A handbook of useful information for immigrants and settlers
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company
Date: 1880-1889
Published by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, this pamphlet encouraged agricultural settlement on railroad lands in Kansas by glorifying the state's natural resources including water, soil, mineral deposits and plant life. Printed by the Kansas Farmer in Topeka, Kansas.

Arbor Day
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1885-1889 : Martin)
Date: 1885-1889
These letters are from various individuals regarding Arbor Day to Kansas Governor John Martin. Some are asking if there is an Arbor Day or supporting the celebration of Arbor Day, especially educators and schools. Others are asking for a proclamation from the governor and copies of it. Many letters also discuss planting trees as the main activity for an Arbor Day celebration.

Arkansas Valley Guide, Southwest Kansas
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company
Date: 1878
This circular would be free to any address. Its purpose was to promote the development of the Arkansas River Valley in southwest Kansas. It tells of the agricultural progress of the nine counties in the Valley from 1872 to 1878. These counties are Harvey, McPherson, Sedgwick, Reno, Rice, Barton, Pawnee, Edwards, and Rush. Statistics shown for grain crops are for wheat, corn, rye, oats and barley. For livestock, statistics are for horses, mules, milk cows, other cattle, sheep and swine. Other subjects covered are timber, fruit trees, and hedges; water power; climate, and fruit growing. Examples of purchase prices and terms of sale are presented.

August Schulz diary
Date: 1872-1878
This diary was written by August(us) Schulz, who resided in McPherson County, Kansas. The diary describes the work and events that took place on the family farm in Canton Township, McPherson County. Schulz and his wife Luisa were born in Germany, according to the 1880 U. S. census. Augustus's age was listed as 54 and Luisa was 58. The first two pages of content labeled 1872 and 1873 are in German. They have four children, The two girls were Agnes, 24 years old, and Ottilie, age 16. The two boys were Alexander (23) and Hugo (20). In 1880 they were all living at home. Schulz provides details about the crops he is planting and several entries describe planting several hundred trees. The diary also mentions establishing land claims for the older children.

Bounty on Trees
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1915-1919: Capper)
Date: February 15, 1915
This file includes a letter from Hays, Kansas about the bounty on trees. The letter proposes a change to the bill introduced by Mr. Shouse. Instead of charging ten cents per tree planted in Western Kansas, nurseries should be charged on the quantity of trees living for one year or more after planting. This is part of a bigger collection of Governor Arthur Capper correspondence.

Christmas scene
Date: 1959
This black and white photograph shows a Christmas tree adorned with lights and decorations.

Cimarron Valley, possibly Gray County, Kansas
Creator: Wolf, Henry L. 1850-1924
Date: Between 1890 and 1900
This photograph shows a view of what could possibly be Cimarron Valley in Gray County, Kansas. In the foreground of the photo, there is a man sitting on a bicycle and a child standing next to him.

Cultivating trees in Pratt County, Kansas
Date: June 1936
A photograph showing a farmer cultivating trees planted for a shelterbelt in Pratt County, Kansas. The trees were planted March, 1935.

D.M. Frost's farm near Garden City, Finney County, Kansas
Creator: Wolf, Henry L. 1850-1924
Date: Between 1890 and 1900
The photograph shows a view of D.M. Frost's farm near Garden City, Finney County, Kansas. In the center of the photograph there is some type of building and a horse pulling what may be a buggy. Also in the photograph there is a windmill, a few crops, and in the background there is a line of trees.

First shelterbelt in Kansas
Date: 1940
Two photographs showing people attending a celebration of the first shelterbelt planted in Kansas. It was planted on a farm owned by Mamie Axline Fay located northwest of Pratt, Kansas. At the time of the celebration, it had grown for five years.

Fruit trees, Finney County, Kansas
Creator: Wolf, Henry L. 1850-1924
Date: Between 1890 and 1900
This photograph shows fruit trees and a row crop in Finney County, Kansas.

George Walter, History of Kanzas
Creator: Walter, George
Date: 1855
This history was written by George Walter, agent for the New York Kanzas League. The purpose of the League was to assist individuals and families to emigrate to Kansas and help provides reduced prices and other assistance. The office of the New York Kanzas League was located on the 3rd floor of No. 110 Broadway, New York City. Walter provided the information he thought emigrants to Kansas would need including descriptions of the situation in the territory, its climate, soil, rivers, and native products. He also gave information about industry in Kansas Territory, particularly the milling industry. He provided information on routes and supplies needed as well as a copy of the reemption law. The text of the Bill to organize the territories of Kansas and Nebraska was included on pages 24 through 48 of the pamphlet.

