Socolofsky collection dedication held at library
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
Dr. Homer Socolofsky, his wife Helen, and five of their six children were in Marion Monday to attend the dedication of the Homer Socolofsky Collection at Marion City Library. Also in attendance were grandchildren, three siblings, numerous in-laws, and nieces and nephews.
Socolofsky is a native of Marion. He graduated from Marion High School in 1940. Several of his classmates attended the dedication. He was a professor of history at Kansas State University more than 44 years and retired in 1992.
His brother Marion led the dedication ceremony, which was held in the Kansas Room. He and his wife Esther of Baton Rouge, La., were instrumental in compiling Dr. Socolofsky's books and papers into one collection for the library.
Librarian Janet Marler spoke about the Kansas Room and thanked the Socolofskys for the collection.
Rosse Case spoke about the days when he and Dr. Socolofsky were in Marion schools. He remembered recognitions Homer received for his athletic ability in football and track. Case noted that his wife Janice is a Socolofsky.
Doug Sharp, manager of Scully Estates, expressed appreciation for the professor's interest in William Scully. He noted that Scully owned 50,000 acres in Marion County by the late 1800s. He said 160 acres of land were enough for one farmer to live on. Therefore, many people resented the land baron, but he managed to keep his holdings together.
"The efforts you made to uncover information has been helpful to me," Sharp told the professor. "Thanks to you, Scully Estates is still going strong today."
Dr. H. Craig Miner, professor of history at Wichita State University, was guest speaker. He said Dr. Socolofsky chose not to cloak himself in the "cheap freedom of anonymity," but rather saw "time, roots, and place as not to be feared and fled but enjoyed."
Socolofsky talked about the 33 years he spent gathering material for his first book on William Scully. In 1971, he visited Ireland and Scully's birthplace. The book was published in August 1979.
The professor's writings include eight books, numerous articles, and many book reviews. All now are a permanent part of materials available in the Kansas Room at the library.
