Wesley and Elsie Hasenbank Tally collection
Creator: Tally, Wesley
Date: July 13, 1933 - October 8, 1936
A collection of letters written by Wesley Tally and Elsie Hasenbank in the mid-1930s. During this time, Wesley and Elsie were dating and the letters tell about their developing relationship. In 1933 and 1934, Wesley was a teacher in Council Grove, Kansas, and worked part time for the telephone company. Elsie worked as a housekeeper and au pair for several families in Emporia, Kansas. Elsie also spent some time in Fort Riley and Alma. In March 1935, they wrote about the dust storms and how they impacted their lives. That same year Wesley had difficulties finding a job and he joined the Civilian Conservation Corp. He was sent to Camp Burns Lake at Cass Lake, Minnesota, where he served in the 1765 Company working in the forests of northern Minnesota. Wesley describes the work he performed in the camp and his leisure activities. Elsie wrote about her work, the weather, her family and friends, and her leisure activities. After leaving the Civilian Conservation Corps in April 1936, Wesley enrolled in the Davey Tree Expert Co. He left the tree service training before finishing the course and returned to Kansas. The last few letters are about their impending marriage and moving to Kansas City, Kansas, to live.

Standard atlas of Morris County, Kansas
Creator: Geo. A. Ogle & Co.
Date: 1923
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. It includes photographs of families and homes, a map of the state, United States and the world and departments devoted to general information.

C. H. Strieby's blacksmith shop, Council Grove, Kansas
Date: Between 1880s and 1890s
These three black and white photographs show C. H. Strieby's blacksmith shop in Council Grove, Kansas.

John B. Carr, World War I soldier
Creator: Carr, John B.
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 John B. Carr, Bugler, Co. I, 353rd Infantry.

Crazy quilt
Creator: Hughes, Clara L. Strieby (Mrs. A. J.)
Date: 1884
This crazy quilt features green and red velvet sashing that forms two large diamonds spanning the top. Sashing is embroidered with initials and a date. Quilt top's irregular pieces are outlined in featherstitch embroidery and decorated with embroidered flowers, plants, birds, butterflies, and appliquéd objects. Wide apple green velvet border is embroidered with flowers in three corners and wheat stalks in the fourth. This elaborate quilt was made by Clara Strieby Hughes of Council Grove, Kansas, as a wedding gift for her niece Mary Dillon upon her marriage to James Monroe Miller on Dec. 23, 1884. Hughes was a businesswoman with a share in the M.C. Armstrong & Co. store in Council Grove. The silks she used in this quilt may have been store samples.

Gesundheit mug
Creator: Neustadtl Brewing Company
Date: between 1933 and 1935
Stoneware mug with printed design depicting man drinking a pint of beer labeled "non-alcoholic." The word "Gesundheit" (meaning "good health to you") and its accompanying image are associated with the Neustadtl Brewing Company of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania (1933-1935). The mug was owned by Frank Haucke (1892-1977) of Council Grove, Kansas. Haucke attended Kansas State University for one year before World War I, where he served with the New York National Guard Ambulance Company 108 as a Sergeant in France. He was the 1930 republican nominee for Kansas Governor and was the Kansas State Commander for the American Legion.

The Kaw trail
Creator: Starkey, George O.
Date: 1936
An account of the Kaw Trail, once used by Kaw Indians looking to trade at Council Grove around 1850 and 1860. This trail passed through Morris, Chase, and Marion counties.

Council Grove, Kansas
Date: Between 1880 and 1890
This black and white photograph shows a view looking west of the Santa Fe Trail through Council Grove, Kansas.

Ralph Prickett's saw mill at Council Grove, Kansas
Date: Between 1935 and 1939
Three postcards showing Ralph Prickett's saw mill possibly working at Council Grove, Kansas.

Ralph and Keturah Prickett's cabin at Council Grove Lake, Morris County, Kansas
Date: 1964
Two photographs showing Ralph and Keturah Prickett's cabin at Council Grove Lake near Council Grove, Kansas. The cabin was built by Ralph Prickett.

Santa Fe trail reride, Council Grove, Kansas
Creator: Kansas. Centennial Commission
Date: May 10, 1961
A photograph showing an oxen drawn covered wagon participating in a Santa Fe Trail reride in Council Grove, Kansas. The event was part of the Kansas State Centennial.

Kansas Centennial commemorative postage stamp ceremony, Council Grove, Kansas
Creator: Kansas. Centennial Commission
Date: May 10, 1961
A photograph showing H. W. Brawley, deputy U. S. Postmaster General, speaking at a ceremony marking the first day mailing of the Kansas Centennial Commemorative postage stamp. The event took place at Post Office Oak in Council Grove, Kansas.

The garden spot of the world
Creator: Council Grove Press
Date: May 25, 1861
This unsigned newspaper article describes the benefits of emigration to Kansas, noting the excellent soil, climate, etc. It also predicts that Kansas will become one of the most popular and fastest-growing states in the country. It appears that the article was intended to refute criticisms of Kansas that had previously appeared in other periodicals.

Street scene, Council Grove, Kansas
Date: Between 1870 and 1875
A photograph showing Main Street in Council Grove, Kansas. Visible in the photograph are carriages and people on horseback in front of a boot and shoe shop, lumber yard, blacksmith shop, and a wagon shop. The Congregational Church is visible in the background.

