25th Neewollah
Creator: Neewollah, Inc.
Date: October 26-29, 1983
This program describes events at the 1983 Neewollah festival in Independence, Kansas. Neewollah is a celebration that began in 1919 with alternative activities for kids. Neewollah (Halloween spelled backwards) is the oldest and largest annual festival in Kansas. For 100 years, Independence has been celebrating with parades, queen's pageant, musical theatre productions, carnival, street acts, food vendors, and much, much more. It started out small, centered around parades held on October 31. Except for years of interruption in the mid-20th century, due to the Great Depression, World War II and lack of financial support, the festival has grown from a one-day celebration to a now nine-day festival. Digitization funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

A traveling group of entertainers from Sharon Springs at Tribune, Greeley County, Kansas
Date: 1925
A traveling group of actors from Sharon Springs, Kansas perform at Tribune, Greeley County, Kansas in June 1925.

Believe in the Magic Neewollah
Creator: Neewollah, Inc.
Date: October 22-30, 1994
This program describes events at the 1994 Neewollah festival in Independence, Kansas. Neewollah is a celebration that began in 1919 with alternative activities for kids. Neewollah (Halloween spelled backwards) is the oldest and largest annual festival in Kansas. For 100 years, Independence has been celebrating with parades, queen's pageant, musical theatre productions, carnival, street acts, food vendors, and much, much more. It started out small, centered around parades held on October 31. Except for years of interruption in the mid-20th century, due to the Great Depression, World War II and lack of financial support, the festival has grown from a one-day celebration to a now nine-day festival. Digitization funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Buster Brown show at Star Mercantile in Alta Vista, Kansas
Date: 1905-1910
Exterior photograph of the Star Mercantile in Alta Vista, Kansas, as a group of people watch a scene from a Buster Brown show. The Brown Shoe Company hired an actor to travel the country drawing crowds at stores which sold the brand of shoes.

Central Congregational Church play programs
Date: 1910-1947
These are programs for plays presented by the Central Congregational Church in Topeka, Kansas, including In His Steps, The High Calling, Betty Lee's Adventure, Fifty-Fifty, Today and Tomorrow, The Silent Harp, and Investments in Men.

Charles Robinson to Sara Robinson
Creator: Robinson, Charles, 1818-1894
Date: January 25, 1860
A letter written by Charles Robinson, from Boston, Massachusetts, to his wife, Sara Tappan Doolittle Robinson. He writes about attending Octoroon, a play about slavery, and his feelings for the "infernal institution of slavery." Robinson thinks the play conveys a true picture of conditions in the South. A searchable, full-text version of this letter is available by clicking "Text Version" below.

Community Spirit: The Heart of Neewollah
Creator: Neewollah, Inc.
Date: October 20-October 28, 1989
This program describes events at the 1989 Neewollah festival in Independence, Kansas. Neewollah is a celebration that began in 1919 with alternative activities for kids. Neewollah (Halloween spelled backwards) is the oldest and largest annual festival in Kansas. For 100 years, Independence has been celebrating with parades, queen's pageant, musical theatre productions, carnival, street acts, food vendors, and much, much more. It started out small, centered around parades held on October 31. Except for years of interruption in the mid-20th century, due to the Great Depression, World War II and lack of financial support, the festival has grown from a one-day celebration to a now nine-day festival. Digitization funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Fifth Annual Neewollah Festival: Taming of Halloween
Creator: Neewollah, Inc.
Date: October 31, 1923
This program describes events at the 1923 Neewollah festival in Independence, Kansas. Neewollah is a celebration that began in 1919 with alternative activities for kids. Neewollah (Halloween spelled backwards) is the oldest and largest annual festival in Kansas. For 100 years, Independence has been celebrating with parades, queen's pageant, musical theatre productions, carnival, street acts, food vendors, and much, much more. It started out small, centered around parades held on October 31. Except for years of interruption in the mid-20th century, due to the Great Depression, World War II and lack of financial support, the festival has grown from a one-day celebration to a now nine-day festival. Digitization funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Freudian Follies at the Menninger Clinic, Topeka, Kansas
Date: 1951-1991
After four years of training in psychiatry, the Menninger psychiatric residents put on a show spoofing the program, the clinic, the faculty, psychiatric and psychoanalytic theory and the whole world. These black and white photographs show some of the silly fun over the years.

