100 years ago in Kansas, December, 1918:

December 3, 1918.

-Special police patrolled Topeka streets to see that no one violated the influenza quarantine.  Among the deaths was that of Mrs. S.M. Brewster, wife of the Attorney General.

December 4, 1918.

-The State Board of Health had recorded 1,138 deaths from influenza, exclusive of those at Camp Funston and Fort Leavenworth.

December 6, 1918.

-William Allen White and his son, Billy, left Emporia for France to represent a group of newspapers at the peace conference.

December 7, 1918.

-Governors of seven states reviewed the 10th Division on Britain Day at Fort Riley.

December 10, 1918.

-Junction city, Pratt, Iola, Newton, and Independence had banned public meetings because of flu.  Camp Funston was quarantined.

December 12, 1918.

-The State Home for Feeble-Minded, Winfield reported 300 cases of influenza.

December 20, 1918.

-Christmas trees were placed outdoors because of the flu epidemic.  Holiday entertainment would be in the open.

December 31, 1918.

-Topeka had had 3,900 cases of influenza and pneumonia with 208 deaths since October 1.

Blair Tarr is the Museum Curator of the Kansas State Historical Society. He oversees the three-dimensional collections of the Society, but has special interests in the Civil War, Wichita-made Valentine diners, and Leavenworth's Abernathy Furniture. In the last few years he has also done a lot of cramming on The Great War. He is a past president of the Kansas Museums Association and the Civil War Round Tables of both Kansas City and Eastern Kansas. He is currently a board member of the Heritage League of Greater Kansas City.