Ahead with Avery
Date: 1964
A campaign brochure for William Henry Avery, the 1964 Republican candidate for Kansas governor who later won the election as the thirty-seventh governor in office from 1965 to 1967. Represented in the brochure are three of his top issues facing Kansas: economic development, education and agriculture with a brief objection if elected for each.

Avery, governor, Republican
Date: 1966
A 1966 campaign brochure that promotes the re-election of Republican Governor William Avery. Avery stands behind the slogan "he did what had to be done... and he did it well". He reassures voters that during his administration he acted in a sane sensible manner when it came to fiscal policies and programs in contrast to the reckless behavior of the Federal Government during President Lyndon B. Johnson's administration. Democratic candidate Robert Docking defeated Avery in the November general election.

Debbie Bryant with Governor and Mrs. William Avery
Date: 1966
A photograph showing Debbie Bryant, Miss America 1966, posed on the stairs of Cedar Crest with Governor and Mrs. William Henry Avery and military officers.

Easter egg hunt, Topeka, Kansas
Date: Between 1965 and 1967
A photograph of children and adults at the Governor's Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Cedar Crest, Topeka, Kansas. Hazel Vivian Bowles Avery, Governor Avery's wife, is standing on the platform.

Gerry Clothing Store
Date: Between 1960 and 1970
Photographs showing Gerry's Clothing Store, a men's wear store located on Kansas Avenue in Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas. Photographs represent the opening day and the ribbon cutting ceremony outside of the store. Mayor Wright and Governor Avery attended the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Governor and Mrs. William Henry Avery
Date: January 11, 1965
A photograph copied from a newspaper showing Governor and Mrs. William Henry Avery at his inauguration in Topeka, Kansas. He was born August 11, 1911 near Wakefield, Kansas. He graduated from Wakefield High School and the University of Kansas. In 1964, Avery was elected the 37th governor of Kansas. He served one term as governor, losing a re-election bid to Robert Docking in 1966.

Governor and Mrs. William Henry Avery
Date: 1965
This photograph shows Governor and Mrs. William Henry Avery dressed in formal attire dancing at his inauguration as the 37th governor of Kanas in Topeka, Kansas.

Governor and Mrs. William Henry Avery at Cedar Crest, Topeka, Kansas
Date: Between 1965 and 1966
A photograph showing Governor and Mrs. William Henry Avery standing in the doorway of Cedar Crest in Topeka, Kansas. Avery was born August 11, 1911 near Wakefield, Kansas, and graduated from Wakefield High School and the University of Kansas. In 1964, Avery was elected the 37th governor of Kansas. He served one term as governor, losing a re-election bid to Robert Docking in 1966.

Governor and Mrs. William Henry Avery at Cedar Crest, Topeka, Kansas
Date: Between 1965 and 1966
A photograph showing Governor and Mrs. William Henry Avery in the living room of Cedar Crest in Topeka, Kansas. Avery was born August 11, 191, near Wakefield, Kansas, and graduated from Wakefield High School and the University of Kansas. In 1964, Avery was elected the 37th governor of Kansas. He served one term as governor, losing a re-election bid to Robert Docking in 1966.

Governors William Henry Avery, Kathleen Sebelius, John Anderson Jr., and John Michael Hayden
Date: May 18, 2005
This photograph represents Kansas Governors William Henry Avery, Kathleen Sebelius, John Anderson Jr., and Mike Hayden.

Governor William Avery interview
Creator: Beatty, Bob, 1966-
Date: December 5, 2003
Click the thumbnail images below to play clips of Kansas Governor William Avery discussing his experience as governor of Kansas from January 11, 1965 to January 9, 1967. Bob Beatty, Political Science Department, Washburn University, conducts the interview as part of the Kansas Governors Recorded History and Documentary Project, Dr. Bob Beatty and Washburn University, 2005. A complete transcript of the interview is available by clicking Text Version below. The interview is the basis for Beatty's article "'You have to like people': A Conversation with Former Governor William H. Avery," Kansas History, v30 (Spring 2007/2008).

Hazel Vivian Bowles Avery
Date: Between 1965 and 1967
A photograph showing Hazel Vivian Bowles Avery, wife of Kansas Governor William Henry Avery, with several unidentified women at either a luncheon or dinner. The gathering was held at the Kansas Governor's mansion, Cedar Crest, Topeka, Kansas.

Hazel Vivian Bowles Avery
Date: Between 1965 and 1967
A portrait of Hazel Vivian Bowles Avery, wife of William Henry Avery.

