Kansas History and People - Who am I - #2

Kansas has an interesting history and this year we celebrate our sesquicentennial of being a state for 150 years so in honor of Kansas we have a new blog post series - Who am I? All these folks are from Kansas, had an influence on Kansas or are historical figures and people coming and going from Kansas. During the sesquicentennial year we will occasionally post a new person with their facts. Happy Kansas 150!

I was born in Fort Scott, Kansas.

I became a photographer for LIFE magazine.

For the 1968 movie, The Learning Tree, based on my novel I became the first African American director, screenwriter and composer for a major motion picture.

In 1988 I received the National Medal of Arts from President Ronald Reagan.

WHO AM I?

Who am I?

I am...

GORDON PARKS

Gordon Parks who died in 2006 was a world famous photographer, filmaker and writer. Although he was born in Kansas there is very little mentioned about his life in Kansas besides the fact he was born here. Information at the Kansas Museum of History website indicates he was one of 15 children and left home in his teens and moved to Minnesota. However, he is buried in the Fort Scott, Kansas cemetery.

Find more more about Gordon Parks at Wikipedia. Photos taken by Kansas Land Brokers LLC at Kansas Museum of History and Who am I facts are from the plaques in the museum.