Aerial view of Thomas County & Decatur County, Kansas
Creator: Kansas Department of Transportation
Date: 1949
This aerial photograph taken by the Kansas Department of Transportation shows U.S. Highway 83 and U.S Highway 383 along the Thomas County and Decatur County Line.

Albert Henning to George W. Martin
Creator: Henning, Albert
Date: August 16, 1905
In this letter to George W. Martin of the Kansas State Historical Society, Albert Henning describes finding "the body of an indian with a number of bullet holes in his body." According to Henning, the Indian that he found was killed by a party of men from Oberlin who had gathered together in the aftermath of a March 1879 attack by the Northern Cheyenne under Dull Knife.

Arthur Alexander and Christena Randall
Date: Between 1940 and 1945
This is a photograph of Arthur Alexander "Nace" Randall and his wife Christena "Stean" Randall who lived and farmed in Decatur County, Kansas.

Arthur Alexander and Christena Randall's farmhouse in Decatur County, Kansas
Date: Between January 01, 1930 and December 31, 1935
This is a postcard showing three men and a horse standing next to Arthur Alexander Randall's farmhouse in Decatur County, Kansas. A windmill is visible next to the farmhouse.

Arthur Alexander Randall and Elmer Nicholson with horses
Date: Between January 01, 1905 and December 31, 1910
This is a photograph of Arthur Alexander "Nace" Randall and Elmer Nicholson with horses on a farm in Decatur County, Kansas. There is a windmill in the background.

Benton residence, Oberlin, Kansas
Date: December 29, 1912
A postcard showing the Benton residence in Oberlin, Kansas. The postcard is addressed to Flora Albin of Greenfield, Kansas.

Big Timber Band, Decatur County, Kansas
Date: Between 1890 and 1899
This is a photograph of young children and members of the Big Timber Band of Decatur County, Kansas. The children are dressed in uniforms with caps and ribbon sashes.

Bob's Hotel in Jennings, Kansas
Date: Between January 01, 1905 and December 31, 1910
This is a postcard showing people in front of Bob's Hotel in Jennings, Kansas.

Buzzard Roost schoolhouse, Jennings, Kansas
Date: Between 1880 and 1899
This black and white postcard shows students standing in front of the Buzzard Roost sod schoolhouse near Jennings, Kansas.

C. C. Evans to Governor Edmund Morrill
Creator: Evans, C. C.
Date: December 24, 1894
The chairman of the Sheridan County Republican Central Committee, C. C. Evans, of Allison (Decatur County), writes Governor Edmund Morrill to inform him of the desperate circumstances facing farmers in western Kansas and to ask the state to furnish seed grain to the farmers. Several years of drought and low crop yields left many farmers without sufficient seed grain for the next season's crops. Evans asks the governor to rally Republican legislators to quickly pass an appropriation for farm relief. The letter claims that Populists have thwarted local efforts to address the problem and that effective actions by Republicans at this time would attract more people in western Kansas to the Republican Party.

Chris and Ellen Nicholson on their farm near Jennings, Kansas
Date: Between January 01, 1910 and December 31, 1915
This is a photograph of Chris and Ellen Nicholson posed with their work horses. The Nicholson farm was located near Jennings, Kansas.

Chris and Ellen Nicholson's farmhouse near Jennings, Kansas
Date: Between 1910 and 1915
This is a photograph of Ellen Nicholson standing on the porch of her farmhouse near Jennings, Kansas.

Christena Nicholson and Ellen Nicholson in a horse drawn carriage
Date: Between January 01, 1900 and December 31, 1905
This is a photograph showing Christena "Steen" Nicholson and her mother Ellen Nicholson in a horse drawn carriage. The photograph was probably taken in Decatur County, Kansas

Christena Randall driving a Ford automobile
Date: Between January 01, 1910 and December 31, 1915
This is a photograph showing Christena "Stean" Randall driving a Ford automobile. The photograph was probably taken in Decatur County, Kansas.

Christena, Velda, Casey and Gladys Nicholson in Decatur County, Kansas
Date: Between January 01, 1905 and December 31, 1910
This is a photograph of Christena Nicholson holding Velda Nicholson and Casey and Gladys Nicholson in Decatur County, Kansas.

