'Lunch & Learn' to explore unpublished photographs

The Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, Kan., will host a "Lunch and Learn" presentation by Arnold Schofield and Don Miller on Thursday, June 11 at 12:00 p.m. at the Gordon Parks Museum, located in the Ellis Family Fine Arts Center. Members of the community are invited to attend this free program.

"We have had several "Lunch & Learn" presentations and they are well-attended. It's at noon so that working people can take their lunch hour to come out and hear this presentation," said Museum Director Jill Warford. "We encourage people to bring their lunch with them. We will have drinks and dessert available."

Historians Schofield and Miller are working on a new book to be published at the end of June in time for the Fort Scott High School reunion. A selection of photos from that book will be shown and discussed at Lunch and Learn.

Titled "Fort Scott: Then and Now", the book will be a pictorial history of Fort Scott from the 1920's to the present and will serve as a fundraiser for the Historical Preservation Association. "90 percent of the photos have never been published," explained Schofield. "Don Miller, myself, and Fred Campbell have been working on this book, along with Don Banwart at Sekan Printing, who will publish the book. I think it will be of interest to anyone who grew up in Fort Scott or who is interested in Fort Scott history."

The photos are from the collection of Don Miller who has been collecting Fort Scott memorabilia for years by going to estate sales and auctions, accepting donations, and through Ebay purchases. "There are photos of stores and restaurants, street scenes, schools, churches and much more," said Miller. "When Arnold suggested that we do something with all of them, it seemed like a good idea to share them with people through a book and help HPA at the same time."

Though the book will not be available at the Lunch and Learn, Miller and Schofield will be at the FSHS reunion registration on June 26-27 and will sign and sell books at that time.

For more information contact the Gordon Parks Museum at 223-2700, ext. 5850, email gordonparkscenter@fortscott.edu.