Kansas Shaping America- Kristen Epps

Tanner Colvin
10 hours ago
2 min read

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSQ5NFW_urE

Kristen Epps is a historian, author, and educator whose work explores the people and events that have shaped Kansas and the nation. A professor at Kansas State University, Epps also serves as editor of Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains, a peer-reviewed publication produced in partnership with the Kansas Historical Society. Although born in Colorado and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she considers herself an adopted Kansan after discovering a deep appreciation for the state's rich and often overlooked history.

Epps' research focuses on the intersection of Kansas history and the broader American story, particularly the era of Bleeding Kansas and the expansion of slavery into the American West. Her acclaimed book, Slavery on the Periphery, challenges traditional narratives by placing the experiences of enslaved people at the center of the story, revealing how the conflict over slavery directly affected lives in Kansas long before statehood. Through years of archival research in courthouses, historical societies, and collections across the region, she has worked to uncover voices that have too often been left out of the historical record.

Passionate about making history accessible beyond the classroom, Epps is dedicated to helping the public understand why the past still matters today. She believes Kansas has played a pivotal role in shaping the United States—from the fight over slavery and the Civil War to movements for civil rights, women's suffrage, and social reform. Her forthcoming narrative history of Kansas, co-authored with Jim Leiker and scheduled for release in early 2027, brings together centuries of Kansas stories in an engaging and approachable way, inviting readers to discover how the Sunflower State has influenced the nation's past and continues to shape its future. Click to expand images