African American baptism, Edwardsville, Kansas
Date: Between 1880 and 1900
This is a photograph showing African Americans being baptized at Murphy's pasture in Edwardsville, Kansas.

A living example of our problem in soil conservation
Creator: Works Progress Administration Indian Program
Date: 1935
This image, part of the New Deal Indian Program scrapbook compiled by the Works Progress Administration, depicts a gully created by severe erosion. Erosion such as this depleted the soil of its nutrients and decreased fertility, and blowing soil contributed to the Dust Bowl of the 1930s.

Alysia Kysar to Governor Joan Finney
Creator: Kysar, Alysia
Date: March 19, 1991
Alysia Kysar of Liberal, Kansas, writes Governor Joan Finney of Topeka concerning a water rights conflict at Cheyenne Bottoms wetlands in Barton County, Kansas. Kysar is eleven years old. She argues that the importance of wildlife habitats and communal ownership of natural resources, like water, supercede the rights of individual water users along Wet Walnut Creek. Kysar further questions the suitability of irrigated agriculture to an arid environment. In Wet Walnut Irrigators v. Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area (1992), the Kansas Supreme Court ruled in favor of Cheyenne Bottoms, citing its earlier claim to water rights.

An act regulating the diversion, appropriation, storage and distribution of water for industrial purposes
Creator: Kansas. Legislature
Date: 1891
In this bill (H.B. 602), the House Committee on Irrigation drafted legislation to control and regulate the rights of water in Kansas. Articles within the bill include, Diversion and Appropriation of water for industrial purposes, rights of use of water, right of way, disposal of seepage water, creation of irrigation ditches, construction and maintenance and operation of works, regulation of rates and compensation, and unlawful interference. The bill passed both the house and senate and was signed into law March 10, 1891.

Animals watering, Finney County, Kansas
Creator: Wolf, Henry L. 1850-1924
Date: Between 1890 and 1900
This photograph shows livestock at a watering hole. A windmill and horse and buggy are also visible.

Arkansas River bridge, Garden City, Finney County, Kansas
Creator: Wolf, Henry L. 1850-1924
Date: Between 1890 and 1900
This photograph shows the Arkansas River Bridge in Garden City, Finney County, Kansas. The photograph shows people on the bridge. The inside rails of the bridge are inscribed with advertisements or signs of some type.

Arkansas River bridge, Garden City, Finney County, Kansas
Creator: Wolf, Henry L. 1850-1924
Date: Between 1890 and 1900
This photograph shows the Arkansas River bridge in Garden City, Finney County, Kansas. Several people are visible on and near the bridge.

Arkansas River from bridge, Garden City, Finney County, Kansas
Creator: Wolf, Henry L. 1850-1924
Date: Between 1890 and 1900
The photograph shows a view of the Arkansas River from a bridge in Garden City, Finney County, Kansas.

Arkansas Valley Guide, Southwest Kansas
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company
Date: 1878
This circular would be free to any address. Its purpose was to promote the development of the Arkansas River Valley in southwest Kansas. It tells of the agricultural progress of the nine counties in the Valley from 1872 to 1878. These counties are Harvey, McPherson, Sedgwick, Reno, Rice, Barton, Pawnee, Edwards, and Rush. Statistics shown for grain crops are for wheat, corn, rye, oats and barley. For livestock, statistics are for horses, mules, milk cows, other cattle, sheep and swine. Other subjects covered are timber, fruit trees, and hedges; water power; climate, and fruit growing. Examples of purchase prices and terms of sale are presented.

Bismarck Grove, Lawrence, Kansas
Date: Between 1900 and 1920
This black and white photograph shows the lake and the grove of trees on the old Bismarck Grove fairgrounds, near Lawrence, Kansas.

Cattle standing in a farm pond, Haskell County, Kansas
Creator: Steele, F. M. (Francis Marion), 1866-1936
Date: Between 1891 and 1912
This is a view of cattle standing in an unidentified farm pond in Haskell County, Kansas. A windmill and several buildings are visible in the background.

C. D. Perry's cattle near Englewood, Kansas
Creator: Steele, F. M. (Francis Marion), 1866-1936
Date: Between 1891 and 1912
View of cattle belonging to Clarence D. Perry near Englewood, Kansas. The herd is standing in or near a large pond.

