A Dust Cloud Rolling Over the Prairies (near Hugoton, Kansas)
Creator: Stovall Studio
Date: April 14, 1935
This is a photograph of a dust cloud rolling over the prairie near Hugoton, Kansas. Southwest Kansas was among the hardest hit areas during the Dust Bowl. Dust storms, such as the one depicted here, could blow for a full day, coating everything in their path with a layer of dirt. It was taken by the Stovall Studio in Dodge City, Kansas on Sunday April 14, 1935. It is labeled #3.

Approaching Dust Storm 5 mi Away - Western Kansas
Creator: Stovall Studio
Date: April 14, 1935
This approaching dust storm is five miles away. The photograph was taken near Hugoton, Kansas, on April 14, 1935, by the Stovall Studio, Dodge City, Kansas. It is labeled #1.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot, Elkhart, Kansas
Creator: Kelley, F.O.
Date: 1972
This photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot, in Elkhart, Kansas. The one-story structure was moved to Hugoton, Kansas.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot, Hugoton, Kansas
Date: 1970
This photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company's freight depot in Hugoton, Kansas.

Barbecue, Hugoton, Kansas
Date: 1913
This photograph shows a group of men standing before an open barbecue pit as slabs of meat are being cooked for a celebration in Hugoton, Kansas. The event celebrated the completion of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Company branch from Dodge City, Kansas, to Elkhart, Kansas.

Black Friday meets its master
Creator: Garden City Daily Telegram
Date: April 10, 1935
Several articles about life in the Dust Bowl can be found on the front page of this newspaper from Garden City. Articles of particular interest include two articles on "raging dusters," one on the winter wheat crop, and a brief article discussing the postponement of community meetings to distribute aid under the soil erosion program. The newspaper also includes articles about other newsworthy events occurring in Garden City and around the state of Kansas.

Camp of the 2nd Regiment, Kansas National Guard near Hugoton, Stevens County, Kansas
Date: August 1888
This is a photograph of Camp Tim McCarthy, with Kansas National Guard troops camped outside Hugoton, Stevens County, Kansas. The 2nd Regiment of the Kansas National Guard tried to prevent violence during the county seat fight between Hugoton and Woodsdale in Stevens County, Kansas in August, 1888.

Clara Frost to Joseph Snell
Creator: Frost, Clara
Date: May 05, 1978
This is a letter from Clara Frost, Seattle, Washington, to Joseph Snell, Kansas Historical Society, Topeka, Kansas. In the letter, Frost recounts what her childhood was like growing up in the late nineteenth century in Hugoton, Kansas. NOTE: In the letter, Frost refers to the election of David Overmeyer as Governor of Kansas but that is incorrect. He was a candidate for that office several times.

Dress parade, 2nd Regiment, Kansas National Guard near Hugoton, Stevens County, Kansas
Date: August 1888
The 2nd regiment of the Kansas State National Guard on dress parade during the county seat fight between Hugoton and Woodsdale.

Drifts of dust around a western Kansas farm
Creator: Stovall Studio
Date: 1935
This postcard shows drifts of dust around a farm located near Hugoton, Kansas. It was taken by Stovall Studio, Dodge City, Kansas, and is labeled #13.

Drifts of dust, Hugoton, Kansas
Creator: Stovall Studio
Date: April 14, 1935
This black and white postcard shows drifts of dust near the town of Hugoton, Kansas. In the background a windmill is visible among the trees.

Dust clouds rolling over the prairies, Hugoton, Kansas
Creator: Stovall Studio
Date: April 14, 1935
This is a postcard view of a dust storm rolling over Hugoton, Kansas, on Sunday, April 14, 1935. Southwest Kansas was among the hardest hit areas during the Dust Bowl. Dust storms, such as this one, rolled over the southern Great Plains from 1932-1936, removing top soil from agricultural lands and prompting important changes in agricultural practice. The photograph was taken by Stovall Studio, Dodge City, Kansas, and is labeled #5.

Excerpts from taped interviews with John Stadler
Creator: Stadler, John
Date: 1979
This oral history interview with John Stadler, Stevens County, describes his experiences during the dust bowl of the 1930s. He devotes much of the interview to reminiscing about how these dust storms interrupted the daily routines of those living in western Kansas. Stadler worked for the local gas company, and he also supervised the drilling of 443 wells near Hugoton. Copied from Dust Storms as Remembered by Hugoton Citizens.

Excursion trains, Hugoton, Kansas
Date: May 1913
These two black and white photographs show groups of people gathered around two excursion trains at the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe depot in Hugoton, Kansas in celebration of the ATSF line from Dodge City, Kansas to Elkhart, Kansas. Activities from that day can also be seen in Kansas Memory item 214562.

Floyd and Glenn Cunningham burned in schoolhouse fire, Stevens County
Creator: Hugoton Hermes
Date: February 16, 1917
This is a newspaper article in the "Hugoton Hermes" describing the Stevens County, Kansas, schoolhouse fire that destroyed the school and severely burned brothers Floyd and Glenn Cunningham. Thirteen year old Floyd, 1903-1917, died from his injuries two weeks later. The physician treating seven year old Glenn, 1909-1988, told him that he would never walk again; but with rehabilitation and personal determination, he recovered to become one of the nation's greatest milers. Between 1932 and 1936, Glenn won Big Six indoor mile titles and participated in the 1932 and 1936 Olympics. In 1938, Cunningham became the world's fastest miler as he set a new indoor mile record at Dartmouth College. In 1978, he was named the outstanding track performer in the 100-year history of Madison Square Garden and, in 1979, he was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.

