History Time

A Newsletter for Kansas Educators

March 2025

Make and Take: Class Quilt

Quilting is a significant aspect of women’s history. It was often a social activity for women and served as a creative outlet and source of pride. Many women worked together to create patchwork quilts. Have students create their own patchwork quilt with this fun class activity. Students will create their own quilt blocks, later joining them to create one large patchwork quilt. Utilize this activity as an opportunity to learn about the history and tradition of quilting in Kansas.

Standards Based Lesson:

Famous Kansans

Standard #3: Societies are shaped by the identities, beliefs, and practices of individuals and groups

This fourth grade lesson is designed to develop students' abilities in writing persuasive text. Students will read biography cards on several famous Kansans and write a persuasive nomination for an individual to be included in a Hall of Fame. This lesson is designed to take four days to complete, but can be adjusted according to your classroom needs. Suggestions for extended activities are also included.

New Rebel Women Mural:

Kansas State Capitol

The Kansas State Capitol recently held a dedication ceremony for its newest mural, Rebel Women. This painting, created by artist Phyllis J. Garibay-Coon of Manhattan, highlights 13 Kansas women who played integral roles in advancing women’s rights in the state. The mural features a banner with the state amendment passed by voters in 1912, “The rights of the citizens of the State of Kansas to vote and hold offices shall not be denied or abridged on account of sex”. Sign up for a guided tour at the Kansas State Capitol to learn more about Rebel Women and other historic murals.

Upward to Equality:

Kansas Women Fight to Vote

This virtual tour highlights a previous special exhibit "Upward to Equality: Kansas Women Fight to Vote," honoring the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment. For Kansas women the path towards suffrage was incremental. Women like Clarina Nichols brought the topics of women's rights into the constitutional conventions and helped ensure that Kansas women had opportunities other women in the nation did not. Women's organizations continued to push for the vote. When they gained the right to vote in municipal elections, Kansas elected the first woman mayor in the nation, and all women city councils. The journey was an experience of successes, failures, and eventually the success that made Kansas the eighth state to provide full voting rights for women.

Meet Our Staff: Mia Santarelli,

Tour & Volunteer Coordinator

Mia Santarelli is the new Tour & Volunteer Coordinator at the Kansas Museum of History. Moving from Wisconsin, Kansas very quickly felt like home. She earned her B.A. in Italian Language from the University of Kansas, and followed her curiosity about history to Savannah, Georgia, where she completed her M.A. in Art History. Eager to continue exploring the stories that have shaped the history of Kansas, Mia is excited to be a part of the team at the museum. She is also interested in learning more about the development of architectural styles, and how people throughout time implemented unique ideas that influenced the visual history of Kansas. When she is not traveling, Mia enjoys cooking, taking photographs of landscapes, listening to podcasts, and creating meaningful connections with those around her.

Don't Forget!

State Historic Sites now have free admission! Look for one in your area. Call ahead as some are only open seasonally.

Read Kansas! lessons are available free of charge for primary, intermediate, middle, and high school students while supplies last.

A variety of virtual tours, videos, and Nearpod lessons are available to use in your classroom. 

Traveling resource trunks are available to borrow. Reserve one now for the school year.

The Kansas Museum of History is closed for renovations. Although the museum is not available for field trips, our staff is here for you.

Zephyr, our newest publication, provides information on events, programs, updates on the museum renovation, and highlights a variety of state historic sites.