Street scene, Council Grove, Kansas
Date: Between 1870 and 1875
A photograph showing Main Street in Council Grove, Kansas. Visible in the photograph are horses and carriages on the street in front of several businesses including a blacksmith shop, wagon shop, and boot & shoe shop.

Woodworth's Drug Store, Council Grove, Kansas
Date: Between 1910 and 1919
This post card photogrpah shows an exterior view of the drug store built by Dr. Woodworth in Council Grove in 1861. The handwritten notes on the card indicate Dr. Woodworth collected the stones and built the store himself, performing that work on Sundays since he was busy during the week.

Kansas Link of National Road Along Famous Old Trails of the Continent
Date: Unknown
This postcard shows the Kansas Link of National Road along famous old trails of the continent, specifically the Old Santa Fe Trail. The postcard is from Council Grove.

Ke Kahn [Joseph Napolean Bourassa] to Thomas Nesbit Stinson
Creator: Bourassa, Joseph Napolean, 1810-1878
Date: December 29, 1856
Joseph N. Bourassa, a Pottawatomie Indian who signed this letter with his Indian name of Ke Kahn, wrote to Thomas N. Stinson, a Tecumseh resident and Indian trader. Bourassa, writing from Council Grove, Kansas Territory, described his efforts to recruit musicians and dancers for a New Year's Eve ball.

Cyrus Kurtz Holliday to Mary Dillon Holliday
Creator: Holliday, Cyrus Kurtz, 1826-1900
Date: November 18, 1854
Cyrus K. Holliday wrote from Lawrence, Kansas Territory to his wife, Mary Holliday, in Meadville, Pennsylvania. This letter was to be delivered by Mr. Ingrams, and Holliday expressed the possibilities of following shortly or of staying in Lawrence to make business arrangements and put up a building in the spring. He expressed his delight in the country of Kansas and the site of a new city (not named, but likely Topeka). A Pennsylvania company of emigrants, unprepared for the journey and now suffering, had settled in Lawrence and Council Grove.

The Kanzas region: forest, prairie, desert, mountain, vale, and river
Creator: Greene, Max.
Date: 1856
The title page for this volume continued with "Descriptions of scenery, climate, wild productions, capabilities of soil, and commercial resources; interspersed with incidents of travel, and anecdotes illustrative of the character of the traders and red men; to which are added directions as to routes, outfit for the pioneer, and sketches of desirable localities for present settlement." A small map is opposite the title page. The "Addenda" included several "Laws Governing Kanzas," a section on the objects and plans of an Emigrant Aid Company, information about the American Settlement Company, and prices for various items in Lawrence. Also included in the "Addenda" was the text of the Kansas Nebraska Act, which was not scanned as it is available elsewhere on this site.

Territorial Census, 1855, District 8
Creator: McClure, J. R.
Date: January through March, 1855
This census was taken in order to determine eligible voters for elections to be held as proclaimed by Governor Andrew Reeder on November 10, 1854. The categories for information in the census were name, occupation, age, gender, emigrated from, native of United States, naturalized citizen, declarant (intention to become a citizen), Negro, slave, and voter. Only white males over twenty-one were eligible to vote. The districts used for the census were the same as the election districts. A statistical summary of the census followed the enumeration pages. For District 8, the place of election was the house of Ingraham Baker, on the Santa Fe Road. The boundaries of each district were described in Governor Reeder's proclamation, and it is difficult to determine what counties were in each district. The description of the Eighth District follows: "Commencing at the mouth of Elm Creek, one of the branches of Osage River; thence up the same to the Santa Fe road; thence by a direct northerly line to the southwest corner of the Pottawatomie reservation; thence up the western line thereof to the Kansas River; thence up said river and the Smoky Hill Fork, beyond the most westerly settlements; thence due south to the line of the territory; thence by the same to the line of the Sixth District; thence due north to the head of the south branch of the Neosho River; thence down said river to the lines of the Seventh District; thence due north to the place of beginning."

Mabel P. Chase
Portrait of Mabel P. Chase.

Kansas. The land of golden horizons
Date: Between 1940 and 1960
A pamphlet that lists the many attractions Kansas has to offer. A number of photos can be seen covering various subjects, from Kansas agriculture to Kansas' strides in technology.

Harvey J. Espy to Samuel N. Wood
Creator: Espy, Harvey J., 1831-1868
Date: November 28, 1859
H. J. Espy, a probate judge in Council Grove, Kansas Territory, writes in response to a letter from Wood, who seemed to have challenged Espy's earlier "charge" that Wood was "connected with the Underground Rail Road." Espy explains that "as I understand the term, Underground Rail Road, I believe there is an inseparable connection between it and the republican party" and that he hadn't applied the connection to Wood personally.

Robert S. Stevens to Samuel N. Wood
Creator: Stevens, Robert S.
Date: August 6, 1860
Writing from Lecompton, Kansas Territory, Robert S. Stevens contacts Samuel L. Wood about an issue of grave concern to the people of Council Grove--"the Kaw Treaty," which had been taken up "the last day of the Extra or called Executive session & then ratified with certain amendments." Stevens explains the treaty's provisions and discusses the land survey to come.