Kansas Lamplighters - Past State Presidents of the Kansas State Council of ESA
The Lamplighters are the Past State Presidents of the Kansas State Council. Over the years this group of women have, for the most part, remained active in ESA. They give their support and encouragement to future leaders of ESA. The group acts as mentors and when needed they are ready to provide the needed support to ESA sisters. A Lamplighter president is elected each year and serves on the Board of Directors of the KSC. Their money making projects have supported many projects of the KSC and in particular the Endowed scholarships. They established and support the Memorial Lamplighter Endowment. In order to run for elective office on the International Council one must have served as a past state president. Kansas has had several of its past presidents earn the high honor of International Council President who leads all of ESA. Lamplighters meet once a year to plan their ways & means to support our projects. Their attendance and support of the Kansas State Council is always very good at meetings.
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POWER OF THE DREAM
“Our ESA lives in America”
History of ESA and ESA in Kansas
(The 1930s)
ESA began as a National Reading Society in 1929 by Adelia Prichard. It was a time of the roaring 20's and the fateful stock market crash which will plunge America into a deep and painful depression. Dr. M. Freeda Lotz was the very first president of a chapter chartered in Colorado. The depression didn’t seem to hamper the growth of ESA as it reached 38 states with 400 chapters during the 30s. Although the depression will most profoundly impact the financial policies of the organization and most likely as a direct result of the economic situation ESA chapters began to donate a lot of time and money to philanthropic activities.
Nationally ESA members, like others, lived their lives under the New Deal in the 30s and 40s. It was a time for small advances for women as Frances Perkins became the first female Secretary of Labor on FDR’s cabinet.
Kansas chapters were formed in the 1930s in Hutchinson, Salina, Topeka, and Wichita. The first chapter to be chartered was Omicron from Sauna chartered in 1930. Two of the original chapters still remain active today: Iota Kappa and Iota Mu in Wichita. Operating without a Kansas State Council, chapters of the 30's seldom, if ever, joined each other in group functions.
As a reading society, the 1930s membership was sure to pick up the Pulitzer Prize for Literature by John Steinbeck called, “The Grapes of Wrath.” Lady Lindy - Amelia Earhart - became an American Heroine by becoming the first female to fly the Atlantic solo. While the movie screens were filled with Shirley Temple, Greta Garbo, and John Berrymore, Adolf Hitler was winning widespread following for his National Socialists in Germany. “Babe” Didrikson and Jesse Owens, remarkable sports stars of the 1930's, will lead America to gold in the 1932 Olympics under the watchful & critical eye of Adolph Hitler.
Kansas has taken its place from the beginning supporting the efforts of the Epsilon Sigma Alpha. The original headquarters was established in Kansas City. The National convention was held in Kansas City at the Muehelbach hotel in 1938 where two of our local women were installed as national officers: Phillis Kimmell from McPherson, Kansas was installed as 2nd Vice President and Beulah Metz from Kansas City was installed as Recording Secretary. This was also the convention that May 1 was established as Founder’s Day for ESA.
ESA began as a National Reading Society in 1929 by Adelia Prichard. It was a time of the roaring 20's and the fateful stock market crash which will plunge America into a deep and painful depression. Dr. M. Freeda Lotz was the very first president of a chapter chartered in Colorado. The depression didn’t seem to hamper the growth of ESA as it reached 38 states with 400 chapters during the 30s. Although the depression will most profoundly impact the financial policies of the organization and most likely as a direct result of the economic situation ESA chapters began to donate a lot of time and money to philanthropic activities.
Nationally ESA members, like others, lived their lives under the New Deal in the 30s and 40s. It was a time for small advances for women as Frances Perkins became the first female Secretary of Labor on FDR’s cabinet.
Kansas chapters were formed in the 1930s in Hutchinson, Salina, Topeka, and Wichita. The first chapter to be chartered was Omicron from Sauna chartered in 1930. Two of the original chapters still remain active today: Iota Kappa and Iota Mu in Wichita. Operating without a Kansas State Council, chapters of the 30's seldom, if ever, joined each other in group functions.
As a reading society, the 1930s membership was sure to pick up the Pulitzer Prize for Literature by John Steinbeck called, “The Grapes of Wrath.” Lady Lindy - Amelia Earhart - became an American Heroine by becoming the first female to fly the Atlantic solo. While the movie screens were filled with Shirley Temple, Greta Garbo, and John Berrymore, Adolf Hitler was winning widespread following for his National Socialists in Germany. “Babe” Didrikson and Jesse Owens, remarkable sports stars of the 1930's, will lead America to gold in the 1932 Olympics under the watchful & critical eye of Adolph Hitler.
Kansas has taken its place from the beginning supporting the efforts of the Epsilon Sigma Alpha. The original headquarters was established in Kansas City. The National convention was held in Kansas City at the Muehelbach hotel in 1938 where two of our local women were installed as national officers: Phillis Kimmell from McPherson, Kansas was installed as 2nd Vice President and Beulah Metz from Kansas City was installed as Recording Secretary. This was also the convention that May 1 was established as Founder’s Day for ESA.