Nicodemus, kansas erica taylor, the tom joyner morning show nicodemus, kansas is a small community in north central kansas, named after an escaped slave who bought his way to freedom. This photograph, taken in nicodemus, kansas, during the early immortalizes from left farmers perry and america bates and their children, james and martha. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. Nicodemus national historic site 2020 all you need to. Inspired by the true story of nicodemus, kansas, a town founded in the late 1870s by exodustersformer slaves leaving the jim crow south in search of a new beginningthis fictional story follows dede and her parents as they set out to stake and secure a claim, finally allowing them to have a home to call their own. By 1880 the number of blacks living in kansas had increased to 43,107.
We have as yet no true critical edition of this book. Most of the early settlers of nicodemus were former slaves from kentucky who had relocated to kansas. Jesus often strongly denounced them for their legalism see matthew 23. Nicodemus, the mystery man of holy week washington post. Dedes family is saving up to buy their way free from sharecropping. Kenneth hamilton marvin hamilton, the origins and early promotion of nicodemus. Nicodemus, kansas represents the involvement of african americans in the westward expansion and settlement of. They would recruit over 350 exslaves who came by train and foot to start the town. I love that it is shared in a childrens picture book. This was not easy for him, both because he was a member of the pharisees who vigorously. Nicodemus, kansas, is a historic black town, settled by african americans at the end of civil war reconstruction.
A nicodemus ben gorion, who was a brother to the historian josephus, a very wealthy member of the sanhedrin in the 1st cent. Although the name was common among the jews of the 1st cent. County landownership maps and atlases provide excellent sources for studying the changes in black settlement patterns. On april 18, 1877, six freed slaves and one white man, w. However, the national park service indicates that it was more likely based on an 1864 song, wake nicodemus by henry clay work, used to promote settlement in the area. Follow me down to nicodemus town and millions of other books are available for. The historic town of nicodemus, kansas, springs to life through expressive artwork done in softly fluid lines and hues, conveying all of the hope and joy of the movement. The community was founded in 1877 and is named for the biblical figure nicodemus. The nicodemus national historic site, commemorating the only remaining western town established by african americans during the reconstruction period following the american civil war, is in town. Nicodemus national historic site nicodemus, kansas. Nicodemus, graham county kansapedia kansas historical society. The gospel of nicodemus, also known as the acts of pilate latin. When dede sees a notice offering land to black people in kansas, her family decides to give up their life of sharecropping to become homesteading pioneers in the midwest. They lacked sufficient tools, seed or money, but managed to survive the first winter.
The town symbolizes the pioneering spirit of african ame. Nicodemus, kansas is a small community in north central kansas, named after an escaped slave who bought his way to freedom. Postreconstruction politics and racial justice in western kansas race and culture in the american west series book 11 by charlotte hinger. African american farmers in nicodemus, kansas, in the 1870s. The pharisees were a group of jews who were fastidious in keeping the letter of the law and often opposed jesus throughout his ministry. An appealing picture book exploring a part of pioneer history that deserves to be.
Inspired by the true story of nicodemus, kansas, a town founded in the late 1870s by exodustersformer slaves leaving the jim crow south in search of. The place commemorates the only remaining western town created by african americans during the reconstruction period. All that we know of nicodemus in the bible is from the gospel of john. Inspired by the true story of nicodemus, kansas, a town founded in the late 1870s by. At its height, nicodemus, kansas, had fewer than one thousand residents, the majority of whom were african american. Book the settlement of nicodemus book the settlement of nicodemus produced by the center for great plains study, university of nebraska, lincoln. The story of nicodemus the institute for creation research. Charlotte hinger throws new light on the black homesteaders of nicodemus, kansas. During the last weekend of july, former residents and their descendants return for celebrations and parades. Its founding in 1877 inspired many african americans, including the exodusters, who migrated from the south to find opportunity and flee racist violence. Nicodemus historical society 665 photos history museum.
Nicodemus national historic site, nicodemus, kansas. Based on the history of the african american pioneer settlement. This cover made me pick up the book, and the story led me back to the late 1870s when nicodemus town was founded by the exodusters. Nicodemus, kansas represents the involvement of african americans in the westward expansion and settlement of the west. Hidden history of kansas by adrian zink, soldiers in the army of freedom.
Nicodemus is an unincorporated community in graham county, kansas, united states. Nicodemus, kansas is the only remaining western community established by african americans after the civil war. The township hall serves as the visitor center, which offers exhibits, short videos, and the opportunity to learn about the history of nicodemus and blacks in the west. A short statement of the authorities available at this.
The central ethos to nicodemuss history lasted long after these three men moved on. See actions taken by the people who manage and post content. The nicodemus township hall is the only building open to the public. Follow me down to nicodemus town independent publishers. Gena philibertortega is a genealogist and author of the book from the. American history, aviation history, civil war times, military history, mhq. Nicodemus was founded in the late 1870s by exodusters former slaves and sharecroppers, like dedes family, who flocked to the kansas prairie to stake out land, build a homestead and farm. The town reached its most prosperous years by 1886, with the maturation of area agricultural production. Nicodemus was established in 1877 by formerly enslaved african americans from kentucky at. This booklet is a reprint from kansas history, a journal of the central plains, 5. There was a man of the pharisees, named nicodemus, a ruler of the jews john 3. Hill and six other africanamerican men who were in search of cheap, unclaimed, federally owned land. Our member, retail, and fundraising organization supports and promotes kansas history through the kansas historical society, a state agency. Historic american building survey field records, prints and photographs.
