Kansas 1972: Uprooted

Urban renewal comes to Kansas and irrevocably alters 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.

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Archival Audio Sources

• The City: Time of Decision, USIA (1967)
• This is Wichita, radio show, Dec. 4, 1941 episode
• Spaces to Live, National Instructional Television (1971)
• Give Yourself the Green Light, General Motors (1954)
• No Time for Ugliness, American Institute of Architects (1965)

Primary Sources

• The Wichita Eagle, “Lay Cornerstone Calvary Baptist,” Nov. 11, 1917, pg. 13.
• The Wichita Beacon, “Black Museum Her Dream, Red Tape Her Nightmare,” Nov. 8, 1973, pg. 34
• The Wichita Beacon, “Dream Church Plans Advance,” Jan. 25, 1974, pg. 26.
• The Wichita Beacon, “Guest Editorial by Doris Kerr Larkins: A Brithday Present,” July 20, 1975, pg. 39.
• The Wichita Eagle, “Calvary Baptist Tagged Historic,” Oct. 21, 1976, pg. 27.
• The Wichita Beacon, “Editorial: Black culture landmarked,” December 29, 1978, pg. 4.
• National Register of Historic Places Registration Form for Calvary Baptist Church, Aug. 27, 1988.
• The Wichita Beacon, “Construction Scars Mark Slow Canal Route Progress Toward Distrant 1977 Finish Date,” Oct. 13, 1971, pg. 4.
• The Wichita Eagle, “City Seeks Meeting on I-35W Revision,” April 5, 1972, pg. 5.
• The Wichita Eagle, “Canal Route Plan Approved, Park’s Facilities Will Be Replaced,” Aug. 9, 1972, pg. 11.
• North End Industrial Study, Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Commission, Sept. 1959.

Secondary Sources

• The Kansas African American Museum website
• Judith R, Johnson and Craig L. Torbenson, “Stories from the Heartland” African American Experiences in Wichita, Kansas,” Kansas History, Winter 1998/1999. US Department of Transportation, Beyond Traffic: 2045 Final Report, January 9, 2017
• Horizontes project website
• The Color Line exhibit at TKAAM
• KMUW, “To Paint A Mural: Horizontes Porject Helps North Wichitans See In Color,” January 25, 2019.
• The Inclusive Historian’s Handbook, “Urban Renewal,” Nov. 12, 2019.

Interviews

• Denise Sherman - Executive Director of the Kansas African American Museum
• Robert Weems, Jr. - Garvey Distinguished Professor of Business History at Wichita State University
• Armando Minjarez - Multi-discplinary artist, community organizer, and director of the Horizontes project

Music

• Podington Bear

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