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.

Agent to sell lands for State Agricultural College
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1865-1868 : Crawford)
Date: 1867 - 1868
These letters, spanning 1868, are from Isaac T. Goodnow, an agent for the state, to Kansas Governor Samuel Crawford regarding the selling of land for the State Agricultural College . Goodnow provided a list of college lands sold. He also verified a bill of land sold.

Agricultural College, Kansas State
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1865-1868 : Crawford)
Date: 1865 - 1868
These letters, spanning 1865 to 1868, are from Joseph Denison, the Kansas State Agricultural College president; J. W. Davidson, a Military Science professor at the college; and the U. S. War Department to Kansas Governor Samuel Crawford regarding the Kansas State Agricultural College . The president wrote about the college's board of regents meetings. J. W. Davidson and the U. S. War Department wrote about supplying materials to the college and having the Ordinance Department be turned over to Davidson.

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

Applications: Blind Asylum, Superintendent
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1865-1868 : Crawford)
Date: 1868
These letters, spanning February through March 1868, are from government officials and other individuals regarding the appointment of the superintendent for the Blind Asylum to Kansas Governor Samuel Crawford. They wrote either to recommend others or apply for the position. J. Cooper and H. Sawyer had signed official petitions for their appointment. The Blind Asylum was located in Wyandotte County, Kansas.

Applications: Penitentiary, Kansas State
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1865-1868 : Crawford)
Date: 1868
These letters, spanning January through March 1868, are from government officials and Kansas citizens to Kansas Governor Samuel Crawford regarding the appointment of the warden for the Kansas State Penitentiary. They wrote to either recommend others or apply for the position. The Kansas State Penitentiary was located in Leavenworth County, Kansas.

Appointment file
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1868-1869 : Green)
Date: November 1868-January 1869

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.

Autograph and State seal
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1865-1868 : Crawford)
Date: 1865-1868
This document is from Kansas Governor Samuel Crawford regarding his autograph and the state seal. The document has Crawford's signature on it as well as a stamp of the state seal. There is no date on it, but Crawford's term was January 9, 1865 to November 4, 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.

Bonds, State
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1865-1868 : Crawford)
Date: 1868
These letters, spanning 1868, are from Darius R. Mangam, the President of the National Trust Company of New York, regarding state bonds to Kansas Governor Samuel Crawford. Mangam wrote about the sale of Kansas bonds and statements of Kansas bonds purchased.

Carter's Ink Banner from Fort Hays, 14EL301
Date: 1867-1889
This brass advertising banner was recovered by Kansas Historical Society archeologists during excavation at historic Fort Hays in Ellis County. It may have been fixed to a display box for the Carter Ink Company (1858-1976). The banner states "CARTER'S PAT JULY 21st 68 INKS." Fort Hays was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and is a State Historic Site.

Commissioners of deeds
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1865-1868 : Crawford)
Date: 1868
These letters, spanning 1868, are from government officials, out of state officials, and other individuals regarding the Commissioners of Deeds to Kansas Governor Samuel Crawford. They wrote about re-appointments, resignations, recommendations, and applications to the commissioner positions.

Correspondence, General
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1865-1868 : Crawford)
Date: 1865-1868
These letters, spanning 1865 to 1868, are from government officials and other individuals regarding general correspondence to Kansas Governor Samuel Crawford. They wrote about legislation, universities, the Paris Exposition, requesting interviews with Crawford, companies, the appointment of officials, and mining.

Correspondence with Other States
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1865-1868 : Crawford)
Date: 1867-1868
These letters, spanning 1867 to 1868, are from out of state officials regarding general correspondence to Kansas Governor Samuel Crawford. They wrote about legislation, mainly on resolutions and ratifying amendments. The correspondence came from Kentucky, Colorado, Arkansas, Michigan, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas.

County affairs: Allen
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1865-1868 : Crawford)
Date: 1865-1868
These letters, spanning 1865 to 1868, are from county officials regarding Allen County Kansas affairs to Kansas Governor Samuel Crawford. The county officials wrote resignations from the sheriff and probate judge offices. Most individuals recommended others to fill their vacancy. Allen County was organized in 1856.

County affairs: Chase
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1865-1868 : Crawford)
Date: 1868
These two letters, dated April 11, 1868, are from J. B. Smith and W. R. Brown, county officials, regarding Chase County Kansas affairs to Kansas Governor Samuel Crawford. Smith wrote resigning as probate judge and recommending A. S. Howard as his successor. Brown wrote recognizing Smith's resignation and validating Smith's choice of successor. Chase County was organized in 1859.

County affairs: Cherokee
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1865-1868 : Crawford)
Date: 1867-1868
These letters, spanning 1867 to 1868, are from Cherokee County Kansas officials and citizens regarding the county's affairs to Kansas Governor Samuel Crawford. One letter requests the establishment of a county seat with a signed petition attached. The other letters, also with signed petitions, either request the removal of the current probate judge or verify a vacancy in that position, and recommend the appointment of either John D. Coulter, L. Williams, or William Little as the successor. Cherokee County was organized in 1866.

County affairs: Clay
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1865-1868 : Crawford)
Date: 1868
This letter, dated April 15, 1868, is from Thomas Sherwood, the Chair of the Clay County Kansas Board of Commissioners, regarding the county's affairs to Kansas Governor Samuel Crawford. Sherwood wrote requesting the governor to appoint W. H. Fletcher as the new probate judge to replace M. H. Resline, who resigned. Clay County was organized in 1866.

County affairs: Cloud
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1865-1868 : Crawford)
Date: 1868
This letter, dated September 10, 1868, is from A. A. Carnahan regarding Cloud County Kansas affairs to Kansas Governor Samuel Crawford. Carnahan wrote requesting the governor to appoint John S. Fowler as probate judge to fill a vacancy. Cloud County was organized in 1866.

County affairs: Crawford
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1865-1868 : Crawford)
Date: 1868
These two letters, dated April 16, 1868 and July 30, 1868, are from Levi Hatch, probate judge, and D. W. Crouse, chair of the Crawford County Kansas Board of Commissioners, to Kansas Governor Samuel Crawford regarding the county's affairs. Hatch wrote resigning as probate judge due to health and recommending D. S. McIntosh as his successor. Crouse wrote requesting a copy of the appointment of a county seat and commissioner. Crawford County was organized in 1867.

County affairs: Davis
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1865-1868 : Crawford)
Date: 1865-1868
These letters, spanning 1865 to 1868, are from county officials regarding Davis County Kansas affairs to Kansas Governor Samuel Crawford. Some county officials tendered their resignation as either sheriff or probate judge, while others discussed the appointment of a sheriff. Davis County was renamed to Geary County and was one of the first 33 counties organized by the Territorial Legislature in 1855.

County affairs: Dickinson
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1865-1868 : Crawford)
Date: 1868
This letter, dated May 4, 1868, is from M. Nicolay, probate judge, regarding Dickinson County Kansas affairs to Kansas Governor Samuel Crawford. Nicolay wrote resigning as probate judge and recommending Cyrus Kilgow as his successor. Also, Nicolay attached a signed petition for the appointment of Kilgow to fill the vacancy. Dickinson County was organized in 1857.