50 Camp, Crawford County, Kansas
Date: Between 1870 and 1920
A photograph of 50 Camp, or Camp 50, a small unincorporated community in Crawford County approximately 2 miles west of Arma. It was a company town of Central Coal and Coke and continues as a small residential community. Visible is a mine and mining equipment.

A. E. Gillett to Governor Henry J. Allen
Creator: Gillett, A.E.
Date: December 19, 1919
In this letter, Mayor A. E. Gillett of Bartlett, Kansas, writes to Kansas Governor Henry J. Allen, of Topeka, asking his assistance in getting a car load of coal for the schools. Following a series of coal strikes in southeast Kansas, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled in favor of the state securing and operating the coal mines for a period of time. Coal operations were delayed following seizure of the minefields. Volunteers were called in to complete mine operations after miners refused to return to work. The court appointed "receivers" to oversee all coal deliveries and payments during this period.

A. M. Fury to Governor Henry J. Allen
Creator: Fury, A.M.
Date: December 18, 1919
A. M. Fury of the Robinson Grain Company in Palco, Kansas, writes to Governor Henry Allen, of Topeka, requesting a car of threshing coal. At the time of this writing, Kansas communities had already been without coal for a number of weeks following a series of coal strikes. In November, 1919, the Kansas Supreme Court gave the state control of the coal fields. Governor Allen set up office in Pittsburg during this period. Volunteers were called in from surrounding areas to begin coal mining operations when the striking mine workers refused to return to work following the takeover.

ACME mine volunteer personnel
Date: December 5, 1919
In this document, the names of 31 volunteers assigned to the Acme Mine are listed. Included is the date they arrived for work in Pittsburg, Kansas, and the date they reported to the mine for work. These volunteers were recruited from surrounding areas to replace mine workers who refused to return to work following state takeover. In November 1919, the Kansas supreme court granted authority to the state of Kansas to operate the mines. This followed a series of strikes in the area. Court appointed receivers were put in place to operate the mines during this period. The state takeover lasted until mid- December when labor leaders in the area agreed to return mine workers to their jobs.

A New Home in an Old Settlement: Come and see the "New Land in an Old Country"
Date: May 1, 1876
This paper advertises for sale land, formerly owned by the Pottawatomie Nation, from 1837 to 1868, and then purchased by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Rail Road Company. On the reverse side of the paper is a sectional map showing the area and identifying those lands that were still for sale by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Company. The text gives brief descriptions of the cities and towns in the area; the railroads available; fuel and lumber that are native to the area; and, descriptions and prices of the land.

A handbook of useful information for immigrants and settlers
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company
Date: 1880-1889
Published by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, this pamphlet encouraged agricultural settlement on railroad lands in Kansas by glorifying the state's natural resources including water, soil, mineral deposits and plant life. Printed by the Kansas Farmer in Topeka, Kansas.

Albert C. Morton to Hiram Hill
Creator: Morton, Albert C.
Date: May 29, 1857
Albert Morton wrote from Quindaro, Kansas Territory, to Hiram Hill, who had invested in Quindaro, in Massachusetts. In this short letter Morton described the development of the town, and noted the increasing population, the availability of coal resources, and the arrival of a new storekeeper.

A new home in an old settlement
Date: May 1, 1876
This paper advertises for sale land formerly owned by the Pottawatomie Nation from 1837 to 1868, and then owned by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Rail Road Company. On the reverse side of the paper is a sectional map showing the area and identifying those lands that were still for sale by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad company. The text gives brief descriptions of the cities and towns in the area; the railroads available; fuel and lumber that are native to the area; descriptions and prices of the lands.

Arcadia mining camp, Crawford County, Kansas
Date: 1914-1969
A photograph of the Arcadia mining camp. Arcadia was originally founded as Hathaway in 1857 a half mile north of the current town. The post office was later moved to the site of a railroad siding in approximately 1876. Arcadia is located on the Kansas and Missouri state line, in Crawford County, and is roughly twenty miles northeast of Pittsburg, Kansas. Photographs include images of a school, churches, street scenes, school basketball team, and mining operations.

