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had been excluded from the allotments, and as
American Indian land, it was considered to be controlled by the Wyandotte Nation, which has a tribal government based in Oklahoma. The historic burying ground held Conley's maternal ancestors and others of both the present-day Wyandotte Nation of Kansas and the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma. The earliest burials dated to 1843, when the tribe had first come to Kansas.
270:, to Ohio and Kansas. Her family history was fairly common within the Wyandot Nation at the time, as increasing numbers of Wyandot married and had children with European Americans, resulting in increasing numbers of multiracial tribal members. The Conley family's move West was also part of a larger Wyandot migration as white encroachment of their ancestral land increased.
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492:
contract with Kansas City to forever maintain, protect and provide lighting and police protection to the cemetery. In
February 1916 she was reported to been handling an appeal of a Bannock Indian named Luther Bearskin who was serving a sentence for being involved in the shooting of a man and woman eight years before.
507:
Conley died on May 28, 1946, and was buried near other family members three days later in the cemetery she had fought so hard to protect. Lyda's good friend, Wilma
Kollman, stated that the evening before she died, Lyda was coming home from the library when a man jumped from the bushes, whacked her on
447:
The Conley sisters believed that it was wrong to sell and dismantle the cemetery. Their grandmother Hannah Zane, mother
Elizabeth and sister Sarah were buried there, as well as numerous cousins, uncles, and aunts. The revolt of the three sisters got underway in 1907, after plans broached the previous
533:
would have required agreement by lineal descendants of people interred at the cemetery. Those in Kansas City were strongly set against any development. Finally, in 1998 the
Wyandot Nation of Kansas and Wyandotte Nation came to agreement to preserve the cemetery only for purposes that were religious,
392:
In this cemetery are buried one-hundred of our ancestors ... Why should we not be proud of our ancestors and protect their graves? We shall do it, and woe be to the man that first attempts to steal a body. We are part owners of the ground and have the right under the law to keep off trespassers, the
334:
In 1855, some of the
Wyandots accepted the government's offer of United States citizenship, as they were judged ready to join the majority society. Their land in Kansas was divided among the individuals. Members who were not ready to give up their tribal institutions migrated from Kansas in 1867 and
495:
In June 1937, Conley chased some people from the cemetery. She was charged by the police with disturbance. A young judge gave her choice of a $ 10 (equivalent to $ 212 in 2023) fine for disturbing the peace or a 10-day jail sentence. Proudly, Conley served the sentence. A newspaper item of June
491:
With the land protected, Conley acted as a guardian over the property, extending her care to its birds and squirrels. She often walked from her home at 1816 North Third Street to carry water and nuts to them. The federal government had agreed to keep the cemetery "improved" by entering into a 1918
374:
When this controversy arose, the
Wyandot descendants in Kansas City were considered an "absentee" or "citizen class" of the Wyandotte Nation and did not have legal control of the burial ground. In 1855 they had accepted the United States citizenship and land allotments in Kansas. The burial ground
528:
That only made new proposals more complicated to implement, but groups continued to put them forward. The development of gaming as revenue generators for Native
Americans added new pressure. In the 1990s the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma evaluated the Huron Cemetery for redevelopment as a gaming
320:
in 1902 and was the first woman admitted to the Kansas bar. Sarah "Sallie" Conley (1863-1880) died at a relatively young age. Ida Conley (1865–1948) was also active in civic and public life. The sisters shared a house in Kansas City, where they lived together all their lives. None married.
986:
Henry Van Brunt, "Three
Sisters Defense of Cemetery Lasts Nearly Forty Years: Recent Death of Miss Lyda Conley Recalls Long Series of Outbreaks and Defiance of Law by Women Who Built Shack on Indian Burial Ground in Heart of Kansas City, Kansas and Lived beside Graves of
472:
In 1913, Congress repealed the bill authorizing the sale of the cemetery. The dispute between those wanting to preserve the cemetery, and those wanting to develop the land continued. One year Lyda Conley was arrested for shooting a policeman in the Huron Indian
Cemetery.
