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Title
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Bruce R. Watkins Drive Nears End of Long, Bumpy Road to Completion
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Description
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Photos, maps, and extensive article about the completion of "Bruce R. Watkins Drive, the 10-mile road more than a half century in the making," with its last leg from "Linwood Boulevard to the downtown highway loop" opened in October 2001. Description of the planning, political battles and demolition of private residences, and construction of the road variously as a freeway or parkway since 1951 as a direct and fast route from Downtown to South Kansas City and named for the late Bruce Watkins (1924-1980), "a black political leader and former city councilman."
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Date
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2001-10-21
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Object Type
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Newspaper
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Title
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Dictionary of Missouri Biography
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Description
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Biography of Bruce Riley Watkins, Sr., or Bruce Watkins (1924-1980), a "longtime community leader" in Kansas City through city government and other organizations for civil rights, including the foundation of Freedom Incorporated with Leon Jordan in 1960.
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Date
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1999
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Object Type
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Book
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Title
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Theron Watkins
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Description
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Book excerpt about Theron Watkins (1877-1950), or T.B. Watkins, a prominent African American of Kansas City and father of local politician Bruce Watkins. Watkins was born near Indianapolis and came to Kansas City in 1909 as an undertaker and soon co-founder of Watkins Brothers Funeral Home at 1729 Lydia Avenue, which became "one of the most successful black businesses in Kansas City". He became a leader and activist in the community starting in the 1910s and candidate for city alderman in 1921 and the Missouri legislature in 1944.
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Date
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2006
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Object Type
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Book Section
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Title
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History of Freedom, Inc., and Its Early Leaders
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Description
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This Master of Arts thesis presents information on the local political organization called Freedom, Inc. as well as a biographies of two of its early leaders, Bruce Watkins and Leon Jordan. According to the author's abstract, Freedom Inc., a non-profit organization was "created to politically inform the African-American community, develop African-American candidates for political office, and mobilize the vote in Kansas City, Missouri." Included also is discussion on the civil rights struggle in Kansas City in the 1950s and 1960s as well as information on "The Kansas City Call" newspaper and Lucile Bluford. Includes an eight-page bibliography on the topic.
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Date
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2006-04
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Object Type
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Thesis/Dissertation
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Title
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An Interview With Phillip Curls
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Description
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Interviewer: Horace M. Peterson III. Interview recorded August 31, 1976. 2 sound cassettes (ca. 60 minutes): analog, stereo.; 5 7/8 x 2 1/2 in., 1/8 in. tape; 1 sound disc; digital; 4 3/4 in. Has printed guide to contents.
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Date
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1976-08-31
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Object Type
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Sound Recording
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Title
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In Kansas City, Missouri Economic Development Plays Catch-Up to Political Clout
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Description
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Photos and article about the conditions for black people or African Americans in late 1970s Kansas City. Description of many black leaders (Leon Jordan, Bruce Watkins, Jr., J. McKinley Neal, Joanne Collins, Harold Holliday, Jr., and Charles Hazely, et al.), political organizations (especially Freedom, Incorporated), and general socioeconomic conditions (small businesses and discrimination, etc.).
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Date
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1978-03
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Object Type
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Magazine Article
