Abbie Bright diary
Creator: Bright, Abbie, 1848-1926
Date: 1868-1921
Born in Pennsylvania in 1848, Abbie Bright traveled to Kansas in 1870 as a young woman and her diary is primarily an account of this trip. It gives excellent accounts of daily life and settlement activities. The "diary" is actually composed of two different manuscripts and both are presented here. The first is an eighty-six page loose-leaf diary with consistent entries from September 2, 1870 - December 20, 1871. The second is a bound composition book with 129 written pages. This book begins with a childhood reminiscence written in Iowa in 1914 (p1-23), followed by a reminiscence of her Kansas trip written in Iowa in 1921 (p24-36) that covers Aug 23, 1870 - Jan 30, 1871. The book then includes some recipes dated 1868-1871 and a receipt dated 1884 (p37-41), and finally consistent diary entries from February 2, 1871 - December 21, 1871 (p41-129). A complete, revised transcription of both manuscripts is available by clicking on "Text Version" below. A previous, annotated transcription that combines the 1870-1871 entries from both manuscripts was published in the Kansas Historical Quarterly in 1971 and is available through a link below.

Ann McCafferty Bennett
Date: 1868
Cased sixth plate tintype portrait of Ann McCafferty Bennett.

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.

Barracks, Fort Wallace, Kansas
Date: 1868
This photograph shows the barracks building at Fort Wallace, Wallace County, Kansas.

Battle of Beecher's Island
Date: Oct. 17, 1868
An illustration of the Battle of Beecher's Island printed in Harper's Weekly on October 17, 1868.

Battle of the Washita
Creator: Taylor, James E., 1839-1901
Date: 1969
An illustration portraying General George Armstrong Custer's surprise attack on the Southern Cheyenne camp along the Washita River on November 27, 1868. This illustration was published in the July 1969 issue of Golden West Magazine - True Stories of the Old West, page 30. Funds for digitization provided by Mr. Steve Peckel in memory of William Chalfant.

Custer's Indian scouts celebrating the victory over Black Kettle
Creator: Davis, Theodore R.
Date: January 16, 1869
An illustration portraying General George Armstrong Custer's Indian scouts celebrating the victory over Black Kettle in the Battle of the Washita in November 1868. This illustration was published in Harper's Weekly on January 16, 1869. Funds for digitization provided by Mr. Steve Peckel in memory of William Chalfant.

Custer's command shooting down worthless horses
Creator: Davis, Theodore R.
Date: January 16, 1869
An illustration of General George Armstrong Custer's men shooting horses after the Battle of the Washita which occurred on November 27, 1868. This illustration was published in Harper's Weekly on January 16, 1869. Funds for digitization provided by Mr. Steve Peckel in memory of William Chalfant.

D & B Powers wagon train
Creator: Williams & McDonald
Date: June 20, 1868
This is a photograph of the D. & B. Powers wagon train from Leavenworth, Kansas, circling in the street at Denver, Colorado. A number of business buildings are visible in the background.

Ellis County organization records
Creator: Kansas. Secretary of State
Date: 1867-1870
In order for an unorganized county to be recognized by the state of Kansas, a certain number of householders/legal electors had to petition the governor. The governor would appoint a census taker. Initially, unorganized counties were required to document that they had at least 600 inhabitants in order to be recognized as a county by the state legislature. Over time the number of residents needed to organize a county changed to 1500 and later to 2500 residents. The census was submitted to the governor who then issued a proclamation indicating that the requirements had been met, appointing county commissioners and a county clerk, and naming a county seat. Not all of these documents are available for each county. Included in this file is the memorial to the governor listing who should be Ellis County's county officials and designating Hays City as the temporary county seat. Also included is a letter certifying votes for Hays City as the county seat and for various county buildings to be contracted for.

Elmina Rood
Date: 1868
This postmortem photograph of Elmina ("Mina") Rood (1867-1868), infant daughter of George H. and Helen Mars (Thomas) Rood, was taken after her death from consumption in Lapeer, Michigan. The Rood family later moved to rural Marion County, Kansas, where they built a farm, livestock, and feed business in partnership with their sole surviving child, Ashley.

First Battalion volunteer militia correspondence
Date: 1868
This correspondence was sent to Kansas Governor Samuel J. Crawford and Kansas Adjutant General Josiah B. McAfee from members of the First Battalion of the Kansas Volunteer Militia. This group was also known as the "Frontier Battalion" charged with defending western parts of Kansas from Indians. Correspondents include Assistant Adjutant General George B. Jenness, Lt. Milo R. Harris, Capt. S. J. Jennings of Company A and his 2nd Lt. Norman A. Lovejoy (including a petition for Jennings' dismissal for drunkenness), Capt. H. D. Baker of Company B, Capt. B. C. Sanders of Company C, Capt. A. J. Armstrong of Company D, Capt. John A. Potts of Company E, and John S. Park, commanding officer of the Sharp's Creek Detachment. A sizable portion of the correspondence was written in Salina, Kansas. There are several items written in Lawrence, Kansas, with a few letters from a number of other communities

Flatware from Fort Harker, 14EW310
Date: 1867-1872
All three pieces of flatware shown here were recovered during the 1996 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school during a metal detection survey at Fort Harker in Ellsworth County. The spoon has the words "SENATE SILVERPLATE" on the back, indicating it was manufactured by Oneida. The pattern on the front of the spoon's handle matches the 'Jean' pattern which was made in 1932, post dating the fort's occupation by 60 years. There are no marks on the knife or the fork. Fort Harker was located adjacent to what was to become the town of Kanopolis in Ellsworth County.

