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Here’s the birthday cake from last year made by Reeble’s Country Mart for the celebration at the William Allen White State Historic Site.
The William Allen White State Historic Site, 10th and Exchange, Emporia
White was born in Emporia Feb. 10, 1868 at 628 Merchant St. He grew up in El Dorado, attended the College of Emporia and the University of Kansas. White worked at the Kansas City Star and returned to Emporia in 1895 and bought The Emporia Gazette (still family owned) for $3,000.
White received the Pulitzer Prize in 1923 for his editorial “To an Anxious Friend.” But he’s most famous for two other editorials: “What’s the Matter With Kansas” written in 1896, and the heartbreaking piece “Mary White” written in 1921 following the death of his 16-year-old daughter.
WAW was awarded a second Pulitzer posthumously for his autobiography.
In the first half of the 20th Century, W.A. White was an international figure. He entertained six U.S. Presidents in Emporia. White died in 1944, on January 29 (Kansas Day).
White left quite a legacy in Emporia and he’s one of Kansas’ most influential citizens.
In 2007, a biography about William Allen White was published by Beverley Olson Buller of Newton.
As a middle school librarian, Buller found herself unable to find any book about White written for young people. In 2005, while attending the dedication of the William Allen White State Historic Site in Emporia, Buller decided that she would write the book.
At a September 2007 street fair in Emporia, Beverley Buller tells a youngster a story from William Allen White’s life.
Published by Kansas City Star Books
And what Beverley Buller came up with was a phenomenal book entitled “From Emporia: The Story of William Allen White.”
“From Emporia” tells White’s story with words and photographs. And many mementos of his life are pictured as well. It’s a well-written book – and it’s beautifully designed.
William Allen White is a part of Emporia’s past. And White is a part of Emporia’s present. His home, Red Rocks, serves as a present-day gathering place where locals, Kansans, journalists, and out-of-state tourists can learn about 20th Century history.
Roger Heineken tells about Mary White in June 2007.
The past few years, local W.A. White historian, Roger Heineken, has organized an “On the Porch” series of events during the spring and fall, bringing attention to White’s accomplishments and legacy.
So – on this 140th anniversary of the birth of William Allen White, we here at Flyover People World Headquarters pay tribute to White – family man, journalist, man of national and international fame.
To read more about White, check out our previous WAW posts.
Happy Birthday William Allen White, the man who was not afraid of tomorrow because he had seen yesterday and he loved his todays. White was an optimist and a champion of the U.S. Constitution, particularly the 1st Amendment.
Also, that green lawn in the house picture sure is a sign for sore eyes!!!!
This information is what I have been looking for. Everything all in one. Thanks so much! Cheryl, are you back? I guess so . . . . if this is here – unless Roger did this.
Thanks so much!
This was a good post. I enjoyed it. I like reading the human side of history. I get lost somehow in just “history”, actually bored. But to know the address where he was born, that’s something. I’ve walked past there, as have most of us in this area. To read about his daughter, that’s something. To “see” it, that’s something.
I have sent a variety of William Allen White quotes to the four leading presidential candidates suggesting that they might have value in speeches. I asked that they be forwarded to a particular adviser or to the speech writers.
If any of the four quote White, he and our site and town will get national reference and hopefully new attention for our favorite son. Keep an ear out.
These are the quotes I sent out to the campaigns.
William Allen White Quotes
American Journalist known as the Sage of Emporia (Kansas), whose mixture of tolerance, optimism, liberal Republicanism and provincialism made him the epitome of the thoughtful small-town American. 1868-1944
“If each man or woman could understand that every other human life is as full of sorrows, or joys, or base temptations, of heartaches and of remorse as his own . . . how much kinder, how much gentler he would be.”
“From 40 to 60 percent of the presidential office is not in administration but in morals, politics, and spiritual leadership. He has to guide a people in the greatest adventure ever undertaken on the planet.”
“I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.”
“My advice to the women clubs of America is to raise more hell and fewer dahlias”
“Peace without justice is tyranny.”
“Liberty is the only thing you can’t have unless you give it to others.”
“Since others have to tolerate my weaknesses, it is only fair that I should tolerate theirs.”
“The facts fairly and honestly presented; truth will take care of itself.”
“All dressed up, with nowhere to go.”
“Reason never has failed men. Only force and repression have made the wrecks in the world.”
Happy Birthday Brother White! http://waywardson.vox.com/library/post/the-american-moderator.html