14MP1, Paint Creek Site Effigy or Chipped Stone Tool?
Date: 1500-1800 CE
This artifact was found at the Paint Creek village in McPherson County. It was donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 1971. Archeologists sometimes ponder how to classify an artifact: is this an effigy or a chipped stone tool? The Paint Creek site is what archeologists call part of the Little River Focus of the Great Bend aspect (ancestral Wichita), whose people practiced fishing, hunting, gathering, and agriculture.

1941 Canton High School senior class in Canton, Kansas
Date: 1941
This is a photograph of the 1941 Canton High School senior class in Canton, Kansas. Members of the class are identified on the photograph.

50th reunion of the 1933 McPherson College graduating class in McPherson, Kansas
Date: 1983
This is a photograph showing the 50th reunion of the 1933 McPherson College graduating class in McPherson, Kansas. People in the photograph are identified as Eber Tice, Harvey Shank, Pauline Dell Bell, George Zinn, Ellen Steinberg Truhlar, Vernon Rhoades, Grace Heckman Gottman, Esther Brown Enberg, Dorothy Dresher Richards, Donard Dresher, Florence Dresher Wachholtz, Ruth Harms Nigh, Pearl Walker Kelly, Raymond Buskirk, Delbert Kelly, Ward Williams, and Lloyd Larsen.

Abrader from the Paint Creek Site, 14MP1
Date: 1500-1800 CE
This Sioux quartzite abrader was excavated at the Paint Creek village in McPherson County. Archeologists call abraders groundstone tools as they are shaped by grinding. This abrader has been used to sharpen another tool, such as a bone needle or awl. The Paint Creek site is what archeologists call part of the Little River Focus of the Great Bend Aspect (ancestral Wichita), whose people practiced fishing, hunting, gathering, and agriculture.

A. C. Griffith business card
Date: Between 1900 and 1910
A business card for dentist Dr. A. C. Griffith, D.D.S. His office was located on the second floor opposite the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) temple in Canton, Kansas.

Airport terminal in McPherson, Kansas
Date: Between 1955 and 1960
This is a photograph of the airport terminal and café in McPherson, Kansas.

A. J. Dyck to Arthur Capper
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1915-1919: Capper)
Date: April 23, 1918
Reverend A. J. Dyck of the Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church, Inman, Kansas, wrote this letter to Governor Arthur Capper of Topeka, Kansas, concerning the Third Liberty Loan drive and its impact on the German American community. Dyck explains that the members of his church have bought more than the amount of Liberty Loans required by the established quota in order to prove their loyalty and avoid harassment by "mobs." In addition, Dyck asks Capper if it would be acceptable for members of his church to donate to the Red Cross rather than providing money to support the war effort.

Albert Denham, prisoner 4529
Creator: Kansas State Penitentiary
Date: February 2, 1901
This photograph shows inmate, Albert Denham, prisoner #4529. He was received at the Kansas State Penitentiary on October 14, 1887 from McPherson County, Kansas for murder. Possible variations of his given name includes Alfred.

Allison family in McPherson, Kansas
Date: Between 1910 and 1920
This is a photograph possibly showing members of the Allison family in McPherson, Kansas.

Alternately Beveled Knives from the Paint Creek Site, 14MP1
Date: 1500-1800 CE
These alternately beveled knives were collected from the Paint Creek village site in McPherson County, Kansas. Four were donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 1971 and the other was excavated by Kansas Historical Society archeologists. Repeated sharpening on the knife's alternate sides created the bevels. Four of the knives were made Permian chert with the fifth knife of Alibates Agatized Dolomite. The Paint Creek site is what archeologists call part of the Little River Focus of the Great Bend aspect (ancestral Wichita), whose people practiced fishing, hunting, gathering, and agriculture.

Are You With or Against the Hun?
Creator: Canton Pilot
Date: April 25, 1918
This article, published in the April 25, 1918, edition of the Canton Pilot, encourages readers to buy Liberty Bonds in order to "show the world where you stand."

