Kansas Collection | Angela Bates and the Nicodemus Historical Society 

Preserving and promoting the history of the nation’s longest-standing Black homesteader colony is a personal passion for Angela Bates, founder and executive director of the Nicodemus Historical Society. A descendant of the original settlers of the town of Nicodemus, Bates has worked for over 30 years to honor the Kansas community’s legacy, establishing regional and national partnerships including collaboration with KU Libraries and the Kansas Collection. Bates gave a special presentation highlighting the history and significance of Nicodemus in front of a capacity crowd of more than 100 campus and community members in Spencer Research Library’s North Gallery on July 10.