FRIENDS OF THE JAMES FARM
WHAT'S NEW AT THE FARM
Archaeological Accounts Topic At James Farm Talk WINNERS OF THE 2006 WRITER'S CONFERENCE
FICTION SHORT STORY Interpreter of the Year for 2005 named. Interpreter of the Year for 2004 named. Research Offer
Betty Barr meets Michael Martin-Murphey
A first-hand account of the 1978 James Farm archaeological dig will
be presented from 2-3:30 p.m., Saturday, September 16 in the museum theatre
at the farm. Speaker Bill Philyaw, 85, a local historian and artist,
share his experience in a presentation titled, 1978 Archaeological Excavations
at the James Farm: Looking for a Jesse James Burial Site. The presentation will
be included with regular admission.
Philyaw sought the direction of the late Professor Bob Bray, an archaeologist
from the University of Missouri -- Columbia, to oversee the 1978 attempt to locate
the original Jesse James gravesite on the James family farm. After finding nothing
where the oral history said the gravesite should be, Bray located the site through probing.
In a four day dig, excavators found the original casket. “When Jesse was exhumed in 1902,
his remains were placed in a new casket for transport to Mt. Olivet cemetery and the
movers apparently threw the original coffin back into the old grave,” said
Elizabeth Gilliam Beckett, Clay County Historic Sites Supervisor.
Information from the year-long dig was used in the development of exhibits at the
James Farm, according to Beckett. The same year, Clay County acquired the James Farm
as a historic site and rehabilitated the farm house, a project that was also completed 1979.
Philyaw is a retired artist from Hallmark with a keen interest in history and is a
longtime member of the Kansas City Archaeological Society (KCAS). Throughout the years,
he created dioramas for many museums in Kansas and Missouri. In addition to the 1978
dig at the James Farm, Philyaw has assisted with excavations at other sites including
those at Ft. Osage.
Judged By Don Glimore
1st Place: Kevin Clutter
2nd place: Bob Wybrow
Judged By Johnny Boggs
1st Place: THE BIRTH OF FRANK JAMES by J.S. Edgell
2nd Place: JESSE JAMES AT GALLATIN by Michelle Pollard
3rd Place: A QUIET RETREAT by S.L. Bass
Carolyn Brennecka has been named Interperter of the Year for 2005.
Gerri Spencer has been awarded the Zerelda's Choice Award. Great work and thanks!
Liz Murphy has been named Interperter of the Year for 2004.
Carolyn Brennecka is the runner up. Great work and thanks!
Bob Wybrow, 15 Hurstwood Drive, Bromley, Kent BR1 2JE, England, has a
collection of books on the James/Younger Gang and numerous contemporary
newspaper cuttings indexed by name, robbery and source. He is offering to
search his material for persons or events for members of Friends of the
James Farm at no cost. He also has a collection of contemporary newspapers
on microfilm and is making the same offer:
The newspaper reels he has at present are :
Daily Appeal (TN) Jun 19 1874 - Aug 20 1875;
Huntintgton Independent (WV) Apr 24 1873 - Feb 24 1876;
Kansas City Evening Star Sep 18 1880 - Oct 10 1884; Kansas City Times Jan
13 - Mar 6 1875;
Liberty Tribune Jan 1862 - Apr 30 1885;
Louisville Courier Journal Jan - Jun 1868, Jan - Jun 1972, Jul - Dec 1875,
Jul - Dec 1880;
Nashville Banner 1882/1883;
St Joseph Daily Herald Mar 6 1866 - Mar 23 1868;
St Louis Globe Democrat Apr 27 - Aug 4 1873, Jan 1 - Apr 14 1874, Jul 14 -
Dec 31 1876.
The searches do not include family histories. If you want to respond to
this offer, just drop Bob a line or email him at RWy2742361@aol.comwith
your interests and he will get back to you with what he can find. As
mentioned above, this is a free service. Bob asks that you make a token
donation to the Jesse James Farm of whatever amount you choose.
On June 3, 2003, The Director of Clay County Historic Sites, Beth Beckett and her
family accompanied by Betty Barr, the great-grandaughter of Jesse James
attended a concert at the Community Center in Liberty, Missouri by
country & folk music star Michael Martin-Murphey. As Beth reports, "After the concert,
Michael Martin-Murphey was signing autographs and selling his music. We stood in
line with Betty and I introduced Betty to Michael. I told him he was singing Jesse songs
to Jesse's great granddaughter. They talked to each other quite some time."
Beth goes on to say, "The last few songs were about Jesse and the others. He went into
quite a lengthy story about Clay County and knew his history quite well."