Arma mining camp, Crawford County, Kansas
Date: 1905-1943
Photographs and postcards of the mining camp, businesses, community interests, residents, and buildings in Arma, Kansas. The city of Arma was incorporated in 1909 and is located in Crawford County about nine miles north of Pittsburg. Previously the area was known as Rust, a small coal camp laid out in 1886. The town was inhabited by miners from many of the surrounding mines. Arma continues today and is home to a few businesses, a grade school and a high school.

Askins Coal steam shovel
Date: October 07, 1934
This is a photograph of Askins Coal steam shovel, location unknown.

Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company coal chute, Baring, Missouri
Date: 1952
This black and white photographs shows a coal chute being demolished along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company rail line in Baring, Missouri.

Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company coal chute, Baring, Missouri
Creator: Quality Projected Enlarging
Date: August 27, 1952
This black and white photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company engine #20, traveling under a coal chute in Baring, Missouri. The coal chute was later demolished.

Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company coal chute, Baring, Missouri
Date: 1952
These four photographs shows a coal chute being demolished along the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company line in Baring, Missouri.

Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company coal chute, Baring, Missouri
Date: 1952
This black and white photograph shows a coal chute being demolished along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company rail line in Baring, Missouri.

Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company coal chute, Baring, Missouri
Date: 1952
These four black and white photographs show a coal chute being demolished along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company rail line in Baring, Missouri.

Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company coal chute, Baring, Missouri
Creator: Quality Projected Enlarging
Date: August 27, 1952
These three black and white photographs show a coal chute being demolished along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company rail line in Baring, Missouri.

Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company coal chute, Baring, Missouri
Date: 1952
These four black and white photographs shows a coal chute being demolished along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company rail line in Baring, Missouri.

Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company coal chute, Baring, Missouri
Date: 1952
This black and white photograph shows a coal chute located along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company rail line in Baring, Missouri.

B. S. Gaitskill and C. D. Sample to Clyde M. Reed
Creator: Gaitskill, B.S.
Date: December 6, 1919
In this telegram, B. S. Gaitskill and C. D. Sample, court appointed receivers, tell Clyde Reed, secretary to Kansas Governor Henry J. Allen, of Topeka, of the following places where shipments of coal have gone. Coal mine operations in southeast Kansas stopped due to labor strikes and the state took control of the mines. Volunteers carried out the day-to-day work. During this period, court appointed receivers directed all activities.

Breezy Hill mining camp, Crawford County, Kansas
Date: Between 1908 and 1919
Photographs of Breezy Hill, a small unincorporated settlement about 2 miles east of Arma, in Crawford County. Images include the local school, a street scene, and Joe Kaluza's residence.

C.C. Nicholson store, Topeka, Kansas
Date: Between 1902 and 1909
These two sepia colored photographs show the exterior view of C.C. Nicholson's wholesale and retail coal and feed store at 1009 North Kansas Avenue in Topeka, Kansas. The building in the second image replace the building in the first image. The second image also has a sign for C. F. Bridge, real estate and rental office. Each image also has a horse drawn wagon.

C. D. Samples and B. S. Gaitskill to Clyde Reed
Creator: Sample C.D.
Date: December 10, 1919
C. D. Sample and B. S. Gaitskill, court appointed receivers during the state takeover of the southeast Kansas coal fields, telegram Clyde Reed, secretary to Kansas Governor Henry J. Allen, of Topeka, requesting engineers to operate steam shovels. The state has called on volunteers to take the place of mine workers who refused to return to work after the state takeover of the mines. Many workers volunteering to help during this time were inexperienced. This caused delays in coal operations and deterioration in some of the mine fields.

Capaldo mining camp, Crawford County, Kansas
Date: Between 1870 - 1920
Here are two photographs of Capaldo, a small, unincorporated town two miles west of Frontenac in Crawford County. It was settled in 1912 by Italian immigrants and was annexed into the City of Frontenac after 2000. Photographs include images of mining operations and a school.

Carona mining camp, Cherokee County, Kansas
Date: Between 1910 and 1940
Photographs of Carona, Kansas. Carona, originally named Carbona, is located in Cherokee County approximately 3 miles west of the town of Scammon. The post office in Carona was established in 1905 and closed in 1988. A settlement continues at this site as well as a few businesses. Photographs include images of the public school, union hall, and store.