New Artifacts Arrive at the Kearney Historic Museum

The Kearney Historic Museum is excited to announce a new donation of unique items relating to Frank James’ Family history. The items were donated in October by Pat Munkers.

Donated items included a recorded radio interview with Robert James and original pictures of him at the farm

Museum Director Gerri Spencer is thrilled to have the new pieces in the museum, and is happy to share the history of them with visitors. Spencer explained that Pat Munkers’ mother-in-law Hazel Munkers helped around the James Farm when Frank’s wife Annie, her son Robert, and his wife Mae were still involved in the operation of the property.

“We are so thankful to people like Pat and Jim Munkers who think of the Museum,” said Spencer. “Instead of throwing those amazing artifacts away, bring them to the museum. They fill in those blank spots in our history we don’t always know about.”

Items included in the Munkers donation include a recorded radio interview with Robert James and original pictures of him at the farm, a last will and testament and list of family property when Mae James died in 1974, a pair a spats owned by Frank James, a pair of fans belonging to Annie James, and the receipt for the materials to build the 1930’s edition on the original James cabin.

The radio interview was recorded on two records on July 3, 1947, and on the recording Robert James describes growing up in the area and what it was like for him to be the son of Frank James. Robert also corrects a misconception about the death of his grandfather Reverend Robert Sallee James.

“We always said at the James Farm that Reverend James passed on while he was out in California from Cholera,” explained Spencer. “His grandson [Robert] said he passed on from food poisoning. That was a bit of a surprise.”

The receipt of building materials for the new addition to the cabin is a very exciting discovery to the James history. Historians always knew the addition was built in the 1930’s, but this item finally gives them an exact date.

“We always knew it was the 1930’s,” said Spencer. “Having worked out there for almost 30 years, we just always said [the addition] was added in the 1930’s. But now we know for sure: 1938.”

The receipt is from Major Lumber Company in Kearney, dated October 25, 1938. The total cost of that addition was $300.35. These items will be on display for special events. Spencer said they will likely be available to view during Jesse James Days or during time specific displays like the 1930’s and 1940’s in the museum.

For more information about these items, contact the Kearney Historic Museum at (816) 903-1856. The museum is open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Visitors may tour the museum for free or make a donation.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story