Abstract of journals from the 1845 Kearny Expedition
Date: 1846
This excerpt from the congressional report of the Secretary of War includes the abstracts of two journals, one by Lieutenant William B. Franklin, a topographical engineer, and another by Lieutenant H.S. Turner of the 1st dragoons stationed at Fort Leavenworth. Under the command of Stephen Kearny, the 1st dragoons and their accompanying engineers left Fort Leavenworth on a military march, heading northwest on what would become the Oregon Trail, down along the Rocky Mountains to Mexican territory, and back up via the Santa Fe Trail. This march was intended as a display of the United States' military power to both native tribes and the British government (which at this time was exerting its authority over Oregon Territory). For the most part this abstract details their route, but it does include a transcription of a conversation between Kearny and a Sioux chief named Bull Tail.

Adolph Roenigk and George W. Martin correspondence
Creator: Roenigk, Adolph, 1847-1938
Date: October 10, 1904-January 24, 1908
In this correspondence with George W. Martin of the Kansas State Historical Society, Adolph Roenigk addresses issues related to the Pawnee Indians. In the letter dated October 10, 1904, Roenigk explains that "a Battle between the Potowatomie and the Pawnee Indians was fought here [Lincoln, Kansas] in 1863." According to Roenigk, between 14 and 16 Native Indians were killed during the fighting. Similarly, Roenigk's letter of October 24, 1906, concerns violence between Kansans and Native Indians during the late 1860s when a man named Solomon Humbarger and Solomon's brother were attacked by Native Indians. After killing one of their chiefs Roenigk states that Humbarger was shot in the thigh with an arrow.

Affidavit of John Smith
Creator: United States. Congress. Senate
Date: January 15, 1865
This affidavit given by John Smith, an interpreter for the United States military, was presented to the military commission investigating the massacre of Cheyenne Indians at Sand Creek, Colorado, in 1864. Smith's account focuses primary on the events prior to the massacre, including the attitudes of the Cheyenne leaders One Eye and Black Kettle. The affidavit is part of a larger report containing evidence obtained at this hearing, titled Report of the Secretary of War, Communicating, In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of February 4, 1867, a copy of the evidence taken at Denver and Fort Lyon, Colorado Territory, by a military commission, ordered to inquire into the Sand Creek massacre, November, 1864.

A geographically correct map of the Kansas Pacific Railway showing the only direct route to Denver and all the popular Rocky Mountain resorts . . .
Creator: Kansas Pacific Railway Company
Date: May 1877
This large brochure contains a full map on one side of Kansas, Colorado, and portions of surrounding states including the Black Hills of South Dakota. The reverse side has a myriad of information encouraging immigration to Kansas with the purchase of Kansas Pacific Railway lands; freighting between the Missouri River and Denver; $45.00 round trip tickets for tourists between Kansas City and Denver; enjoying the Switzerland of America and its many resorts; the railway line with Pullman sleepers, steel tracks and Westinghouse brakes; gold and silver mining in the San Juan and Black Hill regions; health resorts with pure air for weak lungs, sulfur springs, iron springs and hot springs; and a time table for the Kansas Pacific Railway. All of this was meant to promote travel on the Kansas Pacific Railway. NOTE: Because of the design of the brochure, pages 2 and 3 are duplicates but the right side up of the text is in the lower half of each image.

Agricultural development, wealth and rural population of the states on the tributory to the Union Pacific Railroad for the years of 1900-1910
Creator: Union Pacific Railway Company
Date: September 17, 1912
Union Pacific Railroad Company Agricultural Bulletin (No. 104). Union Pacific Railroad promotional advertisement showing aggregate statistical wealth values and population figures for areas west of the Mississippi River during a ten year period of time.

A handbook of useful information for immigrants and settlers
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company
Date: 1880-1889
Published by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, this pamphlet encouraged agricultural settlement on railroad lands in Kansas by glorifying the state's natural resources including water, soil, mineral deposits and plant life. Printed by the Kansas Farmer in Topeka, Kansas.

A Kansas Pacific Railway map of Kansas and Colorado
Creator: Kansas Pacific Railway Company
Date: Between 1865 and 1880
This map by the Kansas Pacific Railway Company features their "Golden Belt Route" from Kansas City to the "rich silver discoveries in Colorado." It advertises the "shortest and quickest, therefore the cheapest, route to Colorado." The map includes all of the counties of Kansas and eastern Colorado and most of the cities, towns and communities.

Albert C. Morton to Hiram Hill
Creator: Guthrie, Abelard
Date: January 8, 1859
Albert Morton wrote from Leavenworth City, Kansas Territory, to Hiram Hill in Massachusetts. Morton reported that there was "a good deal of excitement out for Pikes Peak" and many Leavenworth citizens spoke of traveling there to dig for gold the following spring. His investments were not earning him much money, and he expressed his desire to sell land in order to pay what he owed to Hill and Abelard Guthrie.

