My Golden Kansas

Words and Music: Harry W. Stanley and Gene Stanley
Source: Charles H. Templeton, Sr. sheet music collection. Special Collections, Mississippi State University Libraries.
MIDI / NWC

The Song Hit of the International Wheat Show

Kansas of wonderful dreams, the great dreamer,
The doer of deeds that are great
On tow'rd the stars tho' the pathway be difficult
Kansas our own beloved sunflower state.
In youth or in age we can never forget her,
and tho' far afield we may roam,
As the sunflower turns her bright face to the sun,
So our hearts turn to Kansas our home.

Chorus:
Golden the Sunflower emblem of Kansas,
Golden the sunshine that smiles on each hill.
Golden the grainfields that gleam on your prairies
Golden the leaves of your autumn so still
Golden and crimson your sunrise and sunset
Golden the start gleams, that pierce the night thru,
Golden our dreams of your glorious future
Golden our memories Kansas of you.

Kansas the songs of your birds at the dawning
Make harmony wond'rous and rare,
Kansas! the wild flow'rs that carpet your prairies are
sweeter to me than a garden most fair,
Your days they are brighter, your skies deeper blue,
and at nighttime the stars up above
Turn our tho'ts to the fields and their sunflowers bright,
In the wonderful Kansas we love.

January 31, 1921.
Original motions and resolutions
Mr Beard introduced House concurrent resolution No 5 which was read as follows
Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Kansas the Senate concurring therein:
WHEREAS, The state of Kansas has not yet adopted an official song; and
WHEREAS, It is evident that a great amount of favorable, effective and desirable publicity may accrue to this state by having a definitely recognized state song; and
WHEREAS, The children of our beloved state and our entire citizenship should be singing such a song of patriotism and state pride, since the songs that people sing exert a great influence upon their character and establish a bulwark against radicalism and disloyalty and destruction; and
WHERAS, A song entitled "My Golden Kansas" suitable for use as a state song has recently been composed by Harry W. Stanley and Eugene Stanley sons of former Gov. W.E. Stanley; and
WHEREAS, This song, "My Golden Kansas," wherever rendered the past few months at pageants, festivals, churches, public schools and patriotic occasions, and lately at the celebration incident to Kansas Day, has been received with great enthusiasm and hearty approval: therefore be it
Resolved, That the Kansas legislature deeply sensible and appreciative of the advantages of having a state song, and believing that the music and sentiment of "My Golden Kansas" is original in conception, attractive in melody and interpretative of the optimistic spirit of prosperous Kansas hereby gives its approval to this composition and recommends that it be played or sung at all occasions commemorative of the greatness of this state. It is deemed an especially fitting and happy tribute to former Gov. W.E. Stanley, and it is appropriate that the sixtieth year of the existence of Kansas as a state should be commemorated by the adoption of a state song;
Be it further resolved, That the House of Representatives of the state of Kansas, the Senate concurring, hereby adopt "My Golden Kansas" as the official state song.

Mr Beard moved that the author of the song, H.W. Stanley be invited to sing the song at the opening of to-morrow's session. The motion prevailed.

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