1853 - Sac and Fox Agency
Creator: Green, Charles R.
Date: September 1, 1853
This item lists tribes under the Superintendency of Indians Affairs in St. Louis headed by B.A. James and Colonel Alfred Cummings. In particular, the item lists the Ottawas, Chippewas of Swan Creek, and the Black River Sacs and Foxes.

1856 One-Cent Coin from the Canville Trading Post, 14NO396
Date: 1856-1872
This one-cent coin was found at the Canville Trading Post in Neosho County near the Osage Reservation and was donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 1994. The obverse of the coin shows Liberty with braided hair surrounded by stars and the date 1856. The reverse side shows an oak leaf wreath surrounding the words "ONE CENT." Large one-cent coins were discontinued in 1857 and replaced with smaller one-cent coins of the size we use today. The Canville Trading Post was established in 1847 by A. B. Canville. When the Osage reservation land was ceded to the United States in 1870, the Osage left for Oklahoma and Canville followed in 1872.

Abraham Still
Date: Between 1851 and 1854
Portrait of Dr. Abraham Still, physician, minister, and missionary at the Shawnee Methodist Indian Mission on the Wakarusa, 1851-1854. The mission was located in Section 8, T. 13, R. 21 E, a mile south of Eudora in northeastern Douglas County, Kansas.

Abstract of journals from the 1845 Kearny Expedition
Date: 1846
This excerpt from the congressional report of the Secretary of War includes the abstracts of two journals, one by Lieutenant William B. Franklin, a topographical engineer, and another by Lieutenant H.S. Turner of the 1st dragoons stationed at Fort Leavenworth. Under the command of Stephen Kearny, the 1st dragoons and their accompanying engineers left Fort Leavenworth on a military march, heading northwest on what would become the Oregon Trail, down along the Rocky Mountains to Mexican territory, and back up via the Santa Fe Trail. This march was intended as a display of the United States' military power to both native tribes and the British government (which at this time was exerting its authority over Oregon Territory). For the most part this abstract details their route, but it does include a transcription of a conversation between Kearny and a Sioux chief named Bull Tail.

A Crooked Knife from Blue Earth Village, 14PO24
Date: 1795-1830 CE
This crooked knife was recovered from the Blue Earth village site and donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 1880. Blue Earth village was a Kansa Indian village in Pottawatomie County. Many lodge depressions were still visible on the surface in the 1880s. Archeologists think these "crooked knives" were traded to the Kansa already in their unique shape. They were likely used for woodworking, such as in the manufacturing of bowls or spoons. Three nail holes indicate that the crooked knife once had a handle.

Albert Gallitin Boone
Date: Between 1880 and 1884
A full portrait of Col. Albert Gallitin Boone, who was the U.S. Indian Agent for the Cheyenne, Arapahoe, Kiowa, Comanche, and Plains Apache Indian tribes in 1859, 1860, and 1861. He was born in Greenup, Kentucky, in 1802, and died in Denver, Colorado, in 1884. He was a resident of Westport, Missouri, for many years. He was a grandson of Daniel Boone,

Alfred Gray to George W. Patterson
Creator: Gray, Alfred, 1830-1880
Date: June 18, 1860
Gray wrote this draft of a letter to George W. Patterson concerning a treaty between the U. S. government and the Delaware Indians at the request of Rev. Pratt, a missionary to the tribe. Gray was concerned that the treaty was unfair to many of the Delaware and that the U.S. government was negotiating with four older chiefs, not some of the younger members of the tribe. He wrote that many of the Delaware were too intimidated to complain.

Ammunition from 14BT436
Date: 1800-1860
These ammunition remnants were intrusive (not of the same time period) at a Late Ceramic period archeology site in Barton County. They were donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 2021. From left to right: two .50 caliber Gallagher brass cases dating approximately to 1860 (few were made), two .56 caliber Spencer bullets, and an unfired .50 caliber musket ball.

Ammunition from the 102 Steel Point Site, 14MO414
Date: 1847-1874
These lead bullets were recovered from an archeological site in Morris County and donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 2020. The ammunition consisted of a bullet (shown here) and gunpowder wrapped in a paper tube. They are identified as 0.28 to 0.30 caliber bullets. The site had multiple occupations from the Archaic period to the late 1800s and was one of three large Kansa sites along the Neosho River occupied during the mid-19th century. This ammunition is from the latter period.

Ammunition from the 102 Steel Point Site, 14MO414
Date: 1847-1874
These lead bullets were recovered from an archeological site in Morris County and donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 2020. The ammunition consisted of a bullet (shown here) and gunpowder wrapped in a paper tube. They are identified as 0.49 caliber bullets. The site had multiple occupations from the Archaic period to the late 1800s and was one of three large Kansa sites along the Neosho River occupied during the mid-19th century. This ammunition would have dated to the latter period.

Ammunition from the Kaw Mission, 14MO368
Date: 1840-1870
These seven round pellets and one spent bullet were recovered during excavations at the 2016 and 2018 Kansas Archeology Training Program field schools at the Kaw Mission in Council Grove. The round pellets and bullet were made of soft lead that was melted and poured into molds. The Mission was built over the winter of 1850 - 1851 by the Methodist Episcopal Church South as a school for boys in the Kaw (or Kansa) tribe. The site was acquired by the state of Kansas in 1951 and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

Annals of Kansas
Creator: Wilder, Daniel W. (Daniel Webster), 1832-1911
Date: 1886
Daniel Webster Wilder compiled a chronological history of Kansas from the first European contact (1541) to 1885. The early portion has entries for specific years but beginning in 1854, the entries are for specific days, providing detail about many events. The volume also contains charts with crop production, livestock holdings, precipitation, etc. A detailed index begins on page 1171.

