A New Home in an Old Settlement: Come and see the "New Land in an Old Country"
Date: May 1, 1876
This paper advertises for sale land, formerly owned by the Pottawatomie Nation, from 1837 to 1868, and then purchased by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Rail Road Company. On the reverse side of the paper is a sectional map showing the area and identifying those lands that were still for sale by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Company. The text gives brief descriptions of the cities and towns in the area; the railroads available; fuel and lumber that are native to the area; and, descriptions and prices of the land.

American Legion baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas
Date: 1979
This photograph from 1979 shows the American Legion Post 160 baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas. The team won the Class AA American Legion state championship by defeating Manhattan in the title game played in Concordia. Pictured in the back row are (l to r): Tim Cunningham; Ron Drake; Shane Saia; Jerry Kruger; Billy Childs; Jon McCormick; Vic Saia (coach); and, Sheldon Pokorney (head coach). In the front are (l to r): Tom Hinson; David Workman; Dudley Brooks; Bruce Ferguson; Alan Cunningham; Shannon Saia; Bryan Ferguson; and, Alan Martinek. Digital reproduction of the photo was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

American Legion baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas
Date: 1982
The American Legion Post 160 baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas is shown in this photograph from 1982. The team won its fourth consecutive Class AA American Legion state championship by defeating Norton, 10-0, in the title game played in Elkhart. Seated at the front in the photo is batboy Will Burton. Kneeling behind him are (l to r): Kasey Kirkwood; Brent Lilley; Monte Ellis; Gary Workman; Kevin Scott; Deron Johnson; John Cowan; and, Steve Brady. Standing are (l to r): Mike Burton (manager); David Kruger; Bruce Ferguson; Tim Cunningham; Jess Adams; Joe Booth; Brian Sage; Scott Sage; and, Sheldon Pokorney (coach). Digital reproduction of the photo was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

American Legion baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas
Date: 1976
This photograph from 1976 shows the Post 160 American Legion baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas. The team finished first in the West division of the American Legion Tri-District League. Pictured in the front are (l to r): Brett Hamilton; Alan Cunningham; Roger Page; and, Craig Cox. In the middle are (l to r): Mike Kruger; Bob Bowers; Shawn Saia; Duane Martinek; Greg Marney; and, Chuck Ross. In the back are (l to r): Kent Hamilton (coach); Mark Elliott; Jon McCormick; Ron Martinek; Carl French; Jerry Dolezilek; and, Lon Kruger (manager). Digital reproduction of the photo was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

American Legion baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas
Date: 1981
The American Legion Post 160 baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas is shown in this photograph from 1981. The team won its third consecutive Class AA American Legion state championship by defeating Smith Center in the title game played in Seneca. The Post 160 team then defeated a team from Hays, the Class AAA Legion champions, for the right to represent Kansas in the American Legion's multi-state regional tournament held in Ralston, Nebraska. Standing in the photo are (l to r): David Dodge; Scott Abbott; Steve Brady; Jerry Kruger; Bryan Ferguson; Jess Adams; and, Deron Johnson. Kneeling in the front are (l to r): Mike Burton (manager); David Workman; Brent Lilley; Doug McDaniel; Bruce Ferguson; Tom Hinson; Alan Martinek; and, Sheldon Pokorney (coach). Digital reproduction of the photo was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

American Legion baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas
Date: 1992
This photograph from 1992 shows the American Legion Post 160 baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas. The team won the Class AA American Legion state championship by defeating Baxter Springs, 11-2, in the title game played in Ottawa. In the front are (l to r): Derek Bahner; Scott Wichman; Robert Nordyke; Lance Smith; Blake Smith; Jason Allen; Justin Shaw; and, Jason Hogle. In the back are (l to r): Jess Adams (head coach); Colin Russell (assistant coach); Mark Keller; Brad Lindstrom; Jody Mitchell; Michael Walker; Matthew Harrington; Shawn Denton; Mike Burton (manager); and, Will Burton (assistant coach). Digital reproduction of the photo was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