Christian and Ellen Nicholson with their granddaughters
Date: 1922
This is a photograph of Christian and Ellen Nicholson and their granddaughters Velda (sitting) and Elma (seated). The parents of the granddaughters were Elmer and Christina (Randall) Nicholson. The photograph was probably taken on the Nicholson farm in Decatur County, Kansas.

Claims, 1878 Indian Raid, Decatur County
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1877-1879: Anthony)
Date: 1878
The following documents are reports given and claims filed by those affected by the Native American raids in Decatur County. This description does not cover all the claims made in this file, only just a few. A claim made by Catherine Vocasek states that the Native Americans raided Decatur County on October 1, 1878, she gives an account of what happened that day. A report filed by G. B. Street states he was in Decatur County during the raid and says John Humphrey was shot in the leg and wounded. A report filed on June 3, 1879, from J. B. Juress, claims he is owed $93 due to the raid. A file claimed by Peter D. Adams on June 3, 1878, states he is entitled to $60 as a result of the raid. On September 30 the Cheyenne tribe passed through Decatur County on their way back to South Dakota. During their journey, they passed through and raided many counties in Kansas.

Construction on the Masonic Temple in Oberlin, Kansas
Creator: Dyer
Date: Between 1925 and 1930
These four sepia colored postcards show a group of men building the Masonic Temple in Oberlin, Kansas.

Cornet band, Norcatur, Kansas
Creator: Marsh, Ben J., Norton, Kansas
Date: Between 1888 and 1894
This sepia colored photograph shows members from the Cornet Band of Norcatur, Kansas standing with their musical instruments on the steps of an unidentified building.

Council of National Defense Woman's Committee correspondence
Date: 1918
This collection consists of correspondence between individuals and committee members to the state chair of the Woman's Committee of the Kansas Council of National Defense. The Council of National Defense was established at the federal level in 1916 as an emergency agency under the Army Appropriation Act and abolished in 1921. It was created in reaction to World War I to coordinate resources and industries for national defense and improve civilian morale. The Woman's Committee of the Kansas Council of National Defense performed the same functions at the state and local levels, coordinating women's activities for national defense. The materials are organized alphabetically by county. The digitization of this collection was paid for through the Margot R. Swovelan Endowment Fund.

Counties : Decatur
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1879-1883 : St. John)
Date: 1879-1880
These documents discuss several different topics in regard to Decatur County. One citizen writes to protest to Kansas Governor St. John in relation to the efforts of certain individuals who wish to affect the organization and election of county seat of Decatur county. Another letter requests that Governor St. John not appoint county seat to a specific person and provides his reasons. There is a request for Governor St. John to provide a copy of the law concerning organizations of unorganized counties and the procedures. Several letters encompass petitions and recommendations to appoint certain citizens for county positions.

Counties, Decatur - Harper
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1877-1879: Anthony)
Date: 1877 - 1878
A letter on February 12, 1877, from J. L. Peck, regards the organization of Decatur County. A letter of resignation on August 15, 1877, from W. R. Kimmins as Probate Judge of Edward County and recommends S. T. Reed for consideration. A letter on June 1, 1878, from John G. McNeal, requests Governor Anthony to appoint a Public Notary to the County of Harper. A letter on April 17, 1878, from W. R. Kirkpatrick about the organization of Harper County and requests Governor Anthony to please send a written statement. Two petitions from citizens of Harper County to Kansas Governor Anthony to appoint specific individuals as officers of their county.

Counties : Decatur, index of petitioners' land
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1879-1883 : St. John)
Date: December 1879
A petition, comprising of sixty-four pages, from voters of Oberlin, Kansas asking Kansas Governor St. John to designate Decatur County as the Temporary County Seat of Decatur County.

Counties : Decatur, memorial for organization
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1879-1883 : St. John)
Date: June 11, 1879
These documents are petitions sent to Kansas Governor St. John to organize Decatur County included are signatures from householders and residents of the county.

Counties : Decatur, petition for Decatur Center as temporary county seat
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1879-1883 : St. John)
Date: December 02, 1879
A copy of a petition from legal electors of Decatur County asking Kansas Governor St. John to have Temporary County Seat of Decatur County located at Decatur Center. In the letter the citizens of Decatur Center inform Governor St. John that Decatur Center is one-half mile south of the Geographical Center of the County whereas Oberlin is six- and one-half miles north west of the center.