Feeding Chickens
Date: 1908
This black and white photograph shows a young girl feeding chickens. In the background an advertisement for Quakers Oats is visible.

Chickens and a poultry house in Chase County, Kansas
Creator: Chase County Extension Office
Date: 1935
A photograph showing an unidentified girl standing by a poultry house with a flock of chickens in Chase County, Kansas. The photograph was copied from the Chase County Extension office annual report.

Women jury, Wamego, Kansas
Date: November 1912
This black and white photograph shows the first all women jury in the state of Kansas from Wamego. The case was the State of Kansas vs. Mina Johnson. The charges were stealing four Wyandotte chickens, two hens and two cockerels valued at $3.50 from Mrs. Geo T. Raines of Louisville, Kansas. The jury of six women listen to the evidence before reaching a verdict of "not guilty". The members are identified as follows: front row: Mrs. Jesse Ferril, Mrs. N.D. Welty, and Mrs. R.C. Hulbard ; back row: Mrs. O.B. Larson, Mrs. Russell Helm; jury foreman, and Mrs. Archer Ferril.

Agricultural scene, Finney County, Kansas
Date: 1916
The photograph shows farm wagons and a grain elevator on an unidentified farm in Finney County, Kansas. The photograph was taken in 1916.

A joyful Easter
Date: Between 1900 and 1914
This German printed postcard wishes "A Joyful Easter" as a young boy dressed in a sailor's uniform sits on a wooden cage holding a baby chick. Brightly colored eggs and chickens are visible in the foreground.

Rachel Strange Walls Marshall home, Marshall County, Kansas
Date: 1926
Photograph looking south from Rachel Strange Walls Marshall's house, south of Bigelow, Marshall County, Kansas.

Rachel Strange Walls Marshall, Marshall County, Kansas
Date: December 04, 1909
View of Rachel Strange Walls Marshall feeding chickens in front of her home, near Bigelow, Marshall County, Kansas.

Kansas. A complete and comprehensive description of the agricultural, horticultural, stock raising and mineral resources of Kansas
Creator: Union Pacific Railway Company
Date: 1903
This Union Pacific Railroad pamphlet promotes Kansas as an abundant and ideal place to settlement.

Kansas. Resources, population, industries, opportunities and climate
Creator: Union Pacific Railway Company
Date: 1909
This Union Pacific Railroad pamphlet highlights the natural and human resources found in Kansas at the time of publication.

Edna Heim to Clarice Snoddy
Creator: Heim, Edna
Date: May 11, 1936
This letter from Edna and Bill Heim was sent to Clarice Snoddy, a resident of Topeka. The Heims were caring for Snoddy's farm in Smith County and frequently updated her on the status of her farm. According to Edna Heim, Smith County had experienced rain on and off for the last few days, which had prevented her husband Bill from planting any corn on Snoddy's farm. Heim also mentions her chickens and her vegetable garden.

Comparative Cost of Travel
Date: 1919
Promotional brochure exhorting the virtues of automobiles and trucks over team drive carriages in the hauling of agricultural products over good roads.

Albert G. Boone to Thomas Nesbit Stinson
Creator: Boone, Albert G.
Date: January 16, 1860
Albert G. Boone, writing from Westport, Missouri, to Thomas N. Stinson, described his unsuccessful efforts to sell a printing press for Stinson. Boone suggested that Stinson contact "Free Statemen" with whom he was on good terms to see if they could help him sell it. Boone added a postscript to the letter asking about the prospects of a treaty with the Pottawatomie.

A flock of chickens
Creator: Steele, F. M. (Francis Marion), 1866-1936
Date: Between 1891 and 1912
View of flock of chickens, a man, chicken coops, farm buildings, and a windmill on an unidentified farm presumed to be in Haskell County, Kansas. Poultry was a very important food source before refrigeration was commonplace in rural households on the prairie. Chickens and turkeys also provided a much-needed source of income through the sale of live birds and eggs.

A man feeding chickens
Creator: Steele, F. M. (Francis Marion), 1866-1936
Date: Between 1891 and 1912
View of a man feeding chickens on an unidentified farm presumed to be in Haskell County, Kansas. Also visible in the photograph are a farmhouse and several farm buildings.

