Welcome to Kansas Memory
Primary sources online from the Kansas Historical Society
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Man milking a cow, Greeley County, Kansas
On June 26, 1867 the first barbed wire patent was awarded to Lucien B. Smith of Ohio. Kansan settlers found a lack of natural resources when arriving and were pushed to think creatively. The invention of barbed wire dramatically helped, being cost effective and long-lasting, barbed wire did not drain their supply of natural resources. Still popular today, Kansans can be seen using barbed wire on their farms and ranches.
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Selected Kansas newspaper titles digitized and available on Chronicling America.
Read more about the project at Kansas Digital Newspaper Program.
