On November 14, 1902, Paul Laurence Dunbar recited his poetry in Kansas City, Missouri, at an event to benefit a new hospital for African Americans.
Paul Laurence Dunbar will give readings and recitations from his own writings Friday evening, Nov. 14, 1902, at Second Baptist Church, corner Tenth and Charlotte Streets, benefit Lange Hospital. The Hospital is located at 1227 Michigan Avenue, one of the most beautiful and accessible locations in the city. The building contains twenty-six rooms and is sanitary in every respect. No question of locality, creed or color shall influence the admission of patients.
Souvenir Program, November 14, 1902. The Kansas City Public Library (Kansas City, Missouri). Missouri Valley Special Collections, Hospitals: Lange, John. Item 31525.
Most hospitals of the time would not accept Black patients or hire Black doctors. To address both needs, a Kansas City physician named Thomas Unthank established two hospitals for African Americans in the region. The Lange Hospital was named for a successful Black musical entrepreneur.
Dr. Thomas Conrad Unthank, Negro physician and surgeon, and known as the "father of Kansas City's Negro hospitals," was responsible largely for the establishment of the Jackson County Home for Aged Negroes. He organized the first Negro hospital west of the Mississippi River, which was the Douglass Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas. Later, he established the Lange Hospital, 4227 Michigan Avenue. He was the first Negro to be a city physician.
"Dr. T. C. Unthank Dead." The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Missouri). November 29, 1932.
Mr. John Lange, manager, Mrs. Ruth Lange, secretary, Mr. J. W. Boone, pianist, constitute this famous organization of colored people who have traveled for the past twenty-five years. This is one of the most successful concert companies on the road, and is the only company in the world managed by a colored man. The company has made several thousand dollars. Mr. Lange is very charitable; he was the largest donator to the Lange Hospital which was opened in Kansas City for the colored people. Mr. Lange contributes much of his earnings to the support of the poor and destitute of his race.
"We Travel on Our Merit." The Topeka Plaindealer (Topeka, Kansas). December 25, 1903. Page 1.
Paul made a series of public appearances in Kansas and Missouri in late 1902 and early 1903. A few days after the benefit for Lange Hospital, he wrote a contrite letter to his estranged wife Alice. Paul and Alice had a violent separation in January 1902, and afterward she ignored his attempts to communicate with her.
Little Girl: I don't know how to write to you. For so long a time there has been in my heart something uncompromisingly hard against you. But I know now that love is above everything and I have just found out what you have gone through. I am so sorry for what I said to your mother. My heart has bled for it time and time again. Only now have I been able to steel myself to say it -- because God knows I have tried to hate you. I write this morning, sweetheart, when I am strong, when I do not come to you as a sickly supplicant, when I am sober and have no emotions. I love you. That is all, Wifelums. Is it enough?
Paul Laurence Dunbar to Alice Moore Dunbar, November 19, 1902. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 8).