Kansas Historical Society Secretaries and Directors
This page contains a listing of the secretaries and executive directors through the history of the Kansas Historical Society. The Society was founded by a committee assigned by the Kansas Editors and Publishers Association who met in Topeka on December 13, 1875. Those five founders were Daniel Read Anthony, Sr., of Leavenworth, Floyd P. Baker of Topeka, George A. Crawford of Fort Scott, John A. Martin of Atchison, and Solomon Miller of Troy. A few other interested individuals were present at that meeting when the first officers and board of directors were elected. . Floyd P. Baker was elected the first secretary. Board members were three newspaper editors: Richard B. Taylor of Wyandotte, Milton W. Reynolds of Parsons, and Salmon S. Prouty of Topeka; Daniel Webster Wilder and Samuel A. Kingman. Chief Justice Kingman was elected the first president. George A. Crawford was elected vice president. John A. Martin was elected treasurer.
Secretaries
Floyd P. Baker, (1820-1909), served as KSHS secretary 1875-1876
Franklin G. Adams, (1824-1899), served as KSHS secretary 1876-1899
George W. Martin, (1841-1914), served as KSHS secretary 1899-1914
William E. Connelley, (1855-1930), served as KSHS secretary 1914-1930
Kirke F. Mechem, (1889-1985), served as KSHS secretary 1930-1951
Nyle H. Miller, (1907-1988), served as KSHS secretary 1951-1976
Joseph W. Snell, (1928-2011), served as KSHS secretary 1977-1988
KSHS Executive Directors
Ramon S. Powers, served as KSHS executive director 1988-2002
Jennie Chinn, interim KSHS executive director, 2002
Mary R. Allman, KSHS executive director, 2002-2004
Terry Marmet, interim KSHS executive director, 2004
Jennie Chinn, KSHS executive director, 2004-2022
Patrick Zollner, acting KSHS executive director, May-December 2022
Matthew Chappell, acting KSHS executive director, January-March 2023
Patrick Zollner, KSHS executive director, March 2023-present
Kansas Historical Foundation executive directors/CEOs
Kenneth Metzger, chief executive officer, 2000-2002
Wanda Arocho, chief executive officer, 2003-2005
Vicky Henley, CEO & executive director, 2006-2021
Derenda Mitchell, CEO & executive director, 2022-2024
Gaye Leonard, CEO/director of development, 2024-present
Entry: Kansas Historical Society Secretaries and Directors
Author: Kansas Historical Society
Author information: The Kansas Historical Society is a state agency charged with actively safeguarding and sharing the state's history.
Date Created: April 2012
Date Modified: February 2025
The author of this article is solely responsible for its content.
