Founder and Interim President

Angela Bates is the organizer and founder of the Nicodemus Historical Society. She has achieved the vision of a community organization that would collect, preserve and interpret the history of Nicodemus in collections including historic photos, documents, and objects. Since 1988 when she first envisioned the organization, she was handed the preservation baton from her great cousin and former NFL football player Veryl Switzer. In 1996 her efforts to get Nicodemus designated a unit of the National Park Service was finally achieved. After 30 years of hard work she continues to pursue efforts that contribute to her legacy as an honored steward of her home town Nicodemus.

Board Secretary

Ashley Adams, Ph.D. is a Nicodemus descendant and has served as the Nicodemus Historical Society Board Secretary since January 2017. She is the granddaughter of the late Leota Garland-Buford (George), and daughter of Leota Buford-Love-Marks (Lawrence), flowering from the Garland-Alexander family line, whom were amongst original settlers in Nicodemus.

Dr. Adams currently serves as Assistant Adjunct Professor of Public Policy at Mills College, in Oakland, California.

Board Treasurer

Kathy Atkisson is the mother of two sons. She and her husband run a ranch and farm operation north of Nicodemus. She has been the treasurer for the Nicodemus Historical Society and the Nicodemus Emancipation/Homecoming Celebration for over 8 years and has served with her husband on the Kansas Fair Board.

Descendent and Webmaster

Robert has been a Board Member since 2017. He is a descendent of Nicodemus and is also the Chairman of the Nicodemus Homecoming Committee. He has been married since 1983 and a father of 1. In 2016, he retired from the Information Technology industry after 40+ years.

Enjoys physical workouts, hunting, golf, and gardening