Episode 19A: Annie Chambers
For this minicast, we discuss a madam far removed from Madame de Pompadour; another country, another time period, a different social class. However, both used similar tools to gain power and influence; both used brains in addition to body to make their marks, and both had ties to a title that they were not born to. The madam du jour is Annie Chambers, the Queen of the Kansas City Red Light District!
Because we live in Kansas City, this woman’s life was physically close to us- but she was brought to our attention by one of our listeners! A sweet man named Donald sent us an email suggesting that we research this woman whose history he had become fascinated with many years ago while on a visit to our fair city. Just a quick search and we were hooked. We can’t tell you enough, your suggestions really do influence who we discuss- usually if you are interested in learning more, so are we!
Born in Kentucky in 1842, she was given the name Leannah Loveall (That’s enough to grab your attention right? A woman of negotiable affections has LOVEALL as her surname?) The family moved to Sullivan, Indiana when Annie was just a young girl so that Dad could operate a hotel.
If Annie’s story were a novel, it would begin on a day that was different, a day when change began. That day was when Abraham Lincoln was campaigning for the 1860 election and he came through Sullivan. Annie, against her father’s desires, rode on horseback in the parade.
She made a decision and marched in that parade for Abraham Lincoln, and it changed her life. We talk about what happened in the podcast- her life as a teacher, and as a woman who married very much like many women did at the time. We talk about her son, his death, and another three days of tragedy that sent her life off on an entirely different path that takes her from sporting houses in Indiana to her own “resort” in Kansas City.
Annie’s is a story about pulling yourself up by your bootstraps. Yes, it is also a story about prostitution and brothels, about the Kansas City Red Light district and “sporting life”. A tale of a Madam With a Heart of Gold who tried to treat her girls right. But she was a smart business woman who was always looking for ways to expand, always looking for the best for both her clients and her girls. She guided the woman who came to her to vastly improved lives, boasting a high success rate for sending her “girls” off to respectable lives and marriage.
Even in death, she used her wealth wisely. Her estate was bequeathed to the City Union Mission, an organization that is still providing support to the people of Kansas City. Of course, we go into all those details in the podcast, name drop again (Carrie Nation! ) And chat about details of her life including a VERY May/December romance and marriage later in her life!
Annie Chambers died on March 24, 1935 and is buried in Kansas City, her grave marked with the last legal married name that she had, Leannah Kearns.
The story of Annie Chambers is a remarkable adventure during a very exciting time in the history of the United States and we are thrilled to be able to share it with you.
TIME TRAVEL WITH THE HISTORY CHICKS
A good place to continue your journey learning more about the life of Annie Chambers is this short video produced by the Kansas City Public Library and available through KCPT . It’s not boring and dry, really! Check it out!
And here is recommended reading about this woman and her times from the Kansas City Public Library.
Another really informative stop is this family ancestry blog. After reading about Annie, we will confess that we clicked around the site and read more about the other people and times that are contained in this website – although they are not directly related to the topic at hand. We just get nosey like that sometimes. You never know what you are going to find!
Books : We found a historical fiction novel about Annie that did a decent job of filling in the blanks and bringing her story to life. We got our copy through our local library. (Have we spoken enough about our love of libraries?)
Annie’s house was destroyed in 1946, but her legacy lives on in the history of Kansas City and the good work done by those at the City Union Mission. Want to learn what that is? City Union Mission
We know that sometimes we introduce you to women you may not have known. This time it was one of our listeners who introduced us, and we are so very grateful that he did!
As always, music comes courtesy of Music Alley. Visit them at Music.mevio.com