Allen County, Kansas, floods--1951
Date: July 1951
These numerous photographs show flooding and flood damage from the Neosho River in Allen County, Kansas. High water marks can be seen on many buildings, as well as debris and destruction left by the water. Many homes, businesses, and public buildings were affected. These photographs were part of a preliminary survey by the Flood Control Committee of the Iola Chamber of Commerce on August 10, 1951. Many of the photos have additional information on their backs.

City water and power works, Sedan, Kansas
Date: Between 1880 and 1900
This is a view of the city water and power works in Sedan, Kansas.

Council Grove waterworks plant
Date: 1887
This photograph shows an early view of the Council Grove waterworks plant built in 1887.

Kansas Emergency Relief Committee, bulletin 72
Creator: Kansas Emergency Relief Committee
Date: July 19, 1934
The Kansas Emergency Relief Committee was created in July 1932 to obtain and administer federal emergency loans made available to states through Herbert Hoover's Emergency Relief and Construction Act of 1932. President Franklin Roosevelt expanded on this act with the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) in 1933, leading the Kansas committee to change its name to the Kansas Emergency Relief Committee (KERC). Under the direction of Kansas's new governor, Alf Landon, the KERC managed direct and work relief programs in Kansas including emergency education, transient relief, rural rehabilitation, drought relief, and a slew of public works projects including the construction of farm ponds and lakes, and the renovation and construction of public buildings, roads, and quarries. This bulletin covers the Water Conservation Program, a program that was part of the Drought Relief Service, which was "designed to aid in relieving destitution actually resulting from drought conditions."

Kansas Emergency Relief Committee, bulletin 89
Creator: Kansas Emergency Relief Committee
Date: August 27, 1934
The Kansas Emergency Relief Committee was created in July 1932 to obtain and administer federal emergency loans made available to states through Herbert Hoover's Emergency Relief and Construction Act of 1932. President Franklin Roosevelt expanded on this act with the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) in 1933, leading the Kansas committee to change its name to the Kansas Emergency Relief Committee (KERC). Under the direction of Kansas's new governor, Alf Landon, the KERC managed direct and work relief programs in Kansas including emergency education, transient relief, rural rehabilitation, drought relief, and a slew of public works projects including the construction of farm ponds and lakes, and the renovation and construction of public buildings, roads, and quarries. This bulletin lists "important considerations in Water Conservation Program," a plan created for drought relief.

Municipal waterworks, Salina, Kansas
Creator: Kansas Industrial Development Commission
Date: Between 1950 and 1959
This photograph shows the Municipal Waterworks building in Salina, Kansas.

Power plant, Salina, Kansas
Date: Between 1920s and 1940s
This photograph shows the power plant in Salina, Kansas.

Preliminary statement of the water conservation program
Creator: Kansas Emergency Relief Committee
Date: July 06, 1934
The Kansas Emergency Relief Committee was created in July 1932 to obtain and administer federal emergency loans made available to states through Herbert Hoover's Emergency Relief and Construction Act of 1932. President Franklin Roosevelt expanded on this act with the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) in 1933, leading the Kansas committee to change its name to the Kansas Emergency Relief Committee (KERC). Under the direction of Kansas's new governor, Alf Landon, the KERC managed direct and work relief programs in Kansas including emergency education, transient relief, rural rehabilitation, drought relief, and a slew of public works projects including the construction of farm ponds and lakes, and the renovation and construction of public buildings, roads, and quarries. This item is a preliminary statement on the water conservation program put forth by the KERC. This program intended to "afford wells, ponds, lakes, dams, canals and other devices which will conserve water in Kansas for agricultural and industrial purposes and for human needs."

Repairing waterworks dam in Council Grove, Kansas
Creator: Admire Studio
Date: 1930s
In this photograph, a group of men repair the limestone dam in Council Grove, Kansas. The Neosho River bridge is visible in the background.

Ruby M. Johnson to Governor Edward F. Arn
Creator: Johnson, Ruby M.
Date: July 12, 1951
Farmer Ruby M. Johnson of Randolph, Kansas, writes Governor Edward F. Arn of Topeka, Kansas, concerning flood control on the Kansas River and its tributaries. The 1951 flooding of the Missouri and Kansas rivers and their tributaries resulted in one of the most devastating natural disasters to strike the Midwest. The flood lent support to the Pick-Sloan plan authorized by Congress in the Flood Control Act of 1944. The plan called for a series of large dams and levees on rivers in the Missouri River basin. Many farmers opposed building large dams and reservoirs, favoring control through small dams and conservation practices. Mr. Johnson challenges the arguments of General Lewis A Pick, Chief of Army Engineers, on the effectiveness of the proposed Tuttle Creek dam north of Manhattan (Riley County). Mr. Johnson's farm was located within the bounds of the proposed Tuttle Creek reservoir and he protests the government's efforts to remove farmers from this area.

The Capital City Topeka Picturesque and Descriptive
Creator: Art Publishing Company
Date: 1888-1889
This is a book containing photographs of buildings, bridges, Kansas capitol under construction, parks, houses, College of the Sisters of Bethany, street scenes, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe shops, Union Pacific depot, industries, banks, greenhouses, newspaper offices, hotels, opera houses, churches, water works, machine shops and foundries, library, county jail, lumber yard, elevators, Rock Island depot, Washburn College, cotton factory, and bird's-eye views of Topeka. Also, included in the book are histories and information about Topeka's founding, Washburn University, College of the Sisters of Bethany, newspapers, public libraries, churches, and board of trade.

Water works building in Arkansas City, Kansas
Creator: Croft & Cusick
Date: May 1890
This is a photograph of the water works building located on South Summit Street in Arkansas City, Kansas.

Water works station, Salina, Kansas
Date: 1911
This colored postcard shows the City Water Work Pumping Station in Salina, Kansas.