Abbie Bright
Date: 1870
Abbie Bright at age 22 photographed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

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.

Aetna Insurance Company
Creator: Aetna Insurance Company
Date: 1864 - 1870
Copies of Aetna Insurance Company fire policy records for insured properties in Lawrence and Baldwin, Douglas County and Osage County, Kansas. The records include amount insured; descriptions of the buildings including the date built, construction materials, fuel, lights, and size; businesses occupying the structures; present cash values; locations; specification of renewal; copy of endorsements; and assignments or transfers. Many of the buildings were located on Massachusetts Street in Lawrence.

Alfred and Elizabeth Springett Mercer
Date: 1870
This is a photograph of Alfred and Elizabeth Springett Mercer who came to the United States from England with their seven children. The family settled in Cottonwood, Chase County, which later became Strong City, Kansas.

Arkansas City, Kansas
Creator: Bridge, Esther Y.
Date: October 1870
This painting was drawn by Esther Y. Bridge showing early Arkansas City from a distance. Sleeth's Mill and Speer's Mill are featured in the two inserts below the larger painting.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot, Dodge City, Kansas
Date: Between 1870 and 1879
This stereograph shows a group of men gathered in front of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot in Dodge City, Kansas. The box car may have been the first depot in the town.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot, Wichita, Kansas
Date: Between 1874 and 1876
This photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot and rail yard in Wichita, Kansas. Also visible are people on the depot platform, freight cars, a coal company, and the buildings, residences, and businesses of Wichita.

Attorney General's Office
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1869-1873 : Harvey)
Date: 1869 - 1872
The documents in this file pertain to matters of the Attorney General Office. A letter from the A. Danford, Attorney General in 1861, gives his opinion to the Governor regarding him being able to appoint officers for new counties. A separate letter from A. L. Williams, Attorney General in 1871, answers questions from Governor Harvey concerning unpatented lands and if they are taxable. A letter from Williams provides Governor Harvey with his opinion declaring the eligibility of women in the office of Notary Public in Kansas.

Auditor of State's Office
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1869-1873 : Harvey)
Date: 1869 - 1870
A semi-annual report from A. Thoman, on May 30th, 1870, of the condition of the State Treasury. The State Auditor examines records and documents to evaluate compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies; as a result, the State Auditor can recommend areas that need to be improved or provide assistance at a higher level.

Blind, Asylum for the
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1869-1873 : Harvey)
Date: 1870 - 1871
A letter from W. W. Updegraff, Superintendent, reports the condition of the Institution since he took possession, he notifies the Governor there are no records or vouchers, there are thirteen pupils, and he is in the process of making an inventory. A letter from Updegraff acknowledges his appointment as the Superintendent for the Blind Asylum. A letter from members of the Kansas Senate informs the Governor of their observations of the Blind Asylum in Wyandotte. A letter from Thomas Plowman, a citizen of Leavenworth, writes to complain of the mistreatment of his son at the Blind Asylum.

Blind Asylum, superintendent of
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1869-1873 : Harvey)
Date: 1869 - 1870
The documents in this file pertain to matters concerning the appointment of Superintendent of the Blind Asylum. A letter from Minister James Lawrence requests Kansas Governor Harvey to reappoint Sawyer's position as the Superintendent. A separate letter suggests the Governor make changes in the management at the Asylum. Many letters are regarding efforts to remove H. H. Sawyer as the Superintendent, however, there is also correspondence from individuals who support Sawyer and attest to his management. A petition from citizens of Wyandotte, Kansas, asks that Sawyer be reappointed in his present position. Additional documents are petitions to have another person appointed Superintendent.

Bonds, State
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1869-1873 : Harvey)
Date: 1869 - 1871
A letter on February 11, 1869, from the commissioners of the State School Fund, accept the Governor's offer to sell $75,000 of State Bonds at ninety-two cents on the dollar. A letter from W. E. Suttiff asks Kansas Governor Harvey if he can use his influence to issue the bonds authorized for the payment of the militia battalion. Additional correspondence in this file pertains to the purchasing or inquiry of the bonds.

