1855 rescue of free stater Jacob Branson
Creator: Abbott, James Burnett, 1818-1897
Date: Between 1855 and 1860
James Abbott, a free state activist who participated in several Kansas Territory conflicts (including the rescues of John Doy and Jacob Branson), wrote this account of the 1855 rescue of Jacob Branson. In his account, Sheriff Jones, supported by the proslavery "bogus" legislature, had arrested Jacob Branson, a free state man who witnessed the murder of Charles W. Dow by Franklin Coleman, a proslavery neighbor. Abbott and his cohorts successfully rescued Branson, although their actions were controversial even among fellow free state supporters. Certain aspects of Abbott's account of these events disagreed with an earlier account provided by Samuel Wood, and Abbott addressed those discrepancies in this document. [Abbott's account, obtained either by handwritten manuscript or personal interview, is presented here as an annotated typed transcript.]

1906 Kansas University basketball team
Creator: Squires, C. F.
Date: 1906
This is a photograph of the 1905-06 Kansas University basketball team. The player on the floor is Phog Allen and the player in the second row, second from left is Chester Alexander Smith. The photograph was taken in 1906.

1951 flood in northeast Kansas
Date: 1951
Here are twelve photographs, possibly used to illustrate a publication, showing the 1951 flood in the towns of Topeka, Lecompton, Lawrence, and Perry.

1951 Flood motion picture film
Creator: Weir, Alexander
Date: 1951
This is an 8mm motion picture film showing the 1951 flood in northeast Kansas. Locations in northeast Kansas include Topeka, Lecompton, Lawrence, and Kansas City. Alexander Weir, the cinematographer, took footage during the flood and after the water receded.

20th Kansas Volunteer Infantry's homecoming parade, Lawrence, Kansas
Date: 1899
View of a parade in Lawrence, Kansas, honoring the homecoming of the 20th Kansas Volunteer Infantry from the Philippines after the Spanish-American War. Visible are a marching band, crowds of spectators, buildings decorated with bunting, men on horses, utility poles and power lines, and American flags suspended on wires above the main and side streets.

8,000 students affected, state officials see no trouble adjusting schools to new rule
Creator: Topeka Journal
Date: May 17, 1954
This article discusses how the state of Kansas will work to conform to the ruling made in the Brown v. Board of Education decision on May 17, 1954. The U.S. Supreme Court had ruled that the segregation of schools based on race was unconstitutional. Many cities in Kansas, including Topeka, Atchison, Salina, Wichita, and Pittsburg were already working to integrate their schools. Topeka had an estimated 625 African American students who would be affected by the court's ruling, and the article lists the numbers for other cities and towns in the state.

Abbott Howitzer
Creator: Leonard & Martin
Date: Between 1880s and 1890s
This sepia colored photograph shows the artillery piece known as the Abbott Howitzer. The cannon, manufactured by the Ames Company of Chicopee, Massachusetts, was purchased in 1855 by free-state activist James Burnett Abbott. The howitzer protected Lawrence, Kansas, during the sacking of the city on May 21, 1856. It was later used during the Civil War by James Henry Lane's brigade in Missouri. At the end of the war, the cannon was returned to Lawrence where it remained until Abbott donated the artillery piece to the Kansas Historical Society.

Abbott Howitzer
Date: 1850s
This black and white photograph shows the artillery piece known as the Abbott Howitzer. The cannon, manufactured by the Ames Company of Chicopee, Massachusetts, was purchased in 1855 by free-state activist James Burnett Abbott. The howitzer protected Lawrence, Kansas, during the sacking of the city on May 21, 1856. It was later used during the Civil War by James Henry Lane's brigade in Missouri. At the end of the war, the cannon was returned to Lawrence where it remained until Abbott donated the artillery piece to the Kansas Historical Society.

About Nicodemus, The Daily Journal
Creator: Lawrence Daily Journal
Date: April 30, 1879
This article from the Lawrence Daily Journal discusses a newspaper article from the Chicago Tribune written during the Exoduster Movement in 1879 providing a brief history of the black community of freed people at Nicodemus, Kansas settled in 1877. Nicodemus is now a historic site administered by the National Parks Service.

A brief sketch of Indian tribes in Franklin County, Kansas in 1862-1906
Creator: Romig, Joseph
Date: 1906
This item, written by missionary Reverend Joseph Romig of Franklin County, Kansas, contains a detailed history of the Native American tribes of Franklin County, Kansas, from 1862-1906. The cover indicates it is "for the benefit of the future generation of the county."

