History Program to Talk 1920s Kent

The Kent Historical Society will host a special “All About Kent” event, presented by Kent State University graduate students in the school’s public history program.

The program, “Kent in the 1920s,” will be held at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Masonic Temple, which is located at West Main and South Mantua streets. The house is the former home of Kent namesake Marvin Kent and his family.

Professors John Jameson and Helmut Flacheneckar led the course this fall that will culminate in the presentation of nine speakers covering various aspects of Kent’s history that have been researched during the semester. Flacheneckar will discuss “Kent in 1918, its hopes and dreams after WWI as reflected in the Kent Tribune” and Jameson’s topic is “Politics of the day in the U.S. and Ohio.” Flacheneckar, Ph.D., is visiting Kent from the University of Wurzburg, Germany, as part of an exchange program between the two universities.

Students will present their research on a variety of topics including: “The War and after from a woman’s perspective;” “Coterie; A growing City – Industrial dreams and the reality: Rotary;” “Who married whom? What wedding announcements tell us;” “Italian immigrants in Kent: the Christopher Columbus Society;” and” A violin and its story: entertainment in Kent.”

Record-Courier Editor Roger Di Paolo will discuss 1920s civic boosterism and KHS Director Tom Hatch will speak about social life conserved in a museum: KHS and the Clapp Woodward House.

Speakers also will have several visuals as part of their presentations.