1855 map of Richardson (Wabaunsee) County, Kansas
Date: 1855
This map shows the original Wabaunsee (Richardson) County boundaries which existed prior to a realignment of the borders with Morris County in 1870 and Riley County in 1871. Approximately 72 square miles were removed in the first action and 54 square miles in the latter. Notice the Potawatomi Reservation in the upper right section of the county and the Kaw Reserve in the lower left portion.

4th of July parade in Alma, Kansas
Date: 1893 and 1894
Three photographs of 4th of July celebrations in Alma, Kansas. In the first photograph, six girls in patriotic dress pose during Alma's 1893 4th of July festivities. The second photograph captures the 1893 4th of July parade from the balcony of the Alma Hotel as it proceeds north on Missouri Street. In the third photograph, children dressed in patriotic clothes pose on a float constructed in a wagon in this view from the 1894 Alma 4th of July parade.

7th and 8th grade class, Alma, Kansas
Date: 1923
Black and white photograph of the 7th and 8th grade students, with their teacher Mr. M. O. Wright, in Alma, Kansas. Some of the students have been identified as Esther Mathies, Art Thowe, Helen Johnson, Alma Heitzman, Leola Haller, Willie Johnson, Genevieve Graves, Wilbur Noller, Alberta Thoes, Norman Anderson, Lola Simpson, Selena Feiden, Dorthory Johnson, Carl Diepenbrock, Arthur Zeckser, Paula Geisler, Othmar Undorf, Gus Delfs, Jack Miller, Victor Cox, and Harold Kraus.

Ada Laverty residence in Alma, Kansas
Date: Between 1975 and 1985
Photograph of the stone house located at 403 East 4th Street in Alma, Kansas. Ada Laverty (1906-2003) lived in this house for nearly a century.

Ada Sage Laverty and Florence Palenske Hallgren
Date: 1930-1939
Ada Sage Laverty, left, an unidentified man, and Florence Palenske Hallgren are seated on the bumper of a car in this 1930s photo. Funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Ada Sage Laverty at Alma, Kansas home
Date: April 21, 1986
In this view dated April 21, 1986, Ada Sage Laverty is seen standing in the front yard of her home, located at 403 E. 4th Street in Alma, Kansas. Funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Ada Sage Laverty home at Alma, Kansas
Date: 1979
This exterior view of the home of Ada Sage Laverty, located at 403 E. 4th Street in Alma, Kansas, is dated 1979. Funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Admiral F. A. Wendt
Date: June 30, 1971
This is an official Navy photograph of Admiral F. A. Wendt, Commander-in-Chief, U. S. Naval Forces, Europe, June 30, 1971. He was a grandson of Peter Thowe II and nephew of August Thowe of Alma, Kansas.

Adolph Maas' threshing crew, Alma, Kansas
Date: Between 1900 and 1910
A photograph of a crew threshing wheat at the Adolph Maas farm in Alma, Kansas. The crew uses a large steam engine fueled with wood that is carried in a short wagon behind the tractor.

Adults and children gathered for a parade, Alma, Kansas
Date: Between 1920 and 1929
A photograph showing adults and children gathered for a parade in Alma, Kansas. Visible on the street are businesses including Ketterman's Restaurant and a bank.

A Flint Hills Story by Victor Palenske
Creator: Palenske, Victor
Date: 1973
This is a forty-page monograph, authored by Victor Palenske and signed and dated 1973. Palenske's document recalls his early days in Alma in the 1910s and speaks in detail of Alma business and life in the early 20th century in Wabaunsee County. Funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Air-Dome Theater in Alma, Kansas
Date: Between 1914 and 1915
Photograph of the Air-Dome Theater located in Alma, Kansas. At the time the photograph was taken, the theater was featuring the Perils of Pauline, a famous American film serial released in 1914. The Air-Dome Theater was an outdoor theater owned by Arthur "Boss" Simon, located at 220 Missouri Street. Simon's brother, Charlie, had a small printing shop located in the stone building seen just to the left of the theater storefront, and the brothers constructed the theater building shell in 1910. The theater operated for about five years.

Alex and Elizabeth Barnes
Date: Between 1900 and 1905
A studio portrait of Alex and Elizabeth "Lizzie" Barnes of Alma, Kansas.

