Album Patch quilt
Date: 1895
Album Patch quilt with numerous handwritten signatures inked on the top. Marks on the center block include the name of Rev. L. C. Schnacke, the notation he was pastor of the First Congregational Church in Great Bend, and the date May 2, 1895. Most of the other names are for residents of Great Bend. This quilt probably was a fund raiser, with a small fee being charged for names to be recorded on it. The marks all appear to be written by the same person.

Applications for Positions
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1915-1919: Capper)
Date: February 20, 1915
This file includes a letter from Great Bend, Kansas with the enclosing of an application for the position as Deputy Oil Inspector. The file is incomplete and does not include the application. This is part of a bigger collection of Governor Arthur Capper correspondence.

A Story of Real Life on The Plains
Creator: Van Sickle, S.S.
Date: 1875
A story written by Captain S.S. Van Sickel, in which he recounts his time on the Plains, his experiences with the Indians, and his narrow escape from death during the winter of 1874-75. He was a citizen of Bull City, Kansas (now known as Alton) for several years and also spent time in Dodge City, Great Bend, and Russell.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad time table number 28
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company
Date: April 20, 1873
This timetable was for the exclusive use of the employees of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad and included the eastern, Arkansas Valley and Wichita divisions.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot, Belpre, Kansas
Date: May 09, 1931
This photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot in Belpre, Kansas. The one-story wooden structure built in 1907 measuring 24 feet by 42 feet. The depot still stands and has been moved to the Barton County Museum in Great Bend, Kansas.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot, Great Bend, Kansas
Date: 1968
This photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot in Great Bend, Kansas. The "county seat" style depot, built in 1911 with white bricks, features an open waiting room and enclosed freight room. The Santa Fe emblems located at the pitch roof and operator's bay are commonly associated with a "county seat" depot. The structure still stands but is no longer in operation.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot, Great Bend, Kansas
Date: Between 1950s and 1960s
This photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot in Great Bend, Kansas. The "county seat" style depot built in 1911, with white bricks, features an open waiting room and enclosed freight room. The structure still stands but no longer in operation.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot, Great Bend, Kansas
Creator: Bohi, Charles W., 1940-
Date: Between 1960s and 1970s
This photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot in Great Bend, Kansas. The "county seat" style depot built in 1911, with white bricks, features an open waiting room and a enclosed freight room. The Santa Fe emblems located at the pitch roof and operator's bay are commonly associated with a "county seat" depot. The structure still stands but is no longer in operation.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot, Great Bend, Kansas
Date: Between 1911 and 1920
This photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot in Great Bend, Kansas. The "county seat" style depot built in 1911 with white bricks, features an open waiting room, and enclosed freight room. The Santa Fe emblems located beneath the pitched roof and on the operator's bay are commonly associated with a "county seat" depot. The structure still stands but is no longer in operation.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot, Great Bend, Kansas
Creator: Killam, H.
Date: August 1963
This photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot in Great Bend, Kansas. The "county seat" style depot, built in 1911 with white bricks, features an open waiting room and a Santa Fe emblem located along the pitch roof. The structure still stands but is no longer in operation.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company's steam locomotives #1440 and #0116
Date: Unknown
This photograph shows two Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company's steam engines, #1440 and #0116, at Great Bend, Kansas.

Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company freight house, Great Bend, Kansas
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company
Date: May 10, 1931
This black and white photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company freight house built, in 1898, at Great Bend, Kansas.

Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company round house, Great Bend, Kansas
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company
Date: May 10, 1931
This photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company round house at Great Bend, Kansas. The structure was built in 1889 and measured 38'x80'x87'.

Barricklow Drug Store, Great Bend, Kansas
Date: Between 1900 and 1940
This photograph shows the interior of the Barricklow Drug Store in Great Bend, Kansas. The picture shows items for sale in display cases, a soda fountain, and several people seated at tables in the store.

Barton County organization records
Creator: Kansas. Secretary of State
Date: 1872
In order for an unorganized county to be recognized by the state of Kansas, a certain number of householders/legal electors had to petition the governor. The governor would appoint a census taker. Initially, unorganized counties were required to document that they had at least 600 inhabitants in order to be recognized as a county by the state legislature. Over time the number of residents needed to organize a county changed to 1500 and later to 2500 residents. The census was submitted to the governor who then issued a proclamation indicating that the requirements had been met, appointing county commissioners and a county clerk, and naming a county seat. Not all of these documents are available for each county. Included in this file is the completed 1872 census for Barton county, several letters about the organization and census of the county, a list of people stating that the census that was taken did not comply with legislative law, and the proclamation by Governor Harvey appointing county officials and designating Great Bend as the temporary county seat.

Bird's Eye View of Great Bend, Barton County, Kansas
Creator: Morse, D. D
Date: 1875
This colored lithograph is a bird's eye view of Great Bend, the county seat of Barton County. Great Bend is located on the Arkansas River and the route of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad. The Courthouse is visible in its own "square." The image also shows the business district, churches, a school, and residences but no buildings are identified. Street names are given. This lithograph was done fairly early in the town's existence. The image was drawn by D. D. Morse and published by Lott & Zeuch Lithograph, Chicago, Illinois.

Buffalo hunters in Great Bend, Kansas
Date: Between 1870 and 1880
Buffalo hunters with covered wagons on the east side of the Barton County Courthouse, Great Bend, Kansas.

Carl Frederick Gryboski, World War I soldier
Date: 1918-1923
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 Carl Frederick Gryboski. Carl died on October 15, 1918, from influenza. He enlisted in Great Bend, Kansas.

Cheyenne Bottoms, Barton County, Kansas
Creator: Kansas Industrial Development Commission
Date: 1966
A black and white photograph showing a levee being built at Cheyenne Bottoms in Barton County, Kansas. The 41,000 acre tract of land located between Great Bend, Kansas and Hoisington, Kansas, is a wetland refuge for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds.

Cities, 2nd class
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1885-1889 : Martin)
Date: 1886
These letters are from various individuals regarding the establishment of second class cities, based on population, to Kansas Governor John Martin. The second class cities with signed petitions for incorporation include Dodge City, Great Bend, Hutchison, Larned, and South Topeka. There are also Governor's Proclamations for the declaration of second class city to Great Bend, Hutchison, and Larned. See "Cities, 1st Class" (Item number: 454842) for a list of first and second class cities along with their dates of incorporation.

Congregational Church, Great Bend, Barton County, Kansas
Date: Between 1905 to 1907
This photograph shows an exterior view of the Congregational Church in Great Bend, Kansas. The photo was used as a postcard with a note by Alice A. Reynolds and sent September 6, 1907.

Coursing, Great Bend, Kansas
Date: 1900
This photograph shows the American Coursing Association holding a coursing meet in Great Bend, Kansas. This competitive sport allows greyhounds to test their athletic ability as a dog rather then have them kill the rabbit.

Covered wagon crossing the Arkansas River at Great Bend, Kansas
Date: 1872
Covered wagon crossing the Arkansas River at Great Bend, Kansas.

Crest Theatre, Great Bend, Kansas
Date: unknown
A view of the lobby and furnishings of the Crest Theatre at 1905 Lakin Avenue in Great Bend, Kansas.

Crest Theatre, Great Bend, Kansas
Date: unknown
A view of the Crest Theatre at 1905 Lakin Avenue in Great Bend, Kansas.