Arrow Points from the Miller Site, 14MP403
Date: 1-1000 CE
These arrow points were collected from an Early Ceramic period archeological site in McPherson County and donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 2020. Shown are side and corner notched arrow points made from local Flint Hills region cherts. The notches aided in hafting the point to the arrow shaft.

Arrow Points from the Paint Creek Site, 14MP1
Date: 1500-1800 CE
These arrow points were collected from the Paint Creek village in McPherson County and donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 2020. Shown are small triangular, side notched, and basal notched arrow points made of Flint Hills region cherts. The village is part of what archeologists call the Little River focus of the Great Bend aspect (ancestral Wichita and Affiliated Tribes), whose people practiced fishing, hunting, gathering, and agriculture.

Arrow Points from the Schwantes Site, 14MP407
Date: 1000-1500 CE
These arrow points were recovered from the Schwantes site in McPherson County during the Kansas Archeology Training Program field school in 2004. One is a side-notched point made of local Flint Hills region chert. It gets its pinkish color as a result of the flintknapper heat treating the material to improve the chert's knapping qualities. The other point is triangular and made of Smoky Hill silicified chalk that outcrops in western Kansas and Nebraska. The Schwantes site had multiple occupations through time: at least one Smoky Hill aspect habitation that was examined in 2004 and a later Great Bend aspect (ancestral Wichita and Affiliated Tribes) occupation.

Arthur Edward Mattox
Creator: Robb, Frank
Date: Between January 1908 and December 1909
A photograph of Arthur Edward Mattox who was born and grew up near Turney, Missouri. He married Hulda Florence Parks who was born and grew up near McPherson, Kansas. After their wedding on December 23, 1908, they moved to Turney where they lived and raised their children.

Arthur Edward Mattox and Hulda Florence Parks Mattox collection
Creator: Mattox, Hulda Florence Parks
Date: April 7, 1908 - December 21, 1908
These courtship letters were written by Arthur Edward Mattox, Turney, Missouri, and Hulda Florence Parks Mattox, McPherson, Kansas. They were married December 23, 1908, in McPherson, Kansas, and moved to Turney, Missouri, where they raised their children.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot, Canton, Kansas
Creator: Kelley, Frank O.
Date: Between 1950s and 1960s
This photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot in Canton, Kansas. The structure still stands and has been moved east of Salina, Kansas.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot, Conway, Kansas
Date: Between 1890 and 1909
This photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot in Conway, Kansas. The one-story wooden structure features batten siding and an overhanging, gabled roof.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot, Conway, Kansas
Creator: Kelley, Frank O.
Date: Between 1950s and 1960s
This photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot in Conway, Kansas.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot, Galva, Kansas
Creator: Kelley, Frank O.
Date: 1970
This photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot in Galva, Kansas on a snowy day. The wooden structure no longer stands.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot, McPherson, Kansas
Date: Between 1966 and 1969
This photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot in McPherson, Kansas. This one story brick building, a "county-seat" style depot, has been modified over the years. The open freight room has been razed and replaced with a brick addition. Also, the Santa Fe emblems that are commonly located along the pitch of the roof have been covered up by the addition.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot, McPherson, Kansas
Date: 1917
This photo-postcard shows the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot in McPherson, Kansas. The one-story "county-seat" style depot features a gabled roof with an operator's bay, an open waiting room and a freight room at the other end of the building. At the top of the depot are the Santa Fe emblems commonly associated with a county-seat depot.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot, Windom
Creator: Kelley, Frank O.
Date: 1972
This photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot in Windom, Kansas.

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.

Awl from the Paint Creek Site, 14MP1
Date: 1500-1800 CE
This complete bone awl was found at the Paint Creek archeological site, a village in McPherson County, Kansas. Awls such as this one are usually made from deer bone. They were used to make holes in soft material, like hides, and possibly in basket and pottery manufacturing. The awl was donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 2012. The Paint Creek site is part of the Little River focus of the Great Bend aspect (ancestral Wichita), whose people practiced fishing, hunting, gathering, and agriculture.