Hand book for the Kansas Pacific Railway
Creator: Kansas Pacific Railway Company
Date: 1870
This Kansas Pacific Railroad publication advertises good abundant and cheap land readily available on its rail line between Kansas City, Missouri, and Denver, Colorado. The booklet contains descriptions of the country and cities and towns along the Kansas Pacific Railroad and its branches.

Harvesting alfalfa in Kansas
Date: Between 1930 and 1939
A photograph showing a unidentified farmer harvesting alfalfa in Kansas. In the background is a shelterbelt planted to guard against soil erosion.

History of Kansas and emigrant's guide
Creator: Chapman, J. Butler
Date: 1855
The title page of the printed volume indicated that it contained "a description geographical and topographical--also climate, soil, productions and comparative value with other states and territories, including its political history, officers-candidates-emigrant colonies-election, abolition, squatter and pro-slavery contentions and inquisitions; with the prospects of the territory for freedom or slavery." Mr. Chapman was a resident of the territory and the information in the booklet was compiled by traveling through Kansas Territory in 1854. The description covers most of the territory and includes information about Native American tribes and lands.

Ho! for the new Kansas! The Upper Arkansas Valley. The best thing in the west
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad Company
Date: September 1876
Promotional flier featuring a map of Kansas titled, "The Finest Climate and Most Prolific Soil in the West." Map depicts the land granted to the Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe Rail Road by the U.S. government to encourage the development of railroads in the West. Shaded areas on the map indicate lands for sale by the railroad along the Arkansas River valley. Promotional text on both front and back markets the land to farmers as "the best wheat land known." It also includes detailed information on towns, schools, lumber, fruit growing, and livestock raising in the region.

Honey Locust trees
Date: Between 1900 and 1905
A photograph of Honey Locust trees at an unidentified location.

Honey Locust trees
Date: Between 1900 and 1905
A photograph showing Honey Locust trees at an unidentified location.

Irrigation plant on Richter farm, Finney County, Kansas
Creator: Wolf, Henry L. 1850-1924
Date: Between 1890 and 1900
A photograph showing an irrigation plant on the Richter farm, Finney County, Kansas.

Kansas. Resources, population, industries, opportunities and climate
Creator: Union Pacific Railway Company
Date: 1909
This Union Pacific Railroad pamphlet highlights the natural and human resources found in Kansas at the time of publication.

Lands in Kansas
Creator: Union Pacific Railway Company
Date: 1893
This Union Pacific Railway Company pamphlet advertises cheap and affordable land in Kansas for purchase.

Mulberry trees at Silkville
Date: 1870
These four photographs show the mulberry trees planted at Silkville to feed the silkworms.

My story of the development of the tree planting project in the Nebraska Sand Hills
Creator: Scott, Charles Anderson
Date: 1951
In these memoirs Charles A. Scott, a Kansas State University graduate from Westmoreland, Kansas, describes his experience in the Division of Forestry, U.S. Department of Agriculture from 1901 to 1907. His 1901 survey team, led by Royal S. Kellogg of Fay, Kansas, recommended sites for forest reserves in Nebraska. They researched tree growth across the Great Plains, including the growth of Catulpa trees in Hutchinson, Kansas. In 1902 President Theodore Roosevelt approved the recommended sites as the Dismal River, North Platte, and Niobrara Forest Reserves. Scott later served as State Forester and Professor of Forestry at Kansas State, Secretary of the Kansas State Horticultural Society, and State Director of the Shelterbelt Project. He also developed the first wholesale evergreen nursery west of the Missouri River.

Orchard on the Bartlett farm east of Garden City, Kansas
Date: Between 1890 and 1900
The photograph shows what may be an apple orchard on the Bartlett farm east of Garden City in Finney County, Kansas. The photograph also shows two men standing in the orchard.

Orville Chester Brown, business card
Creator: Brown, Orville Chester, 1811-1904
Date: Circa 1855-1856
This business card for Orville C. Brown, "agent for the town of Osawatomie, Kansas Territory," accompaned a list of the advantages of settling in Kansas Territory and the city of Osawatomie. A hand written note on the list indicated it was issued by O. C. Brown. The printed circular described the soil, available building materials, wood, produce and opportunities for acquiring land. It also gave the price of various livestock. The business card noted that Brown also was involved in locating land warrants and purchasing and selling claims.