Barton Community College instructor Linda McCaffery will present “Murder Mystery in Kansas History” at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, in the Cohen Center at Barton Community College. The Cohen Center is located in the Learning Resource Center, formerly the Library.
 McCaffery will appear in period dress for the free program, which is open to the public.
LRC DIrector Regina Casper said this is the second installment of a new monthly “KS History Snapshot” series. Last month, Barton student and history buff Shauna Koester presented “Life of an Officer’s Wife,” to provide insight into life as a woman during the Civil War in Kansas.
“The presentations are done by either students, staff or faculty,” she said. Programs will be held in the Cohen Center until they outgrow that venue, which seats about 20 comfortably. After each program, attendees are invited to join presenters in the LRC’s Coffee Cove.
The Cohen Center for Kansas history is dedicated to preserving resources and inspiring research in Kansas History. This alcove to the LRC is the result of a gift from Barton P. and Dr. Mary Davidson Cohen of Leawood, who also donated the 1,200 books that comprise the collection.
It is the dream of the Cohens and Barton Community College that these donations will provide the foundation for an ever-growing collection and a library that is constantly evolving as the center of information for Barton and the communities it serves.
“That’s kind of what we were trying to encourage (with the programs),” Casper said. The first one was attended by 15 people, a mix of students and community members. The presenters how to share their love of Kansas history, while making more people aware of the resources available at the Cohen Center.
The “KS History Snapshot,” seminar series will occur the second Thursday of every month at 2 p.m. in the Cohen Center. On Nov. 8, Dave Barnes and Rick Bealer will present, “Yarning at the Rendezvous.” They will appear as 19th century trappers around a campfire after a long day of trapping.