378:
Conley and her sisters strongly disagreed with the proposed sale. They erected a structure at the cemetery so they could live there around the clock and protect the burial ground. They took turns standing guard with muskets and put up "No trespassing" signs around it.
286:. Some of their children were born there, including Elizabeth's mother Hannah, as well as grandchildren. In 1843, under United States government pressure, the Wyandot were forced to leave Ohio and move further west to Kansas as part of an
455:
The Conley sisters announced that they would protect the graves of their ancestors with shotguns if necessary. They marched to the cemetery and threw up a 6-by-8-foot (1.8 by 2.4 m), one-room frame shack and moved in. H.B. Durante,
516:
Groups continued to press for development. In 1959, the Wyandot Nation of Kansas was incorporated as a nonprofit organization but still had no control over the Huron Cemetery. It has been seeking federal recognition.
438:
of Kansas, also of mixed Native American ancestry, introduced a bill in Congress that precluded the sale of the cemetery and made the land a national park. This was passed in 1916 and the cemetery was protected.
433:
As the case gained national attention, the Conley sisters worked to build other kinds of support. Women's clubs in Kansas City and similar associations strongly opposed development of the cemetery. US Senator
281:
by the Wyandots and adopted into the tribe. Isaac Zane lived with the Wyandot nation for 17 years and married White Crane, daughter of Chief Tarhe. They moved with the tribe to Ohio and founded the town of
520:
Over the decades Kansas City and the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma floated many proposals for development of the cemetery. Preservation groups succeeded in 1971 in having the Huron Cemetery listed on the
228:, headquartered in Oklahoma. In 1998, the two groups finally agreed to preserve the Wyandot National Burying Ground only for religious, cultural, and related purposes in keeping with its sacred history.
460:, commented that it was a unique situation because of the conflict between two groups of Wyandot over the land. Only one had federal recognition for legal responsibility. He suggested it was up to the
792:
On July 21, 1910, Helena Conley was arrested after threatening with a club persons who were trampling her parents graves The Topeka state journal., July 21, 1910, LAST EDITION, Page 3, Image 3
786:
The report of Lydia Conley being arrested is not in the Huron Cemetery Chronology see reference #7 Huron Cemetery Chronology. However on July 21, 1910, Helena Conley was reported arrested
476:
Although she lost in the Supreme Court, Conley persevered in her fight, gaining support for preservation from women's clubs and civic associations in Kansas City. In 1916, Kansas
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to convey it for sale, with proceeds to go to the nation in Oklahoma. Kansas City had grown around it and developers wanted to expand on the prime property. At one corner was a
33:
355:
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went to Oklahoma as part of the 19th-century removals. There they kept some tribal structure and retained legal authority over the tribal communal burying ground, at the
956:
422:, where Conley was allowed to argue the case directly before the court. Because she had not been admitted to the Supreme Court bar, she appeared in court acting
530:
483:(Kaw/Osage/Prairie Potawatomi) introduced a bill in Congress (and secured its passage) that precluded sale of the cemetery and designated it a federal park.
660:
93:
861:
How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda
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for injunction against the government's authorization of sale. The court ruled against the Conleys, so she appealed. The case went to the
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the head with a brick, and stole her purse, which contained only 20 cents (equivalent to $ 3.12 in 2023). Lyda died within 24 hours.
931:
1048:
803:
881:
How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States
171:. She challenged the government in court, and in 1909 she was the first Native American woman admitted to argue a case before the
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16, 1937, headed "Miss Lyda Conley Leaves Jail", was the last article about her until the notice of her death in 1946.
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426:(in her own person). She was the first female Native American lawyer admitted before the U.S. Supreme Court. Justice
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932:"Interior Department Announces 24 New National Historic Landmarks | U.S. Department of the Interior"
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Eliza "Lyda" Conley's grave in Huron Indian Cemetery, along with that of her sister Helena "Lena" Conley.
