A century restored, Columbian Theater, Wamego, Kansas
Date: 1990s
This video describes the history and importance of the Chicago World's Fair, otherwise known as the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, and banker and entrepreneur J. C. Rogers' efforts to preserve art and artifacts from the fair. Rogers lived in Wamego, Kansas, and purchased architectural artifacts and art created for the fair and brought them back to Wamego to decorate a new music hall and theater he built there. The film recounts the history of the theater, its closing and eventual restoration and the restoration of numerous paintings from the fair. This publication funded in part by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Alex Sterret to Governor John St. John
Creator: Sterrett, Alex
Date: July 12, 1880
Alex Sterret asks Kansas Governor St John a question regarding former Kansas Governor Charles Robinson's possible involvement in drafting and approving the prohibition amendment bill.

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: 1878?
A large poster distributed by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad to encourage land settlement in the Pottawattomie Reserve in eastern Kansas. Included on the poster is a full page map of the Pottawattomie Reserve on one side and four pictures of the land on the other. The poster/brochure was encouraging farming and settlement in this area because of ready access via the railroad to all markets east of Topeka. Included are brief descriptions of Topeka, Wamego, St. Mary's, Alma and other small towns. Prices and ways to purchase the land are detailed.

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.

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.

Bank president is removed for unloyal conduct
Creator: Topeka Capital
Date: June 5, 1918
This article, published in the June 5, 1918, edition of the Topeka Capital, details the removal of Wamego State Bank president and director Loius B. Leach due to "slackerism." Specifically, Leach refused to buy Liberty Loans, would not donate to the Red Cross, and encouraged his son-in-law to evade the draft. In adddition to his removal, Leach was the target of mobs who painted his vehicle yellow and demanded that he fly the America flag.

Bridge over the flooded Kaw River in Wamego, Kansas
Date: 1902-1903
Three views of the flooded Kansas River at the Highway 99 bridge going into Wamego, Kansas.

B roll Columbian Theater, Wamego, Kansas
Date: 1990s
This rough cut video of the Columbian Theater renovation in Wamego, Kansas, proposes a funding model for restoring the theater. Wamego banker J. C. Rogers built the theater in 1895 and used it to celebrate and document the Chicago World's Fair, otherwise known as the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. This publication funded in part by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Chicago World's Fair paintings, Columbian Theater, Wamego, Kansas
Date: November 14, 1991
This video documents the restoration of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair paintings at the Columbian Theater in Wamego, Kansas. Wamego banker J. C. Rogers built the theater in 1895 and used it to celebrate and document the Chicago World's Fair, otherwise known as the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. This publication funded in part by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

City Park, Wamego, Kansas
Date: 1913
A postcard showing the bandstand in City Park, Wamego, Kansas.

Columbian Theater fundrasing proposal, Wamego, Kansas
Date: 1990s
In this video Clark Balderson of Wamego, Kansas, proposes the renovation of the historic Columbian Theater in Wamego and suggests a financial model for funding the renovation. Wamego banker J. C. Rogers built the theater in 1895 and used it to celebrate and document the Chicago World's Fair, otherwise known as the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.This publication funded in part by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Columbian Theater paintings restoration, Wamego, Kansas
Date: 1990s
This video footage documents the restoration of paintings at the Columbian Theater in Wamego, Kansas, in the early 1990s. Wamego banker J. C. Rogers built the theater in 1895 and used it to celebrate and document the Chicago World's Fair, otherwise known as the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. The theater holds numerous original paintings from the fair. This publication funded in part by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Columbian Theater raw girder restoration, Wamego, Kansas
Date: 1990s
This video documents the raw girder restoration at the Columbian Theater in Wamego, Kansas. Wamego banker J. C. Rogers built the theater in 1895 and used it to celebrate and document the Chicago World's Fair, otherwise known as the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. This publication funded in part by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Columbian Theater restoration project, Wamego, Kansas
Date: March 1990
This video documents the initial stages of renovation of the Columbian Theater in Wamego, Kansas, in the early 1990s. Wamego banker J. C. Rogers built the theater in 1895 and used it to celebrate and document the Chicago World's Fair, otherwise known as the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. the theater includes many original paintings from the fair. This publication funded in part by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Columbian Theater restoration, Wamego, Kansas
Date: 1990s
This video includes interviews with five investors in the renovation of the Columbian Theater in Wamego, Kansas. It also shows school children at a musical theater interpretive skit about Harriet Tubman at the theater. Wamego banker J. C. Rogers built the theater in 1895 and used it to celebrate and document the Chicago World's Fair, otherwise known as the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. This publication funded in part by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Columbian Theater Rogers Building, Wamego, Kansas
Date: 1990s
This video footage shows the Columbian Theater in Wamego, Kansas, at the early stages of its renovation in the early 1990s accompanied by instrumental piano music. Wamego banker J. C. Rogers built the theater in 1895 and used it to celebrate and document the Chicago World's Fair, otherwise known as the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. This publication funded in part by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Columbian Theater, Wamego, Kansas
Date: 1893-1995
These photographs document the Columbian Theater in Wamego, Kansas, and its renovation. Wamego banker J. C. Rogers built the theater and used it to celebrate and document the Chicago World's Fair, otherwise known as the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. The music hall hosted vaudeville, drama, masque balls, concerts, community events and eventually motion pictures. The theater closed in 1950 and the renovation effort began in 1989. The publication of these photos was funded in party by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Depot at Wamego, Kansas. 388 miles west of St. Louis Mo.
Creator: Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882
Date: 1867
This stereograph shows the railroad depot at Wamego, Pottawatomie County, Kansas. The photograph shows people standing on the depot platform and railroad tracks. It is from Alexander Gardner's series, Across the Continent on the Union Pacific Railway, Eastern Division.

Emigrants' guide to the Kansas Pacific Railway lands
Creator: Kansas Pacific Railway Company
Date: April 1871
A railroad company advertisement to emigrants promising cheap, abundant and good land for agricultural purposes.

Flooding, Wamego, Kansas
Date: 1903
This sepia colored postcard shows a barn surrounded by rising flood waters near Wamego, Kansas. The extremely heavy rains from May 30th to June 1st of 1903 caused a great deal of flooding to the Kansas River Basin and to the Kansas and Missouri Republican River Basin.

Fountain in the city park in Wamego, Kansas
Date: 1912
This postcard features a rock fountain which had been recently completed in the city park in Wamego, Kansas. According to a brief article published in Municipal Journal, the fountain's dimensions included a 126-foot circumference at the base and a height of 35 feet. At its top was a large bronze stork. The postcard was mailed to Wiley Taylor, of Louisville, Kansas, who at the time was a pitcher for the Austin Senators baseball team of the Texas League. In addition to playing for several minor league teams, Taylor also pitched in 27 major league games, most of them with the St. Louis Browns. Wiley Taylor was a life-long resident of Pottawatomie County, where he farmed and served four terms as the county sheriff (1925-28 and 1945-48).

Fretwork shelf clock
Creator: Josiah Thomas Genn
Date: between 1865 and 1915
Made by Josiah Thomas Genn (1832-1924), a Civil War veteran, who developed rheumatism after his service. Because of his illness, which restricted his movements, Genn dedicated his time to the production of fretwork furnishings.

George Robert Jones
Date: Between 1943 and 1945
A photograph of George Robert Jones, from Wamego, Kansas, who was killed during World War II on his 25th mission over Germany.

Girl's Cadet Drill Team, Wamego, Kansas
Date: 1898
This sepia colored photograph shows members of the Girl's Cadet Drill Team from Wamego, Kansas.