Wichita ? Wichita State University, which hopes to house the works of photographer, filmmaker and author Gordon Parks, has an advantage over other universities and museums also vying for Parks’ collections.

It’s in his home state.

Parks, a native of Fort Scott in far eastern Kansas, died last year at age 90. Near the end of his life, his son David said last week, Parks said that he wanted to go home.

“To White Plains (N.Y.)?” David Parks asked.

“No, dummy!” his father said. “Kansas.”

Ted Ayres, the university’s vice president and general counsel, said he had received positive – if noncommital – responses to Wichita State’s bid.

“I have been in communication with friends and family of Mr. Parks, and with the designated executors of (his) estate, who live in New York, California and Helsinki, Finland,” he said. “I consider the dialogue that has occurred to date to be good. I also think the university’s initial suggestions and ideas have been received with interest.”

Wichita State’s proposal includes creation of a Gordon Parks Center for the Performing Arts and establishment of a Gordon Parks Lecture Series.

It also includes workshops in creative writing and photography and the possibility of involving other Board of Regents universities and the cities of Wichita and Fort Scott in Parks-related activities.

“I feel that Kansas should be the archival home to the works of its native son and the base from which his brilliance is studied and shared with the rest of the world,” Ayres said. “… We will continue to work hard to move this from possibility to reality. I am extremely hopeful that I will have the chance to travel to New York in the spring to share the vision of Wichita State University.”