Smoky Hill Museum First Thursday to Highlight Kansas Woman Marcet Haldeman-Julius

The Smoky Hill Museum’s May First Thursday presentation will focus on the life of Marcet Haldeman-Julius, a Kansas woman whose work stretched across literature, politics, civil rights, theater and business.

The free presentation, “Marcet Haldeman-Julius, A First Thursday Presentation,” will be held Thursday, May 7, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Smoky Hill Museum, 211 W. Iron Avenue. The program will also be available by Zoom.

Haldeman-Julius was born in Girard, Kansas, in 1887. She went on to become an American feminist, actress, playwright, civil rights advocate, editor, author and bank president.

Dr. Kerry Wynn will lead the presentation, discussing Haldeman-Julius’ life and the many roles she held during the early 20th century. According to the museum, Haldeman-Julius traveled to the Soviet Union in the 1930s, served as a delegate at the National Convention of the Socialist Party of America, and was connected to national political circles through her husband, who ran for a U.S. Senate seat as a Socialist Party candidate.

The presentation is part of the museum’s ongoing First Thursday series, which highlights history, culture and people with ties to Kansas and the broader region. This month’s program focuses on a woman the museum describes as someone “most of us have not heard of,” despite the wide range of work and public roles she held.

Admission is free. Those who want to attend virtually can register for a Zoom link at smokyhillmuseum.org.

The Smoky Hill Museum is a nationally accredited history museum located in downtown Salina. The museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For accommodations, residents may contact Susan Hawksworth at 309-5776 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. For material or speech access, the museum asks that requests be made at least five working days before the event.