By JOSHUA PHILLIPS
Northeast News
May 29, 2013

This month the Kansas City Museum received a generous donation from a long-time supporter of the museum.

John Herbst, former Kansas City Museum board member and former academic librarian at Metropolitan Community College, gave a financial gift of $10,000 to the Kansas City Museum in early May. Since the Herbst family lived in the Historic Northeast neighborhood for many years, his donation will go toward an exhibit at the museum about the Historic Northeast Kansas City neighborhood.

“Mr. Herbst is a generous, long-time supporter of the museum,” said Andrew Mouzin, community relations specialist at the Kansas City Museum. “For being in a historic neighborhood, it is a fantastic gift. We are excited for the gifts and are very gracious.”

Along with the $10,000 donation, Herbst gave the museum a commemorative plaque created by Kansas City artist Irma Starr. The plaque features one of the Corinthian capitals that adorns the south facade of Corinthian Hall at the Kansas City Museum.

“This part of the city is an integral thread in the fabric of Kansas City history,” Herbst said. “As the city grows, it’s important to recall and to educate new-comers and young people about this part of town, which has been thriving since right after the Civil War.”

Mouzin added there are several reasons the exhibit will be dedicated to the Historic Northeast Kansas City neighborhood.

The Northeast has been a historic community dating back to the mid to late 1800s, Mouzin said, with prominent families calling Northeast home, including the Scarritts, the Stevens and the Long family. Mouzin also noted that having Pendleton Heights as Kansas City’s first suburb and the Corinthian Hall building makes the Northeast a historic area.

“The people and cultures here in the Northeast make this area their home,” Mouzin said. “It is our job to collect and interpret that history (of the Northeast). It is important to tell this story of this neighborhood.”

The Kansas City Museum is still determining a date to begin working on the exhibit.

 

 

Generosity. Former Northeast resident John Herbst (center) shows off a commemorative plaque he recently donated to the Kansas City Museum. Created by Kansas City artist Irma Starr, the plaque depicts one of the iconic Corinthian capitals that ornament the south facade of Corinthian Hall. Herbst also donated $10,000 to the museum to create an exhibit that highlights Historic Northeast. Pictured from left to right are: Director of Collections Denise Morrison, Herbst and Kansas City Museum Director Christopher Leitch. Photo courtesy of the Kansas City Museum.
Generosity. Former Northeast resident John Herbst (center) shows off a commemorative plaque he recently donated to the Kansas City Museum. Created by Kansas City artist Irma Starr, the plaque depicts one of the iconic Corinthian capitals that ornament the south facade of Corinthian Hall. Herbst also donated $10,000 to the museum to create an exhibit that highlights Historic Northeast. Pictured from left to right are: Director of Collections Denise Morrison, Herbst and Kansas City Museum Director Christopher Leitch. Photo courtesy of the Kansas City Museum.

 

A closer look at the commemorative plaque. Photo courtesy of the Kansas City Museum.
A closer look at the commemorative plaque. Photo courtesy of the Kansas City Museum.