J.B. Muecke’s photo shows two POWs working on a farm in Franklin County. The photo was taken in the former community of Ransomville, on Old US 50 between Ottawa and Williamsburg, and the buildings are still standing.

During World War II, nearly 400,000 German, Italian, and Japanese military were captured and housed in almost 700 camps throughout the United States. More than a dozen of those camps were located in Kansas, including a German POW camp in Ottawa, in Franklin County. But why were prisoners of war brought to America? Candie Campbell will examine the camp system as well as explore the story of the prisoners of war held in Ottawa in Franklin County during a program, “German Prisoners of War in Franklin County,” which will be held 2 p.m. June 25, 2023, online and in person at the Franklin County Historical Society.

Campbell graduated from Emporia State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education with an emphasis in the social sciences and mathematics, and completed a Master of Arts in Teaching with an emphasis in American History and Political Science. Her master thesis, “German Prisoners of War Come to Franklin County Branch Camp #6, Ottawa, Kansas,” was defended in 2001. She continued graduate work in criminal justice at Washburn University.

Campbell has been an educator for the past 27 years at the high school and community college level. Currently, she teaches American government and has developed and instructs the law enforcement, public safety, and security career pathway at Ottawa High School. Campbell has received a variety of awards and honors over the years as an American history and political science educator. She continues to participate and present at workshops and conferences.

This free program will be held at the Franklin County Historical Society Archives & Research Center, 2011 E. Logan St., in Ottawa. It will also be available online via Zoom (registration required) or Facebook Live. For more information, see www.olddepotmuseum.org or call 785-242-1232.