JoCoHistory expands the public's sense of community through an understanding of Johnson County's history and its place in American society.
The purpose of JoCoHistory is to collaboratively provide access to historical materials related to Johnson County, Kansas. It utilizes the strengths and expertise of each contributing organization to develop a broadly accessible web presence.
Specifically, the goals of JoCoHistory are to:
- Access local information through digitization of original and unique materials regarding the history and development of Johnson County
- Provide access to locally and remotely held information relevant to the history of Johnson County
- Provide curriculum tools that meet Kansas and national curriculum standards
- Promote an understanding of the importance of local history and regional development
The initial phase of the project began in Fall 2004 and was made possible by funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and from the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners through the Heritage Trust Fund (HTF). Initial contributors for JoCoHistory were the Johnson County Museum, Johnson County Library, Johnson County Archives and Olathe Public Library. Subsequent years have seen the involvement of Kansas School for the Deaf, Lenexa Historical Society, Olathe Historical Society, Overland Park Historical Society and Shawnee Mission School District.