302:
774:"The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, August 28, 1911, Morning, Image 7"
535:
214:
301:. In 1855, Elizabeth had received the land at the age of 17 when Wyandot tribal land was allocated in
448:
year for the city's purchase of the Huron cemetery for private redevelopment as retail property. The
430:
ruled in favor of the lower courts, which had determined the government's proposed action was legal.
427:
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Kim Dayton, "'Trespassers, Beware!' Lyda Burton Conley and the Battle for Huron Place Cemetery",
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The daughters were encouraged to seek education. Helena "Lena" Conley (1867–1958) graduated from
267:
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From the late 19th century, the cemetery was at the heart of a struggle between the unrecognized
879:
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840:(4 P.M. CITY ed.). February 15, 1916. p. 12 – via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
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cultural and in keeping with its sacred use. In December 2016 the cemetery was named as a
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J.B. Durant, Chairman of the Government commission that is trying to sell the cemetery
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560:""Trespassers, Beware!": Lyda Burton Conley and the Battle for Huron Place Cemetery"
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The Huron Indian Cemetery, officially the Wyandotte National Burial Ground, in 2015.
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In 1907, Conley filed a petition in the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of
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297:. They raised their daughters on a 64 acres (0.26 km) farm in present-day
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159:. She was notable for her campaign to prevent the sale and development of the
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had authorized its sale by the Secretary of the Interior in 1905 (1906).
237:
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Lyda Conley was the youngest of four daughters born to Elizabeth Burton
1051:, University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law (web.archive.org)
694:"Three Sisters' Defense of Cemetery Continued for Nearly Forty Years"
693:
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in recognition of its significant historical and cultural value.
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and an American lawyer. She was the first woman admitted to the
975:, 4 January 1872, on Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools Website
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415:
309:, forcing the grown Conley daughters to move into Kansas City.
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548:
32:
957:
List of first women lawyers and judges in the United States
742:
740:
772:
Humanities, National Endowment for the (August 28, 1911).
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right a man has to shoot a burglar who enters his home.
1027:(1st ed.). Overland Park, Kan.: Wornall Pub. Co.
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Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
593:
591:
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We shall keep right on asking bids for the property.
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Elizabeth Zane and Andrew Conley married in 1860 in
993:, June 7, 1946, on Wyandot Nation of Kansas Website
776:. p. 7 – via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
588:
305:. In later years, the property collapsed into the
1066:
382:Kansas City newspapers covered the controversy.
209:. In 1971, the Huron Cemetery was listed on the
849:
847:
633:. September 16, 1958. p. 1. Archived from
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619:
354:and the Brund Hotel was on another corner. The
808:University of Missouri: Kansas City Law School
653:
599:"Albert H. Conley: Genealogy of Conley Family"
1006:The 50 most influential women in American law
178:Her case appears to be the first in which "a
844:
688:
686:
684:
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1049:"The Inns of UNKC: Lyda Conley (1874-1946)"
358:was under reconstruction following a fire.
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316:in Missouri. Lyda Conley graduated from
273:Elizabeth Zane was the granddaughter of
1110:American people of Scotch-Irish descent
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897:"Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–"
529:casino. New protections under the 1990
190:." Conley gained the support of Kansas
1067:
557:
277:, who had been captured as a child in
197:, who proposed and led the passage of
1003:
895:Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.
467:
186:of Native Americans were entitled to
1130:People from Wyandotte County, Kansas
1061:, Kansas City, Kansas Public Library
918:"The Conley Sisters vs. Kansas City"
752:Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma Website
720:"About the Wyandot Nation of Kansas"
523:National Register of Historic Places
211:National Register of Historic Places
1135:20th-century American women lawyers
511:
348:United States Secretary of Interior
201:in 1916 to prevent the sale of the
13:
1140:20th-century Native American women
1100:American people of English descent
997:
663:. Wyandotte Nation. Archived from
661:"Wyandotte National Burial Ground"
627:"Descendant Of Wyandot Tribe Dies"
420:Supreme Court of the United States
213:, and in 2016 it was designated a
173:Supreme Court of the United States
14:
1151:
1042:
982:, vol. 8: 1, 1996, pp. 1–30.