Annals of Shawnee Methodist Mission and Indian Manual Labor School
Creator: Caldwell, Martha B. (Martha Belle)
Date: 1939
These annals are a compilation of events concerning the Shawnee Methodist Mission year by year. The information was culled from a variety of sources. Most entries include a citation to the source. Thomas Johnson established the mission in 1830 near Turner in present Wyandotte County, Kansas. He also founded the Indian Manual Labor School, which operated in conjunction with the mission. It was moved to the Johnson County area in 1839 and the school operated until 1862. The Santa Fe and Oregon trails passed near the Johnson County location so travelers frequently stopped at the mission. The site housed the executive offices of the first territorial governor and the first territorial legislature met there. In addition to the Methodist mission, the Baptist and Quaker churches also operated missions for the Shawnee. These annals are the complete manuscript from which a condensed version was published by the Kansas State Historical Society in 1939.

Annie Marshall Grinter
Date: Between 1900 and 1905
Portrait of Annie Marshall Grinter, 1820-1905, member of the Delaware tribe and wife of Moses R. Grinter. She came to Wyandotte County, Kansas Territory with her parents in 1832.

Apache Bow
Date: Unknown
This bow was donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 1938. The bow is sinew reinforced at the ends and the mid point. The draw string is made of twisted sinew.

Arapaho Arrows
Date: Unknown
These arrows were donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 1902. They were made by people of the Arapaho tribe. One arrow has a metal arrow point while the others have blunt tips that were used for small game.

Arapaho Pipe
Date: Unknown
The records indicate that this pipe was made by someone from the Arapaho tribe on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. It was purchased by two different museums, before finally being purchased by the Kansas Historical Society in 1956. The soft, fine-grained material of the stone enabled the carver to shape and smooth the pipe and drill holes for the bowl and stem. It was likely never smoked as no traces of dottle (tobacco residue) remain within the bowl or on the rim.

Arrow Points from the 102 Steel Point Site, 14MO414
Date: 1847-1874
These arrow points were recovered from an archeological site in Morris County and donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 2020. The side-notched arrow point on the left is made of Smoky Hill silicified chalk, which outcrops in western Kansas and Nebraska. The corner-notched arrow point on the right is made of local Flint Hills chert that was heated prior to its completion to make it easier to knap. The notches aided in hafting the points to the arrow shafts. The site had multiple occupations from the Archaic period (8000 to 2000 years ago) to the late 1800s and may have been one of three large Kansa sites along the Neosho River occupied during the mid-19th century.

Arrows with Metal Arrow Points
Date: Unknown
These arrows were added to the Kansas Historical Society collections in 1984. At that time it was discovered they had lost their provenience, their record of ownership, their story. This does not mean they have lost their value as they are good examples of mid-to-late 19th century arrows. They still retain some sinew wrapped fletching.

Arrow with Metal Arrow Point
Date: Unknown
This arrow was brought into the Kansas Historical Society collections in 1962. By the time it was received it had lost its provenience, its record of ownership, and its story. This does not mean the arrow has lost its value as it is a good example of mid-to-late 19th century arrows. The shaft still retains some fletching and the sinew that bound it to the shaft. The metal arrow point is also bound to the shaft with sinew.

A story of the Shawanoes (Shawnee)
Creator: Rayner, John Allen
Date: 1886
This reminiscence by George Bluejacket, a Shawnee (Shawanoe) Indian originally from Ohio, tells the creation story of the Shawnee people as well as the history of his own tribe. Although his story ends before the Shawnee were relocated to Kansas (then called Indian Territory), it appears that he relocated with the rest of his tribe. The reminiscence was recorded by John Allen Rayner, and the first page of the document is an explanatory letter written by Rayner.

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. A complete transcription is available by clicking "Text Version" below.

Baby Moccasins
Date: Unknown
This pair of small moccasins were donated to the Kansas Historical society in 1963. They were hand sewn and have one piece uppers with a high cuff edged with green, red & white beads. A band of red, white and blue beads borders the soles and the uppers are decorated with yellow, white, blue and red beads in geometric patterns. The cultural affiliation for these moccasins is unknown.

Beaded Moccasins
Date: Unknown
This pair of leather moccasins is decorated with white, blue, and red beads in triangle and bar patterns. When they arrived in the collections of the Kansas Historical Society they had lost their provenience, their record of ownership. While this is disappointing, it does not mean the moccasins have lost all of their utility and value. They can still be used for teaching purposes as an example of an early ethnographic items in Kansas.

Beaded Moccasins
Date: Unknown
This pair of leather moccasins is decorated with a colorful variety of beads in triangle and checkerboard patterns. They have a single tie leather lace and a cotton fabric edging around the tops. When they arrived in the collections of the Kansas Historical Society they had lost their provenience, their record of ownership. While this is disappointing, it does not mean the moccasins have lost all of their utility and value. They can still be used for teaching purposes as an example of an early ethnographic items in Kansas.