Welcome to Jay Price's Home Page. Thanks for dropping in!
Contact information:
e-mail: jay.price@wichita.edu
phone: 316-978-7792
Hi! I am one of those “Kansans by choice” who moved here from somewhere else, although I do have some ancestors buried near Hillsboro. I grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where my dad was a veterinarian and mom helped run front desk at the clinic. I did my bachelor’s in History at the University of New Mexico (Go Lobos!), my master’s in Government from the College of William and Mary (Go Tribe!), and my Ph.D. in History from Arizona State University (Go Sun Devils!). This may explain why I have a lot of southwestern references in my lectures. When I travel between Wichita and visiting my parents who still live in the Southwest, I say that I go home both directions.
I have been at WSU since 1999 and direct the Local and Community History Program. Check out the Society of Public Historians to learn more. My own research includes regional identity, place, ethnicity, and religion, especially as it shows up in the form of buildings. My academic publications include Temples for a Modern God: Religious Architecture in Postwar America and Gateways to the Southwest: The Story of Arizona State Parks. I have published a series of local photo histories in the community in partnership with my students and local institutions. These include Mexican Americans of Wichita's North End, African Americans of Wichita, Wichita's Lebanese Heritage, Kansas: In the Heart of Tornado Alley, The Cherokee Strip Land Rush, Wichita's Legacy of Flight, El Dorado!: Legacy of an Oil Boom, Wichita 1930-2000, and Wichita 1860-1930. For a fuller list of my publications, check out my Wichita State University profile page.
My current research involves a study of the leadership and legacy of Kansas Governor John Carlin; a study of Latinx families and businesses in the Wichita (check out https://somos.wichita.edu and the Stories for All project page to learn more); a photo history of the LBGTQ community of Wichita; and a graphic novel series looking at the story of Wichita through the eyes of Luke the Longhorn. A forthcoming edition of Luke the Longhorn, aka "Lucas Torito," is available in Spanish, thanks to a team of students and translators of which I am a part. In addition my history work, I am also taking Spanish classes at WSU. Entonces, soy estudiante y también un profesor.
Kansas is a great window into U.S. history with lots of opportunities to explore those stories often hidden in plain sight. The late Dr. Craig Miner took me under his wing and encouraged me to explore this state. I’m glad he did. My classes include HIST132: U.S.: History 1865-present; HIST 528: History of Wichita; HIST 535: History of Kansas; HIST/REL 542: Religion in America; and HIST 591: Introduction to Local and Community History. I also teach the first year seminar "So you Want to Publish A Book" that introduces freshmen to the behind the scenes of the publishing world.
On the personal side, I am married to a professional gardener who has helped me appreciate how the Kansas climate, land use, and the plants we see around us are connected. I love to geek out on generational theory (from the viewpoint of an out loud and proud GenXer), personality, temperament, and leadership things (MBTI: INFP; Enneagram 6w5; and Strengthsfinder: Input, Empathy, Learner, Restorative, and Ideation). My other passions include learning languages, architecture, flags, model building, ocean liners, and trains (Santa Fe, all the way).
