Albert R. Greene to Franklin G. Adams
Creator: Greene, A.R.
Date: August 18, 1897
In this letter to Franklin G. Adams, Albert R. Greene explains that he recently met with Charles C. Haynes, with whom he discussed the waning days of the Overland Stage. Greene explains that Haynes was old but that his eye was as "keen as when he ran the gauntlet of hostile Indians and brought his coach into the home station bristling with arrows."

An appeal from Kansas!
Creator: Parrott, Marcus J. (Marcus Junius), 1828-1879
Date: December 14, 1860
This circular describes the beginnings of the Territorial Executive Committee, which was in charge of collecting relief to aid the struggling settlers of Kansas Territory during the 1860 drought. This committee met in Lawrence, Kansas Territory, on November 14, 1860, and passed several resolutions. From one hundred and one delegates were present from twenty-four Kansas counties. Out of this number, four men, including Samuel Pomeroy, were elected officers. The circular concludes with "Suggestions and Directions to those who purpose Aiding us in our Distress."

Biographical circulars
Date: 1890-1899
This collection consists of biographical forms sent by F. G. Adams, secretary of the Kansas Historical Society, to individuals whose names appeared in historically significant materials in the collections of the Kansas Historical Society. The responses are arranged alphabetically by last name. Biographical information may include full name, place and date of birth, place and date of settlement, present residence, place and date of death, official positions, and/or addresses of family members.

C. K. Holliday to Franklin Crane
Creator: Holliday, Cyrus Kurtz, 1826-1900
Date: January 18, 1857
Cyrus Holliday wrote from Meadville, Pennsylvania, to Franklin Crane, a prominent citizen in Topeka, Kansas Territory. Holliday discussed his efforts in Washington, D. C., as well as the elections, railroads, and the Topeka Bridge. He stated that it was important that the next Kansas delegate to Congress be from Topeka, as this would not only promote the interests of the Topeka community, it would also improve the status of Crane and Holliday's investments in Topeka.

C. K. Holliday to Franklin Crane
Creator: Holliday, Cyrus Kurtz, 1826-1900
Date: December 28, 1856
Writing from Meadville, Pennsylvania, Cyrus Holliday wrote to Franklin Crane concerning the need to make a lithograph of Topeka that could help attract emigrants during the upcoming season. He stated that Crane was an important asset for the Topeka Association. The rest of the letter dealt with other association business.

Cyrus K. Holliday diary
Creator: Holliday, Cyrus Kurtz, 1826-1900
Date: November - December, 1854
In this diary, Cyrus K. Holliday records his trip to Kansas Territory and his first impressions. Upon arrival in the territory, he stayed in Lawrence where he purchased interests in the town. Holliday makes several references to the first Congressional election and the three candidates. On December 6, he reported that he was the claimant to a new city site [probably Topeka], and Holliday was chosen president. The diary entries begin at the back of the booklet and proceed in reverse order (from right page to left page) toward the front. It is not always clear what the date is. For example, there is an entry for November 7 on pages 9 and 10 but the first date listed on page 4 is November 8. A complete, searchable transcription is available by clicking "Text Version" below.

Cyrus K. Holliday to Franklin Crane
Creator: Holliday, Cyrus Kurtz, 1826-1900
Date: February 1, 1857
From Meadville, Pennsylvania, Cyrus Holliday writes to Franklin Crane, a prominent doctor in Topeka, Kansas Territory. Holliday is anxious to get back to Kansas Territory but family illness has prevented his departure from Pennsylvania. He reports on several people who had been involved in Kansas Territory, including pro-slavery supporters Colonel Titus and Preston Brooks (who had died recently). He also commends Gov. Roberts (?) for his efforts on behalf of Kansas Territory.

Cyrus K. Holliday to Mary Holliday
Creator: Holliday, Cyrus Kurtz, 1826-1900
Date: October 19, 1856
Cyrus K. Holliday writes from Monongahela House in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to his wife, Mary Holliday, in Meadville, Pennsylvania. John C. Fremont had lost the state election, and Cyrus hopes to bolster support by speaking in the counties along the way to Philadelphia. Cyrus has met Judge Church, D. A. Finney, and J. W. Farrelly from northwestern Pennsylvania. Cyrus decides that Mary and their daughter proabably would not go to Kansas Territory that fall.

