1904 University of Kansas Paleontology Expedition Camp
Date: 1904
Little is known about this view of a camp being set up by University of Kansas paleontologists other than it may have been printed in 1904 in a Chicago newspaper. Early paleontologists sometimes served an archeological role in addition to paleontological.

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 Krhut's map of Township 12 South, Range 24 West, Trego County
Creator: Krhut, Albert F., 1895-1965
Date: 1909
A map drawn by Albert Krhut, from Voda, Kansas, showing creeks, the railroad and the school house in Township 14 South, Range 24 West, Trego county. On a separate sheet, Albert includes a legend for the map. This is one of several maps drawn by school children for a contest organized by Judge J. C. Ruppenthal of Russell, Kansas. The maps were to meet a "requirement of presenting historical data, together with excellence and accuracy of drawing." This submission won the 5th place prize of twenty-five cents in the map contest of 1909.

Alternately Beveled Knives from the Saxman Site, 14RC301
Date: 1500-1650 CE
Shown are four alternately beveled knives that were collected from the Saxman site in Rice County and donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 2017. Repeated sharpening on the knife's alternate sides created the bevels. Three of the knives are made on Smoky Hill silicified chalk, which outcrops in western Kansas. The slight pinkish color of the fourth knife indicates that it had been heat treated, prior to knapping, to improve knapping quality of the chert. The Saxman site, a large Great Bend aspect village, was occupied by the ancestral Wichita peoples.

Amelia Kejr's map of Township 15 South, Range 12 West, Russell County
Creator: Kejr, Amelia, 1898-
Date: 1910
A map drawn by Amelia Kejr from Dorrance, Kansas, showing creeks, school houses, churches, farms and fences of Township 15 South, Range 12 West, in Russell County. This is one of several maps drawn by school children for a contest organized by Judge J. C. Ruppenthal of Russell, Kansas. The maps were to meet a "requirement of presenting historical data, together with excellence and accuracy of drawing." A legend is provided on the back of the map.

Amy O. Tague's map of Augustine Township, Logan County
Creator: Tague, Amy O., 1899-
Date: Between 1907 and 1914
A map drawn by Amy Tague from Sunnyside, Kansas, showing creeks, schools, canyons and Twin Butte of Augustine Township (Township 15 South, Range 36 and 37 West), Logan County. Amy also includes an essay about the local history of Augustine township. The essay focuses on geographical features, violent deaths, and life in the early days of the township. This is one of several maps drawn by school children for a contest organized by Judge J. C. Ruppenthal of Russell, Kansas. The maps were to meet a "requirement of presenting historical data, together with excellence and accuracy of drawing."

Annabelle Delp's map of Township 14 South, Range 14 West, Russell County
Creator: Delp, Annabelle Lee, 1895-1986
Date: 1910
A map drawn by Annabelle Delp, showing creeks, the Denver Trail, and the homesteaders of Grant Township, Township 14 South, Range 14 West, Russell County. Annabelle also compiled a comprehensive list of homesteaders in the township. This is one of several maps drawn by school children for a contest organized by Judge J. C. Ruppenthal of Russell, Kansas. The maps were to meet a "requirement of presenting historical data, together with excellence and accuracy of drawing."

Anthony & Northern railroad bridge, Arkansas River
Date: June 16, 1916
This photograph represents the Anthony & Northern railroad bridge over the Arkansas River in Kinsley, Kansas.

Approaching dust storm
Creator: Stovall Studio
Date: 1935
A postcard view of a huge wall of dust approaching a farm during the Dust Bowl period. The photograph was possibly taken in Ford County, Kansas.

Approaching dust storm in the middle west
Creator: Conard, Frank Durnell, 1884-1966
Date: 1935
This is a postcard showing an approaching dust storm in western Kansas.

Approaching dust storm in the middle west
Creator: Conard, Frank Durnell, 1884-1966
Date: 1935
This is a postcard showing an approaching dust storm in western Kansas.

Approaching dust storm in the middle west
Creator: Conard, Frank Durnell, 1884-1966
Date: 1935
This is a postcard showing an approaching dust storm in western Kansas.

Arkansas City residents to Governor Willis Bailey
Creator: Commercial Club of Arkansas City
Date: March 17, 1903
Community residents and members of the Commercial Club of Arkansas City send a resolution to Governor Bailey recommending the retention of ex-attorney General Goddard in the case of Kansas vs Colorado now pending in the United States Supreme Court.

