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Kansas is religiously a microcosm of the world. All of America’s largest religious families – Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, Lutherans, and so on – are well represented, but so are a legion of less populous groups, including not only such familiar names as Jews and Amish and Muslims and Buddhists, but also Swedenborgians, Spiritualists, Theosophists, Pagans, Lawsonians, and Babsonians, to name only a few.

In the fall of 2009, Religious Studies professor Dr. Timothy Miller inaugurated a fieldwork course that sent University of Kansas students out across the state to interview dozens of members of a broad sample of religions. As of July 2015, the Religion in Kansas Project collection included interviews with over 100 Kansans representing a broad cross-section of faiths. This collection is housed by and made accessible through the Moore Reading Room, which is managed by the University of Kansas Department of Religious Studies, and through this website.

Moving forward, the Religion in Kansas Project seeks to expand its collecting scope to become a comprehensive clearinghouse for resources and information documenting the historical and contemporary role of religion in the lives of Kansans, in both the personal and the public spheres, with an emphasis on making resources available online. We hope to partner with libraries, archives, museums, religious communities, and individuals throughout the state to facilitate the digitization and preservation of resources that document the diversity of religious tradition and experience in Kansas. We welcome you to share your stories, photographs, videos, and other resources by uploading them through this website, or to contact us directly with questions or information.

Contact Us:
Patricia Cecil, Religion in Kansas Project Archivist
E-mail: pbcecil@ku.edu
Phone: 785-864-4663

Recent Submissions

  • Camille Eichorn Oral History 

    Eichorn, Camille; Cyr, Renee (Religious Studies Department, University of Kansas, 2019-07-11)
    Oral history interview with Camille Eichorn conducted by Renee Cyr on July 11, 2019 at Wheatfields Bakery in Lawrence. Camille is currently a solitary practitioner, but has contacts in many local Pagan groups. Questions ...
  • Jim Mosher Oral History 

    Mosher, Jim; Cyr, Renee (Religious Studies Department, University of Kansas, 2019-07-21)
    An oral history interview with Jim Mosher conducted by Renee Cyr on July 21, 2019 at the Topeka Shawnee Public Library. Jim is High Priest of Coven Ancora Imparo, a member of the Web of Oz, and a co-owner of Enchanted ...
  • Jeannie Hazelwood Oral History 

    Hazelwood, Jeannie; Cyr, Renee (Religious Studies Department, University of Kansas, 2019-07-08)
    Oral history interview with Jeannie Hazelwood conducted by Renee Cyr at the Topeka Public Library on July 8, 2019. Jeannie is a principal organizer for Pagans in the Park and is involved in many Pagan groups as well as ...
  • Aldous Stormclamer Oral History 

    Stormcalmer, Aldous; Cyr, Renee (Religious Studies Department, University of Kansas, 2019-06-05)
    Oral history interview with Aldous Stormcalmer conducted by Renee Cyr in Topeka, Kansas at Blackbird Cafe, on June 5, 2019. Aldous is Arch Priest and founder of Ancient Path Coven, with locations in Kansas and across the ...
  • Milton Nokes Oral History 

    Nokes, Milton; Cyr, Renee (Religious Studies Department, University of Kansas, 2019-07-07)
    Oral history interview with Milton Nokes conducted by Renee Cyr in Topeka, Kansas, on July 7, 2019 at the Blackbird Cafe. Milton is one of the principal members on the planning team for Pagans in the Park. Questions discuss ...
  • Nick Thomsen Oral History 

    Thomsen, Nick; Cyr, Renee (Religious Studies Department, University of Kansas, 2019-06-16)
    Oral history interview with Nick Thomsen conducted by Renee Cyr in Lawrence, Kansas, on June 16, 2019 at the Lawrence Public Library. Nick is a member of Coven of the White Rose. Questions discuss Nick's personal beliefs ...
  • Warren Farha Oral History 

    Farha, Warren; Beebe, Jacob (Religious Studies Department, University of Kansas, 2019-06-28)
    Oral history interview with Warren Farha conducted by Jacob Beebe in Wichita, Kansas, on June 28th, 2019. This interview featured Farha's bookstore, Eighth Day Bookstore, located at 2838 E. Douglas in Wichita, Kansas. ...
  • Fr. Paul O'Callaghan Oral History 

    O'Callaghan, Paul; Beebe, Jacob (Religious Studies Department, University of Kansas, 2019-06-06)
    Oral history interview with Fr. Paul O'Callaghan conducted by Jacob Beebe in Wichita, Kansas, on June 28th, 2019. This interview focused on St. George Orthodox Cathedral on 7515 E 13th St N. in Wichita, KS. Question focused ...
  • Pr. Geoffery Boyle Oral History 