Achilles B. Wade
Date: Between 1850 and 1870
A portrait of Achilles B. Wade, a member of the first Legislative Council of Kansas Territory, known as the 'bogus' legislature.

Action of Other Cities on the 'Exodus' Question
Creator: Wyandotte Gazette
Date: April 25, 1879
This article includes information about Exoduster relief efforts in both Topeka and Lawrence. In Topeka, the Kansas Freedmen's Aid Association had appealed to other counties, asking them to form local aid societies to assist refugees in their respective areas. Lawrence citizens held a meeting in Fraser Hall to discuss the Exodus; the attendees recognized the legitimacy of the Exodus and were willing to provide aid and support for the emigrants.

Address to the Voters of Kansas
Creator: Pomeroy, S. C. (Samuel Clarke), 1816-1891
Date: September 25, 1867
The numerous authors of this pamphlet (Republicans) support the constitutional amendments to approve voting rights for blacks, for women, and to restrict voting rights to "loyal persons." They offer arguments for their position as well as criticizing the Democratic Party in Kansas for their opposition to these amendments. Forty five men signed the document, which was the result of a meeting in Lawrence. The following signed the document S. C. Pomeroy, Atchison; E. G. Ross, Lawrence; S. J. Crawford, Topeka; N. Green, Manhattan; Chas. Robinson, Lawrence; Geo T. Anthony, Leavenworth; Lewis Bodwell, Topeka; R. B. Taylor, editor Wyandotte Gazette; J. P. Root, Whandotte; James Rogers, Burlingame; S. Weaver, Editor Lecompton New Era; L. R. Elliott, Editor Atchison Daily Free Press; W. A. Starrett, Lawrence; Wm. Larimer, Jr., Leavenworth; John Ritchie, Topeka; John Ekin, Topeka; Sol. Miller, Editor White Cloud Chief; A. H. Foote, Lawrence; C. B. Lines, Wabaunsee; R. G. Elliott, Jefferson county; G. A. Crawford, Bourbon county; John Speer, Kansas Tribune; A. Low, Doniphan; R. W. Jenkins, Pottawatomie county; Ed. Russell, Leavenworth; J. H. Pillsbury, Editor Manhattan Independent; S. D. Houston, Manhattan; W. K. Marshall, Atchison; F. G. Adams, Kennekuk; P. L. Hubbard, Atchison; A. Hunting, Manhattan; J. B. Abbott, De Soto; Joseph Denison, Manhattan; T. H. Baker, Manhattan, H. W. Farnsworth, Topeka; I. H. Smith, Topeka; D. R. Anthony, Leavenworth; G. W. Higginbotham, Manhattan; John Pipher, Manhattan, R. L. Harford, Manhattan; Jas. Humphrey, Manhattan; Wm McKay, Manhattan; R. P. Duvall, Manhattan; Pardee Butler, Pardee; and L. F. Green, Baldwin City. Only the language restricting voting to "loyal" persons was passed in the election on November 5, 1867. Blacks and women were not given voting rights as a result of the 1867 election.

Advertisement for Summerfield & Jacobs in Lawrence, Kansas
Creator: Atkinson, J. T.
Date: January 23, 1894
This is an advertisement for M. Summerfield and George J. Jacobs, Attorneys at Law, 77 Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, Kansas. It is published in the Lawrence City Directory, 1871, page 116.

Aetna Insurance Company
Creator: Aetna Insurance Company
Date: 1864 - 1870
Copies of Aetna Insurance Company fire policy records for insured properties in Lawrence and Baldwin, Douglas County and Osage County, Kansas. The records include amount insured; descriptions of the buildings including the date built, construction materials, fuel, lights, and size; businesses occupying the structures; present cash values; locations; specification of renewal; copy of endorsements; and assignments or transfers. Many of the buildings were located on Massachusetts Street in Lawrence.

Agnes Quapaw-Hoffman
Date: Between October 27, 1926 and October 30, 1926
This is a photo of Agnes Quapaw-Hoffman, a member of the Quapaw Indian tribe.

Agricultural classes, Haskell Institute
Date: Between 1916 and 1940
The two photographs show students in Haskell Institute's agricultural classes. One photograph has a student sitting on a Cleveland tractor, the other photograph has a student driving a hauling truck. Established in 1884 as the Indian Industrial Training School, Haskell Institute evolved into what is now Haskell Indian Nations University.

