Eight free programs are coming up in the Finney County Historical Museum’s Evening at the Museum and History at High Noon lecture series, including lunch hour segments at noon the second Wednesdays and 7 p.m. programs on the third Tuesdays of January, February, March and April.
INTERNMENT CAMPS
The January programs will focus on Camp Amache, a Japanese-American internment camp that operated 83 miles west of Garden City, near Granada, Colo., in World War II.
Camp Amache Museum and Historic Site docents will present the noon session Jan. 14. Johnetta Hebrlee, museum education coordinator, will conduct the 7 p.m. segment Jan. 20.
One of 10 War Relocation Centers set up by the U.S. government after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in late 1941, the fenced and guarded complex incarcerated 10,331 people of Japanese descent over three years, most American citizens or legal residents.
“REBS IN KANSAS”
The segments at noon Feb. 11 and 7 p.m. Feb. 17 will be staged by Troy Krehbiel of Holcomb, entitled “Rebs in Kansas.”
Krehbiel, a history enthusiast and reenactor, plans to talk about “Galvanized Yankees” – former Confederate soldiers and POWs who took oaths of allegiance to serve with the Union Army in guarding western forts and railroads against Native American attack. The speaker has provided various previous programs on the American West and Civil War.
SIGNATURE QUILTS
Hebrlee will present the programs at noon March 11 and 7 p.m. March 17, entitled “Signature and Autograph Quilts,” telling the stories behind many hand-made 19th and 20th Century quilts that feature sewn or embroidered names of their group or individual makers on the various fabric blocks.
“This is a significant aspect in the history of American quilting, and we’ll share many of these stories,” Hebrlee said, noting that signature quilts gained widespread popularity in the 1800s and are becoming popular again.
“QUEEN OF GEMS”
There will be two separate programs in April. Garden City goldsmith Janet Doll will outline the history of pearls at noon April 8.
Doll said her program about “the queen of gems” will span a rich history covering thousands of years and numerous cultures, with the oldest written reference to pearls dating to 2206 BC in China. The symbols of wealth and status, she said, have also been prized by Arabic and Western civilizations, including the U.S.
STONE POINTS & ARROWHEADS
Avocational Archeologist Chad Myers, Kalvesta, will present “Our Archeological Past” at 7 p.m. April 21, and identify arrowheads and other stone points brought by the audience.
Myers, who farms in northern Finney County, is a recognized authority on Native American and prehistoric stone artifacts after working at various key archeological sites. He has studied at Garden City Community College and Wichita State University, and at field schools conducted by the University of Wyoming and Texas Tech University. He has helped document and preserve various dig sites and is an authenticator of high plains stone artifacts.
Myers encourages listeners to bring stone artifacts they’ve found so he can date and explain them to the audience.
The programs are sponsored by GCB Bank of Garden City, a branch of Grant County Bank.
Those attending should use the museum’s north entrance. Beverages and cookies will be provided. Listeners are welcome to bring their own lunch or dinner.
The museum is located AT 403 S. Fourth Street in Garden City’s Finnup Park.