Frederick Douglass
Date: Between 1885 and 1890
This is a carte-de-visite showing abolitionist leader, lecturer and author Frederick Douglass. He was born into slavery in Talbot County, Maryland, and became one of the most famous intellectuals of his time, advising presidents and lecturing to thousands on a range of causes. Among Douglass' writings are several autobiographies describing his experiences in slavery and his life after the Civil War.

Frederick and Caroline Palenske family
Date: Around 1868
This is a photographic reproduction of the Frederick and Caroline Palenske family of Alma, Kansas. On the reverse of the photo are the following identifications, "Oldest boy Charley, born in Prussia, 2nd (just born in Kansas) August, 3rd Louis(second born in Kansas) boy standing at far left, 4th Herman. Frederic Palenske, Caroline Palenske, 1. Theresa eldest daughter, 2. Tillie (Matilda) 3. Baby. Immigrated 1855, Photographed in 1868 (Reprint)." Funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Freighter's corral and house on Big Creek in Ellis County, Kansas
Date: 1868
This is a photograph showing a freighter's corral and house on Big Creek in Ellis County, Kansas.

Fur traders attacked on the Missouri River
Creator: Cary, William De La Montagne,1840 - 1922
Date: May 23, 1868
A line drawing showing fur traders on the Missouri River being attacked by Indians. The line drawing was copied from Harper's Weekly, May 23, 1868, page 329.

General Order No. 2, 19th Kansas Cavalry
Date: October 29, 1868
This order establishes the 19th Kansas Cavalry at Camp Crawford, which was located outside Topeka, Kansas. This camp had been named after Samuel Crawford, the former governor of Kansas who took command of this cavalry regiment in 1868. It also laid out the regulations that must be obeyed by officers and enlisted men and established the daily routine (including the calls of reveille, meals, and taps) that must be observed by these soldiers. The 19th Kansas Cavalry was organized to fight against various Indian tribes in the Great Plains.

George L. Higby, Volunteer Enlistment in the 19th Kansas Cavalry
Creator: Kansas. Adjutant General's Office
Date: October 15, 1868
This volunteer enlistment form belonged to George L. Higby, who volunteered to serve in the 19th Kansas Cavalry, Company D, for the period of six months. The 19th Kansas Cavalry was organized in 1868 in order to fight native tribes in western Kansas and Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma).

Governor Crawford Indian correspondence
Date: 1867-1868
In response to Indian attacks on frontier settlers, Governor Samuel J. Crawford was authorized by Congress to recruit a battalion of men to handle the crisis. This series of correspondence in Governor Crawford's papers contains many documents from men requesting commissions in the new battalion and permission to recruit soldiers. There are also letters from settlers documenting atrocities, asking for protection from hostile Indians, requesting compensation for stolen goods and livestock, and needing aid merely to survive after losing their supplies to Indian raids. A searchable transcription is available by clicking "Text Version" below. Funds for digitization provided by Mr. Steve Peckel in memory of William Chalfant.

H.W. Farnsworth to William D. Blackford
Creator: Farnsworth, H.W.
Date: May 30, 1868
This item, from H.W. Farnsworth to William D. Blackford, concerns the Cheyenne raid in which J.N.N. Schooler lost a great deal of property. The list of items lost by Schooler include 9 mules, 1 horse, 1 Buffalo robe, and 2 Colt Army pistols.

Henry Worrall and children
Date: Between 1860 and 1870
This series of photographs shows Henry Worrall and his children, Charles and Mamie. The photograph on the upper right has been partially cut out and likely included a photograph of Henry's wife, Mary Worrall.

Henry Worrall family
Creator: Knight, J. Lee, photographer
Date: Between 1860 and 1870
This photograph of Henry Worrall and family, was taken at the River Side Gallery above 5th street on Kansas Avenue in Topeka, Kansas. Included in the photo are Henry's wife Mary, son Charles, and daughter Mamie.

Hiram Bickerdyke to James Bickerdyke
Creator: Bickerdyke, Hiram
Date: February 26, 1902
In this letter to his brother James Bickerdyke, Hiram Bickerdyke provides his recollections of the events surrounding a raid conducted by Native Indians on Salina in 1868, as well as the local response to the attack.

Hiram Bickerdyke to James Bickerdyke
Creator: Bickerdyke, Hiram
Date: March 31, 1902
In this letter to his brother James Bickerdyke, Hiram Bickerdyke describes Indian raids in 1868 on Salina, Kansas. According to Hiram, an article published regarding the incident, titled "The Straight of It," contained many inaccuracies which he hoped to correct. In fact, Hiram states that the article "at the Best is misleading in many of its statements which are made without any reference to the ability of any one being able to Prove some of them." During the period when the raid occurred, Hiram served as a scout for the U.S. military.