Bridge and dam under construction, Lawrence, Kansas
Date: 1870
Stereograph view of the Kansas River bridge and waterworks dam under construction, Lawrence, Kansas.

Bridge, Fort Hays, Kansas
Date: 1870
This photograph represents a bridge in Fort Hays, Kansas that passes over a stream surrounded by trees. Fort Hays was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

Buffalo hunter's home, Sheridan, Kansas
Creator: Benecke, R.
Date: 1870
This is a photograph of a buffalo hunter's home on the Kansas Pacific Railway, Sheridan, Kansas. It is part of Benecke's series "On The Kansas Pacific Railway."

Businesses in Humboldt, Allen County, Kansas
Date: 1870
A view of businesses in Humboldt, Kansas, including E.N. Wert Manas' and Humboldt's Livery Stable.

Buttons from the Billy Dixon Trading Post, 14EL311
Date: 1870-1871
These metal buttons were recovered from the possible location of the Billy Dixon Trading Post in Ellis County during the 2013 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school. The button on the left is a 4-hole pants button. The two General Service buttons on the right were made by the Scoville Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut. Two dugouts were discovered at the site, which may have been a supply stop of early settlers and hunters.

Captain James Monroe Williams and family
Date: 1870
A photograph showing Captain James Monroe Williams and family posed in front of their living quarters. The photograph was probably taken at Fort Selden, New Mexico. People in the photograph are (left to right) soldier holding horse unidentified, Captain James Monroe Williams, Mrs. James Monroe Williams, and an unidentified nurse holding John Absalom Williams.

Carrie Rood
Date: 1870
This postmortem photograph of Carrie Rood (1869-1870), 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.

Claims, Price Raid
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1869-1873 : Harvey)
Date: 1869 - 1872
The following documents are related to claims made concerning the Price Raid. A telegraph on December 7, 1870, from Sidney Clarke, requests the Governor to come or send someone to Washington, D.C. immediately to aid in the passage of the Price Raid bill. A letter from W. Banks informs Kansas Governor Harvey he has some Price Raid scrip certificates and asks if they will be paid by winter. A separate letter from x inquires whether the gratuity of the Price Raid scrip will be paid under the recent legislation of Kansas. A message from James A. Hardie states that the Commissioners plan to meet in Topeka to audit the growing claims of the Price Raid.

Cloud County organization records
Creator: Kansas. Secretary of State
Date: 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 report of votes cast for the county seat, with Concordia being declared the town with the most votes. A complete transcription is available by clicking "Text Version" below.

Commissioner of deeds : California
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1869-1873 : Harvey)
Date: 1869 - 1872
An application from Edward Cadwalader to Kansas Governor Harvey for the appointment as Commissioner of Deeds for the State of Kansas in California. A separate submission from Frank V. Scudder of San Francisco, California, requests the Governor offer him the job.

Commissioner of deeds : England
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1869-1873 : Harvey)
Date: 1870
A letter on December 2, 1878, from Lieutenant E. Randall recommends Edwin Hughes of Liverpool, England for the position as Commissioner of Deeds for State of Kansas.

Commissioner of deeds : Florida
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1869-1873 : Harvey)
Date: 1869 - 1872
A letter from W. C. Danelly requests Governor Harvey offer him the position as Commissioner of Deeds for the State of Kansas in Florida. Danelly explains that he has already secured the appointment as Commissioner for many states and is trying to acquire as many as possible. A separate submission from Joseph H Durkee applies for the opening as Commissioner of Deeds.

Commissioner of deeds : Illinois
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1869-1873 : Harvey)
Date: 1869 - 1872
A letter of application from William Andrews for the position as Commissioner of Deeds for Kansas at Chicago, Illinois. A document about the Appropriation Bill passed by Kansas Legislature to give funds towards the improvement and enlargement of the State Normal School. Additional letters are from other applicants requesting the Governor select them for the job.