Museum After Hours: Living Voices of the Commonwealth

"Living Voices of the Commonwealth: Franklin Adams, Samuel Reader and Their Wax Cylinder Recordings, 1893-1907"
An early adopter of technology, Samuel Reader (settler, soldier and artist) was among the first generation of Americans to experiment with home audio recordings. The wax cylinder recordings he made at home in Indianola and North Topeka between 1899-1907 give literal voice to his thoughts, ambitions and artistic expressions. Although the Society acquired Reader’s recordings in 1922, the cylinders sat silent for more than 100 years -- until now. State Archives Director, Michael Church, will play samples from Reader’s recordings and explain the unlikely success and influence of the early phonograph industry in Kansas. The museum will be open during this time from 5 to 8 p.m. and admission will be free. The program starts at 6:30. Light refreshments will be served. This presentation can be livestreamed on the KSHS YouTube channel, or you can attend in-person at the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka.
6:30 - 8 p.m. Friday, November 13, 2026