The Franklin Collection contains letters, photographs, clippings and personal papers of Chester and Ada Franklin. The Franklins traveled extensively, and often separately. The love letters they exchanged reveal their relationship and times in which they lived. Please enjoy Black Archives of Mid-America's first collection to go online.

• Chester Arthur Franklin Biography
• Chester Arthur Franklin Photographs
• Ada Crogman Franklin Biography
• Ada Crogman Franklin Photographs
• The Kansas City Call History

Someone has said, "An organization is but the lengthened shadow of one man." Behind any successful institution usually lies the guiding genius of an individual who had a dream and a plan.

The Call is no exception. Chester A. Franklin founded The Call newspaper in April 1919 and remained its active head and guiding spirit for 36 years.