 1972. A lot happened during that pivotal year, including the founding of Humanities Kansas. In celebration of our 50th anniversary, we’ll be telling stories from that era of Kansas history. So tune in, chill out, and get the lowdown on Kansas 1972.

Information

  • Creator
    Humanities Kansas
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023 Kansas 1972
  • Show Website
    Kansas 1972