Brewery album
Date: Between 1906 and 1911
A photograph album containing 37 photographs of saloons, Turner Halls, breweries, Shawnee County Courthouse, and shipping and delivery of beer in northeast Kansas.

Confiscated liquor, Coldwater, Kansas
Date: Between 1920 and 1929
These two black and white photographs show county officials from Coldwater, Kansas, standing behind confiscated bottles of liquor. The first photograph identifies the gentlemen as the following: (left to right) Ed Baker, county attorney; George McDonald, marshal; Bill McCrary, sheriff; and Leonard Tony. The second image is an interior view of liquor that has been seized by officials.

Copper alcohol-tester
Date: between 1930 and 1949
Copper alcohol-tester used to determine the strength of bootleg alcohol. Francis "Tim" Bannon, a lawyer and district judge, acquired this tester following a criminal proceeding in Leavenworth, Kansas, which required its seizure as evidence. From 1880 to 1948, Kansas established early and lengthy Prohibition laws that led to some of the most restrictive alcohol legislation in the nation. Though federal Prohibition ended in 1933, the unlicensed production of alcohol is still illegal. Bannon probably acquired this item in the early 1930s.

Copper funnel
Date: between 1930 and 1949
Copper funnel used for the distillation of bootleg alcohol. Francis "Tim" Bannon, a lawyer and district judge, acquired this funnel following a criminal proceeding in Leavenworth, Kansas, which required its seizure as evidence. From 1880 to 1948, Kansas established early and lengthy Prohibition laws that led to some of the most restrictive alcohol legislation in the nation. Though federal Prohibition ended in 1933, the unlicensed production of alcohol is still illegal. Bannon probably acquired this item in the early 1930s.

Copper kettle
Date: between 1930 and 1949
Five-gallon copper container used for the distillation of bootleg alcohol. Francis "Tim" Bannon, a lawyer and district judge, acquired this container following a criminal proceeding in Leavenworth, Kansas, which required its seizure as evidence. From 1880 to 1948, Kansas established early and lengthy Prohibition laws that led to some of the most restrictive alcohol legislation in the nation. Though federal Prohibition ended in 1933, the unlicensed production of alcohol is still illegal. Bannon probably acquired this item in the early 1930s.

Criminal Records; Miscellaneous
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1885-1889 : Martin)
Date: 1885-1889
These letters, spanning 1885 to 1888, are from or about the Kansas Penitentiary regarding criminal matters of Kansas to Kansas Governor John Martin. The letters cover various topics including pardons, the Board of Pardons, receiving prisoners, individual inmates, prohibition, requisitions, complaints, warrants, and testimonies. There is also a signed petition requesting justice for a lynched man, Frank W. Bonham, who also did not receive a fair trial.

Dwight depot, Dwight, Kansas
Date: July 1911
This photograph shows a shipment of empty alcohol kegs and crates stacked in front of the Dwight, Kansas depot. Accompanying the photograph is an August 2, 1911 letter from H. W. Wilkison of Dwight to the Kansas governor's secretary, addressing how the photograph will be valuable to law enforcement officers.

Edmund Jones to Hiram Hill
Creator: Jones, Edmund
Date: August 21, 1855
Edmund Jones wrote briefly from Lawrence, Kansas Territory to Hiram Hill in Williamsburgh, Massachusetts. He referred to the security of town lots and a previously sent newspaper. Mr. Fuller, a delinquent renter, was "selling liquor" in Hill's house. Jones suggested that Hill come soon.

E. H. Minton to Governor John St. John
Creator: Minton, E. H.
Date: December 14, 1879
Kansas Governor St. John is reminded of his earlier response to E.H. Minton, offering to speak at McPherson, Kansas, in December.

Governor Clyde M. Reed correspondence, liquor investigation
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1929-1931 : Reed)
Date: 1929
This file includes subject correspondence between Reed and the Attorney General relating to the liquor investigation which is part of a bigger collection of Governor Clyde M. Reed correspondence.