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.

Alfred Mossman Landon
Date: September 9, 1937
This photograph shows Kansas Governor Alf Landon standing on a wood bridge in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Alfred Mossman Landon
Date: September 9, 1937
This photograph shows Kansas Governor Alf Landon outside in Colorado.

Alfred Mossman Landon
Date: September 9, 1937
A photograph showing Kansas Governor Alf Landon standing by a wooden walkway in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Andrew J. Mead to John A. Halderman
Creator: Mead, Andrew J.
Date: March 14, 1859
In a letter marked "Confidential" and dated March 14, 1859, Andrew J. Mead of Manhattan, Kansas Territory, writes to enlist John Halderman's help to get Russell, Majors, and Waddell to use a new Blue River ferry at Manhattan, called Johnstons ferry, when they begin hauling freight over the "Great Central Route via Smoky Hill" to the gold mines. Mead is "deeply interested" in this ferry and wishes to negotiate a contract with the freighters for its use.

An Open Letter to the Legislatures of Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado
Creator: Packard, Mrs. E. P. W.
Date: 1883
Mrs. Packard of Chicago, Illinois, was asking the legislatures of Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado for their support for two laws--one to end censorship of the correspondence of inmates of insane asylums and the second to protect the legal identity of married women. The pamphlet explains that she has a petition of 804 signatures that includes the governors the the three states; numerous state, county and municipal officers; various judges; clergymen; and many other respected officials. She includes excerpts from letters of endorsement and 18 of those are Kansans.

Arickaree history collection
Date: [Not given]
This collection contains originals and copies of correspondences, articles, notes and related materials regarding the Battle of Beechers Island, also known as the Battle of Arickaree Fork, on September 19, 1868.

Arkansas City residents to Governor Willis Bailey
Creator: Commercial Club of Arkansas City
Date: March 17, 1903
Community residents and members of the Commercial Club of Arkansas City send a resolution to Governor Bailey recommending the retention of ex-attorney General Goddard in the case of Kansas vs Colorado now pending in the United States Supreme Court.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Rail Road. The new and direct route to the San Juan gold and silver mines
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company
Date: 1870s or 1880s
This broadside promotes travel to the Colorado mines via the AT&SF railroad. The route began at Kansas City and traveled to Denver with various stops in between. This item demonstrates railroad companies' involvement in the promotion of mining activities and a perception of the Rocky Mountains as a tourist destination.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. The new southern route to Denver
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company
Date: 1870s or 1880s
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad promotional advertisement encouraging travel on its new southern route to Denver, Colorado, and the San Juan gold and silver mines.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Timetables
Date: May 7, 1876
Two timetables for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad between Kansas City and Denver, Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Canon City and all points in Colorado. Includes a map of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad line from "the river to the Rockies".

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company bunkhouse, Bisonte, Colorado
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company
Date: 1931
This photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company's employee housing of a 12 room Truscon steel bunkhouse at Bisonte, Colorado. A windmill and water tower are visible in the background.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot and Harvey House, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Date: Between 1920s and 1930s
This photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot and Harvey House in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Tudor Revival style depot was built in 1917 with the cooperation of the Santa Fe Railway and the Colorado & Southern Railway Companies. The depot provided passenger service until the tracks were removed in 1971. In September of 1979, the depot was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the facility is called the Railroad Station Business Center.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot, Campo, Colorado
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company
Date: February 05, 1937
This photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot at Campo, Colorado. In the background freight cars are visible.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot, Fowler, Colorado
Date: Between 1930 and 1950
This photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot in Fowler, Colorado. The one-story "county seat" style depot built in 1913 features a gabled roof with a operators' bay and a lengthened freight room. The facility provided passenger and freight service until it closed in 1953. Today, the depot serves as a town hall.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot, Fred Harvey House, and El Otero Hotel, La Junta, Colorado
Date: Between 1920s and 1930s
This photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot, Fred Harvey House and the El Otero Hotel in La Junta, Colorado. The three-story building, built in 1895, was replaced in 1954 with a modern style depot.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot, Fred Harvey House, and El Otero Hotel, La Junta, Colorado
Date: 1920s
This photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot, Fred Harvey House and the El Otero Hotel in La Junta, Colorado. The sandstone and frame structure was completed in 1895 with additions in 1907 and 1921. The Harvey House closed June 24, 1948. The building was demolished in August of 1953 to make way for an ultra-modern station and facility.