Aiken J. Sexton correspondence
Creator: Sexton, A.J.
Date: 1862
Letters from Aiken J. Sexton to his wife, Catherine. Aiken was a private from Company E of the 12th Wisconsin Volunteers and wrote these letters as he traveled through Kansas during the Civil War.

Vernon Benjamin West, 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 Vernon Benjamin West, Headquarters Company, 110th Field Signal Battalion.

Sun plane
Creator: Frederick Stones
Date: between 1830 and 1850
Cooper's wooden sun plane, with arced wooden stock and steel blade. James Cracroft used this tool while he was working as a cooper in Kansas from 1867 until his death in 1900. He brought coopering tools from Indiana at the close of the Civil War, first using them in Fort Scott, Kansas, until about 1880 and thereafter at Hartford, Kansas. Coopers use sun planes to level off the top and bottom of barrel so the staves are aligned. The sun plane is arced to follow the curve of the barrel.

Chamfering drawknife
Date: between 1850 and 1860
Cooper's left-handed chamfering drawknife. James Cracroft used this tool while he was working as a cooper in Kansas from 1867 until his death in 1900. He brought coopering tools from Indiana at the close of the Civil War, first using them in Fort Scott, Kansas, until about 1880 and thereafter at Hartford, Kansas. Coopers made barrels using special tools like this chamfering knife.

Dividers
Date: between 1850 and 1860
Forged steel winged divider. James Cracroft used this tool while he was working as a cooper in Kansas from 1867 until his death in 1900. He brought coopering tools from Indiana at the close of the Civil War, first using them in Fort Scott, Kansas, until about 1880 and thereafter at Hartford, Kansas. Dividers helped coopers make the barrelheads fit properly into the barrel.

Twist bit
Date: between 1850 and 1860
Double-twist spiral auger bit. James Cracroft used this bit while he was working as a cooper in Kansas from 1867 until his death in 1900. He brought coopering tools from Indiana at the close of the Civil War, first using them in Fort Scott, Kansas, until about 1880 and thereafter at Hartford, Kansas. Coopers use augur bits to create bungholes in barrels.

Croze
Creator: E F Seybold
Date: between 1836 and 1852
Wooden post of a tight barrel croze. James Cracroft used this drawknife while he was working as a cooper in Kansas from 1867 until his death in 1900. He brought coopering tools from Indiana at the close of the Civil War, first using them in Fort Scott, Kansas, until about 1880 and thereafter at Hartford, Kansas. Coopers use crozes to make a groove on each end of a barrels' interior.

Kiwanis Club, Fort Scott, Kansas
Creator: Lutes, F. C.
Date: September 19, 1921
This sepia colored photograph shows members of the Kiwanis Club from Fort Scott, Kansas.

Ernest Leland Cassady, 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 Ernest Leland Cassady, Company A, 128th Infantry. Cassady was killed in the Muese-Argonne Offensive on September 28, 1918.

Raymond Vincent Cones, World War I soldier
Date: 1919
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 Raymond Vincent Cones. Cones was wounded by machine gun fire in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and died of those wounds on October 2, 1918.

Howard A. Morehead, World War I soldier
Creator: Morehead, Howard A.
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 Howard A. Morehead, 110th Motor Ordinance Repair Shops, 35th Division.

Fred D. Morehead, World War I soldier
Creator: Morehead, Fred D.
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 Fred D. Morehouse, Company I, 139th Infantry, 35th Division.

Rowena Bannister Charles and daughter Aristene
Date: Between 1830s and 1860s
Cased quarter plate daguerreotype portrait of Rowena Bannister Charles and her daughter Aristene (later Mrs. H. Hapgood) of Fort Scott, Kansas.

William Brown to Sarah Brown
Creator: Brown, William
Date: October 11, 1863
This letter, written by William Brown from Topeka, Kansas, was addressed to his sister, Sarah Brown, in Lawrence. William and Sarah were children of John Stillman Brown, a Unitarian minister who lived west of Lawrence. William discussed a Baptist church service in Topeka and the recent Kansas State Fair. The latter part of the letter discusses political issues, including recent elections and fear that the "bushwackers" may attack Leavenworth or Fort Scott.

