There was an editorial in the Lawrence Journal advocating the organization of a Douglas County Historical Society (June 19, 1889).

Dec 21. 1931;

The Sons and Daughters of New England met at the Eldridge and discussed the disposal of some of their funds. W. C. Simmons (Dolph, Jr.’s grandfather) suggested that they be used to establish an historical society for Douglas County. The idea was approved.

T. J. Sweeney invited representatives of the Douglas County Old Settlers Association and representatives of the Sons and Daughters of New England (including A. D. Weaver) to be his guests at a dinner at the Eldridge Hotel. They agreed to invite representatives of other civic and patriotic organizations to a subsequent general meeting to establish a historical society.

A meeting was held in the Watkins National Bank Building (at that time the City Hall) with 20 organizations represented. They were told of a valuable collection of objects which librarian Miss Carrie Watson (for whom the Watson Library is named). had gathered and that were housed in the KU Library s "Lawrence Room". A charter committee was formed which included, among other people, W.C. Simmons, R.C.Rankin, Miss Hanna Oliver, Mrs. L.H. Menger, Mrs. W.C. Spangler, and Miss Carrie Watson.

A charter had been obtained and by-laws written. The Douglas County Historical Society was permanently organized at a meeting held in the old Wren Building (8th & Vermont). The first officers were a president, 1st vice-president, 2^nd vice-president, secretary and treasurer. In addition there was a board of directors that included the officers, the charter committee plus several others. (I think this totaled 19 members.)

By January 29, 1936 there were 159 members who had joined and they became "charter members". A seal had been adopted and the membership certificate stated "The purpose of the Douglas County Historical Society is the promotion of historical studies and the collection and preservation of historical material and relics of Douglas County and the State of Kansas". By this time, a collections policy had been developed listing the types of materials to be preserved. The annual meeting was set to be prior to November 15^th of each year.

There was an ongoing concern about finding a suitable place in which to store and exhibit the materials collected by the society. World War II became a challenge to the society. They tried to keep a museum space open in the police building (now the fire station) at 8^th & Vermont, but finally it closed. Subsequently there were failed attempts at relocating in the Women’s Club (20^th and Mass.), the Watkins Bank Building (which was occupied by City Hall), and the Gilmore home at 7^th and Vermont (which had been offered).

In 1968 the board of Directors had grown concerned enough to enlist the volunteer help of Bret Waller (then director of the Spooner-Thayer KU Museum of Art) to set up an interim viewing area in the Police-Fire building at 8^th & Vermont, where the items had been in storage. This was then open every weekend, Friday through Sunday.

In October of 1970, the city government offices moved out of the Watkins Bank Building, which it had occupied since 1929, to the office tower building in what is now U S Bank. This was part of making the downtown development possible. The vacated bank building reverted to nine beneficiaries of the Watkins will (including Boys Town in Nebraska and the KU Endowment Association). Attorney Raymond Rice, the only surviving executor of the Watkins Estate, and two other members of the DCHS worked tirelessly to gain the release of rights to the building and have them transferred to the Douglas County Historical Society which was finalized November 11, 1971. (per University Daily Kansan, Vol. 86, #56). The Rice Foundation was later established in the name of Raymond and Ethyl, his wife. and his former attorney associate, James W. (Bill) Paddock is currently chairperson of that endowment.

In 1971 Dolph Simmons, Sr. headed up a committee to raise $300,000 to renovate and restore the bank building to its former beauty since the city had made damaging modifications, such as lowering the ceilings, partitioning the 2^nd floor and covering the wood floors with tile, to make it efficient for city business. Until the fall of 1976, Judge Paddock also held the Kansas 2^nd district court in the space where the archives are now processed and his private office was in the area were Miss Lizzie’s Gift Shop is located.

The plaque on the wall above the receptionists by the entrance records the names of the many original donors. Some of these are familiar to you including Raymon & Pety Cerf, Mr. & Mrs. Dolph Simons, Sr., Mr. & Mrs. Dolph Simons, Jr., Raymond Rice, Irma Spangler, Mr. & Mrs. Art Weaver, Skip & Odd Williams, Bob Billings, Gene Burnett, Phil Ernst, Richard Raney, John McGrew, James W. Paddock and Phil and Phoebe Godwin. On November 10, 1975, the museum was officially opened at its present location.

The first director was Arthur Townsend, who came here after five years at the Smithsonian. Early on the museum was supervised by a Board of Trustees that included such familiar names as Dolph Simmons, Sr., Phil Humphrey (who was then director of the KU Museum of Natural History), Charles Eldridge (who was then the Director of the KU Museum of Art), and later Travis Glass (Steve Glass’ father). Subsequently the collaboration with KU talent waned until just this last year or so

The museum continued to be managed by a Board of Trustees whose title was subsequently changed to "Management Committee". In 1989 when we had a Museum Assessment done by the American Association of Museums (Galvani Report), the following was noted:

Nothing changed until a couple of years ago, when the Management Committee made some decisions on its own about the Museum Staff, including making Steve Jansen Historian instead of Director and eventually leading to his leaving the museum altogether. Many of the DCHS membership and the BOD became infuriated. Subsequently, in 2002, the Constitution and By-laws were changed, renaming the committee the "Administrative Committee" and making it clearly a subcommittee of the Board of Directors.

And that is how we got to where we are today.

Reported by Phillip Godwin
January 17, 2004

Note: Many of the details for this report come from an article by Elfriede Fischer Rowe published in the Lawrence Daily Journal World, December 8, 1972.