F. E. (Gene) Murphy and L. W. Murphy in Haskell County, Kansas
Creator: Steele, F. M. (Francis Marion), 1866-1936
Date: Between 1891 and 1912
View of Francis Eugene (Gene) Murphy (seated) and L. W. Murphy (behind barrel) at an unidentified house in Haskell County, Kansas. This was F. E. Murphy's home before he built a new home east of Santa Fe, Kansas. Also visible in the photograph are five chickens.

John Summer residence northeast of Dunlap, Kansas
Date: Between 1880 and 1885
This black and white photograph shows John Summer and his family standing in front of their home located two miles northeast of Dunlap, Morris County, Kansas. The home was built in the 1880s.

Kansas Emergency Relief Committee accomplishments movie
Creator: Kansas. Emergency Relief Commission
Date: 1936
This motion picture film documents the various work projects completed in Kansas during President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal. It begins with an introduction to the Kansas Emergency Relief Committee personnel, starting with the executive director, John G. Stutz. It then shows the various projects across the state, including the construction of farm ponds and lakes as part of the Water Conservation Program, the renovation and construction of courthouses, schools, libraries, and other public buildings, and the weaving and sewing rooms that produced clothing for needy Kansans. It also includes footage of rabbit drives, dust storms, and women sweeping piles of dust out of their homes. Click on the thumbnails below to play each clip. Click on Text Version for a detailed description of each chapter.

Kansas demonstration train. "Cow, Sow & Hen"
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad Company
Date: May 1, 1922-May 13, 1922
These field notes document the activities of the "Cow, Sow & Hen Special," a farm demonstration train operated by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad and the extension office of the Kansas State Agricultural College. The notes document the location, time, weather, attendance, speakers and departure time. The notes reveal the author's expectations concerning the intended audience and its response to the exhibits and instruction. Demonstration trains such as this one represented an alliance between railroad companies, agricultural scientists and, manufacturers to promote settlement, improve farm management, and market commercial farm products. The railroad's Agricultural Development and Publicity Office managed the trains.

Cow, sow and hen train
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad Company
Date: May 13, 1922
This circular, distributed by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, announces the arrival of the "Cow, Sow & Hen" demonstration train at Osage City. The flyer identifies the speakers and topics and especially invites women to attend. Demonstration trains such as this one represented an alliance between railroad companies, agricultural scientists, and manufacturers to promote settlement, improve farm management, and market commercial farm products. The railroad's Agricultural Development and Publicity Office managed the trains.

Kansas Grand Circuit Association
Date: 1888
This advertising poster for the Kansas Grand Circuit Association fair identified the association's officers, and the 1888 fair's locations and dates throughout the state of Kansas in Wichita, Winfield, Newton, Topeka, Salina, and Hutchinson.

Poultry and bees on farms
Creator: Union Pacific Railway Company
Date: May 20, 1912
This Union Pacific Railroad agricultural bulletin, number 102, shows statistical production of poultry and bee colonies for areas west of the Mississippi River, with a comparative evaluation for 1900 and 1910.

The twenty-first annual Anderson County fair
Date: August 29 - September 1, 1893
This poster announces a fair to be held at Garnett, Kansas, in Anderson County. Highlights include livestock, horse racing, a band of music, and various exhibitions and entertainment events. The poster includes a color illustration of livestock, fair scenes, and farm implements. Fair association officers are R. T. Stokes, president, and M. L. White, secretary.

The eighth annual fair of the Cherokee County Agricultural and Stock Association
Creator: Cherokee County Agriculture and Stock Association
Date: October 11-14, 1887
This poster announces a fair to be held at Columbus, Kansas, sponsored by the Cherokee County Agricultural and Stock Association. Highlights include livestock and horse racing events, and mechanical and farm exhibitions. The poster includes color illustrations of livestock, and horse and sulky racing.

Fifth annual state fair of Kansas, Topeka
Creator: Kansas State Fair Board
Date: September 19 - 24, 1887
This poster advertises the fifth annual Kansas State Fair at Topeka, Kansas. Highlights include exhibitions of livestock and crops, horse racing, leading bands, and fruit and flower displays.

Ninth annual exposition and fair, Manhattan, Kansas
Date: September 24 - 27, 1878
This poster advertises the ninth annual exposition and fair at Manhattan, Kansas. Highlights include livestock, agricultural crops, horse racing, baby judging contest, musical and other entertainment events.