Governor John St. John prohibition received correspondence
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1879-1883 : St. John)
Date: January 1879-December 1882
Republican politician John St. John complied this series of correspondence on temperance and prohibition issues from letters received while governor of Kansas from 1879-1882. The correspondence includes letters supporting and opposing the prohibition of liquor, petitions of civic organizations, newspaper articles, and various other forms. St. John persuaded the Kansas Legislature to pass a constitutional amendment for prohibition that voters approved in 1880. In 1881, the legislature passed the Prohibitory Law making Kansas the first state to prohibit alcohol under its constitution. The national Prohibition Party nominated St. John for President of the United States in 1884. A transcription of this collection is not yet available. This collection includes all prohibition correspondence from boxes 19-24 of the John St. John Governor's Papers. An inventory of the entire St. John collection is included as a link below.

Governor Walter Stubbs to President William H. Taft
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1909-1913 : Stubbs)
Date: January 13, 1910
Kansas Governor Walter Stubbs drafts a letter to U. S. President William H. Taft regarding the collection of federal tax revenues from purveyors of illegal liquor in Kansas. This draft was in response to a letter by R. L. Cabell, Commissioner of Internal Revenue, U. S. Treasury Department, dated January 6, 1910. Kansas first adopted a constitutional amendment on prohibition in 1881 and by 1909 had outlawed the sale of liquor for medicinal purposes. At this time, Governor Stubbs was particularly frustrated by the federal government's refusal to prosecute Kansas bootleggers from whom it was collecting taxes on liquor sales.

Hiram Hill to Dear Wife
Creator: Hill, Hiram, 1804-
Date: December 8, 1855 - December 9, 1855
Hiram Hill wrote from Westport, Missouri to his wife as he received new information concerning the Wakarusa War at Lawrence. Hill was frustrated by these reports, which conflicted and were from the proslavery perspective, and which concerned the number of free state and proslavery soldiers, the status of the war, and government action taken to prevent conflict. Hill was also troubled by shameless "traveling and drinking and swearing" and gunshots on the Sabbath. The last page of the letter expresses his relief at news of peace in Lawrence, where he would learn "the other syde of the story" upon arrival. The murder of Thomas W. Barber, who rode outside Lawrence and was shot by a proslavery supporter on December 6th, was mentioned. Hill also described an eventful stagecoach journey.

I. W. Day to Governor George W. Glick
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1879-1883: Glick)
Date: August 29, 1884
Dr. I. W. Day of McPherson writes to Governor George W. Glick expressing support for pardoning Dr. J. B. Curtis of Lindsborg, who was prosecuted for violating Kansas' prohibition law by prescribing beer to a patient. Dr. Day describes his professional evaluation of the patient's symptoms as recorded in the court testimony, and explains that he believes the patient really was sick and that beer was an appropriate remedy. This letter is an example of the controversies that arose over an exception in the state's alcohol prohibition law which allowed the use of alcohol for medicinal purposes. Some people believed that doctors were prescribing alcohol without a real medicinal need, and some doctors and druggists were prosecuted for alleged violations of the alcohol prohibition law.

Kansas Territory versus Asa Allen & J. C. Gordon for selling liquor without a license
Date: crime May 1856; indictment June 1856
This case file relates to the charge against Asa Allen and J. C. Gordon for selling liquor without a license in Shawnee County, Kansas Territory on May 10, 1856. Allen and Gordon were indicted for the crime during the June session of 1856 by the U.S. Second Judicial District Court. Several warrants were issued for the apprehension of Allen and Gordon were issued throughout 1856-1858 for this crime, but all found in this case file were returned unexecuted as the accused could not be found.

Kansas Territory versus Daniel W. Collins for selling liquor without a license
Date: 1857
These legal documents relate to the 1857 court case of the Kansas Territory vs. Daniel W. Collins. Collins was accused of selling liquor without a license on May 4, 1857 in the Kansas Territory. Collins was indicted during the May court term of 1857 by the Second District Court in Lecompton.

Kansas Territory versus Gustavus Deacon for selling liquor on Sunday
Date: 1858
These legal documents relate to the case of the Kansas Territory vs. Gustavus Deacon. Deacon was accused of selling liquor in his grocery store on Sunday, April 25, 1858 in Leavenworth, Kansas Territory. Deacon was indicted by the First District Court in Leavenworth and was found not guilty in September of 1858.

