This year’s ‘Bleeding Kansas’ series to be heavy on drama

Bleeding Kansas

This year’s annual “Bleeding Kansas” programs will feature a mix of history discussions, first-person portrayals and dramatic interpretations.

“We’re going heavy this year on first-person portrayals and we’ll see how that goes,” said Tim Rues, director of Lecompton’s Constitution Hall, where the programs will take place.

The programs will begin Sunday with a talk titled “Lecompton: A National Obsession, 1858,” by Craig Minor, Wichita State University history professor. He will be followed by commentary about Kansas Day by Virgil Dean, editor of the publication “Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains.”

All of the five consecutive Sunday programs start at 2 p.m. and are open to the public at no charge.

Most of the first-person portrayals will be performed by the Lecompton Re-enactors group, including Lesa Brose, who will become Sara Robinson, the wife of Kansas’ first governor, Charles Robinson. Brose will wear period clothing, and other clothing will be on display. She will be assisted in the portrayal by her mother, Molly Ledeboer, and daughter, Dianna Welsh. They have made their own costumes.

“They are very accomplished seamstresses and dressmakers,” Rues said.

Michelle Martin, a Lecompton re-enactor who also works for Bill Kurtis and Kurtis Productions, will portray Betsy Hoole, a southerner who moves to Kansas along with her husband.

“They weren’t your typical southern settlers who came here to skirmish and to vote (for slavery),” Rues said.

Martin also has her own production company, Discovering History LLC.

George and Diane Bernheimer will portray the Rev. Thomas Johnson and his wife, Sarah Johnson. Thomas Johnson was superintendent of the Shawnee Indian Mission in what is now Johnson County, his namesake.

Steven Brosemer, of Emporia, will become John Calhoun, surveyor general and Lecompton Constitution president. Calhoun was the surveyor of the Kansas-Nebraska territory and one of the most influential men in the territory.

Brosemer is a surveyor and has done considerable research on 1850s surveying, Rues said.

Be a part of state history

Here is a schedule of this year’s Bleeding Kansas programs at Lecompton’s Constitution Hall. All programs start at 2 p.m.

¢ Sunday: “Lecompton: A National Obsession, 1858.” Craig Minor, Wichita State University, with Kansas Day commentary by Virgil Dean, editor of “Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains.”

¢ Feb. 3: “John Calhoun: Surveyor General & Lecompton Constitution President.” First-person portrayal by Steven Brosemer, Emporia.

¢ Feb. 10: “Their Last Evening Together: Rev. Thomas & Sarah Johnson.” First-person portrayals by George and Diane Bernheimer.

¢ Feb. 17: “Sara Robinson Attends the Lecompton Ball.” First-person portrayal and period clothing by Lesa Brose, Molly Ledeboer and Dianna Welsh.

¢ Feb. 24: “Danger At My Very Door: Betsy Hoole’s Southern View of Kansas Territory.” First-person portrayal by Michelle Martin, president of Discovery History LLC.