Leigh R. Webber to Miss Brown
Creator: Webber, L. R.
Date: March 8, 1862
A letter written by Leigh R. Webber from Fort Scott, Bourbon County, Kansas, to Miss Brown, a daughter of John Stillman Brown, a Unitarian minister who lived west of Lawrence, Kansas. Webber describes the march from Kansas City, Missouri, to Fort Scott, Kansas, describing landmarks along the way and discussing the soldiers' state of exhaustion. He continues a discussion from a previous letter regarding his father's death. Webber also describes camp life and future plans to march on to Fort Smith.

Leigh R. Webber to Senorita Morena (Miss Brown)
Creator: Webber, L. R.
Date: April 30, 1862
A letter written by Leigh R. Webber from Fort Riley, Kansas, addressed to "Senorita Morena," or Miss Brown, a daughter of John Stillman Brown, a Unitarian minister who lived west of Lawrence. Webber first praises Fort Riley and describes the surrounding landscape. He goes on to describe fort life, including equipment and food. He also discusses his thoughts on the troops' future plans to march to New Mexico and his efforts to learn Spanish.

Leigh R. Webber to Miss Brown
Creator: Webber, L. R.
Date: February 1, 1862
A letter written by Leigh R. Webber from Kansas City, Missouri, addressed to Miss Brown, a daughter of John Stillman Brown, a Unitarian minister who lived west of Lawrence. Webber mainly discusses camp life in Kansas City and the unruly behavior of his fellow soldiers, particularly regarding thievery and drunkenness.

Leigh R. Webber to John Stillman Brown
Creator: Webber, L. R.
Date: January 23, 1862
A letter written by Leigh R. Webber from Kansas City, Missouri, addressed to John Stillman Brown, a Unitarian minister who lived west of Lawrence, Kansas. Webber begins by recounting other letters he had recently sent to members of the Brown family. He describes the march from Lexington to Kansas City and future plans to continue on to Fort Scott. Webber also discusses his father's recent death.

Leigh R. Webber to Charles Brown
Creator: Webber, L. R.
Date: March 23, 1862
A letter written by Leigh R. Webber from Fort Scott, Kansas, addressed to Charles Brown. Webber expresses frustration at his bad health, the poor weather, and fort life. He wished for the troops to move to territory where they could engage in battle and gain "military glory." Webber describes the unruly behavior of the troops, including violence and drunkenness.

Daniel L. Chandler to John Stillman Brown
Creator: Chandler, Daniel L.
Date: September 11, 1861
A letter written by Daniel L. Chandler from Fort Scott, Kansas, addressed to John Stillman Brown, a Unitarian minister who lived west of Lawrence. Chandler describes conditions at the fort, including supplies and food rations. He also discusses his role in caring for sick soldiers.

Daniel L. Chandler to John Stillman Brown
Creator: Chandler, Daniel L.
Date: April 26, 1862
A letter written by Daniel L. Chandler from Mound City, Kansas, to John Stillman Brown, a Unitarian minister who lived west of Lawrence. Chandler described promotions and staff changes in the regiments at Mound City, as well as a petition to prevent his removal as hospital steward. Chandler also wrote of the deaths of soldiers and a new order that would discharge soldiers who spent two months in the hospital.

A. T. Chamblin to Hiero T. Wilson
Creator: Chamblin, A. T.
Date: July 7, 1853
A. T. Chamblin writes Hiero T. Wilson, a Fort Scott sutler, to inquire where H. Company is and if a George G. Newman is still part of the company. Mr. Chamblin was at that point located in St. Paul, Minnesota. This letter was contained in the Hiero T. Wilson Post Sutler's Day Book. In 1844, Hiero T. Wilson partnered with John A. Bugg as the post sutlers. Bugg had been named sutler in 1843 but sold his 1/2 interest to Wilson in 1849.

Kansas as she is
Creator: The Kansas Publishing Company
Date: 1870
An emigrants' and settlers' guide containing information on living in the state of Kansas. The guide reports on various topics such as the state's climate, its cities and towns, railroads, and the character of its people.

Ft. Scott log cabin
Date: Between 1854 and 1860
Pioneer log cabin house located at Ft. Scott, Kansas.

Daniel L. Chandler to James H. Buxton
Creator: Chandler, Daniel L.
Date: May 5, 1862
This letter, written by Daniel L. Chandler "on the prairie five miles west of Ft. Scott," was addressed to James H. Buxton, a young soldier who had been under Chandler's care as army hospital steward. Chandler expressed joy that Buxton's health continued to improve in Lawrence and that he was being educated. Chandler also related news of Buxton's fellow soldiers and discharge from the Union army.