Get Eggcited! Neewollah
Creator: Neewollah, Inc.
Date: October 24-November 1, 2014
This program describes events at the 2014 Neewollah festival in Independence, Kansas. Neewollah is a celebration that began in 1919 with alternative activities for kids. Neewollah (Halloween spelled backwards) is the oldest and largest annual festival in Kansas. For 100 years, Independence has been celebrating with parades, queen's pageant, musical theatre productions, carnival, street acts, food vendors, and much, much more. It started out small, centered around parades held on October 31. Except for years of interruption in the mid-20th century, due to the Great Depression, World War II and lack of financial support, the festival has grown from a one-day celebration to a now nine-day festival. Digitization funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Haskell Institute drama production, Lawrence, Kansas
Creator: Lawrence Studio
Date: 1922
A photograph showing a scene from "Hiawatha" presented by Haskell Institute students.

Hiawatha. A drama in five acts
Date: Between June 14, 1915 and June 15, 1915
Program "Hiawatha" : A Drama in Five Acts presented by students of Haskell Institute, Lawrence, Kansas.

Hooked On Neewollah
Creator: Neewollah, Inc.
Date: October 23-31, 1998
This program describes events at the 1998 Neewollah festival in Independence, Kansas. Neewollah is a celebration that began in 1919 with alternative activities for kids. Neewollah (Halloween spelled backwards) is the oldest and largest annual festival in Kansas. For 100 years, Independence has been celebrating with parades, queen's pageant, musical theatre productions, carnival, street acts, food vendors, and much, much more. It started out small, centered around parades held on October 31. Except for years of interruption in the mid-20th century, due to the Great Depression, World War II and lack of financial support, the festival has grown from a one-day celebration to a now nine-day festival. Digitization funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

How Sweet It Is! Neewollah
Creator: Neewollah, Inc.
Date: October 21-29, 2011
This program describes events at the 2011 Neewollah festival in Independence, Kansas. Neewollah is a celebration that began in 1919 with alternative activities for kids. Neewollah (Halloween spelled backwards) is the oldest and largest annual festival in Kansas. For 100 years, Independence has been celebrating with parades, queen's pageant, musical theatre productions, carnival, street acts, food vendors, and much, much more. It started out small, centered around parades held on October 31. Except for years of interruption in the mid-20th century, due to the Great Depression, World War II and lack of financial support, the festival has grown from a one-day celebration to a now nine-day festival. Digitization funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

"I Think You're Gonna Like It Here!" Neewollah 2001
Creator: Neewollah, Inc.
Date: October 17-27, 2001
This program describes events at the 2001 Neewollah festival in Independence, Kansas. Neewollah is a celebration that began in 1919 with alternative activities for kids. Neewollah (Halloween spelled backwards) is the oldest and largest annual festival in Kansas. For 100 years, Independence has been celebrating with parades, queen's pageant, musical theatre productions, carnival, street acts, food vendors, and much, much more. It started out small, centered around parades held on October 31. Except for years of interruption in the mid-20th century, due to the Great Depression, World War II and lack of financial support, the festival has grown from a one-day celebration to a now nine-day festival. Digitization funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Jayhawk Theater auditorium photograph
Creator: Harrison, Paul
Date: Between 1926 and 1936
This photograph shows the auditorium of the Jayhawk Theater in Topeka, Kansas. The 1,500 seat theater located at 720 SW Jackson Street opened to the public on August 16, 1926. For a number of years the facility hosted movies, live performances, concerts and pageants. In 1974 the theater was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. However, due to changing times in the entertainment industry the Jayhawk Theater closed its doors in May of 1976. In 1993 the Kansas Legislature recognized the Jayhawk Theater as the state theater of Kansas.

Jayhawk Theater, Topeka, Kansas
Date: Between 1938 and 1939
This photograph of the Jayhawk Theater in Topeka, Kansas shows the marquee advertising the movie "Thanks for the Memory" staring Bob Hope.