H. W. Avery farm, Clay County
Date: Between 1900s and 1920s
This sepia colored photograph shows the Herman W. Avery farm in Clay County, Kansas. When the Avery family first acquired the 1,000 acres of land it was used for raising Percheron draft horses, later becoming a feed and livestock operation. In 1964, the house and surrounding buildings were dismantled to make way for the Milford Reservoir on the Republican River. Some years later William H. Avery, former Governor of Kansas and son of Herman W., returned to the family farm to build a home on the remaining land.

H.W. Avery farm, Clay County, Kansas
Date: Between 1900s and 1920s
This black and white photograph shows a view of a neatly cut and stacked woodpile on the Herman W. Avery farm in Clay County, Kansas. When the Avery family first acquired the 1,000 acres of land it was used for raising Percheron draft horses, later becoming a feed and livestock operation. In 1964, the house and surrounding buildings were dismantled to make way for the Milford Reservoir on the Republican River. Some years later William H. Avery, former Governor of Kansas and son of Herman W., returned to the family farm to build a home on the remaining land.

H.W. Avery farm, Clay County, Kansas
Date: Between 1900s and 1920s
This black and white photograph shows the Herman W. Avery farm in Clay County, Kansas. When the Avery family first acquired the 1,000 acres of land it was used for raising Percheron draft horses, later becoming a feed and livestock operation. In 1964, the house and surrounding buildings were dismantled to make way for the Milford Reservoir on the Republican River. Some years later William H. Avery, former Governor of Kansas and son of Herman W., returned to the family farm to build a home on the remaining land.

Invitation to Governor William H. Avery's inaugural ball at the Municipal Auditorium in Topeka, Kansas
Date: January 11, 1965
This is an invitation to Governor William H. Avery's inaugural ball at the Municipal Auditorium in Topeka, Kansas. Governor Avery, a Republican, served as the 37th Governor of Kansas from 1965 until 1967.

Kansas House of Representatives ,1951
Date: 1951
This black and white legislative panel shows members of the Kansas House of Representatives. Edward F. Arn was governor and Lawrence Gibson was speaker of the house. Notable members are William H. Avery, representing District 58, and Robert Dole, representing District 81.

Richard Dean Rogers
Date: Between 1965 and 1966
A photograph of State Representative Richard Dean Rogers meeting with Governor William Avery. Rogers was a Republican and represented the 57th District, Riley County, Kansas. In addition to serving in the Kansas Legislature, Rogers was mayor of Manhattan, Kansas; Riley County Attorney; and United State District Court Judge.

Richard Dean Rogers and William Avery
Date: 1960
A photograph of Richard Dean Rogers, GOP Chairman, and United States Representative William Avery at a Republican party function.

Vern Miller and Kansas Governor William Avery
Date: 1968
A photograph showing Vern Miller, Sedgwick County Marshal, accepting a safety award from Kansas Governor William Avery.

Wallace Gray to Governor William Avery
Creator: Gray, Wallace
Date: February 22, 1965
Wallace Gray, Kirk Chair of Philosophy, Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas writes Governor William Avery of Topeka concerning civil rights legislation. Mr. Gray expresses his support for legislation that would reduce discrimination of minorities at the local level. The letter describes an effort by college students to integrate the downtown barbershops of Winfield and includes a one page report on that subject. A letter from the Pre-Ministerial Club, Southwestern College, advocating civil rights legislation and the integration of the barbershops of Kansas is also included. An effort to strengthen the Kansas Act Against Discrimination in the form of a "Fair Housing Bill" (Senate Bill No. 166) was currently being considered by the legislature. Local concerns such as these reflected a national debate on civil rights reform that resulted in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

William Avery at a GOP rally in Onaga, Kansas
Creator: Harvey, John
Date: Between 1957 and 1961
Here are two photographs showing Kansas Congressman William Avery with a young elephant at a GOP (Grand Old Republic) rally in Onaga, Kansas. Avery, a Republican from Wakefield, served in the United States House of Representatives from January 3, 1955 to January 3, 1963, and Kansas Governor from January 11, 1965, to January 9, 1967.

William Avery for Governor
Date: 1964
A 1964 campaign brochure that features William Avery's image and the slogan "AHEAD WITH AVERY- REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR". Additional information is provided about Avery's family life, voting record in Congress, and the real issues that concerned Kansans in the 1960s.

William Henry Avery
Date: 1966
A photograph of Governor William Henry Avery placing a crown on a young woman at the Kansas State Fair. Avery was born August 11, 1911 near Wakefield, Kansas, and graduated from Wakefield High School and the University of Kansas. A Republican, Avery served in the Kansas House of Representatives from 1950 to 1955. In 1954, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives and served until 1964. During his 10 years in Congress, he served on numerous committees. In 1964, Avery was elected the 37th governor of Kansas. He served one term as governor, losing a re-election bid to Robert Docking in 1966. After an unsuccessful bid for the United States Senate, Avery returned to private life.