A history of Lawrence, Kansas: from the first settlement to the close of the rebellion
Creator: Cordley, Richard
Date: 1895
Sara Tappan Doolittle (Lawrence) Robinson, author of "Kansas: Its Interior and Exterior Life" and wife of Governor Charles Robinson, owned this copy of Richard Cordley's "A History of Lawrence Kansas." She heavily annotated the book in pencil, as did George Washington Brown (in ink). Brown was another prominent supporter of the Free State cause and an associate of the Robinsons. On page 269 Brown recommends that the author revise the earliest history, prior to Cordley's arrival in Lawrence, for accuracy. The book includes several maps and photographs, including a portrait of Sara Robinson between pages 168 and 169.

Aiken J. Sexton correspondence
Creator: Sexton, A.J.
Date: 1862
Letters from Aiken J. Sexton to his wife, Catherine. Aiken was a private from Company E of the 12th Wisconsin Volunteers and wrote these letters as he traveled through Kansas during the Civil War.

Albert C. Morton to Hiram Hill
Creator: Morton, Albert C.
Date: February 27, 1858
Albert Morton wrote from Quindaro, Kansas Territory, to Hiram Hill in Massachusetts. Morton predicted a good property market for the coming spring, despite the "hard money matters" which had been the situation during the winter. He reported that the Shawnee lands would open soon, to have them paid for by the end of the summer, and that Hill's land investments in Manhattan were "in good standing". Morton added that Samuel Simpson has been busy lately, traveling back and forth from Quindaro to Lawrence.

Albert D. Searl's surveying chain
Date: between 1852 and 1855
Brass and steel surveying chain. Albert D. Searl used this chain to survey town sites in Kansas Territory. He came to Kansas from Massachusetts in 1854. He apparently was associated with S.C. Pomeroy, agent for the New England Emigrant Aid Company that organized antislavery settlements in the territory. Searl laid out the city limits and streets of Lawrence, Kansas, in September 1854, and three months later conducted the first regular survey of Topeka. Later he surveyed Manhattan, Osawatomie, Burlington, El Dorado, and other Kansas towns.

Albert D. Searl's transit
Creator: Phelps & Gurley
Date: between 1845 and 1851
Solid brass Vernier transit on walnut tripod. Albert D. Searl used this transit to survey town sites in Kansas Territory. He came to Kansas from Massachusetts in 1854. He apparently was associated with S.C. Pomeroy, agent for the New England Emigrant Aid Company that organized antislavery settlements in the territory. Searl laid out the city limits and streets of Lawrence, Kansas, in September 1854, and three months later conducted the first regular survey of Topeka. Later he surveyed Manhattan, Osawatomie, Burlington, El Dorado, and other Kansas towns.

Albert D. Searl to Thaddeus Hyatt
Creator: Searl, Albert D
Date: August 21, 1856
The author wrote from Tabor, Iowa to Thaddeus Hyatt, president of the National Kansas Committee. He began the letter by mentioning a skirmish between pro-slavery and free state forces somewhere between Lawrence and Topeka. This correspondence also deals with emigrant settlements within the territory, the shipment of weapons and provisions, and the morale among the emigrants as they struggled to make ends meet. Furthermore, Searl mentioned a great deal about James Lane and his activities within Kansas Territory.

Albert Dwight Searl
Creator: Storm, F. D.
Date: About 1900
This cabinet card shows Albert Dwight Searl, (1831-1902), a surveyor and Civil War solider. He arrived in Lawrence, Kansas, on September 15, 1854 with the second party of the New England Emigrant Aid Company. A surveyor by profession, Searl went to work laying out the entire city of Lawrence and the city of Topeka, Kansas. He also surveyed the Kansas towns of Manhattan, Burlington, El Dorado, and Osawatomie before the start of the Civil War. In 1861, Searl enlisted as a private in the Eighth Kansas Volunteers and within a short period of time he was promoted to second lieutenant and later a first lieutenant of Company D. During the final years of the war, Searl transferred to the 9th Kansas Calvary before he mustered out of service. After the war, Searl resumed his career by surveying towns along the Union Pacific Railroad and he became the chief engineer for the St. Louis, Lawrence & Denver Railroad and the St. Louis, Lawrence & Western Railroad. As construction on the railroad moved across Kansas and into the Colorado territory, Searl found himself moving from Lawrence in 1872 to Leadville, Colorado. In Colorado, he surveyed the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad and was engaged in a number of mining ventures. On October 20, 1902 Albert Dwight Searl died at his home in Leadville, Colorado, at the age of seventy-one. Burial was in Lawrence, Kansas.

Albert Ellis Birch, World War I soldier
Date: 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 Albert Ellis Birch, Company A, 342nd Machine Gun Battalion. Albert was killed in action on November 11, 1918, the day cease fire was called.