Jayhawk Theater, Topeka, Kansas
Date: Between 1926 and 1936
This set of photographs show various rooms inside the Jayhawk Theater in Topeka, Kansas. The 1,500 seat theater located at 720 SW Jackson Street opened to the public on August 16, 1926. For a number of years the facility hosted movies, live performances, concerts and pageants. In 1974 the theater was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. However, due to changing times in the entertainment industry the Jayhawk Theater closed its doors in May of 1976. In 1993 the Kansas Legislature recognized the Jayhawk Theater as the state theater of Kansas.

Kansas' Largest Celebration Neewollah
Creator: Neewollah, Inc.
Date: October 29-31, 1959
This program describes events at the 1959 Neewollah festival in Independence, Kansas. Neewollah is a celebration that began in 1919 with alternative activities for kids. Neewollah (Halloween spelled backwards) is the oldest and largest annual festival in Kansas. For 100 years, Independence has been celebrating with parades, queen's pageant, musical theatre productions, carnival, street acts, food vendors, and much, much more. It started out small, centered around parades held on October 31. Except for years of interruption in the mid-20th century, due to the Great Depression, World War II and lack of financial support, the festival has grown from a one-day celebration to a now nine-day festival. Digitization funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

L. W. Halbe Collection
Creator: Halbe, L. W. (Leslie Winfield), 1893-1981
Date: 1908-1912
The L. W. (Leslie Winfield) Halbe photo collection consists of 1500 glass plate negatives produced by Halbe during his teenage years. Halbe lived in Dorrance, Russell County, Kansas, and began taking photographs of the region with an inexpensive Sears and Roebuck camera when he was fifteen years old.

Meet Me At Neewollah
Creator: Neewollah, Inc.
Date: October 20-30, 2004
This program describes events at the 2004 Neewollah festival in Independence, Kansas. Neewollah is a celebration that began in 1919 with alternative activities for kids. Neewollah (Halloween spelled backwards) is the oldest and largest annual festival in Kansas. For 100 years, Independence has been celebrating with parades, queen's pageant, musical theatre productions, carnival, street acts, food vendors, and much, much more. It started out small, centered around parades held on October 31. Except for years of interruption in the mid-20th century, due to the Great Depression, World War II and lack of financial support, the festival has grown from a one-day celebration to a now nine-day festival. Digitization funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Midsummer Nights Dream at Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas
Date: 1888
These Washburn University students are presenting the play "Midsummer Night's Dream."

Neeewollah 2003: In The Spirit of Fun For Everyone!
Creator: Neewollah, Inc.
Date: October 15-25, 2003
This program describes events at the 2003 Neewollah festival in Independence, Kansas. Neewollah is a celebration that began in 1919 with alternative activities for kids. Neewollah (Halloween spelled backwards) is the oldest and largest annual festival in Kansas. For 100 years, Independence has been celebrating with parades, queen's pageant, musical theater productions, carnival, street acts, food vendors, and much, much more. It started out small, centered around parades held on October 31. Except for years of interruption in the mid-20th century, due to the Great Depression, World War II and lack of financial support, the festival has grown from a one-day celebration to a now nine-day festival. Digitization funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Neeewollah: Practically Perfect in every Way
Creator: Neewollah, Inc.
Date: October 20-28, 2017
This program describes events at the 2017 Neewollah festival in Independence, Kansas. Neewollah is a celebration that began in 1919 with alternative activities for kids. Neewollah (Halloween spelled backwards) is the oldest and largest annual festival in Kansas. For 100 years, Independence has been celebrating with parades, queen's pageant, musical theatre productions, carnival, street acts, food vendors, and much, much more. It started out small, centered around parades held on October 31. Except for years of interruption in the mid-20th century, due to the Great Depression, World War II and lack of financial support, the festival has grown from a one-day celebration to a now nine-day festival. Digitization funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Neeewollah: The Diamond Jubilee
Creator: Neewollah, Inc.
Date: October 19-27, 2018
This program describes events at the 2018 Neewollah festival in Independence, Kansas. Neewollah is a celebration that began in 1919 with alternative activities for kids. Neewollah (Halloween spelled backwards) is the oldest and largest annual festival in Kansas. For 100 years, Independence has been celebrating with parades, queen's pageant, musical theatre productions, carnival, street acts, food vendors, and much, much more. It started out small, centered around parades held on October 31. Except for years of interruption in the mid-20th century, due to the Great Depression, World War II and lack of financial support, the festival has grown from a one-day celebration to a now nine-day festival. Digitization funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.