C. D. Perry's thoroughbred Herefords near Englewood, Kansas
Creator: Steele, F. M. (Francis Marion), 1866-1936
Date: 1896
View of Hereford cattle belonging to Clarence D. Perry of Englewood, Kansas.

C. E. Doyle and cowboys on the Doyle ranch near Englewood, Kansas
Creator: Steele, F. M. (Francis Marion), 1866-1936
Date: 1897
View of C. E. Doyle and cowboys on horseback at the Doyle ranch near Englewood, Kansas, in 1897. Visible in the background are a herd of horses, a pond, a windmill, and ranch buildings.

Chapter IV: Destructive effects of undesirable tendencies, in The future of the Great Plains: Report of the Great Plains Committee
Creator: Great Plains Committee
Date: December, 1936
This report was created by the Great Plains Committee, which had been called by President Roosevelt to investigate the effects of drought and wind erosion in the southwestern United States. Chapter IV of the report, titled "Destructive Effects of Undesirable Tendencies," outlines some of the major problems in this region, composed of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. These problems included the decreasing amount of range land, soil erosion, and the depletion of ground water. A large part of the chapter deals with relief efforts and homestead rehabilitation. It also contains illustrations and tables that provide comparative data on the situation in each of these states.

Chapter V: Attitudes of mind, in The future of the Great Plains: Report of the Great Plains Committee
Creator: Great Plains Committee
Date: December 1936
This report was created by the Great Plains Committee, which had been called by the President to investigate the effects of drought and wind erosion in the southwestern United States. For the purposes of the committee, the Great Plains region was composed of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. In Chapter V, the committee argues that farmers' lack of understanding about effective agricultural techniques, combined with severe drought, had created the critical situation that existed during the Dust Bowl. Certain "attitudes of mind," such as the idea that natural resources are inexhaustible, were the root cause of farmers' problems. The chapter outlines some of these attitudes and assumptions that had proved to be unreliable.

Charles Adams Ranch, Finney County, Kansas
Date: 1915
The photograph shows the Charles Adams' ranch in Finney County, Kansas. The photograph shows a group of cattle and small bodies of water. In the background is a cowboy on a horse watching over the cattle.

Checks on erosion and floods
Date: Between 1930 and 1937
This unidentified newspaper clipping illustrates and explains four useful techniques for combating drought and soil erosion: planting vegetation on steep slopes, strip cropping, contour plowing, and check dams.

Cimarron Valley, possibly Gray County, Kansas
Creator: Wolf, Henry L. 1850-1924
Date: Between 1890 and 1900
This photograph shows a view of what could possibly be Cimarron Valley in Gray County, Kansas. In the foreground of the photo, there is a man sitting on a bicycle and a child standing next to him.

C. McLain's pumping plant, Finney County, Kansas
Creator: Wolf, Henry L. 1850-1924
Date: Between 1890 and 1900
This photograph shows C. McLain's pumping plant in Finney County, Kansas, including an Aermotor windmill and man sitting near a reservoir filled with water.

C. McLain's pumping plant, Finney County, Kansas
Creator: Wolf, Henry L. 1850-1924
Date: Between 1890 and 1900
This photograph shows a man standing next to C. McLain's pumping plant in Finney County, Kansas. The photograph also shows a body of water, an Aermotor windmill, a fence, some trees, and an open field.

Cowboys
Date: Between 1880 and 1910
This photo shows a group of cowboys on horses and a small herd of horses by a ranch pond, possibly in Seward County, Kansas.

Cutting ice, Diesem's reservoir, Garden City, Finney County, Kansas
Creator: Wolf, Henry L. 1850-1924
Date: Between 1890 and 1900
This photograph shows people cutting ice on the Diesem's reservoir in Garden City, Finney County, Kansas.

Day by day Kansas is rapidly washing away
Creator: Topeka Capital
Date: December 4, 1932
This brief article discusses the importance of decreasing water erosion, which has washed away approximately ninety percent of the productive soil in eastern Kansas. Two remedies which are suggested are terracing and the planting of blue grass sod (which will bind the soil together). Scientists at Kansas State Agricultural College (now Kansas State University) were experimenting with these two techniques.

Diamond Creek during drought
Date: 1934
In this photograph a man pumps water from Diamond Creek into a water tank chained to the bed of his truck.