The life and times of Dallas City were recorded by George V. and Edith Allen and their son, George Philip Allen, with news and photographs in the Dallas City Enterprise from 1936 to 1986.

Now images of the town, through Phil Allen’s newspaper camera lens, are on display at the Kibbe Hancock Heritage Museum in Carthage. 

The display opens Sunday, Aug. 1, with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. hosted by the Allen family. Phil would have been 100 on Aug.1 this year. 

“The family is taking this opportunity to highlight the photography side of Phil's many talents,” said his daughter, Patricia Allen Stewart. 

“His photographs tell the story of mid-century life in the midwest, and this work deserves to be recognized.”

Photographs include school events, plays and graduations, city and church events, carnivals, parades and other newsworthy times.

The Dallas City Enterprise was started on May 12, 1899, by A.E. Shappel M.D., first operating in Niota and moving to Dallas City later that year.

After several owners, the paper was purchased by George V. Allen in 1936. In 1944, Allen bought the Dallas City Review and merged it with the Enterprise. His son Phil joined him in 1946, after graduating from Culver-Stockton College and serving in the Army Air Corps in World War II.

The Allens owned and published the newspaper from 1936 to 1986, when it was sold to Steve and Susan Kempher. The paper stopped publishing in March of 2001. The Allens have loaned nearly 200 photographs from their father’s collection to Kibbe Museum. All of them were developed in the newspaper’s darkroom. Also on loan is a camera bag with his camera, light meter and tripod.

The public is welcomed to this display opening and reception at 306 Walnut in Carthage. The museum is open from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays, from noon to 4 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday, or other times by appointment. Call 217-357-9552.