Adjutant General
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1889-1893 : Humphrey)
Date: 1889-1893
Letters to Kansas Governor Humphrey about the appointment of Adjutant General. There are letters from individuals writing to the Governor to request General J. N. Roberts be appointed as Adjutant General. In addition, a petition from African American citizens requests Governor Humphrey appoint S. M. Lanham, Clerk in the Adjutant Office, the position as Adjutant General of Kansas. Adjutant General is the highest-ranking official in the State and is subordinate to the Governor. Adjutant is also a member of the Governor's Cabinet and advises the Governor on military and emergency management matters.

Agricultural College, Kansas State
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1885-1889 : Martin)
Date: 1885-1889
The documents in this file are letters and petitions to Kansas Governor John Martin regarding appointing positions within the Kansas State Agricultural College. Other letters are applications from individuals for a position at the Agricultural College.

A petition on Negro suffrage
Date: 1867
This petition by an unknown group of Kansas residents asks the state legislature to support suffrage for black males. The petitioners support removing the word "white" from articles five and eight of the state constitution. At that time the Kansas constitution limited suffrage to white males. The petition outlines six reasons why suffrage should be extended to black males. In 1867, the state legislature approved an amendment supporting black male suffrage but white male voters defeated the amendment in a public referendum. Voters also defeated a similar amendment supporting white, female suffrage. These proposed amendments followed the Kansas legislature's ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution, which defined who were citizens, including Negroes.

Applications: Blind Asylum, Superintendent
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1865-1868 : Crawford)
Date: 1868
These letters, spanning February through March 1868, are from government officials and other individuals regarding the appointment of the superintendent for the Blind Asylum to Kansas Governor Samuel Crawford. They wrote either to recommend others or apply for the position. J. Cooper and H. Sawyer had signed official petitions for their appointment. The Blind Asylum was located in Wyandotte County, Kansas.

Appointments Miscellaneous [sic]
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1863-1865 : Carney)
Date: 1863 - 1864
These letters, spanning 1863 to 1864, are from government officials and other individuals to Kansas Governor Thomas Carney regarding appointments to government offices. The correspondents wrote asking Carney for an appointment to government positions including Probate Judge, Judicial District Judge, director of the State Penitentiary, immigration agent, and any available positions. There are some signed petitions among the letters for the appointment of individuals.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot, Peabody, Kansas
Creator: Zercher, M.L. Book and Stationery Co., Topeka, Kansas
Date: Between 1907 and 1919
This postcard shows the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot in Peabody, Kansas. The prairie-style station features a hipped roof, and a semi-hexagonal operator's bay and waiting bay.

Barber county organization records
Creator: Kansas. Secretary of State
Date: 1872 to 1873
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 Governor Osborn asking for a census to be taken of Barber County, an affidavit by H.T. McCarty to be the census taker, the completed census, and the proclamation by the governor naming county officials and designating Medicine Lodge as the temporary county.

Benjamin O. Weaver to Governor Andrew Schoeppel
Date: September 01, 1943
In this letter to Governor Schoeppel, Kansas House of Representatives member Benjamin O. Weaver explains that many of his constituents in Kiowa County, Kansas, are opposed to the use of Japanese Americans as laborers in the state. Included with the letter is a petition signed by numerous Kiowa County residents which states that they are against releasing the Japanese Americans because they "think it dangerous to the war effort." A searchable, full-text version of this letter is available by clicking "Text Version" below.

Business men, property owners to Governor John Martin
Creator: Kansas Community Leaders
Date: March 26, 1886
In this telegram, business men and property owners from several Kansas communities plead with the governor to issue a proclamation to resume traffic on all rail lines operated by the Missouri Pacific Railway Company during the railroad strike of 1886.

Charitable Institutions, Board of Trustees
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1885-1889 : Martin)
Date: 1885-1889
These letters are from the members of the board of trustees for the State Board of Charities to Kansas Governor John Martin. Many letters recommend people for the board. Those people include D. O. McAllister, Nathan Hughes, B. Kelly, E. K. Blair, D. McTaggart, and W. H. Ward. Ward received a signed petition for his appointment to the board. Bernard Kelly received the most recommendation letters. There are also letters from Kelly and Ward applying for the position.

Cherokee County organization records
Creator: Kansas. Secretary of State
Date: 1866-1912
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 are letters about the population of Cherokee County, issues on where the county seat should be located, and boundary line issues between Labette County and Cherokee County.

Cities, organization of 2nd Class
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1885-1889 : Martin)
Date: 1885-1889
These letters are from various individuals regarding the establishment of second class cities, based on population, to Kansas Governor John Martin. The second class cities with signed petitions for incorporation include Abilene, Anthony, Cherryvale, Concordia, El Dorado, Eureka, Minneapolis, Seneca, and Weir. There are also Governor's Proclamations for the declaration of second class cities to Abilene, Anthony, Cherryvale, El Dorado, Eureka, Minneapolis, Seneca, and Weir. See "Cities, 1st Class" (Item number: 454842) for a list of first and second class cities along with their dates of incorporation.

