Deb Goodrich - Kansas Chronicles

Ask A Kansan
Mar 16
2 min read

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXqp3LcuHa8

Deb Goodrich is a journalist, author, historian, and filmmaker dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories that shaped Kansas and the American West. Originally from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Deb began her journalism career as a teenager writing for her local newspaper and later worked across radio, television, newspapers, and magazines. After moving to Kansas to complete her degree at Washburn University, she discovered a deep passion for Kansas history—an interest that would become the central thread of her career.

Deb has spent decades researching and telling the stories of the region through writing, public speaking, film, and museum work. She serves as historian-in-residence for the Fort Wallace Museum and has collaborated on several historical film projects, including work with Kansas filmmaker Ken Spurgeon. Her documentary The Moccasin Speaks, which explores the 1874 German family massacre in western Kansas, has aired on PBS, and she continues to contribute to new historical film projects such as Under the Painted Sky. Deb’s storytelling bridges journalism and cinema, bringing Kansas history to life for modern audiences.

As an author, Deb is best known for her biography From the reservation to Washington: The Rise of Charles Curtis, which highlights the remarkable story of Kansas-born Vice President Charles Curtis, the first person of Native American ancestry to hold that office. In addition to writing and filmmaking, she is a sought-after speaker who presents programs across the country on Kansas history, western expansion, and notable historical figures. Through her work, Deb continues to champion the idea that Kansas is far more than a flyover state—it's a place filled with powerful stories waiting to be told.