American Legion baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas
Date: 2005
The American Legion Post 160 baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas is shown in this photograph from 2005. The team won the American Legion Class AA state championship by defeating Marysville, 14-2, in the title game played in Pratt. Pictured in the front are (l to r): Luke Perry; Chris Linnemann; Chris Graves; Tyler Wegele; Adam Simone; and, Tanner Fritz. In the back are (l to r): Kirk Simone (head coach); Brett Hamilton (assistant coach); Josh Corpening; Derek Graves; Josh Maike; Curtis Hamilton; Eric Esparza; and Scott Graves (assistant coach). Digital reproduction of the photo was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

American Legion baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas
Date: 1975
These photographs feature the 1975 American Legion Post 160 baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas. The photos were taken during the American Legion's Class AA state baseball championship tournament held in Seneca. The Post 160 team won the state championship that year by defeating Lyndon in the title game. Members of the 1975 Post 160 team were: Bobby Bowers; Randy Brown; Alan Cunningham; Mark Elliott; Donald Francis; Brett Hamilton; Darrel Harden; Mike Kruger; Ken Martinek; Ronnie Martinek; Jon McCormick; Chuck Ross; Kevin Ward; Cecil Hamilton (manager and head coach); C.J. Hamilton (assistant coach); Kent Hamilton (assistant coach); and, David Boyd (batboy). Digital reproduction of the photos was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

American Legion baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas
Date: 1980
The American Legion Post 160 baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas is shown in this photograph from 1980. The team won the 1980 Class AA American Legion state championship by defeating Lawrence in the title game played in Osborne. It was Post 160's second consecutive state championship. Pictured in the front row are (l to r): Craig Cox (coach); David Workman; Tom Hinson; Doug McDaniel; Bob Pfannenstiel; Bruce Ferguson; Steve Brady; and, Sheldon Pokorney (head coach). In the back row are (l to r): Dudley Brooks, Scott Abbott, Jerry Kruger, Ron Drake, Bryan Ferguson, Shannon Saia, and, Tim Cunningham. Digital reproduction of the photo was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

American Legion baseball team in Silver Lake, Kansas
Date: 1989
This photograph from 1989 shows the American Legion Post 160 baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas. The team won the Class AA American Legion state championship by defeating Concordia in the title game played in Concordia. Seated in the front are Jason Allen (on the left) and Blake Smith. Kneeling are (l to r): Colin Russell; Brad Lindstrom; Cory Graves; Scott Vande Velde; Bryan Lindstrom; and, Tavis Desormiers. Standing are (l to r): Jess Adams (head coach); Brent Adams (assistant coach); Monte Blanding; Matt Harrington; Mike Bush; Will Burton; and, Mike Burton (manager). Digital reproduction of the photo was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

American Legion baseball team in Silver Lake, Kansas
Date: 1975
This photograph shows the 1975 American Legion Post 160 baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas. The team won the Class AA American Legion state championship by defeating Lyndon in the title game played in Seneca. Seated in the front row of the photo is batboy David Boyd. Kneeling behind him are (l to r): Chuck Ross; Brett Hamilton; Randy Brown; Alan Cunningham; Mike Kruger; and, Bobby Bowers. In the back are (l to r): Cecil Hamilton (manager and head coach); Darrel Harden; Jon McCormick; Kevin Ward; Ronnie Martinek; Mark Elliott; Don Francis; and, Ken Martinek. Not pictured are coaches C.J. Hamilton and Kent Hamilton. Digital reproduction of the photo was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

A new home in an old settlement
Date: May 1, 1876
This paper advertises for sale land formerly owned by the Pottawatomie Nation from 1837 to 1868, and then owned by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Rail Road Company. On the reverse side of the paper is a sectional map showing the area and identifying those lands that were still for sale by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad company. The text gives brief descriptions of the cities and towns in the area; the railroads available; fuel and lumber that are native to the area; descriptions and prices of the lands.