Artifacts from a Lithic Workshop, 14GO405
Date: Unknown
Shown are some of the artifacts collected from a lithic workshop and donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 1986. Those shown here were all made of Smoky Hill silicified chalk and include scrapers, bifaces, and modified flakes. Smoky Hill silicified chalk is often referred to as Smoky Hill Jasper and numerous other names. The chert outcrops in Gove County and many other western and north central Kansas counties. Shown here are some of the wide variety of colors found in this chert.

Bertha Fink's map of Township 14 South, Range 14 West, Russel County
Creator: Fink, Bertha M., 1898-1984
Date: 1910
A map drawn by Bertha Fink showing creeks, the Denver Trail, and the homesteaders of Grant Township, Township 14 South, Range 14 West in Russell County. Bertha also compiled a list of the homesteaders in the township. This is one of several maps drawn by school children for a contest organized by Judge J. C. Ruppenthal of Russell, Kansas. The maps were to meet a "requirement of presenting historical data, together with excellence and accuracy of drawing."

Bessie Buell's map of Paxton Township, Logan County
Creator: Buell, Bessie E., 1897-
Date: 1912
A map drawn by Bessie E. Buell from Sunnyside, Kansas, showing creeks, schools, as well as places of historical significance of Paxton township (Township 15 South, Range 34 and 35 West), Logan county. Bessie also includes an essay about the local history of the township. The essay, which seems to have been written through discussions with "old settlers of Paxton," focuses on floods and water management, American Indian raids, and day-to-day life in the township. This is one of several maps drawn by school children for a contest organized by Judge J. C. Ruppenthal of Russell, Kansas. The maps were to meet a "requirement of presenting historical data, together with excellence and accuracy of drawing."

Biface from the Thompson Site, 14RC9
Date: 1500-1800 CE
This biface fragment was collected from the Thompson site in Rice County and donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 1971. It may have been stored for future use (what Archeologists call a cache), been meant for trade, or had some other significance we today do not know. It was broken prior to its donation. It is made of a large slab of Smoky Hill silicified chalk, a good quality knapping material that is exposed in linear beds in northwestern Kansas and western Nebraska. The site, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, was a Great Bend aspect (ancestral Wichita) village occupied during the Late Ceramic Period.

Birds-eye view, Kinsley, Kansas
Date: 1878
This photograph represents a birds-eye view of Kinsley, Kansas. In the upper left corner the Arkansas River is identified and street names are labeled throughout the city.

Black Friday meets its master
Creator: Garden City Daily Telegram
Date: April 10, 1935
Several articles about life in the Dust Bowl can be found on the front page of this newspaper from Garden City. Articles of particular interest include two articles on "raging dusters," one on the winter wheat crop, and a brief article discussing the postponement of community meetings to distribute aid under the soil erosion program. The newspaper also includes articles about other newsworthy events occurring in Garden City and around the state of Kansas.

Blizzard, Kinsley, Kansas
Date: February 25, 1912
This series of photographs represents the blizzard of 1912 in Kinsley, Kansas. The blizzard devastated the town with snow drifts of eight to ten feet, blocking roads and interrupting train service. The snow from the blizzard stayed through March with temperatures dropping to twenty degrees below zero throughout January and February of 1912.

Bostwick Stock Farm
Date: 1887
This photograph represents an aerial view of John A. Bostwick's residence and farm near Kinsley, Kansas. The photograph was copied from the Official State Atlas of Kansas, L.H. Everts & Co., 1887, p. 245.

Bounty on Trees
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1915-1919: Capper)
Date: February 15, 1915
This file includes a letter from Hays, Kansas about the bounty on trees. The letter proposes a change to the bill introduced by Mr. Shouse. Instead of charging ten cents per tree planted in Western Kansas, nurseries should be charged on the quantity of trees living for one year or more after planting. This is part of a bigger collection of Governor Arthur Capper correspondence.

Brand book containing brands of the Western Kansas Cattle Growers' Association
Creator: Western Kansas Cattle Growers' Association
Date: 1884
This is the Brand Book containing the brands of the Western Kansas Cattle Growers' Association authorized by the Stockmen's Convention, held at Dodge City, Kansas on April 2, 1884. In addition to the brands, the book contains proceedings of the convention, officers, and an index to brands.

Brand book containing the brands of the Western Kansas Cattle Growers' Association
Creator: Western Kansas Cattle Growers' Association
Date: 1883
This is the Brand Book containing the brands of the Western Kansas Cattle Growers' Association. It was authorized by the Stockmen's Convention, held at Dodge City, Kansas. In addition to the brands, the book contains proceeedings of the convention and and listings of officers.

Breaking sod, western Kansas
Date: Between 1910 and 1925
This black and white photograph shows a steam tractor breaking sod in western Kansas as a group of men and two children look on. The men standing on the plow are raising and lowering the implement as it turns the soil.