Advancing Descendant Engagement in Nicodemus, Kansas
Advancing Descendant Engagement in Nicodemus, Kansas
A Reparative Approach to Preservation and Stewardship
by Ashley C. Adams, Ph.D.
Mills College at Northeastern University
August 2025
This report introduces a new descendant engagement plan for Nicodemus, Kansas—a historic Black settlement founded in 1877 by formerly enslaved African Americans seeking freedom and self-determination. As one of the last remaining historic Black towns west of the Mississippi River, Nicodemus stands as a powerful symbol of Black resilience and community vision. Despite its national significance, the town faces persistent challenges, including underrepresentation in preservation systems, preservation inequities, and limited descendant involvement at the
Nicodemus National Historic Site.
To address these concerns, the Nicodemus Historical Society partnered with Dr. Ashley Adams, a Nicodemus descendant and the Society’s Board President, to lead the Nicodemus Genealogy Engagement Project. Through a comprehensive descendant survey and focus group study, the project gathered critical data on descendant priorities, challenges, and visions for the future of Nicodemus preservation.
Findings revealed a strong desire among descendants for increased participation in historical preservation efforts, greater access to genealogical and historical data, and long-term investment in infrastructure, education, and digital tools. In response, the project introduced the Nicodemus Rubric for Descendant Engagement, a new evaluative framework grounded in principles of cultural healing, sustainable equity, and community governance.