A new home in an old settlement!
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company
Date: May 1, 1880
A large brochure distributed by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad to encourage land settlement in the Pottawattomie Reserve in eastern Kansas. Included in the brochure are a large map of the Reserve on one side and seven small photographs on the reverse side. There is also a brief description of the cities of Topeka, Alma, Louisville, St. Mary's, Wamego and Kingsville plus details on how the land might be purchased.

Atlas of Shawnee County, Kansas
Creator: Beers, F. W. (Frederick W.)
Date: 1873
This atlas shows maps of each township with the names of landowners. It has plats of towns as of the year of publication, a map of Shawnee County. It has a Table of Distances and business notices.

Charles H. French correspondence
Creator: French, Charles H., 1893-1956
Date: 1917-1919
Letters written by Charles H. French to his parents, sisters, and maternal grandparents in rural Shawnee County, Kansas, near Silver Lake. The letters discuss French's experiences serving in the army during World War I. French was sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, for training. Eventually he passed through New York to the United Kingdom and ultimately France. Included in the letters are comments on Fort Sill training, waiting to be sent overseas, taking a locomotive to New York & a steamship across the Atlantic, his European arrival, the nature of Allied operations, the Armistice, working as a military truck driver, and French weather.

D. Boswell to Governor John St. John
Creator: Boswell, D.
Date: August 07, 1880
In this letter, D. Boswell reminds Kansas Governor St. John of his failed promise to speak to the community of Silver Lake in April. He asks the Governor can appear there on Saturday, August 14, 1880.

D. Boswell to Governor John St. John
Creator: Boswell, D.
Date: August 11, 1880
In this letter, having received notice that Kansas Governor St. John could visit Silver Springs on the 20th, D. Boswell reminds the Governor that "Barnum's Day" will be held in neighboring Topeka that day and suggests a later visit.

Dudley's Drug Store, Silver Lake, Kansas
Date: Between 1900 and 1940
This photograph shows an exterior view of Dudley's Drug Store in Silver Lake, Kansas. A man possibly identified as Dr. Dudley is visible sitting in a chair on the front porch of the store. Also visible on the right side of the picture is an elevator, and a man is visible standing in front of it. Partially visible in the background between the drug store and the elevator is a Union Pacific rail car.

George Pierson Morehouse to George W. Martin
Creator: Morehouse, George Pierson, b. 1859
Date: October 12, 1905
In this brief letter to George W. Martin of the Kansas State Historical Society, lawyer George Pierson Morehouse of Council Grove, Kansas, describes the location of the Kaw Indian village located near Silver Lake, Kansas. According to Morehouse, Jon Bursaw explained to him that the Kaws "dug a great many holes in building their lodges." Morehouse then speculates that the village must be the same one mentioned by one of the Chouteau brothers, as the village of Kaw leader "Hard Chief" because of its location above the Kaw River.

Jim Golden in Colt .45s uniform
Date: Between 1962 and 1963
This photo features Jim Golden, a right-handed pitcher from rural Topeka, as a member of the Houston Colt .45s. Golden had a professional baseball career that spanned the period 1954-1964. During that time, he played for two major league and eight minor league teams. He pitched for both the Dodgers (1960-1961) and the Houston Colt .45s (1962-1963), achieving a 9-13 major league record, with an ERA of 4.54 in 69 game appearances. He is one of only nine major league pitchers to have hit two triples in a game. His minor league record stands at 88-91 and a 3.82 ERA. His best year in the minors was in 1960, when he went 20-9 with the Class AAA St. Paul Saints. Before playing professionally, Golden was a standout pitcher for Silver Lake High School and the Mosby-Mack American Legion team. At Silver Lake, his pitching led the Eagles to state baseball championships in both 1953 and 1954. He set and still holds four state high school strikeout records. The Mosby-Macks, which represented Topeka's Capitol Post 1, also won state titles in 1952 and 1953.

