Nicodemus Historic District, Nicodemus, Graham County, KS

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Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record/Historic American Landscapes Survey

5 drawings
10 b&w photos
3 data pages
1 photo caption pages

How to obtain copies of this item

TITLE:
Nicodemus Historic District, Nicodemus, Graham County, KS

CALL NUMBER:
HABS KANS,33-NICO,1-

REPRODUCTION NUMBER:
[See Call Number]

MEDIUM:
Measured Drawing(s): 5 (24 x 36 in.)
Photo(s): 10 (4 x 5 in.)
Data Page(s): 2 plus cover page
Photo Caption Page(s): 1

DATE:
Documentation compiled after 1933.

CREATOR:
Historic American Buildings Survey, creator

NOTE:
Survey number HABS KS-49

Unprocessed field note material exists for this structure (FN-6).

Building/structure dates: 1877 initial construction

National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 76000820

Significance: Nicodemus, Kansas, represents the earliest and most prosperous midwestern black settlement associated with the massive westward migration of former slaves out of the south during Reconstruction. Following a typical midwestern pattern of town development, the Nicodemus Town Company was formed on April 18, 1877, by seven Kansans (one white and six black). Attracted by the promotional literature of Benjamin "Pap" Singleton and led by white promoter W.R. Hill, five separate infusions of black colonists, predominantly from Kentucky and Tennessee, ultimately comprised the population of the town. By 1878, Nicodemus could boast nearly 700 residents. Nicodemus' prominence, however, was shortlived when the railroad by-passed the community in 1888. The majority of businesses relocated to nearby communities and the town slowly withered. A resilient and self-reliant nucleus of settlers remained. Today, 45 descendants of these original immigrants reside in the community, and numerous historic structures still exist.

SUBJECTS:
KANSAS--Graham County--Nicodemus
building deterioration
slavery
African Americans

COLLECTION:
Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress)

REPOSITORY:
Library of Congress, Prints and Photograph Division, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA

DIGID:
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.ks0077

CONTENTS:
Photograph caption(s):
1. GENERAL VIEW OF TOWNSITE FROM VICINITY OF CLEMENTINE VAUGHN HOUSE
2. VIEW TO EAST DOWN WASHINGTON STREET; FLETCHER-SWITZER HOUSE IN RIGHT FOREGROUND
3. VIEW TO NORTH DOWN SECOND STREET; LLOYD WELLINGTON HOUSE IN LEFT FOREGROUND
4. GENERAL VIEW OF TOWNSITE, FROM ADAMS STREET SOUTH TOWARD DISTRICT NO. 1 SCHOOL
5. Photocopy of Historic Photograph, Photographer and Date Unknown: EARLY AREA HOMESTEAD
6. Photocopy of Historic Photograph, Photographer and Date Unknown: EARLY AREA HOMESTEAD
7. Photocopy of Historic Photograph, Photographer Unknown, circa 1885: WASHINGTON STREET SHOWING FIRST STONE CHURCH AND WILLIAMS GENERAL STORE
8. Photocopy of Historic Photograph, 'Photomaps' Photographer, 1953: AERIAL VIEW OF NICODEMUS FROM NORTHEAST
9. Photocopy of Historic Photograph, William T. Belleau, Photographer, 1943: MASONIC HALL
10. Photocopy of Historic Photograph, William T. Belleau, Photographer, 1943: WILSON'S STORE

CONTROL #:
KS0077

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