Topeka Tourist

 

 

When Randy and I went to the Kanza Cooperative Association annual meeting in April, I expected to learn about how the co-op was faring financially and hear a synopsis of its future direction.

 

We got that, so mission accomplished. 

 

But we didn't expect to discover a new field trip in Topeka. During dinner prior to the meeting, we sat near another couple from a different part of the co-op's service area. In the course of our visiting, we mentioned frequent trips to Topeka to see Jill's family. The woman grew up in Topeka and asked if we'd ever seen the stained glass windows in the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. Since we hadn't, that led to exploring the recently-renovated library. 

And bonus: I was able to pick up a couple of books that were next in a series on Brooke's reading list. 

Six stained glass windows were from the original library building located on the Kansas State Capitol grounds at 8th and Jackson from 1883 to 1953. When that building was torn down and the new library built, the windows were auctioned off. In 1999, Topeka philanthropist Connie Menninger led the efforts to secure the six stained glass windows. She was able to reunite five of the six windows in time for the library’s earlier renovation project in 1999. The sixth one had been purchased by a family and had ended up in a home in Michigan. Eventually, that family also donated their window to the library, reuniting all six windows in 2007.

 

 

Three of the windows had ribbons with topics of study: History, Science, and Art. 

 

 

The other three held phrases featuring a quote by Francis Bacon: “Reading Maketh a Full Man; Conference a Ready Man; Writing an Exact Man." At the time we were looking at the windows, I didn't know about the quote, but I'd already chosen my favorites - the Reading and Writing windows. (I'm sure that comes as a big surprise.) And in the current environment, I like them even better as a little food for thought. As Brooke would say, I "searched it up" and found this explanation of the quote:

 

 

Reading makes a man full:  Reading, according to Bacon, provides a wealth of knowledge and insight, "filling" a person's mind with information and ideas.

 

 

Conference makes a man ready: Engaging in discussions and debates sharpens a person's ability to communicate and think on their feet, making them "ready" to participate in conversations and share their thoughts.

Writing makes a man exact: Writing, with its emphasis on clarity, precision, and logical structure, helps individuals develop a keen sense of detail and accuracy in their thinking and expression. 

In my later research, I found a YouTube video in which Walt Menninger talks about the windows. Click HERE.

Those weren't the last of the stained glass windows. The Genealogy Computer Room in the library's Topeka Room includes windows from the Chester Woodward home. Woodward's library was a 25- by 40-foot room patterned after the library of Sir Walter Scott in Abbotsford, Scotland. The windows were originally in a Lawrence home until Chester Woodward relocated his family to Topeka circa 1920.

The figures refer to pharmacy and medicine.

This window also was in the Topeka Room. I'm not sure of its origin.

The Topeka Room contains books and other materials written, illustrated, produced or published by Topekans or about Topeka and Shawnee County history. Many of the furnishings were donated by Topeka families. These included the 1871 Chickering Square Grand Piano.

Square pianos were made for people who didn't have enough space for large grand pianos. Ichabod Washburn's fortune came from making wire for hoop skits and twisted piano wire. The suggestion for twisted wire was made to Washburn in 1856 by Jonas Chickering, founder of the Chickering company. It's possible that Washburn's company made the wire for the displayed piano (according to a placard on the piano). 

It wasn't the only thing in the room that makes music. We asked the librarian to play the music box there.

Check out the bees, dragonflies and butterflies that help create the music.

While these things are on permanent display, we also toured the art gallery on the ground floor. It includes revolving displays, featuring both area artists and those from across the country.

 

 

"Tiny Library Adventure" caught my eye. The artist is Jenny Dowd from Prairie Grove, Ark., who had the following to say: The limitless possibility for adventure, escape and knowledge can be found in a bookshelf of any size. I sure can't argue with that.

 

"The Reader" was by Michaela Valli Groeblacher of Lindsborg. The nearby plaque had this explanation: The essential psychological and spiritual aspects of a human's vulnerability versus strength interest me primarily. The faces and bodies of older people depict both aspects while exuding the beauty of experience. The Reader depicts an old person's reflection on their long life.

 

If you're looking to have a Kansas Staycation this summer, the library in Topeka should be added to the list. 

 

Up next: More Topeka staycation options. 

Note: We did this Topeka exploration in May, but I hadn't yet written about it.