Alma Bottling Works in Alma, Kansas
Date: Between 1910 and 1920
Two photographs of the Alma Bottling Works soda pop factory in Alma, Kansas. The factory was bought by James and Dorthea Dieball Barger from Henry Falk and wife Ethel Cahill Falk. Ethel was the daughter of Rhonda and Jessie Cahill. The Bargers built the adjacent house, located at 1021 Ohio Street, with money borrowed from Margaretha Muckenthaler on June 20, 1909.

Alma Electric and Ice Plant, Alma, Kansas
Date: Between 1910 and 1915
Photograph of the Alma Electric and Ice Plant in Alma, Kansas. The plant was located between 3rd and 4th Streets west of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe depot, between the Santa Fe and the Rock Island tracks.

Alma High School football team
Creator: Williams, C. U.
Date: 1907
A real photograph postcard showing the Alma High School football team in Alma, Kansas. The postcard is addressed to Mr. Ernest Wetzel in Topeka, Kansas.

Alma High School Junior Class of 1923
Date: 1923
Photograph of the 1923 junior class at Alma High School in Alma, Kansas. They are identified as (front row, left to right) Alice Lee, Anne Zeckser, Sadie Femmel, Kate Richmond, Myrtle Thoes, Homer Diepenbrock, Elmer Anderson, Milford Terras, and Elwin Thoes; (second row, left to right) Arlene Paetke, Della Schmidt, Selma Wolgast, Arnold Falk, H. R. Harold (coach), Charlie Freeman, Bill Stuewe, Homer Schmitz, and Fred Herman.

Alma High School Senior Class of 1928
Date: 1928
Photograph of members of the graduating class of 1928 at Alma High School in Alma, Kansas. They are identified as (first row, left to right) Eleanor Kraus, Esther Mathies, Charles Lott, Mabel Brasche, Julia Diepenbrock; (second row, left to right) Floyd Christy, Gertrude Schmitt, Marie Thowe, Doris Schwanke, Mildred Carpenter (sponsor), Florence Zeckser, Helen Johnson; (third row, left to right) Gilbert Bandel, Alma Hitgemann, Genevieve Haller, Alvina Tenbrink, Audria Schreiber, Raymond Dallas, Selena Feiden; (back row, left to right) Arnold Ringel, Ruth Gustin, Harold Steinmeyer, Leroy Horne, Blanche Lowe, Alvin Hasenbank. Not shown is Cynthia Todd.

Alma Hotel
Date: October 1968
This view of the Alma Hotel, located at 400 Missouri St., Alma, Kansas, was taken in October of 1968. Funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Alma instructors on high school steps in Alma, Kansas
Date: 1905
Photograph of school instructors standing on the front steps of Alma High School in Alma, Kansas. William Pringle, Nellie Henderson, Robert Strowig, and Mable (Strowig) Crawford are identified.

Alma, Kansas street scene
Date: Between 1910 and 1920
A photograph showing businesses including a Star Car dealership, Ketterman's Restaurant, and Beatrice Cream Station on a street in Alma, Kansas.

Alma, Kansas street scene
Date: Between 1910 and 1920
A photograph showing The Alma Tire & Battery Shop, U.S. Army and Navy Goods store, and automobiles on a business street in Alma, Kansas.

Alma Ladies Birthday Club
Date: Between 1930 and 1940
Photograph of several women belonging to the birthday club having a conversation in Alma, Kansas. Those identified are Laura Schmidt, Dora Meyer, Katie Haller, and Lena Diepenbrock.

Alma Rotary Club salutes Dr. Ellis McKnight
Creator: Atkinson, Armand C., 1916-1982
Date: May 29, 1969
Two photographs of members of the Alma Rotary Club in Alma, Kansas, saluting local physician Dr. Ellis B. McKnight with a banquet. Fred Palenske, right center, a close friend of McKnight, traveled from Michigan to attend the event.

Alma Sale Pavilion in Alma, Kansas
Date: 1920
Black and white photograph of the sale pavilion in Alma, Kansas. It was located near the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway depot on the east edge of town. In later years, the building was used for drying whey created in the production of cheese. In this view, carpenters appear to be nearing completion of the building.