Ira Chamberlin to Governor John St. John
Creator: Chamberlin, Ira D.
Date: October 26, 1879
Ira Chamberlin, an apparent worker for the temperance cause, requests an introduction letter for his trip to Okaloosa.

Ira Chamberlin to Governor John St. John
Creator: Chamberlin, Ira D.
Date: November 04, 1879
Ira Chamberlain invites Governor St. John to visit the people of Oskaloosa, who haven't seen a governor in three years.

J.W. Roberts to Governor John St. John
Creator: Roberts, J.W.
Date: July 15, 1879
Citizen J. W. Roberts of Oskaloosa, Kansas, requests assistance from Governor St. John in prohibiting the organization of a "club" in his area, which is being proposed for the "purpose of drinking and gambling".

Descriptive atlas of Jefferson County, Kansas
Creator: Acme Publishing Company
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.

Independent
Creator: Roberts, John Wesley, 1824-1900
Date: July 11, 1860-December 30, 1865
View and search this newspaper by clicking on the Chronicling America link below. This newspaper comes from the collections of the Kansas Historical Society and was digitized with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities as part of the National Digital Newspaper Program. The first issue of The Independent was published in Oskaloosa on July 11, 1860. Contrary to what the name suggests, The Independent clearly stated: "we are for the Union, for our county, for the glorious Republic we have loved." The Independent was founded by John Wesley Roberts (1824-1900), an abolitionist and prohibitionist, who wrote his editorials from his home in Waynesville, Ohio, until he moved to Oskaloosa in 1862. Today, the Oskaloosa Independent, which succeeded the The Independent after its last issue on May 2, 1874, remains in circulation.

Jefferson County courthouse in Oskaloosa, Kansas
Creator: Harvey, John
Date: 1960
A photograph showing an unidentified man pointing to the Jefferson County courthouse in Oskaloosa, Kansas. It was damaged by a tornado on May 1, 1960.

Jefferson County courthouse in Oskaloosa, Kansas
Date: Between 1920 and 1929
A photograph showing the Jefferson County courthouse and bandstand on the square in Oskaloosa, Kansas.

Simon service station in Oskaloosa, Kansas
Creator: Kaeser & Blair Inc.
Date: Between 1950 and 1959
A advertising postcard for Simon Service located in Oskaloosa, Kansas.

The first all woman city government, Oskaloosa, Kansas
Date: 1888
A photograph of the first all woman city government, Oskaloosa, Kansas. It was the first all woman city government in Kansas and possibly the United States. The women are identified as: back row (left to right): Carrie Johnson, Sadie Balsley, Emma Hamilton; front row: Hannah Morse, Mary Loman (mayor), and Mittie Golden.

Jefferson County twenty-second annual fair, Oskaloosa, Kansas
Creator: Jefferson County Agricultural and Mechanical Association
Date: October 5 - 7, 1886
Fair poster advertising livestock, horse racing and other entertainment events to be held in Oskaloosa, Kansas. Sponsored by the Jefferson County Agricultural and Mechanical Association.

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.

Ephraim Nute to [Unidentified recipient]
Creator: Nute, Ephraim
Date: February 14, 1859
Ephraim Nute wrote from Lawrence on February 14, 1859, regarding "the disaster that befel the last expedition from this place with fugitives." The party, led by Dr. John Doy, was in route to Oskaloosa when captured and taken to Missouri, where "the colored people, both free and slaves, have been shipped for the New Orleans market." Doy and his son had been jailed at Platte City, Missouri, and were to be tried for "stealing a slave from Weston." Nute was quite sure this operation had been betrayed from within, as "Great rewards were offered, spies sent out & men hired in this place to watch & aid in recovering the run away property."

Oskaloosa Band, Oskaloosa, Kansas
Date: 1900
View of the members of the Oskaloosa Band assembled at the park bandstand in Oskaloosa, Kansas.

Oskaloosa parade, Oskaloosa, Kansas
A view of a marching band leading a long parade of men in Oskaloosa, Kansas. Also visible are spectators, automobiles, sidewalks, utility poles and power lines, and the buildings and businesses along the unpaved town street.

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.

Change of date. The Jefferson county fair
Date: Between 1870 and 1910
This poster announces the Jefferson County fair to be held at Oskaloosa, Kansas. Highlights of the fair include the best exhibit of fine stock, a good track, reduced railroad fare, and base ball tournaments. The poster includes illustrations of livestock.

Twentieth annual fair of the Jefferson County Agricultural and Mechanical Association
Creator: Jefferson County Agricultural and Mechanical Association
Date: October 1-3, 1884
This poster announces the twentieth annual fair at Oskaloosa, Kansas, sponsored by the Jefferson County Agricultural and Mechanical Association. Highlights of the fair include liberal cash premiums, live stock displays, and fine arts exhibits. The poster includes illustrations of livestock and horse racing.

The Jefferson County fair
Date: Between 1870 and 1900
This poster announces the Jefferson County fair to be held at Oskaloosa, Kansas. Highlights of the fair include best exhibit of stock, good band of music, and half-fair rail rates. The poster includes illustrations of livestock.

The Jefferson County Agricultural and Mechanical Association will give their twenty-first annual fair
Creator: Jefferson County Agricultural and Mechanical Association
Date: September 23 - 25, 1885
This poster announces a fair at Oskaloosa, Kansas, sponsored by the Jefferson County Agricultural and Mechanical Association. Highlights of the fair include liberal cash premiums, livestock; and a half-mile track. The poster includes illustrations of livestock and horse racing.

Report of Kansas U.S.O. Committee
Creator: United Service Organization
Date: 1941
This item details the amount of contributions to the United Service Organizations (U.S.O.) from cities and counties in Kansas during 1941. Totaling almost $90,000, the U.S.O. campaign in Kansas was quite successful and helped support a number of services for Americans serving in uniform during World War II. The report lists the contributions by city and the nature of the fund raising. There was a campaign in movie theaters that almost $9,000 from 84 cities. The list includes the names of the theaters. Local newspapers, which provided publicity, are often listed as well. The local U.S. O. committees are listed occasionally.

Melvin Brose photograph album
Date: 1945-1952
A photograph album belonging to Melvin Brose visually documents his childhood through high school. The Brose family lived and farmed southwest of Valley Falls, Kansas. Included in the album are photographs of 4-H and school activities, farming, and views of Valley Falls.

Elm Cafe and Gardiner's Cafe, Oskaloosa, Kansas
Date: 1928
These series of four black and white photographs show the Elm Cafe and Gardiner's Cafe at Oskaloosa, Kansas.

Tornado, Jefferson County, Kansas
Date: May 01, 1930
This black and white photograph shows a tornado moving north over the town of Oskaloosa, along U.S. Highway 73 West, in Jefferson County, Kansas.

Standard atlas of Jefferson County, Kansas
Creator: Geo. A. Ogle & Co.
Date: 1916
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.