Cyrus K. Holliday to Samuel N. Wood
Creator: Holliday, Cyrus Kurtz, 1826-1900
Date: September 19, 1860
Dated Sept. 19, 1860, from Topeka, Kansas Territory, this brief letter from Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway founder, Cyrus K. Holliday, urges Samuel N. Wood to garner support and signatures to influence the course of a proposed "R.R. [railroad] from the Mo. River via Topeka toward your place. . . . Now is the time to act and act promptly."

Cyrus Kurtz and Mary Holliday
Date: Between 1855 and 1860
This is a daguerreotype portrait of Cyrus Kurtz and Mary Holliday. Cyrus was one of the original founders of Topeka, Kansas, served Kansas as Adjutant General during the Civil War, and later as a State Senator. He owned the "Topeka Tribune" and was also a member of the Board of Regents. Holliday was the first president of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and served on its board of directors for thirty-seven years.

Cyrus Kurtz Holliday
Creator: Bogardus
Date: Between 1870 and 1880
Cyrus Kurtz Holliday a Kansas pioneer and businessman. He came to the Kansas Territory as an agent for the New England Aid Company. In December of 1854, he helped organize the Topeka Town Association and took an active role in founding and settlingTopeka. He served in both the territorial and state legislatures and was a delegate to the Topeka Constitutional Convention. His most notable venture, was the construction of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. Holliday served as president and director of the ATSF from 1860 to1863. He stepped down as president in 1863, but remained on the board until his death in 1900.

Cyrus Kurtz Holliday
Cyrus Kurtz Holliday came to Kansas Territory from Meadville, Pennsylvania. He was the first president of the Topeka Town Association and was involved in founding and settling Topeka. He was an agent for the New England Emigrant Aid Company. He was very active in territorial political activities including the Topeka movement. He was a delegate to the Topeka Constitutional Convention.

Cyrus Kurtz Holliday
Date: Between 1850 and 1855
A formal portrait of Cyrus Kurtz Holliday (1826-1900), of Topeka, Kansas. Holliday came to Kansas Territory in 1854 from Meadville, Pennsylvania. He was an agent for the New England Emigrant Aid Company, one of the founders of Topeka, and was the first president of the Topeka Town Association. He was very active in territorial political activities, including the Topeka movement, he was a delegate to the Topeka Constitutional Convention, and served in the Kansas State Senate in 1861. Holliday was also the first president of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, and served as one of the railroad's directors for nearly 40 years.

Cyrus Kurtz Holliday
Date: between 1870 and 1890
Portrait of Cyrus Kurtz Holliday, a distinguished Kansas pioneer, founder of Topeka, successful businessman, and a public spirited citizen.

Cyrus Kurtz Holliday
Date: Between 1855 and 1858
Portrait of Cyrus Kurtz Holliday, 1826-1900, as a young man.

Cyrus Kurtz Holliday
Date: Between 1880 and 1890
Cyrus Kurtz Holliday, a Kansas pioneer and businessman. He came to the Kansas Territory as an agent for the New England Aid Company. In December of 1854, he helped organize the Topeka Town Association and took an active role in founding and settling Topeka. He served in both the territorial and state legislatures and was a delegate to the Topeka Constitutional Convention. His most notable venture was the construction of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. Holliday served as president and director of the ATSF from 1860 to 1863. He stepped down as president in 1863, but remained on the board until his death in 1900.

Cyrus Kurtz Holliday
Date: Between 1859 and 1860
Portrait of Cyrus Kurtz Holliday, 1826-1900, a founder of Topeka, Kansas, served as Adjutant General, State Senator and Representative, owner of the "Topeka Tribune", member of the Board of Regents, and president of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway.

Cyrus Kurtz Holliday, et al, to Charles Robinson
Creator: Holliday, Cyrus Kurtz, 1826-1900
Date: December 26, 1857
In this brief letter from Topeka, Kansas Territory, signed by Cyrus K. Holiday, M. C. Dickey, F. L. Crane, Loring Farnsworth, and F. W. Giles, "Governor" Robinson is "respecfully and cordially" invited to participate in a "mass convention" on December 28, 1857, in Topeka. It is being convened "to deliberate upon the political questions of the day; and more especially upon the action of the late 'Lawrence Convention.'"

