A. W. Johnson and Isabella Johnson to Robert S. Wickizer
Creator: Johnson, A. W.
Date: March 24, 1875
In this letter to his cousin, A. W. Johnson relates news from his homestead near Osage Mission, Neosho County. Johnson describes the grasshopper plague in vivid terms, and also mentions how the recent hard times in Kansas should not discourage emigration into the state. In fact, he goes so far as to state that now is the time to come, since land is cheap and the spring weather is "deliteful[sic]." Johnson also states, however, that the price of corn is high, and that high prices on goods make it difficult for him to support his family.

Abilene, Kansas
Date: 1875
A photograph showing Broadway Avenue, looking north in Abilene, Kansas.

Arbor Day in Topeka, Kansas
Date: April 22, 1875
This a photograph of Arbor Day activities at 8th & Jackson streets on the Statehouse grounds in Topeka, Kansas. Over 800 trees were planted on the statehouse grounds to commemorate the occasion; however, only a few lived through the summer.

Asa Maxson Fitz Randolph
Creator: Knight, J. Lee
Date: 1875
This is a carte de visite showing Asa Maxson Fitz Randolph who served as Kansas Attorney General from January 11, 1875 to January 8, 1877.

Assistant superintendent for the St. Louis, Lawrence and Western Railroad appointed
Creator: St. Louis, Lawrence and Western Railroad
Date: August 21, 1875
This is a general order from E. C. Devereux of the St. Louis, Lawrence and Western Railroad announcing the appointment of W. H. Bancroft as the Assistant Superintendent.

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.

A view of the Dodge City, Kansas, business district in 1875
Date: Between 1874 and 1876
This black and white photograph shows the Dodge City Kansas business district : Chas Rath & Co. General Outfittings, Long Branch Saloon, and Geo. M. Hoover's Wholesale Wines, Liquors, & Cigars.

Barbara Ketchum
Date: 1875
Mounted tintype portrait of Barbara Ketchum, daughter of Lewis Ketchum a Wyandotte Indian.

Bird's Eye View of Great Bend, Barton County, Kansas
Creator: Morse, D. D
Date: 1875
This colored lithograph is a bird's eye view of Great Bend, the county seat of Barton County. Great Bend is located on the Arkansas River and the route of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad. The Courthouse is visible in its own "square." The image also shows the business district, churches, a school, and residences but no buildings are identified. Street names are given. This lithograph was done fairly early in the town's existence. The image was drawn by D. D. Morse and published by Lott & Zeuch Lithograph, Chicago, Illinois.

Brown's Rotary Shuttle Sewing Machine Company stock certificate
Date: February 13, 1875
This stock certificate entitles H. B. Cullum, receiver for the First National Bank in Topeka, Kansas, to 165 shares in capital stock of Brown's Rotary Shuttle Sewing Machine Company in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Buildings in the 300 block of Cottonwood Street in Strong City, Kansas
Date: 1875
This is a photograph showing businesses including the Strong City Bank and grocery stores in the 300 block of Cottonwood Street in Strong City, Kansas. Visible in the photograph is construction on a building at the end of the block.

C.B. Schmidt to Colonel A.S. Johnson
Creator: Schmidt, C. B.
Date: March 23, 1875
This letter is from C.B. Schmidt, foreign agent for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad to Colonel A.S. Johnson of the Land Commission. Schmidt writes about stopping in Prussia to get information on the local Mennonites and what their feelings are on immigrating to the United States.

Captain Lewis Hanback's final report
Creator: Hanback, Lewis
Date: 1875
This document is Captain Lewis Hanback's final report of an 1875 investigation into a conflict between Captain Ricker's company of state militia and a band of Osage Indians that occurred in 1874. The Osage Indians had filed a complaint with the Department of the Interior, claiming that the U. S. military had attacked a peaceful Indian encampment and stolen their horses and other property. Captain Lewis Hanback was ordered to take down testimonies and determine the circumstances surrounding the conflict. This final report summarizes these testimonies and includes a short history of Barbour County where the altercation took place.

