A. W. Johnson and Isabella Johnson to Robert S. Wickizer
Creator: Johnson, A. W.
Date: March 24, 1875
In this letter to his cousin, A. W. Johnson relates news from his homestead near Osage Mission, Neosho County. Johnson describes the grasshopper plague in vivid terms, and also mentions how the recent hard times in Kansas should not discourage emigration into the state. In fact, he goes so far as to state that now is the time to come, since land is cheap and the spring weather is "deliteful[sic]." Johnson also states, however, that the price of corn is high, and that high prices on goods make it difficult for him to support his family.

Drought report to Governor Landon
Creator: Kansas. State Board of Agriculture. Division of Water Resources
Date: August 28, 1936
This report by Ogden Jones, a geologist for the State Board of Agriculture, includes detailed information about the effects of the drought that struck Kansas during the 1930s and spawned the Dust Bowl. Jones cites precise figures about water levels in major rivers and wells, in addition to information about crops such as winter wheat, sorghum, oats, hay, rye, and fruits (apples, grapes, etc…). The report also contains maps.

Emigrants' guide to the Kansas Pacific Railway lands
Creator: Kansas Pacific Railway Company
Date: April 1871
A railroad company advertisement to emigrants promising cheap, abundant and good land for agricultural purposes.

Harvesting peaches in Wabaunsee County, Kansas
Date: 1906
This photograph shows Arthur Pugh, left, and Robert Daily beside a flat-bed wagon full of baskets of peaches picked from an orchard, seen at the left, in Wabaunsee County, Kansas. An attached caption says the peaches were selling for 50 cents per basket.

James Griffing to J. Augusta Goodrich Griffing
Creator: Griffing, James S. (James Sayre), 1822-1882
Date: August 9, 1859
James Griffing wrote from Topeka, Kansas Territory, to his wife J. Augusta (Goodrich) Griffing. Mrs. Griffing was visiting her family in New York for the first time since her arrival in Kansas Territory in 1855. Griffing gave his wife instructions about which fruit seeds (plum, cherry, and peach) and cuttings (gooseberry and blackberry) to collect and transport back to Kansas Territory, and described his plan to purchase pine flooring in Leavenworth.

James M. Hunter to Thomas Nesbit Stinson
Creator: Hunter, James M.
Date: December 5, 1854
James M. Hunter, writing from Westport, Missouri, informed Thomas N. Stinson about a joint land speculation deal involving lots in Tecumseh, KT. Hunter alluded to Governor Andrew Reeder's involvement in the speculative venture.

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.

Kansas state fair, Wichita, Kansas
Creator: Kansas State Fair Association
Date: October 1-5, 1895
A poster promoting the Kansas State Fair to be held at Wichita, Kansas. The poster includes a color illustration of fruits and vegetables.

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.

Peach canning time on the farm
Creator: Martin, William H., 1865-1940
Date: 1910
This photomontage or exaggerated postcard shows a group of men canning and preserving oversize peaches.

Peaches grown by Mrs. M.A. Cole, Garden City, Finney County, Kansas
Date: Between 1890 and 1900
A photograph of peaches grown by Mrs. M.A. Cole in Garden City, Kansas. The photograph also shows a platter in which some of the peaches are on, a coin, and a note.

Peach tree, Finney County, Kansas
Creator: Wolf, Henry L. 1850-1924
Date: Between 1890 and 1900
This photograph shows a peach tree in Finney County, Kansas.

Peach tree in Finney County, Kansas
Date: Between 1890 and 1900
A photograph showing a peach tree located in an orchard in Finney County, Kansas.

Southern Kansas. Letter in the march number of "camp's emigrants' guide to Kansas," from a New York farmer
Creator: Worden, Allen M.
Date: March 8, 1880
This railroad advertisement features a published letter from a New York farm emigrant, lauding the agricultural bountifulness of Kansas to prospective settlers. It was written in Iola, Allen County.

Thirty-first Biennial Report, Statistics by county showing population, acreage, production, and livestock, 1937-1938
Creator: Kansas State Board of Agriculture
Date: 1939
This published report contains statistics compiled by the State Board of Agriculture pertaining to population, crop conditions, livestock, and other farm products in western Kansas during the Dust Bowl years of 1937 and 1938; copied from the Thirty-first Biennial Report of the Kansas State Board of Agriculture, to the Legislature of the State for the Years 1937 and 1938. The most useful sections for seeing the impact of the Dust Bowl on agriculture are the sections for the counties of Finney, Ford, Grant, Haskell, Hodgeman, Morton, Seward, and Stevens in western Kansas.