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Leo E. Oliva image

Leo E. Oliva, Speaker

Historian with a research focus on 19th-century Kansas

Railroaded: The Industry That Shaped Kansas

Few industries dominated the economy of the nation in the 19th century more than the railroad. Railroads brought immigrant settlers, created jobs, and fed beef markets in the East. They enabled regular mail service and the adoption of standard time. Most Kansas towns were founded because of the railroad, and few survived without it. Yet the advancement of the railroad industry came at a significant cost to the Plains Indians who were forcibly displaced by this westward expansion. This presentation examines the complicated legacy of railroads and the impact on Native peoples who called Kansas home. 

Contact Leo directly about speaking at your event:
oliva@ruraltel.net
(785) 425-7312
Woodston

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How to Bring a Humanities Kansas Speaker to Your Event

  1. Review the Speakers Bureau catalog and select a speaker and topic.
  2. Contact the speaker and confirm time, date, and location.
  3. If interested, you can apply for funding to bring this speaker to your community. Find out how. (Please Note: Completed applications must be submitted six weeks before the event date to be considered for funding.)
  4. Publicize your event. Download a press release template and photo and Humanities Kansas logo poster.
  5. Tell us how it went. After the event, download and fill out a Speakers Bureau Evaluation and Cost Share Form. For applications submitted after November 1, 2023, please log in to your applicant dashboard to access your report.
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