Cyrus Kurtz Holliday home
Date: Between 1890 and 1920
This is a photograph of the Cyrus Kurtz Holliday home located on the corner of Sixth and Monroe in Topeka, Kansas. Cyrus Kurtz Holliday was one of the founders of Topeka, Kansas, and the first president of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway.

Cyrus Kurtz Holliday to Alfred and Edgar Huidekoper
Creator: Holliday, Cyrus Kurtz, 1826-1900
Date: September 20, 1858
Cyrus K. Holliday, founder and prominent citizen of Topeka, Kansas Territory, wrote to Alfred Huidekoper and Edgar Huidekoper, old associates from Meadville, Pennsylvania, to tell them of investment opportunities. He described rural claims, Town Act investments, and loans. He gave examples of large returns, including those gained by former governor Andrew H. Reeder. The time was ripe since Kansas' free statehood seemed certain, the land was titled, securities were assured, and financial difficulties had left some land and property owners with no option but to sell sacrificially. Holliday also confirmed the discovery of gold in western Kansas Territory (now Colorado).

Cyrus Kurtz Holliday to Franklin Loomis Crane
Creator: Holliday, Cyrus Kurtz, 1826-1900
Date: November 24, 1856
Cyrus Holliday wrote from Meadville, Pennsylvania, to Doctor Franklin Crane, an influential citizen in Topeka, Kansas Territory. Holliday stated his opinions about the prospects for Kansas entering the union as a free state, and about the stand of the Democratic party. He also discussed the sale of part of his corn crop in Kansas.

Cyrus Kurtz Holliday to Mary Dillon Holliday
Creator: Holliday, Cyrus Kurtz, 1826-1900
Date: April 1, 1855
Cyrus K. Holliday wrote from Topeka, Kansas Territory to his wife, Mary Holliday, in Meadville, Pennsylvania. He described the Territorial Legislature election of March 30, 1855, in which he was a Representative candidate for the Fourth District (in the third election district). Missourians had taken charge of the polls, and Holliday, along with other free state Kansas Territory citizens, did not vote. He assured his wife that Kansas would be a free state. Business in growing Topeka continued to delay his return to Meadville. Holliday also alluded to the recent birth of their child and mentioned his ragged clothing.

Cyrus Kurtz Holliday to Mary Dillon Holliday
Creator: Holliday, Cyrus Kurtz, 1826-1900
Date: June 9, 1856
Writing from Topeka, Kansas Territory to his wife, Mary Holliday in Meadville, Pennsylvania, Cyrus K. Holliday repeated his previous letter's instructions that neither she nor Mr. Nichols come to Kansas Territory until he wrote again. He mentioned turmoil in district courts and described the positions and numbers of Proslavery forces under General John W. Whitfield and Free-State forces. Colonel Edwin V. Sumner and his federal troops from Fort Leavenworth were attempting to maintain peace.

Cyrus Kurtz Holliday to Mary Dillon Holliday
Creator: Holliday, Cyrus Kurtz, 1826-1900
Date: June 1, 1856
Having long wished to be joined in Topeka, Kansas Territory by his wife, Mary Holliday, and daughter, Lillie, Cyrus K. Holliday instructed them not to leave Meadville, Pennsylvania, until he wrote again. Alarmed by recent killings, arrests, and home evictions of free state men, Cyrus, usually optimistic, foresaw continued unrest. He also mentioned receiving money Mary had sent. In a post script, he emphasized that their journey was necessarily, though undesirably, delayed.

Cyrus Kurtz Holliday to Mary Dillon Holliday
Creator: Holliday, Cyrus Kurtz, 1826-1900
Date: May 15, 1856
Expecting a clash between free state and proslavery forces at Lawrence, Kansas Territory, Cyrus K. Holliday wrote last instructions to his wife, Mary Holliday, in Meadville, Pennsylvania. Despite the threat of violence, Mary was to travel to Topeka, K. T. with Mr. Nichols, where Cyrus had traded shares to Milton C. Dickey for a house. He told her of a debt to E. S. Dexter of Massachusetts and a share in Centropolis, established that year in Franklin County. While emphasizing business matters, Cyrus did not neglect to express his love.