$200 Reward! for runaway slaves
Creator: Williams, G.D
Date: June 7, 1860
Wanted poster offering a reward of $200 for the capture of two slaves from Saline County, Missouri. It includes the names and descriptions of the two slaves.

A majority of people continue to go east via Sidney on the Union Pacific Railway
Date: Betweem 1870 and 1890
This Union Pacific Railway poster promotes travel east from Sidney, Nebraska, on the Union Pacific Railway. It claims the Sidney and Black Hills Stage line passes over the best roads and has the best Concord Coaches. The stage line connects with the palace cars of the Union Pacific Railway to travel to all points east or west, crossing rivers on great iron bridges. At Omaha, Nebraska, or St. Joseph, Missouri, connections could be made to all points east, north, or south.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Rail Road. The new and direct route to the San Juan gold and silver mines
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company
Date: 1870s or 1880s
This broadside promotes travel to the Colorado mines via the AT&SF railroad. The route began at Kansas City and traveled to Denver with various stops in between. This item demonstrates railroad companies' involvement in the promotion of mining activities and a perception of the Rocky Mountains as a tourist destination.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. The new southern route to Denver
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company
Date: 1870s or 1880s
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad promotional advertisement encouraging travel on its new southern route to Denver, Colorado, and the San Juan gold and silver mines.

Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad poster for lands in southwest Kansas
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company
Date: 1870s
A circular of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad promotes land sales and settlement in southwest Kansas. The advertisement states the climate of southwest Kansas is ideal for farming and ranching. The illustration contrasts prairie versus woodland settlements, and cites the extraordinary growth of cottonwood trees on Polk Street in Topeka. The German language reference indicates the railroad's intent to appeal to European emigrants. The circular demonstrates the important role railroad companies performed as promoters of the settlement and agricultural development of the west. C. B. Schmidt is listed as the German General Agent at the bottom of the poster.

Bismark Grove, Lawrence, Kansas
Date: September 18, 1882-September 23, 1882
This is a colored lithograph of Bismarck Grove, Lawrence, Kansas. It served as the site of the Western National Fair Association. The upper image shows the exposition grounds including the agricultural hall, the main exhibition hall, the machinery hall, and tracks, stands, and stables for racing. The view in the lower lift depicts the "Art Hall and Vicinity." The entrance to the fair grounds, including a depot and main gate is shown at the lower right of the image. The legend at the bottom of the lithograph states that there are 258 acres in the fiar grounds, the cost of improvements was $100,000, the distance from the Union Pacific Depot in Lawrence was one mile, and the seating capacity in the Tabernacle is 5000. It also gives the distance from Lawrence to Leavenworth, Kansas City, and Topeka. Ramsey, Millett, & Hudson Lithograph, Kansas City (no state given) produced the lithograph.

Carry Nation poster
Creator: Gillin Print Company
Date: between 1901 and 1902
Large, rectangular color poster advertising an appearance by Carry Nation, a temperance advocate who gained notoriety by attacking saloons. Her activities began in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, in 1899. A hatchet was her symbol because she often used the tool to smash saloon fixtures. In Nation's autobiography, The Use and Need of the Life of Carry A. Nation, she explained the genesis of this poster. While jailed in Topeka for smashing saloon fixtures in July 1901, Nation received a letter from James Furlong, manager of the Lyceum Theater in Rochester, New York. According to Nation, Furlong offered to bail her out of jail if she granted him some lecture dates. She agreed, was pardoned, and left almost immediately for a Chautauqua in Clarksburg, Ohio. Her lecture series continued across upstate New York.

Centennial, 1776-1876: Declaration of Principles
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad Company
Date: 1876
This Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Company advertisement promotes the railroad line in the context of the centennial celebration of the establishment of the United States. The poster's language mimics the Declaration of Independence.

Compliments of the Great Rock Island Route
Creator: Rock Island Railroad Company
Date: 1890
This is a Rock Island Railroad promotional advertisement in the form of a monthly calendar detailing the various major routes of the line. The first image shows a photographic transparency of the poster taken in the 1960s when the poster was still in good condition. The second image shows a recent scan of the original poster and the resulting deterioration over the last forty years.

Concert poster
Creator: Kansas State University
Date: 2016
Small, rectangular-shaped poster printed on heavy white paper. The poster was used to promote a Melissa Etheridge holiday concert, held at McCain Auditorium at Kansas State University on December 18, 2016. Etheridge is one of the most recognizable popular musicians from Kansas. Born in Leavenworth in 1961, Etheridge released her first album in 1988. Since then, she has been nominated for fifteen Grammy awards, winning two. She signed the poster in the lower right corner.

Cowley County fair
Creator: Cowley County Fair and Driving Park Association
Date: September 05, 1887-September 09, 1887
A poster for the Cowley County fair to be held in Winfield, Kansas. Highlights of the fair include: races; an exposition; and excursion rates on railroads. Fair officers are S. P. Strong, president; W. J. Wilson, secretary; and A. H. Doane, treasurer.

