1st National Bank blueprints, Clay Center, Kansas
Date: 1923
These blueprints show the First National Bank in Clay Center, Kansas. The designs were drawn by Architect Frederick C. Klawiter of St. Paul, Minnesota and the bank was built by A. Moorman and Company Bank Builders. The blueprints show precise detail by providing the viewer different angles, viewpoints, and elevations of the bank.

Albin K. Longren
Date: Between 1910 and 1919
This black and white photograph shows inventor and aviator Albin K. Longren posing with an Indian motorcycle. The following has been written across the bottom of the photograph "Longren Clay Center, Kansas."

Armistice Day celebration, Clay Center, Kansas
Date: November 11, 1918
This is a photograph of the 1918 Armistice Day celebration in Clay Center, Kansas. Visible is a stone monument on a wheeled platform, a band, spectators, automobiles and horse-drawn carriages, businesses and buildings, and American flags.

Baseball team from Clay Center, Kansas
Date: 1922
The Clay Center baseball team is featured in this photograph from 1922. Many of the individuals are named on the back, but their positions within the photo are not specified. The only individual who can be placed with certainty is pitcher William Bert Hart, of Westmoreland, who is kneeling in the middle row, second from the right. Bert Hart was a well-known semi-professional baseball player in northern Kansas during the 1910s and early 1920s. Other named individuals include: "Rube" Miller - scorer; Basil Rankin - umpire; "Puss" Musselman - outfielder; Norm Price - first baseman; "Ding" Burton - catcher; Dave Hobletsel - catcher; "Hook" Fletcher - pitcher; Lloyd "Skimmer" Hogue - outfielder; Jackie Delp - infielder; Brady Cowell - infielder; Cappy Cowell - outfielder; and, Bill Musselman - outfielder. In 1920, Bert Hart and "Skimmer" Hogue also were teammates on the Beloit Leaguers salaried team which claimed the "independent state championship of Kansas."

B. F. Flemicken to Governor John St. John
Creator: Flemicken, B. F.
Date: January 21, 1879
In this letter from B. F. Flemicken of Clay Center, Kansas, to Kansas Governor John St. John, Flemicken thanks St. John for his "firm and bold" stance on temperance and praising him for having the "nerve" to do so.

B. F. Fleniker to Governor John St. John
Creator: Fleniker, B. F.
Date: February 17, 1880
A letter written by B. F. Fleniker of Clay Center, Kansas, invites Kansas Governor St. John to speak to the community on the subject of temperance.

Bird's Eye View of Clay Center, Clay County, Kansas
Date: 1880
This lithograph is a bird's eye view of Clay Center, Clay County, Kansas. It is dated 1880. There is an inset in the center bottom that shows Clay Center in 1870. The town is more extensive in the 1880 version with industry, businesses, a railroad, homes, and public buildings. None of the structures are identified and street names are not give. The community is surrounded by extensive pastoral scence. The lithograph was produced by Moss Engraving Company, New York.

Blueford Melvin Carter, World War I soldier
Date: 1918-1919
Around 1919, the Kansas State Historical Society and the American Legion solicited biographical information from returning veterans (primarily members of the 35th and 89th infantry divisions) and the families of those who died in service, notably from the Gold Star Mothers. Each veteran or family member was asked to provide letters, photographs, a biography, and military records. This file contains information on Blueford Melvin Carter. Carter died at Camp Funston in October 1918.

Car washing, Clay Center, Kansas
Creator: Hawkins, Omar F. (Omar Finlay), 1890-1967
Date: October 8, 1929
View of a man washing an automobile in the Folberg Tire Store's garage in Clay Center, Kansas.

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad depot, Clay Center, Kansas
Creator: Kelley, Frank O.
Date: 1970
This photograph shows the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad depot in Clay Center, Kansas. The structure still stands and has been refurbished.

Children in costume, Clay Center, Kansas
Date: Between 1914 and 1916
This postcard shows two children dressed as a World War I soldier and a Red Cross nurse in Clay Center, Kansas. The back of the postcard identifies them as the Wilson children.

Cities & Towns : Clay Center
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1879-1883 : St. John)
Date: 1880
Letters and petitions to Kansas Governor St. John from the Mayor and City Council of Clay Center asking the governor to declare Clay Center a city of the second class. A few of these letters include signatures from inhabitants of Clay Center. In addition, is a letter from B. F. Flemiken with field notes of the city of Clay Center.

