Campus art: the Bloch Mansion

The Bloch Mansion on campus has been known by many names. However, it has never been owned by the Bloch family.

The University Archives in Newcomb Hall has few articles and information on the mansion. The Kansas City Public Library also offers little information about it.

Tonya Crawford, senior archives specialist for the UMKC University Archives, however, did find some information on the house.

"It was also referred to on several occasions as 'The Shields House' or 'The Shields Mansion,'" she said. "Although it was still known as Oxford Hall for a time after UMKC acquired it."

The Bloch Mansion, built as the Oakland, has been used for educational purposes since 1954, after Martha B. Shields died.

The mansion housed other educational institutions as well.

"Over the course of several years, Mrs. Shields deeded ground along the property swath to the university," Crawford said. "In 1954, the Barstow School purchased the remaining property from the Shields estate.

"In 1958 Barstow school transferred the property to the J.C. Nichols company in exchange for 40 acres of J.C. Nichols property at 115 State Line Rd., where Barstow built a new school.

"During the time the Nichols Company owned the property, the mansion itself was leased to the St. Paul School of Theology (Methodist) and used the building for classes. The University seems to have acquired the house around 1965," Crawford said.

The mansion was once home to many treasures such as two unmarked articles the Archive has from 1920 and 1939.

One of these articles is on display at the Bloch Building. Kansas City Star Magazine - Sunday, January 10, 1926 stated, "An English Country Place Recreated - Old World Charm makes this Kansas City residence an impressive one."

Crawford said, "At any rate, the two (short) articles talk about how much the estate is valued at and the other article talks about how the mansion is stuffed with art treasures and it has hosted some VIP's over the years as well."

The house has held treasures since it was built. When the Shields' resided there, they owned many antiques and valuables, including an ornate music cabinet and a silver soup tureen resembling a life-size turtle.

Margot Asquith, in her memorable trip to Kansas City in 1922, said in her book "My Impression of America," "We traveled to Kansas City the night of the lecture and were met upon our arrival and taken into the country house of Mrs. Edwin Shields.

"After greeting her, I observed her fine tapestries, oriental china, portraits by Sir Joshua Reynolds, and other old masters. After breakfasting with Mrs. Shields, I asked her to show me over her beautiful house. I was reminded of Glen (Margot's ancestral home in Scotland) by the freshness of the chintzes and the general feeling of air and comfort that I saw wherever I went.

"For those of us that cannot speak so authoritatively as Mrs. Asquith, Mrs. Shields' home truly has a pervading charm which keeps the richness of the furnishing and the impressiveness of its exterior subdued. And, in perfect taste, it makes it the high type of American home. The prevailing atmosphere is of good taste and comfort."

Crawford said another typescript said the current School of Law building occupies part of the space which was the polo field for the original house.

The beautiful architecture of the original home was detailed by the 1926 article by saying, "At the crest of a hill at 51st and Cherry streets, almost obscured by foliage is the home of Mrs. Edwin W. Shields, a fine reproduction of a house of Tudor period," it said. "Much of its architectural beauty was copied from an actual English country house in Farnley, Yorkshire."

Today, the Shields' precious Oakland is the Bloch Mansion. The house has been added on to and is used for the UMKC School of Business and Public Administration. While beautifully maintained and preserved, the house has managed to stay up with the times with modern and contemporary art.

For more about the house, stop by the Bloch Mansion to view a case of old articles.

The living quarters of the building are beautifully maintained and accessible to students.

The addition is a cohesive compliment to the mansion.

rherndon@unews.com