Cities & Towns : Manhattan
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1879-1883 : St. John)
Date: 1880
The first letter to Kansas Governor St. John is from the Mayor and Councilmen of Manhattan, Kansas, they write to the governor to inform him the city of Manhattan has attained a population exceeding 2,000. Included in this file is a petition from the city of Manhattan to make the city a city of the second class instead of third class.

Comanche County organization records
Creator: Kansas. Secretary of State
Date: 1873-1875
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 asking for a census to be taken, an affidavit by A. Updegraff to be census taker, the completed census, and the proclamation by the governor appointing county officials and designating Coldwater as the temporary county seat.

Commissioner of Deeds
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1885-1889 : Martin)
Date: 1885-1889
These letters are from various individuals regarding the office of Commissioner of Deeds to Kansas Governor John Martin. Some letters discuss the recent vacancy of the office. Most letters either endorse candidates for the position with signed petitions or are applications for it.

Counties : Comanche County
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1879-1883: Glick)
Date: 1884-1885
These letters are from or about Comanche county to Kansas Governor G. W. Glick. There are also many signed political petitions concerning the organization of the county and making sure "certain parties" are appointed to the county's seat and offices. The subjects of the letters include protesting organization in the county, appointing individuals to county offices, census taking, and voting. Comanche county was founded on February 26th, 1867.

Counties : Decatur, index of petitioners' land
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1879-1883 : St. John)
Date: December 1879
A petition, comprising of sixty-four pages, from voters of Oberlin, Kansas asking Kansas Governor St. John to designate Decatur County as the Temporary County Seat of Decatur County.

Counties : Decatur, petition for Decatur Center as temporary county seat
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1879-1883 : St. John)
Date: December 02, 1879
A copy of a petition from legal electors of Decatur County asking Kansas Governor St. John to have Temporary County Seat of Decatur County located at Decatur Center. In the letter the citizens of Decatur Center inform Governor St. John that Decatur Center is one-half mile south of the Geographical Center of the County whereas Oberlin is six- and one-half miles north west of the center.

Counties : Decatur, petition for organization of the county
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1879-1883 : St. John)
Date: August 24, 1879
A petition from the residents of Decatur County asking Kansas Governor St. John to organize said county. Accompanying this petition is a separate document from J.C. Wilson, J. W. Allen, and James A. Redd confirming the signatures on the petition are genuine.

Counties : Finney County
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1879-1883: Glick)
Date: 1884
These letters are from or about Finney county to Kansas Governor G. W. Glick. Many of the letters are concerned with the organization of the county. There are many signed petitions advocating for the organization of the county as well. The appointment of individuals to the county's seat and offices is also discussed. Among the letters and petitions, there are Governor Proclamations on these issues with the official decisions. Finney county was founded on February 22nd, 1883.

Counties : Graham
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1879-1883 : St. John)
Date: April - December 1880
This file contains letters on topics such as appointments, the organization of Graham county, as well as other matters in Graham county. There is a petition from W. H. Hunter and other residents of Gettysburg, Kansas requesting arms or protection. A letter from C. Tillotson of Millbrook, Kansas asking Kansas Governor St. John if it is discretionary, mandatory, or directory for the Board of Commissioners to grant or form township prayed for in the petition when the petitioners have complied with all the requirements of Section 24, page 277 of the Compiled Laws of Kansas, also known as "Dassler's Kansas Statutes, 1876".

Counties : Graham, affidavits of citizens
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1879-1883 : St. John)
Date: March 30, 1880
The following letters are affidavits from residents in Graham County informing Kansas Governor St. John that there was a misrepresentation in petitions for Roscoe and Hill City for Temporary County Seat. The letters explain that they thought the Roscoe and Hill City petitions were thrown out of the contest for Temporary County Seat by the Governor. A few of the citizens request to have their signatures on different petitions such as the Roscoe petition.

Counties : Graham, petition and brief for temporary county seat
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1879-1883 : St. John)
Date: March 30, 1880
A petition from householders and legal electors of Graham county asking Kansas Governor St. John to designate Roscoe as temporary County Seat. A following letter from Hall and McCabe, Attorney for Roscoe, provide several reasons Kansas Governor St. John should declare Roscoe as temporary County Seat for Graham County. In the late 19th century the location of County Seat was important to residents in towns of Kansas. Supporters of numerous locations within the counties of Kansas believed if their town was selected as County Seat, the success of the town would be guaranteed. The establishment of County Seat meant a courthouse would be built as well as bridges, roads, and schools. The competition of the location of County Seat among towns often resulted in bribery, fraud, and even violence.

Counties : Graham, petition for appointments
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1879-1883 : St. John)
Date: November 5, 1879
The following documents are petitions from residents of Graham County requesting that Kansas Governor St. John appoint specific individuals for positions within Graham county such as Commissioner, Census Taker, and Clerk. These petitions include the names, location, and the date of residency of the signers in Graham County.

Counties : Graham, petition for appointments
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1879-1883 : St. John)
Date: March 20, 1880
The letters in this file are petitions to Kansas Governor St. John to appoint certain individuals as temporary Officers of Graham County. Among these petitions are letters from Notary Public confirming the signatures are genuine and are legal electors of Graham County.