KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A longtime Kansas City, Kansas, resident has written a book about the Quindaro town-site to make sure the area's history is not lost.
Karen French is the author of "Quindaro Township 1855-1943 - All Together Now."
French said the history of the area in the KCK neighborhood fascinates her.
"Quindaro was really built in like a year. I mean we're talking major hotels, houses, stores and commercial properties and banks," French said.
According to the Kansas City, Kansas, Library, abolitionists lived on the site. The area was also part of the underground railroad, helping enslaved people escape to freedom.
French explained she wrote the book to make sure an important part of Black history and American history is not lost.
"My book is very culturally diverse. I include everyone and that's why the subtitle "All together now" is how people from all races and cultures came together to work on a collaboration of building a free port town in Quindaro," French said.
French called her book creative non-fiction. Along with artwork, the book tells Quindaro's existence over an 88-year-period and the local, national and world events that had an impact.
The longtime KCK resident said she hopes her attempt to document often forgotten history has a lasting impact for its readers.
"Self-education. To know self will help direct you in a path in which to go," French said.
French said her book is complete and she's trying to get it published. It's a process she hopes to have complete by the end of 2021.
