Meet the Past

New York-area pianist/vocalist John Bauers portrays legendary lyricist Johnny Mercer (“One More for My Baby,” “Moon River,” “Days of Wine and Roses”), sitting down with Library Director Crosby Kemper III in a tune-filled installment of Meet the Past.

A questionable court-martial ended Henry Ossian Flipper's military career in 1882—he'd be pardoned more than a century later—but it scarcely stained his place in American history. Born into slavery, Flipper rose to become the first African-American to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He took ch...

His comedies, histories, and tragedies have been performed worldwide for more than 400 years, but William Shakespeare’s personal life remains something of a mystery. In a special installment of the unique, Emmy Award-winning series Meet the Past, the famed playwright – as portrayed by Kansas City actor...

The latest installment of Meet the Past with Crosby Kemper III spotlights two of the Midwest’s greatest artists, Kansas City’s Thomas Hart Benton and Iowan Grant Wood, painter of the iconic American Gothic.

The latest installment of the Library’s Emmy Award-winning series, Meet the Past with Crosby Kemper III, spotlights one of the preeminent figures in 20th century African American literature, Zora Neale Hurston.

A conversation with eminent writer Ernest Hemingway, as portrayed by Rusty Sneary.

From Kansas City’s signature Country Club Plaza to pristine shopping districts and neighborhoods across the country, J.C. Nichols’ imprint on the American landscape remains deep and far-reaching. The famed real estate developer, who died a little more than 64 years ago, is spotlighted in this installment of the Library...

Veteran re-enactor Charles Everett Pace brings his one man show to Kansas City to portray prominent abolitionist and social reformer Frederick Douglass. Born enslaved in 1818, Douglass successfully escaped from bondage in 1838 and quickly rose to the front ranks of leading abo...

Meet the Past with Crosby Kemper III returns for a conversation with Tom Bass, portrayed by veteran actor Walter Coppage.

Meet the Past with Crosby Kemper III returns for a conversation with Thomas Jefferson, as portrayed by Patrick Lee.