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980:Yale Journal of Law and Feminism
567:Yale Journal of Law and Feminism
558:Dayton, Kim (October 23, 2015).
464:and federal troops to solve it.
924:
910:
826:
804:"The Inns of UMKC: Lyda Conley"
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169:Wyandot National Burying Ground
780:
765:
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645:– via "Conley Sisters",
266:descent who had migrated from
1:
1090:20th-century Native Americans
1085:20th-century American lawyers
1008:. Los Angeles: Lowell House.
962:
649:, Kansas City Public Library.
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329:
248:
247:, and Andrew Syrenus Conley (
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224:and the federally recognized
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47:
16:American lawyer (c.1869–1946)
1025:50 good women of Kansas City
1004:Berry, Dawn Bradley (1997).
889:American Antiquarian Society
869:American Antiquarian Society
708:– via www.wyandot.org.
541:
356:Scottish Rite Masonic Temple
205:and establish the land as a
148:– May 28, 1946) was a
7:
950:
934:. Doi.gov. January 11, 2017
748:"Huron Cemetery Chronology"
10:
1156:
969:"Vincent J. Lane Obituary"
536:National Historic Landmark
215:National Historic Landmark
1120:Native American activists
318:Kansas City School of Law
118:
107:
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94:Kansas City School of Law
89:
85:, Kansas City, Kansas, US
78:
67:May 28, 1946 (aged 76–77)
56:
39:
30:
23:
1023:Wornall, Ruthie (2012).
724:Wyandot Nation of Kansas
222:Wyandot Nation of Kansas
1125:Native American lawyers
834:"Indian Seeking Pardon"
443:Protecting the cemetery
268:New Canaan, Connecticut
111:Protecting the sale of
504:
412:
401:
371:
325:Career and public life
157:Kansas Bar Association
1095:Activists from Kansas
637:on September 29, 2006
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462:Department of Justice
428:Oliver Wendell Holmes
402:
390:
369:
1055:"The Conley Sisters"
388:(October 25, 1906):
631:Kansas City, Kansan
458:Indian Commissioner
167:, now known as the
71:Kansas City, Kansas
44:Eliza Burton Conley
25:Eliza Burton Conley
838:The Ogden standard
505:
468:Congress' decision
424:in propria persona
372:
295:Logan County, Ohio
188:federal protection
1059:People Collection
991:Kansas City Times
814:on March 21, 2008
698:Kansas City Times
647:People Collection
575:20.500.13051/7208
398:Miss Lyda Conley
385:Kansas City Times
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512:Final resolution
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352:Carnegie Library
344:Wyandotte Nation
299:Wyandotte County
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182:argued that the
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240:(1838–1879), a
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184:burying grounds
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288:Indian removal
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816:. Retrieved
812:the original
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131:Eliza Burton
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1080:1946 deaths
938:January 14,
873:1700–1799:
853:1634–1699:
339:in Kansas.
260:Scots-Irish
252: 1830
242:multiracial
199:legislation
165:Kansas City
146: 1869
123:Zane family
51: 1869
1069:Categories
987:Ancestors"
963:References
487:Later life
330:Background
284:Zanesfield
275:Isaac Zane
254:–1885), a
232:Early life
100:Occupation
63:1946-05-28
757:March 28,
542:Citations
303:severalty
180:plaintiff
951:See also
878:(1992).
858:(1997).
671:July 30,
450:Congress
407:—
396:—
279:Virginia
704:June 7,
608:June 7,
580:June 7,
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