Commanding officer's quarters at Fort Larned, March, 1875.
Date: March 1875
View of the commanding officer's quarters at Fort Larned, March, 1875. Col. Lyster was the commanding officer.

Crawford Moore
Date: 1875
This is a photograph of Crawford Moore copied from an 1875 legislative panel. He was a member of the Reform Party and was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives. Moore was from Tonganoxie, Kansas, and served District 25 in Leavenworth County.

Front Street businesses, Dodge City, Kansas
Date: 1875
This is a photo of several businesses along Front Street in Dodge City, Kansas, including the F. C. Zimmermann hardware store.

George W. Baird to Kansas Adjutant General
Creator: Baird, George W., fl. 1874-1891
Date: July 29, 1875-August 24, 1876
Two letters written by First Lieutenant and Adjutant Fifth Infantry George W. Baird in Fort Leavenworth to the Kansas Adjutant General in Topeka. In one letter, he expresses the "great distrust of claim agents" felt by the heirs of deceased soldiers. In the other letter, he writes that he is now enlisting men, in his position as recruiting officer, for the regular cavalry regiments engaged in the Sioux Wars.

Grace Bedell Billings
Date: 1875
This is a portrait of Grace Bedell Billings, who sent Abraham Lincoln a letter on October 5, 1860, from Westfield, New York, urging him to grow a beard to improve his appearance. Lincoln responded in a letter on October 19, 1860, making no promises; however, within a month, he grew a full beard. She later married a Union soldier and settled in Delphos, Kansas.

Grangers versus hoppers
Creator: Henry Worrall, 1825-1902
Date: 1874-1875
This is a copy of a cartoon by Kansas artist Henry Worrall showing Kansas farmers (Grangers) battling grasshoppers. The National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry was originally founded with the idea of educating and connecting farmers within America. The first Grange was set up in Fredonia, New York. From there granges spread across the U.S., providing classes and social events to farmers. The first Kansas Grange was organized in 1872 at Hiawatha. Within a few years, more than 1,000 Granges claiming more than 30,000 members had been established across the state. Read more about the Grange in Kansapedia.

Grasshopper concert ticket
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1877-1879: Anthony)
Date: 1875
A concert ticket for a "grasshopper concert" stamped January 1, 1875 in Chicago, Illinois. The illustration on one side depicts an audience and orchestra of grasshoppers playing the "March through Kansas by G. Hopper." Kansas experienced the Grasshopper Plague of 1874 and received money and supplies from across the country to help aid farmers.

Grasshoppers
Date: 1875
Grasshoppers arranged to spell the words "Kansas Jayhawkers".

Hays Sentinel building, Hays, Kansas
Date: 1875
This photograph shows William P. Montgomery standing in front of the first Hays Sentinel newspaper office in Hays, Kansas. William bought the newspaper in December 1874. The gentleman standing on the roof has been identified as Bill Upton.

Ho! For the new Kansas! The Upper Arkansas Valley
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad Company
Date: July 1875
This brochure from the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Company is in the form of a newspaper. It advertises three million acres of land for sale in southwestern Kansas. The brochure explains the prices and terms of sale, and provides quotes from successful farmers in the area as to their ability to raise abundant crops. It lists where to get information about land sales in states east of Kansas, the local agents in specific Kansas communities, and the stations and the distances between stops on the AT&SF eastern division and the Arkansas Valley route

Homes in the West!
Creator: Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway Company
Date: 1875
This broadside of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway promotes the sale of railroad lands in Neosho County. The advertisement claims the lands are suitable for agriculture and close to natural resources and established settlements. The terms of sale are outlined as is the price per acre. The poster lists the railway's branch offices and its land commissioner, Isaac T. Goodnow, of Neosho Falls. This advertisement illustrates the important role railroad companies played in promoting Euro-American settlement and agricultural industries in the Great Plains.

Isaac Tichenor Goodnow diary
Creator: Goodnow, Isaac T. (Isaac Tichenor), 1814-1894
Date: 1875
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.