    Beebe, Jacob; Boyle, Geoffrey (Religious Studies Department, University of Kansas, 2019-07-08)
    Oral history interview with Pr. Boyle conducted by Jacob Beebe in Wichita, Kansas, on July 8th, 2019. This interview focused on Pr. Boyle's congregations, Grace Lutheran Church on 3310 E Pawnee St, and Trinity Lutheran ...
  • Victoria Sherry Oral History 

    Sherry, Victoria; Beebe, Jacob (Religious Studies Department, University of Kansas, 2019-07-08)
    Oral history interview with Victoria Sherry conducted by Jacob Beebe in Wichita, Kansas, on July 8th, 2019. This interview focused on Victoria's conversion from atheism to Methodism, then Methodism to Orthodoxy. Questions ...
  • Lindsay Oral History 

    Lindsay (Religious Studies Department, University of Kansas, 2019-02-10)
    Oral history interview with Lindsay, conducted by Fares Elattar in Lawrence, Kansas, on February 10, 2019. Questions discussed were the demographics, location and practices of the Free State Church. Included are accounts ...
  • Maaz Adnan Oral History 

    Maaz Adnan (Religious Studies Department, University of Kansas, 2019-01-26)
    Oral history interview with Mazz Adnan conducted by Fares Elattar in Lawrence, Kansas, on January 26, 2019. He joined the Islamic Center of Lawrence in 2015. Questions discussed were demographics, location, and practices ...
  • Hammad Oral History 

    Hammad; Elattar, Fares (Religious Studies Department, University of Kansas, 2019-03-20)
    Oral history interview with Hammad conducted by Fares Elattar in Lawrence, Kansas, on March 20, 2019. Hammad is an active member of the Islamic Center of Johnson County. Questions discuss demographics, location and ...
  • Ahmed Egzhazaly Oral History 

    Egzhazaly, Ahmed; Elattar, Fares (Religious Studies Department, University of Kansas, 2019-03)
    Oral history interview with Ahmed Egzhazaly, conducted by Fares Elattar in Lawrence, Kansas, in March 2019. Ahmed has been an active member of the Islamic Center of Johnson County since the second grade. Questions discuss ...
  • Ed Smith Oral History 

    Smith, Ed; Karstens, Nicki Joy (Religious Studies Department, University of Kansas, 2018-11)
    Oral history with Ed Smith conducted by Nicki Joy Karstens in Lawrence, Kansas in November 2018. This interview is conducted with Ed Smith, a member of the Osage Nation. Smith discusses the impacts of colonialism, including ...
  • Jimmy Beason Oral History 

    Beason II, Jimmy Lee; Karstens, Nicki Joy (Religious Studies Department, University of Kansas, 2018-11)
    Oral history with Jimmy Beason, II conducted by Nicki Joy Karstens in Lawrence, Kansas in November 2018. This interview is conducted with Jimmy Beason, a member of the Osage Nation. Beason discusses the impacts of colonialism, ...
  • Greta Valentine Oral History 

    Valentine, Greta; Smyth, Lev (Religious Studies Department, University of Kansas, 2018-10-08)
    Oral history with Greta Valentine conducted by Lev Smyth in Lawrence, Kansas on October 8th, 2018. This interview is conducted with Greta Valentine, a parishioner of Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church, an OCA (Orthodox Church ...
  • Father Joshua Lollar Oral History 

    Lollar, Joshua; Smyth, Lev (Religious Studies Department, University of Kansas, 2018-09-28)
    Oral history with Fr. Dr. Joshua Lollar conducted by Lev Smyth in Lawrence, Kansas on September 28th, 2018. This interview is conducted with Joshua Lollar, the priest of Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church, an OCA (Orthodox ...
  • Adam Lockridge Oral History 

    Lockridge, Adam; Smyth, Lev (Religious Studies Department, University of Kansas, 2018-06-27)
    Oral history with Adam Lockridge conducted by Lev Smyth in Kansas City, Kansas on June 27th, 2018. This interview is conducted with Adam Lockridge, a parishioner of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, an OCA (Orthodox Church in ...
  • Scott Dunkley Oral History 

    Dunkley, Scott; Smyth, Lev (Religious Studies Department, University of Kansas, 2018-04-23)
    Oral history with Scott Dunkley, conducted by Lev Smyth in Kansas City, Kansas on April 23rd, 2018. This interview is conducted with Scott Dunkley, a parishioner of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, an OCA (Orthodox Church in ...

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