to capture, preserve, and celebrate

President Obama's Kansas Heritage

Our Mission

To capture, preserve, and celebrate President Obama's Kansas heritage, sense of family, and Midwestern values; to educate and inspire all children by using his ancestry as a model; and to share his family's local history with people across Kansas, the nation, and the world.

President Obama speaking to a large group of enthusiastic supporters on the campus of Butler Community College in El Dorado, KS on January 29, 2008. Photo by Chris Neal/Shooter Imaging

Project Description

The President Obama Kansas Heritage Project (2009-present) is the work of a group of citizens from the greater Butler County area. Recognizing our civic duty to preserve a Presidential heritage, and honoring the role of Midwestern values in the strength of a nation, the group's current efforts are focused on collecting oral histories and artifacts, developing educational tools, and providing a website in order to make these resources available to the larger community. We invite individuals and groups who share our common concern to participate. Read more about the Project's History and Acknowledgements

Project Support

This project is supported by the Kansas Humanities Council, a non-profit cultural organization dedicated to promoting humanities programs across Kansas. More information is available at www.kansashumanities.org.

Tribute to Dr. Vietti

Dr. Jacki Vietti On her retirement as President of Butler Community College December 31, 2012, we wish to thank Dr. Jackie Vietti for her support and leadership during the past four years. A visionary founder of the President Obama’s Kansas Heritage committee, Dr. Vietti has ensured that we had broad representation from the community. She helped us engage in strategic planning and goal setting. She provided critical human, technical, and financial resources from Butler Community College. As you visit the various sections of our website, please remember that Dr. Vietti was instrumental in the creation of them all. Thank you, Dr. Vietti!

Oral Histories

The oral history library includes interviews with subjects who knew the Obama family, as well as those with a rich history of Butler County and South Central Kansas, and the culture and times when many of the Obama family were living in Kansas.

Have a story to share? We're expanding the oral histories library and currently accepting requests to be videotaped.

Tell Your Story

Virtual Museum

Started as a showcase of the Butler County History Center's collection developed by the museum's curator of education, Lisa Cooley, the virtual museum now includes photo contributions from the community at large.

Have some photos to share? We're interested in growing our collection.

Share Your Photos

Participate

Want to participate in the project? We need volunteers to help collect interviews for the oral histories library.

Be a Volunteer

We are also looking for companies, organizations, and individuals interested in becoming partners in this important project.

Become a Partner