Jim Golden scrapbook
Date: Between 1953 and 1957
This scrapbook from the 1950s documents the early years of Jim Golden's baseball career. Golden, a right-handed pitcher from rural Topeka, had a professional baseball career that spanned the period 1954-1964. During that time, he played for two major league and eight minor league teams. He pitched for both the Dodgers (1960-1961) and the Houston Colt .45s (1962-1963), achieving a 9-13 major league record, with an ERA of 4.54 in 69 game appearances. He is one of only nine major league pitchers to have hit two triples in a game. His minor league record stands at 88-91 and a 3.82 ERA. His best year in the minors was in 1960, when he went 20-9 with the Class AAA St. Paul Saints. Before playing professionally, Golden was a standout pitcher for Silver Lake High School and the Mosby-Mack American Legion team. At Silver Lake, his pitching led the Eagles to state baseball championships in both 1953 and 1954. He set and still holds four state high school strikeout records. The Mosby-Macks, which represented Topeka's Capitol Post 1, also won state titles in 1952 and 1953. This scrapbook contains clippings and other items from the period 1953-1957. Included are items related to the 1953 Mosby-Mack team, the Silver Lake teams in 1953-54, Golden's signing with the Philadelphia Phillies organization upon graduation from high school, and his minor league stops in Mattoon, Bakersfield, and Schenectady.

Kansas Film Commission site photographs, subject crops
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 included in this part of the collection is crops.

Kansas Film Commission site photographs, towns Oakley - Syracuse
Creator: Kansas Film Commission
Date: 1988-2002
These are panoramic photographs of Kansas towns beginning with Leavenworth and ending with Norway. 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: Oakley, Oberlin, Olathe,Olsburg, Osage City, Osawatomie, Ottawa, Overbrook, Palco, Palmer, Paola, Pawnee Rock, Paxico, Peabody, Penalosa, Penokee, Perry, Peru, Pfeifer, Plainville, Plevna, Potwin, Pratt, Pretty Prairie, Quenemo,Quinter, Ramona, Ransom, Raymond, Reading, Redwing, Republic, Rexford, Robinson, Roeland Park, Rolla, Rossville, Sabetha, Salina, Satanta, Scammon, Scranton, Sedan, Selden, Severy, Severance, Silver Lake, Smileyberg, Smolan, Soldier, Solomon, Sparks, Stafford County (Hudson), Sterling, St. Francis, St. George, St. Marys, St. Peter, Studley, Sun City, and Syracuse. Photos of courthouses are included for several communities. Some of the photos of communities show churches, grain elevators, water towers, parks, public/government buildings, railroad depots and tracks, and residences. There are aerial photographs for Ottawa, Paola, and Paxico.

Lake at Silver Lake, Kansas
Date: Between 1950 and 1960
Scene on the lake at Silver Lake, Kansas.

Larry Elliott athletics scrapbook
Date: 1950-1989
This is a scrapbook filled with photographs, news clippings, programs, and brochures detailing the athletic exploits of Larry Elliott during the years of 1950 through 1989. Larry Elliott is the father of Mark Elliott, both from Silver Lake, Kansas, who was the state-record holder for career home runs with 36 until it was broken in 2004 by another Silver Lake athlete, Josh Workman. He also went 8-0 as a pitcher in 1977 for the Silver Lake Eagles. Mark played football at Washburn University and was drafted in 1977 by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He spent three seasons in the minors, hitting .262 with 12 home runs. When he graduated from Silver Lake, Elliott also held the career record for passing yards with 5,525. He also was a well renowned golfer in Topeka, winning four straight City Stroke Play titles from 2007-10 and two straight City Match Play titles from 2007-08 in addition to numerous KGA titles.