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.B. Campbell to Governor John Martin
Creator: Campbell, A. B.
Date: April 1, 1886
A.B. Campbell, Kansas Adjutant General, of Parsons, telegrams Kansas Governor John Martin, of Topeka, stating that another railroad engine has been killed and that he is leaving to investigate. This is in response to the local authority's request for National Guard troops during the railroad strike in the three state area.

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.

A.O. Brown to Governor John Martin
Creator: Brown, A.O.
Date: March 30, 1886
A.O. Brown, mayor of Parsons, Kansas, telegrams Kansas Governor john Martin, of Topeka, requesting immediate help from the "troops" over a labor dispute. Strikers had driven a freight train off the tracks near Parsons. In February 1885, railroad shop workers walked off the job because of a cut in pay and reduced hours of work. Governor Martin was able to negotiate a settlement to the strike but problems continued throughout Kansas, Missouri, and Texas.

A. Venard to Thaddeus Hyatt
Creator: Venard, A.
Date: October 3, 1860
This letter is from A. Venard, a medical doctor from Pleasant Grove, Kansas Territory, who wrote to Thaddeus Hyatt, president of the National Kansas Committee. The letter described the sickness and disease that plagued the settlers along the Verdigris River in southeast Kansas. Dr. Venard had worked diligently to aid the settlers, even using funds from his own pocket to purchase medicine, but he requested that the committee give him 100 dollars worth of drugs. Attached to this letter is an itemized list of the drugs he wished purchased with the requested funds.

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.

Amazon army, near Pittsburg, Kansas
Creator: New York Times
Date: December 25, 1921
This newspaper clipping, from the New York Times, features a group of women gathered during a coal mine strike near Pittsburg, Kansas. Dubbed the "Amazon Army," the women marched through the coal fields carrying large American flags to show their support for better wages and improved working conditions for their family members who worked in the camps. The caption reads: "Women Raiders Invading a Mine. Near Pittsburg, Kan., forcing the workmen to drop their tools and kiss the American flag."

Amazon army, near Pittsburg, Kansas
Creator: New York Times
Date: December 25, 1921
This newspaper clipping, from the New York Times, features a group of women marching in protest during a coal mine strike in southeast Kansas. Dubbed the "Amazon Army," the women marched through the coal fields carrying infants and or American flags to show their support for better wages and improved working conditions for their family members who worked in the camps. The caption reads: "Section of the Army Amazons. In the Kansas coal fields, captained by a woman with a three month-old baby in arms."

Amazon army, near Pittsburg, Kansas
Creator: New York Times
Date: December 25, 1921
This newspaper clipping, from the New York Times, features a group of women marching in protest during a coal mine strike in southeast Kansas. Dubbed the" Amazon Army," the women marched through the coal fields carrying large American flags to show their support for better wages and improved working conditions for their family members who worked in the camps.

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.

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. 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.

C.E. Faulkner to Governor John Martin
Creator: Faulkner, C.E.
Date: March 30, 1886
C.E. Faulkner, of Parsons, Kansas, writes Kansas Governor John Martin, of Topeka, stating the strike is not over. The strike had been settled and workers returned to work when trouble disrupted in Texas. Employees who had participated in the strike were not allowed to return to their jobs. Railroad workers in Parsons were informed of this and refused to end the strike in that area.

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.

Cherokee mining camp, Crawford County, Kansas
Date: Between 1950 and 1959
Photographs of Cherokee mining camp. Cherokee was laid out in 1870 and was originally named Litchfield. It is located on the Crawford / Cherokee County line, in Crawford County. It is located about seven miles west of US 69 highway. The town continues to exist. Photographs include the Frisco Station, residences, schools, churches, street scenes, mining equipment, and miner's houses.

Chicopee mining camp, Crawford County, Kansas
Date: Between 1905 and 1910
Photographs of Chicopee, a small unincorporated community in Crawford County, Kansas. Chicopee is located 5 miles northwest of Pittsburg and continues to be an inhabited town. The post office was established in 1889 and operated intermittently until it closed in 1918. Photographs include images of mining operations, mines, miners, a church, a street scene, and a dance hall.

Coal fields, Pittsburg, Kansas
Date: Between 1900s and 1920s
These five photographs show various scenes of the coal fields in Pittsburg, Kansas.

Coal fields, Pittsburg, Kansas
Date: Between 1900s and 1920s
These five photographs show various scenes of the coal fields in Pittsburg, Kansas.

Coal fields, Pittsburg, Kansas
Date: Between 1900s and 1920s
These five photographs show various scenes of the coal fields in Pittsburg, Kansas.

Coal fields, Pittsburg, Kansas
Date: Between 1900s and 1920s
These two photographs show scenes of the coal fields in Pittsburg, Kansas.

Coal operators refuse to show production cost
Creator: Topeka Capital
Date: August 21, 1917
In this article, the Topeka Capital newspaper provides information about the Governors inquiry into the coal producing company's margin of profit. The governor has argued that the prices are unfair. Railroads are being supplied coal at $2.00 a ton while the public is paying $5.50 to $6.00 for the same coal.