George Miner Pottenger, World War I soldier
Date: 1918
Around 1919, the Kansas State Historical Society and the American Legion solicited biographical information from returning veterans (primarily members of the 35th and 89th infantry divisions) and the families of those who died in service, notably from the Gold Star Mothers. Each veteran or family member was asked to provide letters, photographs, a biography, and military records. This file contains information on George Miner Pottenger, Company D, 134th Infantry and Company I, 387th Infantry. George died of pneumonia on October 16, 1918.

Descriptive atlas of Osage County, Kansas
Creator: Hennessey Brothers (Firm)
Date: 1899
This atlas shows maps of each township with the names of landowners. It has a patrons' directory, and plats of towns as of the year of publication.

Standard atlas of Osage County, Kansas
Creator: Geo. A. Ogle & Co.
Date: 1918
This atlas shows maps of each township with the names of landowners. It has a patrons' directory, and plats of towns as of the year of publication.

Kansas, her resources and developments
Creator: Griswold, Wayne
Date: 1871.
A guide containing information on living in the state of Kansas. This booklet reports on various topics that include but are not limited to, emigration, population and education in Kansas.

Kansas in 1875
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company
Date: 1875
A pamphlet produced by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Company to promote Kansas and its resources. It focuses on the Cottonwood and Arkansas Valleys of Kansas. Also included is a map of ATSF railroad connections with an advertisement of land for sale.

Manhattan, Alma & Burlingame Railroad stamp
Date: between 1880 and 1898
This brass stamp was used by the Manhattan, Alma & Burlingame Railroad when they operated in Burlingame from 1880 to 1898. The donor, Charles Goebel, was a Santa Fe employee for 46 years.

Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe stock train on Alma Branch, Burlingame, Kansas
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company
Date: Around 1942
This black and white photograph shows Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway steam engine 1080 pulling a stock train possibly on the Alma Branch near Burlingame, Kansas.

Osage County organization records
Creator: Kansas. Secretary of State
Date: 1862
In order for an unorganized county to be recognized by the state of Kansas, a certain number of householders/legal electors had to petition the governor. The governor would appoint a census taker. Initially, unorganized counties were required to document that they had at least 600 inhabitants in order to be recognized as a county by the state legislature. Over time the number of residents needed to organize a county changed to 1500 and later to 2500 residents. The census was submitted to the governor who then issued a proclamation indicating that the requirements had been met, appointing county commissioners and a county clerk, and naming a county seat. Not all of these documents are available for each county. Included in this file is a letter declaring Burlingame the county seat of Osage County.

Street Scene, Burlingame, Kansas
Date: Between 1881 and 1910
This photograph shows an exterior view of several business buildings in Burlingame, Kansas. The business on the corner is the First National Bank. The sign on the third store from the left reads, "Chas. Lyons, Druggist." The post in front of the store at the edge of the street has the traditional mortar and pestle pharmacy symbol on top of it. Other businesses visible in the picture include First National Bank, and Drew and Finch Dry Goods. Two horse-drawn carriages are visible on the left side of the photograph.

New York State Kansas Aid Society
Creator: Shurtleff, A. Havington
Date: 1857
The circular describes the procedures for emigrating to Kansas with a company sponsored by the New York State Kansas Aid Society. The group plans to locate near Council City (name changed to Burlingame).

William Morris Davis to Cyrus Kurtz Holliday
Creator: Davis, William Morris
Date: August 29, 1856
William Morris Davis wrote to Cyrus K. Holliday in Topeka, Kansas Territory, although Holliday was speaking in Pennsylvania in support of Republican presidential candidate John C. Fremont. Davis praised Holliday's efforts, for he saw both Fremont's election to the presidency and the free statehood of Kansas as steps toward the end of slavery. Millard Filmore, Know-Nothing candidate, had hopeless prospects, and Democrat James Buchanan would be rejected by the masses protesting the current administration, Davis claimed. This letter uses exalted, militant, and religious language to describe territorial and national conflict. Davis also mentioned William Y. Robers (lieutenant governor under the Topeka Constitution), Burlingame, and Cobb.

Kansas and Nebraska Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Minutes of the Third Session
Creator: Methodist Episcopal Church. Kansas and Nebraska Conference
Date: April 15-19, 1858
The annual conference was held in Topeka, Kansas Territory from April 15 through 19, 1858. The minutes included the names of those attending as well as the business conducted. It listed the various ministerial appointments in Kansas and Nebraska as well as the membership of the committees. The minutes reported on educational efforts at Baker University and Blue Mount Central College. It contained information on the church's stand on slavery and temperance. The constitution of the Kansas and Nebraska Conference Missionary Society was included in the report as were statistics for the various churches.