Cow, sow and hen train
Date: 1922
Demonstration trains like this represented an alliance between railroad companies, agricultural scientists and, manufacturers to promote settlement, improve farm management, and market commercial farm products. A typical train had room for lectures, display modern farm machinery, contain livestock, and also had space to accommodate sleeping quarters and a dining area. These trains were advertised through posters and newspaper articles. Many people would gather at the local train station waiting for the train to stop. The public was invited to board and then stay for the next half hour or so for demonstrations. Speakers included T.J Talbert, L.E. Call, J.B. Fitch, C.W. McCampbell, W.A. Lippincott, N.L. Harris, F.P. Cruice, and J.F. Jarrell.

Farmer's Alliance picnic!
Creator: Darling & Douglass, Printers, Topeka, Kansas
Date: August 28, 1889
A poster by the Farmers' Alliance of Dover Township, Shawnee County, Kansas, inviting the public to a picnic at Moon's Grove to discuss the issues and topics by the Farmers' Alliance and similar organizations.

Fifth annual fair of the Cowley County Fair and Driving Park Association
Creator: Cowley County Fair and Driving Park Association
Date: September 5 - 9, 1887
This poster announces the fifth annual Cowley County fair in Winfield, Kansas. Highlights include races, an exposition, and reduced rail rates. The poster includes illustrations of fair scenes, livestock, a sulky race, and a bicycle race. Fair officers are S. P. Strong, president; W. J. Wilson, secretary; and A. H. Doane, treasurer.

Fifth annual fair of the Jewell District Society, Jewell City, Kansas
Creator: Jewell District Society
Date: September 24 - 26, 1884
This poster announces the fifth annual fair to held at Jewell City, Kansas, sponsored by the Jewell District Society. Highlights of the fair include, $1,500 in premiums, prize bicycle tournaments, and games of athletic sport.

Fifth annual fair of the Washington County Exposition
Date: September 29 - October 2, 1885
This poster announces the fifth annual Washington County Exposition to be held at Washington, Kansas. Highlights of the fair include $3,000 in cash premiums, a fine amusement program each day, and a new agricultural hall. The poster includes color illustrations of livestock.

Fifth annual Washington County exposition
Date: September 29 - October 2, 1885
This poster announces the fifth annual Washington County exposition to be held at Washington, Kansas. Highlights of the fair include liberal premiums, a new agricultural hall, and a half mile track. The poster includes color illustrations of livestock.

First Annual Fair of the Lykins County Agricultural Society
Creator: Lykins County Agricultural Society
Date: September 26, 1860-September 27, 1860
This poster provides the information about First Annual Fair of the Lykins County Agricultural Society, which was held at Paola on September 26th and 27th, 1860. It lists the fair officers, the rules under which the competition will occur, and the various classes in which items may be entered.

First annual fair of the Western Kansas Agricultural Fair Association
Creator: Western Kansas Agricultural Fair Association
Date: September 30 - October 1, 1879
This poster announces a fair at Russell, Kansas, sponsored by the Western Kansas Agricultural Fair Association. The poster includes an illustration of a sulky race with horses and riders.

Fourteenth annual fair of the Blue and Kansas Valley Agricultural Society
Creator: Blue and Kansas Valley Agricultural Society
Date: September 25 - 28, 1883
This poster announces the fourteenth annual fair at Manhattan, Kansas, sponsored by the Blue and Kansas Valley Agricultural Society. Highlights of the fair include a good band, a half-mile track, and first class exhibitions. The poster includes color illustrations of livestock, sulky racing, and bicycle racing.

Fourth annual fair of the Butler County Exposition
Date: September 16 - 19, 1884
This poster announces the fourth annual fair at El Dorado, Kansas, sponsored by the Butler County Exposition. The poster includes a color illustration of livestock. Fair officers are E. R. Powell, president, and W. H. Litson, secretary.

Fourth annual fair of the Butler County Exposition
Date: September 16 - 19, 1884
This poster announces the Butler County exposition to be held at El Dorado, Kansas. Highlights of the fair include premiums paid in full, racing, and reduced railroad rates. The poster includes an illustration of sulky racing. Fair officers are E. R. Powell, Augusta, Kansas, president, and W. H. Litson, Benton, Kansas, secretary.

Fourth annual fair of the Linn County Agricultural and Mechanical Association
Creator: Linn County Agricultural and Mechanical Association
Date: October 1 - 4, 1879
This poster announces a fair to be held at Mound City, Kansas, sponsored by the Linn County Agricultural and Mechanical Association. Highlights of the fair include $800 in cash premiums, ample accommodations, and racing. The poster includes an illustration of livestock.

Fourth annual fair of the Pleasanton Fair Association
Creator: Pleasanton Fair Association
Date: September 13 - 16, 1887
This poster announces the fourth annual fair at Pleasanton, Kansas, sponsored by the Pleasanton Fair Association. Highlights of the fair include $3,000 in premiums, plenty of fresh drinking water, racing, and music by the Silver Cornet Band. The poster notes that this is the leading fair of Linn County, Kansas, and Bates County, Missouri.

Fourth annual fair of the Saline County Agricultural, Horticultural, and Mechanical Association
Creator: Saline County Agricultural, Horticultural, and Mechanical Association
Date: September 23 - 26, 1884
This poster announces the fourth annual fair at Salina, Kansas, sponsored by the Saline County Agricultural, Horticultural, and Mechanical Association. Highlights of the fair include $3,000 in premiums and trials of speed each day. The poster includes a color illustration of a horse race.