About
Oversight and Operations
The Emmett Kelly Historical Museum was established in 1967 under the auspices of the City of Sedan, Kansas to honor it’s native son, Emmett Kelly Sr., the world famous circus clown, who was born on December 9, 1898 in Sedan, Kansas.
Board members are elected by the Emmett Kelly Historical Museum board of directors and approved by the Mayor and City Council. The museum functions as a community operated, publicly supported and funded, not for profit organization.
The Museum Board Members oversee the operations and care of the Emmett Kelly Historical Museum and of the Sedan Opera House where the Museum resides.
(aka: Emmett Kelly Museum)
Note: As a subdivision of the City of Sedan, the Emmett Kelly Historical Museum may except donations which would be deductible for income tax purposes through the exemption granted to governmental units to except contributions.
Museum History
In The Beginning
The Emmett Kelly Historical Museum was organized in early 1967, operating under the auspices of the City of Sedan. An organizing committee consisting of local volunteers helped to organize and develop the plans for the museum.
It all began when in March of 1942, Mrs. Velma Lowery of Sedan, received a
page from "The Detroit News Pictorial," from her sister. The article including
pictures of Emmett Kelly who had made a career of clowning, and in it stated that he was born in Sedan, Kansas.
Well, of course, news like that in a small town doesn't take long to get around.
For years the rumors would continue. People would speak of the news, some with disbelief, some with pride that a successful man such as Emmett Kelly would hail from a small farming community, such as Sedan. Over the years, the conversation increased as Emmett became even more famous and popular. Even in the early 1950's a Sedan High school student made a report for one of their classes about a story of Emmett's birth.
After years of much discussion, the conclusion was that the community should acknowledge Emmett Kelly. A committee was established to plan how they would honor him and things they would do. It was evident with much community support that a museum should be built to collect Emmett Kelly and regional artifacts and memorabilia. The fist co-chairmen and Sponsors of the Emmett Kelly Museum were Mr. and Mrs. Aden Lowery. A unique fun day would be set aside to honor Emmett Kelly as a native son and commemorate the new museum with a ribbon cutting.
Special preparations were made to contact Emmett himself and to invite him as the honored guest. He graciously excepted.
There were so much planning and preparations to be made for this special event that the central planning committee even divided into several subcommittees each with specific tasks. Community leaders got involved with the project along with numerous business leaders and community members. The community involvement was outstanding.
The event was named Emmett Kelly Day. A special parade would be established in a children's category called, Clown Fun Day, with floats, marching Bands, Clowns and contests. Band concerts, homemade ice cream social, a street dance, special Children's movies and of course, details for food and lodging were considered too.
Starting on June 21, 1967, and culminating on June 23, 1967, businesses would decorate their windows and shops, and city workers adorned the town with signs, banners and pictures, townspeople dressed up as clowns and were seen on the streets.
Everyone was happy and excited looking forward to the visit by Emmett Kelly, the
world's greatest, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus Clown to cut the ribbon to commemorate the museum and all the activities which were scheduled. TV, newspapers, and radios from around the world would be here in Sedan, Kansas to witness and record this historical event of Emmett Kelly's return to his hometown.
world's greatest, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus Clown to cut the ribbon to commemorate the museum and all the activities which were scheduled. TV, newspapers, and radios from around the world would be here in Sedan, Kansas to witness and record this historical event of Emmett Kelly's return to his hometown.
But, a few days before the scheduled activities, a long distance call to the
museum directors, Mr. and Mrs. Aden Lowery from Emmett Kelly came. Emmett expressed his sorrow that he would not be able to make the scheduled event as planned. An attempt had been previously made to coordinate with his schedule within a five day period of the scheduled opening. Unfortunately, it was not to be. Plans were then discussed to wait on the formal opening of the museum until his schedule would allow in September.
So, the public opening of the museum and all the activities that occurred went ahead and happened on June 21 - 23, 1967, as planned. A special formal event was then scheduled for September.
Emmett came to Sedan in September of 1967 for the formal opening on the
Emmett Kelly Museum. He toured the town seeing how much it had improved.
Remembering the 1896 Opera house that was re-built with stone just a few years before his birth.
He remembered the bandstand and how he and his younger sister Sylvia would sneak out on Saturday evenings and listen to the band play, often without their parent's permission. He chuckled to himself as he recalled the grassy field he would cross to sneak down to the railroad tracks where his father worked, to play and watch the trains.
During his visit in Sedan, Emmett took time out of his day, to visit the children
in the Sedan schools. He entertained them in a joint assembly by performing many of his "Weary Willie" clown routines. In one of his methods, Emmett drew several sketch drawings and a self-portrait. These drawings are still housed locally to encourage children and inspire them with visions of what they can accomplish.
Emmett Kelly, the world's most famous circus clown, is an inspiration to both children and adults. An unlikely hero who from humble beginnings, was born in a small town before the turn of the century, whose father was the section boss of the railroad crew and whose mother eked out a little extra income raising chickens for eggs and cows for milk, while she raised Emmett and his sister. It was with this hard work environment Emmett learned the value of family and hard work.
The City of Sedan is proud to be able to claim Emmett Kelly as their native son and honor him as a hero for all the joy and laughter he brought to millions throughout his life and career.