Governor's proclamations
Date: 1869-1977
This collection of proclamations issued by Kansas Governors declares first, second or third-class status for Kansas towns and cities. Proclamations are arranged in alphabetical order by town name. Included are descriptions of city limits, plat maps and censuses.

Hamby Hotel in Hugoton, Kansas
Date: June 19, 1915
This is a postcard showing the Hamby Hotel in Hugoton, Kansas.

Hugoton industry, Hugoton, Kansas
Date: Between 1930 and 1949
This black and white photograph shows four men kneeling on the ground holding a white shirt that reads "Gascapade! Hugoton". In the background, three workers are examining the operations of a gas or oil derrick.

Interview with Gus Kramer
Creator: Kramer, Gus
Date: 1979
This oral history interview with Gus Kramer of Hugoton, Stevens County, describes his experiences during the dust storms of the 1930s. In it he recounts how difficult it was to make a living, and how the drifting soil clung to everything, clogging engines and seeping through cracks in buildings. He also compares living during the Dust Bowl and Depression to his early childhood, when the area around Hugoton was covered with healthy, green grass. This interview was printed in Dust Storms as Remembered by Hugoton Citizens, a collection of interviews collected by the Hugoton High School Social Studies Club.

Interview with Mrs. Gus (Olive) Kramer
Creator: Kramer, Olive
Date: 1979
This oral history interview with Olive Kramer of Hugoton, Stevens County, describes her experiences during the dust bowl of the 1930s. She devotes much of her interview to reminiscing about how these dust storms interrupted the daily routines of those living in western Kansas. She also mentions government programs -- such as the cattle purchase program -- that provided relief for citizens suffering from unemployment. During a particularly bad spell, her husband (who also gave an interview) sent her and their children east to Kansas City (it is not clear for how long). Kramer talks also about the emergency hospital set up in the basement of the Methodist Church to care for the residents dealing with dust pneumonia. Copied from Dust Storms as Remembered by Hugoton Citizens.

Kansas Film Commission site photographs, subject farmhouses
Creator: Kansas Film Commission
Date: 1980s-2000s
These are panoramic photographs of locations in Kansas created by the Kansas Film Commission to promote scenes to film companies. The panoramics were created by taking individual photos and taping them together. The photographs are arranged alphabetically by subject and then location. The subject of this part of the collection is farmhouses, arranged alphabetically by county.

Kansas Film Commission site photographs, towns Fall River - Hutchinson
Creator: Kansas Film Commission
Date: 1980s and 1990s
These are panoramic photographs of Kansas towns beginning with Fall River and ending with Hutchinson. The Kansas Film Commission created the photos to promote Kansas locations to film companies. Many of the photographs show business districts and buildings. The panoramics were created by taking individual photos and taping them together. Towns and cities included in this part of the collection are: Fall River, Falun, Florence, Ford, Fostoria, Fredonia, Ft. Scott, Galena, Garden City, Garnder, Geneseo, Gove, Grainfield, Great Bend, Greeley, Greensburg, Grenola, Grinnell, Gypsum, Hall's Summit, Halstead, Hamilton, Hanston, Harrison, Hartford, Harveyville, Havana, Hays, Hazelton, Headville, Herndon, Hewins, Highland, Hillsboro, Howard, Hoyt, Hudson, Hugoton, Humbolt, and Hutchinson. Some of the photos of communities show churches, grain elevators, water towers, parks, public/government buildings, railroad depots and tracks, and residences.

Main business street in Hugoton, Kansas
Date: 1891
This photograph shows the main business street looking north in Hugoton, Kansas. There is a windmill at the far end of the street.

Methodist Church in Hugoton, Kansas
Date: Between 1890 and 1895
This is a photograph of the Methodist Church in Hugoton, Kansas, where Samuel Wood was slain. The towns of Hugoton and Woodsdale competed for the county seat which led to shooting and blood shed. During the Stevens County war, six men were killed including Samuel Wood, founder of Woodsdale.

Notice of Floyd Cunningham's death, Stevens County, Kansas
Creator: Hugoton Hermes
Date: February 23, 1917
This newspaper article from the "Hugoton Hermes" reports the death of Floyd Cunningham, 1903-1917, older brother of miler Glenn Cunningham, 1909-1988. The brothers were severely burned in a fire at the Sunflower schoolhouse located in southwest Stevens County. Thirteen year old Floyd Cunningham died of his injuries two weeks later. The physician treating seven year old Glenn told him that he would never walk again. With rehabilitation and personal determination, however, he recovered to become one of the nation's premiere runners. Between 1932 and 1936, Glenn won Big Six indoor mile titles and participated in the 1932 and 1936 Olympics. In 1938, Cunningham became the world's fastest miler as he set a new indoor record at Dartmouth College. In 1978, he was named the outstanding track performer in the 100-year history of Madison Square Garden and, in 1979, he was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.