Kansas Memory - Search results

Storm damage on Menninger Clinic East Campus, Topeka

A wind storm hit Topeka, Kansas in July 1958. These three black and white photographs show the damage to the Menninger East Campus and Roy Leonard of the maintenance crew clearing up the debris.

Flood in Kansas City, Kansas

A photograph showing an oil company and other businesses on fire, east of State Line on Southwest Boulevard in Kansas City, Kansas.

Flood in Kansas City, Kansas

This is a photograph showing rescue boats coming to the 7th street viaduct during the height of the 1951 flood in Kansas City, Kansas.

Tornado, Rossville, Kansas

Either partial or total destruction of 75 farms and homes were reported from this May 19, 1960 storm. There were no deaths in Rossville, Kansa area. This photograph is provided through a pilot project to host unique cultural heritage materials from local libraries on Kansas Memory and was accomplished by mutual agreement between the Northeast Kansas Library System, the Rossville Community Library, and the Kansas Historical Society.

Joe Campbell home after tornado, Rossville, Kansas

A photograph of the Joe Campbell home after a May 19, 1960 tornado. Either partial or total destruction of seventy-five farms and homes were reported from this storm that happened in the late afternoon. There were no deaths in the area. This photograph is provided through a pilot project to host unique cultural heritage materials from local libraries on Kansas Memory and was accomplished by mutual agreement between the Northeast Kansas Library System, the Rossville Community Library, and the Kansas Historical Society.

Wesley and Elsie Hasenbank Tally collection

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.

Snow scenes, Holyrood, Kansas

These seven black and white photographs show snow scenes around the town of Holyrood, Kansas.

Snow scene in Kansas

This black and white photograph shows Judy Hibbs and Nancy Lidemuth, left to right, posing on the front bumper of an automobile parked on a snow covered street. The license plate reads "Come to Kansas this year".

Flood in Hutchinson, Kansas

This black and white photograph shows a birds-eye view of a flood in the business district of Hutchinson, Kansas.

Hauling water, Overbrook, Kansas

This black and white photograph shows horse-drawn wagons hauling tanks of water from an emergency well during drought conditions, near Overbrook, Kansas.

Apple tree, Shawnee County, Kansas

This black and white photograph shows drought damage to an apple tree in Shawnee County, Kansas.

Cornfield, Shawnee County, Kansas

This black and white photograph shows severe drought damage to a cornfield in Shawnee County, Kansas.

Dust Storm, Wright, Kansas

This black and white postcard shows a view of dust clouds covering the skies near Wright, Kansas.

William Brown to Sarah Brown

This letter, written by William R. Brown from Lawrence, Kansas, was addressed to his sister Sarah Brown, who was away at a teaching position in Massachusetts. William described his role as a soldier in the state militia during the Battle of the Blue and the Battle of Westport and rejoiced in the Union victories there. He also discussed the emotional state of the troops, of whom he says many were at first unwilling to fight and were a "disgrace to Kansas." William related news about the battles and the ultimate defeat of Sterling Price and the "rebel" troops, who were forced to retreat south. William also mentioned riding a railroad line back to Lawrence.

Flooding, Clyde, Kansas

This composite photograph shows flooding along the railroad tracks near Clyde, Kansas.

Ice wagon, Topeka, Kansas

This black and white photograph shows a gentleman standing beside a wagon with a block of ice on an unidentified street in Topeka, Kansas.

Campus scene, University of Kansas, Lawrence

Photograph of the K.U. campus during winter. Old Green Hall and Spooner Library are visible.

Pile of snow at the Sterrett home in Kinsley, Kansas

A postcard showing children playing in a large pile of snow at the Sterrett home in Kinsley, Kansas.

Snow bound in Kinsley, Kansas

A postcard showing a passenger train snow bound in Kinsley, Kansas.

Samuel Reader's cane

Simple hand-carved maple walking stick with brass ferrule at tip. Carved lettering: S. J. READER. / MAY 29 / 1903. / NORTH TOPEKA KANS. / FLOOD AND FIELD / BIG BLUE. / OCT. 22d 1864. / GAR. This cane was carved and used by Samuel James Reader, who settled near Topeka in Kansas Territory in 1855. Staunchly antislavery, Reader mustered into the 2nd Kansas Infantry as Quartermaster during the Civil War. His only wartime experience came on Oct. 22, 1864, at the Battle of the Big Blue, where Union forces were routed and all survivors taken prisoner. Reader escaped by tricking his captors into believing he was a Confederate soldier. After the war, Reader married and lived with his family near Topeka. This cane was likely used at the end of Reader's life when he suffered from arthritis. The "GAR" carved on the head refers to the Grand Army of the Republic, the Union veterans' organization. The date May 29, 1903, refers to the flooding of Soldier Creek during the massive 1903 floods. Reader was an avid diarist, and in volume 15 of his diaries describes his inability to escape the rising water due to rheumatism.

Flood in Topeka, Kansas

Thirty-three mounted photographs showing flood waters from the Kansas river in Topeka, Kansas. The heavy rains began in May, 1903 and the Kansas river went out of its banks on Memorial Day. Much of the low lying areas in North Topeka were inundated including the business and residential districts and farm land along the river bottoms. The water spread to sections of south Topeka and Oakland covering the areas with five to 25 feet of water. An approach to the Melan bridge across the Kansas river was washed out and a cable was strung across the river for use as a guide for supply boats. According to one account over 1,500 residences, 300 public and business buildings in North Topeka were ruined, leaving $2,200,000 worth of damage, and 24 people died.

Thunder Over the Flint Hills

Pastel painting entitled Thunder Over the Flint Hills. The artist, Kimberly Casebeer, grew up in rural Southeast Kansas and studied art at Kansas State University until 1992. She later established a studio in Lenexa, Kansas. Casebeer is a plein-air painter specializing in Kansas landscapes. Her works have been shown at the Wichita Center for the Arts, the Birger Sandzen Museum in Lindsborg, and the Mulvane Art Museum in Topeka.

Child's harmonica

This Diatonic harmonica with silver cover-plates, brass reed-plates, and a black and orange wood comb belonged to Dean Thomas of Dighton, Kansas. Dean came down with appendicitis on the first day of a major two-day blizzard and was unable to reach a hospital until after his appendix had ruptured. Dean Thomas died at age 10 on March 31, 1931. After his death, his mother kept many of Dean's belongings, including this harmonica, in a trunk.

Child's overalls

This pair of child's blue denim overalls belonged to Dean Thomas of Dighton, Kansas. Dean came down with appendicitis on the first day of a major two-day blizzard and was unable to reach a hospital until after his appendix had ruptured. Dean Thomas died at age 10 on March 31, 1931. After his death, his mother kept many of Dean's belongings, including these overalls, in a trunk.

Flood in Bentley, Kansas

Photograph of man standing in flood waters, Bentley, Kansas.