Clay Center fair
Creator: Clay County Kansas Fair Association
Date: September 12 - 15, 1893
A poster announcing a fair in Clay Center, Kansas. It shows a color illustration of a horse race.

Clay Center Orchestra, Clay Center, Kansas
Date: 1896
A photograph showing members of the Clay Center Orchestra seated on the lawn of J. C. Johnston's residence located at Blunt Street, between 5th and 6th Streets, Clay Center, Kansas. Pictured are: J. C. Johnston, trombone; George J. Hood, flute; Ed Newell, clarinet; Cecil M. Wickstrum, drum; Mr. Sanders, cornet; Alfred Nordstrum, cornet; Mr. and Mrs. Higgins, piano and violin; and Mr. Bowers, violin.

Clay County Courthouse, Clay Center, Kansas
Date: Between 1970s and 1980s
This photograph shows an east view of the Clay County Courthouse in Clay Center, Kansas. The two-story building designed by architect J.C. Holland was constructed between 1900 and 1901. Designed in the Romanesque style the structure features a hip roof, massive stonework and a clock tower in the center. In 1972, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Clay County Courthouse, Clay Center, Kansas
Date: Between 1900 and 1908
These three postcards show the Clay County Courthouse in Clay Center, Kansas. The two-story building designed by architect J. C. Holland was constructed between 1900 and 1901. Designed in the Romanesque style the structure features a hip roof, massive stonework and a clock tower in the center. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

Clay County Courthouse, Clay Center, Kansas
Date: Between 1900 and 1919
This photograph shows the Clay County Courthouse in Clay Center, Kansas. The two-story building designed by architect J.C. Holland was constructed between 1900 and 1901. Designed in the Romanesque style, the structure features a hip roof, stonework and a clock tower in the center. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

Clay County High School in Clay Center, Kansas
Date: Between 1915 and 1920
This is a postcard showing the Clay County High School in Clay Center, Kansas.

Croquet Game, Clay Center Kansas
Date: Between 1890s and 1900s
This black and white photograph shows a croquet game at Clay Center, Kansas. In the background two individuals can be seen playing musical instruments.

E. B. Reynolds to Governor John St. John
Creator: Reynolds, E. B.
Date: May 12, 1879
E. B. Reynolds of Clay Center asks to visit Kansas Governor St. John's home on Thursday or Friday and "take a look at you." He states his meetings have been "large and enthusiastic."

Emma Randall Newton and her father
Date: Between 1890 and 1899
This is a tintype showing Emma Randall Newton and her father, possibly in Clay Center, Kansas.

Folberg Tire Store, Clay Center, Kansas
Creator: Hawkins, Omar F. (Omar Finlay), 1890-1967
Date: October 8, 1929
View of four men and a woman standing in front of the Folberg Tire Store in Clay Center, Kansas. Firestone tires are displayed in the window and in front of the store. Additional images are in the Omar Hawkins photo collections (Kansas Memory item #216927).

Frank C. Smith to Governor John St. John
Creator: Smith, Frank C.
Date: August 03, 1880
In this letter, Frank Smith of Clay Center wants Kansas Governor St. John to attend a gathering at his grove on August 10th and asks what the expense will be. Frank Smith was an attorney in the law office of M. M. Miller.

Frank C. Smith to Governor John St. John
Creator: Smith, Frank C.
Date: July 26, 1880
In this letter, Frank Smith of Clay Center is embarrassed to write Kansas Governor St. John that plans for the Governor's visit have been altered, due to lack of an adequate meeting place and inability to procure a tent. Smith wants to know if the Governor can visit them September 5th. Frank Smith was an attorney in the law office of M. M. Miller.

Government Loans to the People
Creator: Vincent, William Davis, 1852-1922
Date: 1886
W. D. Vincent gave this speech at the Clay Debating Club in Clay Center, Kansas, on February 19, 1886. Vincent proposes to make wealth more equitable by letting the government operate the system for making loans rather than banks. He believes that this would make mortgage rates fairer and limit the power of banks to control the amount of money in circulation. While given before the official formation of the Populist movement, many ideas expressed in the speech were supported by the Populists.