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.

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.

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.

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.

Cowley 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 memorial to the governor and the proclamation from the governor appointing county officials and designating Winfield as the temporary county seat.

Custer's dumbbell
Creator: Kennedy, Thomas
Date: between 1869 and 1871
This dumbbell was forged by Fort Hays blacksmith Thomas Kennedy around 1869. It was used by General George Armstrong Custer during his time at Fort Hays. Custer stayed at the fort periodically throughout the time he was stationed in Kansas from 1867 to 1871. He camped outside the fort for part of the summers of 1869 and 1870.

David J. Brewer and C. B. Brace to William Kincaid
Creator: Brewer, David J. (David Josiah), 1837-1910
Date: July 25, 1870
A letter written by David J. Brewer and C. B. Brace, Leavenworth, Kansas, to Reverend William Kincaid, minister of the Congregational Church in Rushville, New York, encouraging him to become the minister of the First Congregational Church in Leavenworth, Kansas. The letter describes the church and invites Rev. Kincaid to spend time with the congregation. He accepted the position and served from the fall of 1870 through January, 1876. Brewer was a lawyer. During his distinguished legal career, he was a Kansas Supreme Court Justice,1871 - 1884, United States Circuit Court Justice, 1884 - 1889, and United States Supreme Court Justice, 1889 - 1910.

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.

Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
Date: 1870
A view looking east toward the dragoon barracks, which were built in 1838, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Four children are present in the foreground.

Hand book for the Kansas Pacific Railway
Creator: Kansas Pacific Railway Company
Date: 1870
This Kansas Pacific Railroad publication advertises good abundant and cheap land readily available on its rail line between Kansas City, Missouri, and Denver, Colorado. The booklet contains descriptions of the country and cities and towns along the Kansas Pacific Railroad and its branches.

H. E. Woodcock to William Kincaid
Creator: Woodcock, H. E.
Date: July 12, 1880
A letter written by H[enry] E[dward] Woodcock, Tonganoxie, Kansas, to Reverend William Kincaid, minister of the Congregational Church in Rushville, New York, encouraging him to become the minister of the Congregational Church in Leavenworth, Kansas. The letter describes Leavenworth, Fort Leavenworth, and the Congregational Church. Kincaid accepted the call and served from the fall of 1870 through January, 1876.

Hole-in-Top Cans from 14EL430
Date: 1869-1870
These two tin cans were collected at a historic site that may be the location of General George A. Custer and the Seventh Calvary's camp near Fort Hays in Ellis County. The tin cans were filled through a large hole in the top. After filling, a cap was soldered into place with lead. A pin-hole opening left for steam to vent. This final hole was sealed with lead.

Horseshoes from 14EL428
Date: 1869-1870
These two horseshoes were among several that were collected during a survey in 2017. The shoe on the left is a government pattern. The shoe on the right is for a rear hoof. The site may be the location of one of General George Custer's and the Seventh Cavalry's camp near Fort Hays in Ellis County.

Howard County organization records
Creator: Kansas. Secretary of State
Date: 1869-1871
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, miscellaneous letters about organization, the 1869-1870 census of Howard County, and the official vote for the location of the county seat.

Isaac Tichenor Goodnow diary
Creator: Goodnow, Isaac T. (Isaac Tichenor), 1814-1894
Date: 1870
Diary belonging to Isaac Goodnow, a free-state supporter and the founder of Bluemont College (predecessor to Kansas State University) in Manhattan, Kansas Territory. Although many of the entries are somewhat mundane, dealing with weather, illness, neighbors, etc., others describe political and military activities in Kansas, as well as the land speculation. Goodnow's diary makes mention of the details of his daily life and community activities, such as home maintenance and crop harvests.