J.E. Snodgrass, Freedom's Struggle in Kansas
Creator: Snodgrass, J.E
Date: February 26, 1855
This printed circular letter is addressed "to the Friends of Freedom." In it, J. E. Snodgrass expressed his antislavery sentiments and claimed he knew about slavery first hand as he had been born in the South. He also promoted the activities of the New York Kansas League which he described as a "philanthrophic association" to aid emigration to Kansas. The document also discussed the American Settlement Company which was a "joint stock association" that promoted the settlement of free state supporters at Council City, Kansas Territory (later Burlingame). He closed with antislavery statements and offered to give free lectures on the topic. He was located in New York City at the time the document was printed.

Muster roll, Burlingame Rifles Company C
Date: 1857?
This "Muster Roll" identifies men of Burlingame Rifles Company C, under the leadership of Captain H.W. Wood, who were "mustered into the service" for the protection of the people of Kansas Territory. This document identifies men by their rank, and includes their names, age, height, riding equipment, and firearms owned.

Election, location of capital of Kansas, Topeka Convention, 1855
Date: October 23, 1855
The Free-State government held a constitutional convention in Topeka, Kansas Territory, from October 23 through November 11, 1855. One of its actions was to vote on the location for the capital of Kansas. According to these tally sheets, Topeka defeated Lawrence on the second ballot, 20 to 16. Numerous other towns received votes from the convention delegates on the first ballot.

Great Kanzas Enterprise, Circular of the American Settlement Company
Creator: American Settlement Company.
This brochure, published by the American Settlement Company, encourages the settlement of Council City (later Burlingame) on the Santa Fe Road in Kansas Territory. It includes the constitution of the American Settlement Company, descriptions of Kansas Territory climate and soil, and testimonials from the company's representative in Kansas Territory.

James R. Mead to his father
Creator: Mead, James R. (James Richard), b. 1836
Date: August 13, 1859
In this letter, James Mead writes from Tecumseh, Kansas Territory, to his father about his efforts to secure a claim. He includes information about the people of the territory, the beautiful vegetation, and the flourishing towns. Mead also writes of the immense amount of traffic along the Santa Fe Trail and of the roads to Lecompton and Topeka, which he declares are "the best roads I ever saw anywhere." In addition, he describes the buildings of Burlingame, Kansas Territory, and the make up of the community. At the end of the letter, he mentions the new constitution, which "is all Free State." These typed copies of the James R. Mead's letters were donated to the Kansas State Historical Society by Mr. Mead's family in 1940 when the originals were still owned by the family. The originals are now held by Wichita State University.

James R. Mead to his father and others
Creator: Mead, James R. (James Richard), b. 1836
Date: November 7, 1859
In this letter, James R. Mead describes his first buffalo hunt to his family and friends. He had recently returned from this adventure and apparently he was extremely successful, having killed thirty buffalo. He provides a rather detailed description of a buffalo's appearance so his friends and family would have a mental picture of this magnificent animal. Mead also mentions other wild animals, such as prairie dogs and rabbits, commenting on their plumpness. These typed copies of the James R. Mead's letters were donated to the Kansas State Historical Society by Mr. Mead's family in 1940 when the originals were still owned by the family. The originals are now held by Wichita State University.

James R. Mead to his father
Creator: Mead, James R. (James Richard), b. 1836
Date: August 26, 1860
In this letter, written from Burlingame, Kansas Territory, James R. Mead informs his father that he had come back to eastern Kansas to work for Mr. Titus, presumably pro-slavery Colonel Titus. Mead still maintains a ranch and trading post on the Saline River near Ft. Riley. Mead also writes to his father about a home that he was building in Salina. He callshis buffalo hunting "a wholesale butchering establishment," and writes he was going to cure the meat. Apparently he has developed quite a reputation in the area, and he had been made sheriff of Saline County. These typed copies of the James R. Mead's letters were donated to the Kansas State Historical Society by Mr. Mead's family in 1940 when the originals were still owned by the family. The originals are now held by Wichita State University.

Parade
Date: Between 1890 and 1899
This photograph shows a parade taking place in an unknown location in Kansas, possibly Burlingame. Council Grove has also been suggested as a possibility.