Kansas Territory versus Gustavus Deacon for selling liquor to Indians
Date: 1857 - 1859
These legal documents relate to the case of the United States vs. Gustavus Deacon for selling liquor to American Indians. Deacon was accused of selling liquor to Joseph Killbuck, an American Indian, on September 14, 1857 in Leavenworth County, Kansas Territory. Deacon was indicted by the First District Court during the September term of 1857. It was illegal to sell alcohol to American Indians from 1832-1953.

Kansas Territory versus Henry Carmichael for selling liquor without a license
Date: June 1856 - December 13, 1856
These documents relate to the case of the Kansas Territory vs. Henry Carmichael for selling liquor without a license in Shawnee County, Kansas Territory on May 1, 1856. The Second District Court in Tecumseh found Carmichael guilty on November 21, 1856, but he was granted a new trial and found not guilty on December 13, 1856.

Kansas Territory versus J. G. Boles for selling liquor without a license
Date: June 1856 - April 6, 1857
These legal documents, including two warrants and an indictment, relate to the case of the Kansas Territory vs. J. G. Boles for selling liquor without a license on May 10, 1856 in Shawnee County, Kansas Territory. Boles was indicted during the June term of 1856 by the U. S. District Court for the Kansas Territory, Second District, in Tecumseh. Both arrest warrants issued for Boles were returned unserved.

Kansas Territory versus Jonathan Biglow for selling liquor without license
Date: April 1856 - February 11, 1858
These legal documents relate to the case of the Kansas Territory vs. Jonathan (Jonithan) Biglow for selling liquor without a license in Douglas County, Kansas Territory on April 1, 1856. Biglow was indicted by the U. S. District Court for the Kansas Territory, Second District, during the April court term of 1856. The documents include indictments and arrest warrants for Biglow as well as subpoenas for witnesses Samuel Salters and Andrew J. Crockett.

Kansas Territory versus Jonathan Biglow for selling liquor without license
Date: April 1856 - February 11, 1858
These legal documents relate to the case of the Kansas Territory vs. Jonathan (Jonithan) Biglow for selling liquor without a license in Douglas County, Kansas Territory on April 1, 1856. Biglow was indicted by the U. S. District Court for the Kansas Territory, Second District, during the April court term of 1856. The documents include indictments and arrest warrants for Biglow as well as subpoenas for witnesses Samuel Salters and Andrew J. Crockett.

Kansas Territory versus Jonathan Biglow for selling liquor without license
Date: April 1856 - February 11, 1858
These legal documents relate to the case of the Kansas Territory vs. Jonathan (Jonithan) Biglow for selling liquor without a license in Douglas County, Kansas Territory on April 1, 1856. Biglow was indicted by the U. S. District Court for the Kansas Territory, Second District, during the April court term of 1856. The documents include indictments and arrest warrants for Biglow as well as subpoenas for witnesses Samuel Salters and Andrew J. Crockett. The arrest warrant on May 9, 1857 lists the defendant's name as James Biglow.

Kansas Territory versus Jonathan Biglow for selling liquor without license
Date: April 1856 - February 11, 1858
These legal documents relate to the case of the Kansas Territory vs. Jonathan (Jonithan) Biglow for selling liquor without a license in Douglas County, Kansas Territory on April 1, 1856. Biglow was indicted by the U. S. District Court for the Kansas Territory, Second District, during the April court term of 1856. The documents include indictments and arrest warrants for Biglow as well as subpoenas for witnesses Samuel Salters and Andrew J. Crockett.

Kansas Territory versus Michael Conway for selling liquor without a license
Date: May 3, 1858 - August 30, 1858
These legal documents, including an indictment, a bench warrant, and a subpoena, relate to the 1858 case of the Kansas Territory vs. Michael Conway. Conway was accused of selling liquor without a license to Patrick A. Doyle on April 28 and April 29, 1858 in Leavenworth County, Kansas Territory. Conway was indicted by the First District Court on May 3, 1858 in Leavenworth, Kansas Territory.