An act to regulate the infliction of the death penalty and to amend an act to establish a code of criminal procedure
Creator: Kansas Legislature.
Date: 1872
Following the controversial, public execution of William Dickson in Leavenworth (1870), the state legislature passed Senate Bill 18 (1872) to regulate procedures for carrying out a death sentence. The act provides that the punishment of death must be by "hanging by the neck." The act also provides that the time of the execution must be ordered by the governor. In effect, this law imposed a ban on state executions since no governor ever ordered an execution between 1872-1907, the year the law was repealed. Dickson's execution would be the last conducted under state law for 73 years.

Arkansas City, Kansas
Date: 1872
This black and white photograph shows the store fronts along the west side of the 100 block of South Summit Street in Arkansas City, Kansas. Includes the city meat market, stoves and tin ware, and several other businesses. An inscription on the print reads" compliments of Fitzpatrick and McDowell Real Estate."

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. Land department
Creator: Railway Directory and Advertiser
Date: 1872
This advertisement promotes the sale of 100,000 acres of land along the line of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad. According to the ad, these lands have fertile soil and "considerable timber," and are in such high demand that white immigrants are flooding the area.

Atchison,Topeka & Santa Fe Railway track construction east of Hutchinson, Kansas
Creator: Knight, J. Lee
Date: 1872
A stereograph titled "End of the Track" showing the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway's track construction three miles east of Hutchinson, Kansas.

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.

August Schulz diary
Date: 1872-1878
This diary was written by August(us) Schulz, who resided in McPherson County, Kansas. The diary describes the work and events that took place on the family farm in Canton Township, McPherson County. Schulz and his wife Luisa were born in Germany, according to the 1880 U. S. census. Augustus's age was listed as 54 and Luisa was 58. The first two pages of content labeled 1872 and 1873 are in German. They have four children, The two girls were Agnes, 24 years old, and Ottilie, age 16. The two boys were Alexander (23) and Hugo (20). In 1880 they were all living at home. Schulz provides details about the crops he is planting and several entries describe planting several hundred trees. The diary also mentions establishing land claims for the older children.

Barton County organization records
Creator: Kansas. Secretary of State
Date: 1872
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 completed 1872 census for Barton county, several letters about the organization and census of the county, a list of people stating that the census that was taken did not comply with legislative law, and the proclamation by Governor Harvey appointing county officials and designating Great Bend as the temporary county seat.

Bender family house, Labette County, Kansas
Creator: Gamble, G. R.
Date: 1872
This is a photograph showing people on the north or front side of the Bender house. The Bender family operated a remote road house on a farm near Cherryvale, Kansas. When several travelers disappeared, local residents became suspicious of the Benders. A search of the property revealed eleven bodies buried in the yard and all of them died of injuries consistent with blows to the head. The Bender family members escaped and were never found.

Bird's eye view of Humboldt, Kansas
Date: 1872
A bird's eye view of Humboldt, Kansas showing the town's layout and a portion of the Neosho River.

Bird's eye view of Ottawa, Kansas
Creator: Glover, E. S. (Eli Sheldon), 1844-1920
Date: 1872
This colored lithograph is a bird's eye view of Ottawa, Franklin County, Kansas. It shows an extensive community and the references (legends) identify schools, churches, manufacturing plants, and railroads. The population of Ottawa at this time was 4000. The lithograph shows an extensive railroad machine shops for the Lawrence, Leavenworth, and Galveston Railroad. Insets across the bottom from left to right show: Union School, Ludington House, Hamblin's block including the 1st National Bank, and Ottawa University. The title section of the illustration identifies George W. Hamblin as land agent. Forest Park is shown. The Marais des Cygnes River flows the Ottawa north of the business district. The lithograph was drawn by E. S. Glover and published by the Strobridge & Co. Lith., Cincinnati, Ohio.

Bird's-eye view of Ottawa, Kansas
Date: 1872
This color lithograph shows a bird's eye view of early Ottawa, Kansas. The view is from the northeast with the Marais Des Cygnes River in the foreground. Several buildings including the Union School, Ottawa University, and the First National Bank building are inset at the bottom of the print.

Boarding House, Dodge City, Kansas
Creator: Knight, J. Lee
Date: 1872
This stereograph shows a number of boxcars serving as a boarding house for railroad workers near Dodge City, Kansas.

Boarding House, Dodge City, Kansas
Creator: Knight, J. Lee
Date: September 1872
This stereograph shows a boarding house, possibly for railroad workers, at the end of the tracks west of Dodge City, Kansas.

Board of Agriculture Treasurer's Annual Reports
Creator: State Board of Agriculture
Date: 1871-1873, 1876
These records include the treasurer's annual reports of the State Board of Agriculture and related vouchers. The January 10, 1872 report, written by treasurer Thomas Murphy, itemizes the proceeds of the Kansas State Fair. Murphy's reports were audited by J.K. Hudson and E.S. Niccolls. The 1873 report was prepared by treasurer George N. Veale and the 1876 report by J.C. Wilson. Additional auditors include A.J. Burdick, W.A. Johnston, J.P. Davis, C.H. Graham, and D.W. Finney.

Bull train on the Dodge City Trail leaving Hays, Kansas
Date: 1872
This is a photograph showing A. E. Buedeck's bull train on the Dodge City Trail leaving Hays, Kansas.

Centennial Exposition (Philadelphia)
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1869-1873 : Harvey)
Date: 1872
The following papers are about the International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the Soil and Mine, in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The report discusses a resolution passed by the United States Centennial Commission relating to national banks, and other incorporated banking or savings institutions in the State are requested and authorized to act as agents to receive subscriptions to the stock under the rules adopted by the Commission.

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.

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 : Connecticut
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1869-1873 : Harvey)
Date: 1872
An application from David G. Gordon of Hartford, Connecticut requests the position as Commissioner of Deeds for Kansas in Connecticut.

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.

Commissioner of deeds : Indian Territory
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1869-1873 : Harvey)
Date: 1872
A letter from A. B. Bartlett asks Kansas Governor Harvey to employ William J. Buchan as Commissioner of Deeds of the Indian Territory.

Commissioner of deeds : Kentucky
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1869-1873 : Harvey)
Date: 1872
A letter from George W. Hull requests Kansas Governor Harvey appoint him as the Commissioner of Deeds for the State of Kansas residence in Kentucky. An application from J. H. H. Woodward for the position as Commissioner of Deeds. Accompanying Woodward's application are testimonials of him as a businessman and his character.

Commissioner of deeds : Louisiana
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1869-1873 : Harvey)
Date: 1869 - 1872
An application from Oren D. Bragdon for the position as Commissioner of Deeds for the State of Kansas, residence in Louisiana. An application from John M. Cooney of New Orleans, Louisiana, along with an endorsement for his appointment as Commissioner of Deeds for Kansas. A letter from William F. Robb asks the length of the term in the office of Commissioners of Deeds as this information was not provided to him when he was tendered the position.

Commissioner of deeds : Maine, Maryland
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1869-1873 : Harvey)
Date: 1869 - 1872
A letter from James O'Donnell asks Kansas Governor Harvey for the appointment as Commissioner of Deeds for the State of Kansas in Maine. A separate application from James H. Buchanan for Commissioner of Deeds in Maryland, along with an endorsement of Buchanan's qualifications. The following documents are from candidates applying for the appointment as the Commissioner of Deeds in the State of Maine or Maryland.