Address to the Voters of Kansas
Creator: Pomeroy, S. C. (Samuel Clarke), 1816-1891
Date: September 25, 1867
The numerous authors of this pamphlet (Republicans) support the constitutional amendments to approve voting rights for blacks, for women, and to restrict voting rights to "loyal persons." They offer arguments for their position as well as criticizing the Democratic Party in Kansas for their opposition to these amendments. Forty five men signed the document, which was the result of a meeting in Lawrence. The following signed the document S. C. Pomeroy, Atchison; E. G. Ross, Lawrence; S. J. Crawford, Topeka; N. Green, Manhattan; Chas. Robinson, Lawrence; Geo T. Anthony, Leavenworth; Lewis Bodwell, Topeka; R. B. Taylor, editor Wyandotte Gazette; J. P. Root, Whandotte; James Rogers, Burlingame; S. Weaver, Editor Lecompton New Era; L. R. Elliott, Editor Atchison Daily Free Press; W. A. Starrett, Lawrence; Wm. Larimer, Jr., Leavenworth; John Ritchie, Topeka; John Ekin, Topeka; Sol. Miller, Editor White Cloud Chief; A. H. Foote, Lawrence; C. B. Lines, Wabaunsee; R. G. Elliott, Jefferson county; G. A. Crawford, Bourbon county; John Speer, Kansas Tribune; A. Low, Doniphan; R. W. Jenkins, Pottawatomie county; Ed. Russell, Leavenworth; J. H. Pillsbury, Editor Manhattan Independent; S. D. Houston, Manhattan; W. K. Marshall, Atchison; F. G. Adams, Kennekuk; P. L. Hubbard, Atchison; A. Hunting, Manhattan; J. B. Abbott, De Soto; Joseph Denison, Manhattan; T. H. Baker, Manhattan, H. W. Farnsworth, Topeka; I. H. Smith, Topeka; D. R. Anthony, Leavenworth; G. W. Higginbotham, Manhattan; John Pipher, Manhattan, R. L. Harford, Manhattan; Jas. Humphrey, Manhattan; Wm McKay, Manhattan; R. P. Duvall, Manhattan; Pardee Butler, Pardee; and L. F. Green, Baldwin City. Only the language restricting voting to "loyal" persons was passed in the election on November 5, 1867. Blacks and women were not given voting rights as a result of the 1867 election.

Colored directory: information, history, facts, also buyer's guide of the best business places appreciating your patronage
Date: April 1928
This directory primarily deals with African Americans living in Topeka, Kansas, but it also contains listing for Alma, Burlingame, Council Grove, Dunlap, Eskridge, Osage City, Oskaloosa, Paxico, Perry and rural Shawnee County. Listings of the residents of the smaller communities include name and occupation. The address is included only if it is rural with the RFD numbers. The listings for Topeka include name, occupation or place of employment, and home address. The Topeka portion includes a listing of churches with some sketches, colored schools, lodges, biographical sketches of some community members, article about the police and fire departments, the Kansas Vocational School in Topeka, and "Some Topeka Institutions" (African American organizations and businesses). The publication includes a listing of call letters for radio stations, driving distances in Kansas, and railroad rates from Topeka to various locations for the railroad lines through Topeka. The directory also includes a number of advertisements.

Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company's steam locomotive #3463
Date: September 1941
This black and white photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company's steam locomotive #3463 at the depot in Burlingame, Kansas. The locomotive was designed by H.H. Lanning and his staff in Topeka, Kansas and built in 1937 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Pennsylvania. The steam locomotive was first assigned between La Junta, Colorado and Chicago, Illinois. Later with the introduction of the diesel engine, service was changed to Kansas City and Oklahoma City and Kansas City and Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 1953 the #3463 made one last run between Newton, Kansas and Emporia, Kansas. For three years, the class 4-6-4 locomotive remained in Emporia until 1956 when it was permanently moved to the Topeka Fairgrounds or more commonly known today as the Kansas Expocentre. This steam locomotive is the only one in existence today.

Second annual fair and exposition of the Burlingame Union Agricultural Society
Creator: Burlingame Union Agricultural Society
Date: September 25 - 27, 1878
This poster announces a fair at Burlingame, Osage County, Kansas. Some of the attractions include: racing, $1,000 in cash premiums, brass bands, and a grand baby show.

The seventeenth annual exhibition of the Osage County Fair Association
Creator: Osage County Fair Association
Date: September 26 - 29, 1893
This poster announces the seventeenth annual fair at Burlingame, Kansas, sponsored by the Osage County Fair Association. Highlights of the fair include $5,000 in premiums, trotting and running races, and reduced railroad rates. The poster includes a color illustration of a man walking a horse.