David W. Jackson to Discuss Changing Times: Kansas City’s LGBTQIA History

September 29, 2017

Kansas City (MO)… On Wednesday, October 11 at 6:30 p.m., the National Archives at Kansas City will host David W. Jackson, author of Changing Times: Almanac and Digest of Kansas City’s LGBTQIA History for a discussion of Kansas City’s lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender history. A free light reception will precede the program at 6:00 p.m.  

A question, “Where did the modern day gay rights movement begin?” Did you answer, “New York City, with the Stonewall Riots in 1969?” It actually began in Kansas City, Missouri, three years earlier. Local historian and author, David W. Jackson, will retrace a colorful, yet mostly unknown history of a segment of Kansas City’s minority communities. His newest book, Changing Times: Almanac and Digest of Kansas City’s LGBTQIA History, presents a captivating timeline from 1821 to the present that may give readers a new appreciation for the struggles of countless fellow Kansas Citians over the last 200 years. Jackson’s research over the last decade has culminated in this new 400+ page book that also includes feature articles on singular topics of relevance to the LGBTQIA communities. Perhaps the most popular section of Changing Times, is Jackson’s detailed census of more than 150 LGBTQIA sites in the Kansas City area from the 1930s to today.

The month of October is LGBT History Month as it is celebrated each year to coincide with National Coming Out Day on October 11. The National Archives has begun to identify, describe, and digitize hundreds of items in its holdings on LGBT-related topics. This webpage will provide quick access to digitized items and descriptions of records not yet scanned but available to researchers https://lgbtqarchives.tumblr.com/

Copies of Jackson’s books will be available for purchase and signing. Reservations are requested for this free program by calling 816-268-8010 or emailing kansascity.educate@nara.gov. Requests for ADA accommodations must be submitted five business days prior to events.

The National Archives at Kansas City is home to historical records dating from the 1820s to the 1990s created or received by Federal agencies in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. For more information, call 816-268-8000 or visit www.archives.gov/kansas-city/.   

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LPM/LE – KC17-23