Nicodemus historical society history museum in nicodemus, kansas. Founded in 1877 and now a historic site, nicodemus is the oldest and one of the few remaining black settlements west of the mississippi. The gospel of nicodemus acts of pilate from the apocryphal new testament m. During the last weekend of july, former residents and. Gena philibertortega is a genealogist and author of the book from the family kitchen. Nicodemus, kansas the africanamerican mosaic exhibition. Nicodemus kansas historical society gift shop nicodemus. Each year on the last weekend of july, nicodemus stages a homecoming celebration to commermorate the largest, organized, postcivil war, emigration movement in america.
The nicodemus national historic site, commemorating the only remaining. Mar 06, 2012 nicodemus, kansas had an important role in american history. The first part of the book, containing the story of the passion and resurrection, is not earlier than the fourth century. Racial justice and public land in kansas cleveland. A lovely picture book about a slice of history i didnt know existed. This census schedule provides detailsincluding the name, age, race, and occupationof both white and black settlers in nicodemus township in graham county, kansas. Within a few short years, however, the county opened its arms to hundreds of new residents, the majority of them were african americans from kentucky. In 1876, nearly a decade after its founding, graham county was home to only 75 residents. An article about nicodemus, kansas, a historic black town settled by. The man named nicodemus appears only on three occasions in the new testament, but these three reveal a most remarkable character. That was the case with nicodemus, the sanhedrin member who secretly visited jesus christ at night because he suspected this young teacher might be the messiah promised to israel by god. This settlement of nicodemus grew and prospered for a time. Gena philibertortega is a genealogist and author of the book. The town of nicodemus, kansas is the most well known, most successful, and only.
Every seeker has a deep feeling that there must be something more to life, a great truth to be discovered. Mar 18, 2017 at its height, nicodemus, kansas, had fewer than one thousand residents, the majority of whom were african american. Postreconstruction politics and racial justice in western kansas race and culture in the american west series book 11 by charlotte hinger 5. The 1877 end of reconstruction was a severe blow to black american prospects of achieving the political and social equality that had seemed so tantalizingly within reach in 1865. Attempts have been made to show that it is of early datethat it is, for instance, the writing which justin martyr meant when in. The town of nicodemus in graham county, western kansas, was founded in 1877 by african americans migrating primarily from kentucky and tennessee, before the time period of the exodusters. They left slavery, then sharecropping behind to stake new homes in kansas. See more ideas about kansas, african and black history. Race and culture in the american west series book 11 by charlotte hinger. Book the settlement of nicodemus nicodemus historical. About us news genealogy our history membership gift shop donate. The town symbolizes the pioneering spirit of african americans who dared to leave the war torn south to experience true freedom and self government.
For example, genealogybank has two newspapers for nicodemus, kansas. Postreconstruction politics and racial justice in western kansas race and culture in the american west series book 11. Its object in the main is to furnish irrefragable testimony to the resurrection. However, hinger largely ignores one other intellectual thread in her analysis. Dvd nicodemus a 1 hour keepsake documentary by john mann 1993. Having an important role in american history, the town symbolizes the pioneering spirit of these exslaves who fled the wartorn south in search of real freedom and a chance to restart their lives. Nicodemus was established in 1877 by formerly enslaved african americans from kentucky at the end of.
By jill draper the world is way more interesting under the surface than you think, says adrian zink as he emerges from a days work in a local storage cave, one of many belowground facilities carved back in the day by companies mining limestone. Kansas historical foundation honor educate inspire. The historic town of nicodemus, kansas, springs to life through expressive. This township had been settled by african americans in 1877 along the south fork of the solomon river. The mission of the african american experience fund of the national park foundation is to preserve african american history by supporting education programs in national parks that celebrate african american history and culture. I wanted to share this background from my research for my novel inspired by the lives of my.
Nicodemus township hall was a works progress administration project wpa started in 1934 and completed in 1939. This fictional story is a great way to learn their history. Large numbers of blacks came between 1879 and 1881. Nicodemus cyclone nicodemus, kansas, 6 april 1888, page 1. The towns place in american history was touted by organizers before it was even platted. View all hotels near nicodemus national historic site on tripadvisor.
Nicodemus national historic site 2020 all you need to know. Nicodemus, kansas was an african american homestead township full of. Nicodemus, kansas had an important role in american history. Yet the settlement has played an outsized role in u. The first map shows the black township of nicodemus, located in graham county, kansas. Nicodemus, kansas nicodemus, kansas had an important role in american history. The community was founded in 1877 and is named for the biblical figure nicodemus the nicodemus national historic site, commemorating the only remaining western town established by african americans during the reconstruction period following the american civil war, is in town. It is a wonderful peek into a period of history that few know about. Book nicodemus children of the promised land a photo depiction. Nicodemus, kansas was established in july, 1877 by negro exodusters from kentucky. Mar 27, 20 nicodemus, the mystery man of holy week. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Nicodemus, kansas simple english wikipedia, the free.
In this blog post, gena discusses the historic role that african american towns have played in american history, and shows how ethnic newspaperssuch as those in genealogybanks african american newspaper archivescan help you explore your family history and this part of america. The homecoming celebration in nicodemus, kansas, takes place each summer to commemorate the only remaining allblack town west of the mississippi river established after the civil war. In april 1877, before officially registering the town, the nicodemus. The quarterly journal of military history, vietnam, wild west and world war ii. As the first wellknown allblack community on the plains, nicodemus, kansas. Nicodemus, graham county kansapedia kansas historical. The bible miniseries on the history channel that ends easter sunday march 31 assigns nicodemus a larger role, casting him as. Follow me down to nicodemus town independent publishers group. In a way, he has become a type of all those who come to christ for salvation. Rosamond rodman asserts that freed slaves who moved to nicodemus, kansas, after the civil war named their town after him. Hall, mccabe, and niles had all left nicodemus before 1890, which makes hingers book a story of early nicodemus. However the prosperity soon ended when the railroad bypassed nicodemus and built in a neighboring town.
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