1880 census of Farmer Township, Wabaunsee County, Kansas
Creator: United States. Census Office. 10th census, 1880
Date: June 1, 1880 through June 2, 1880
This excerpt of a census schedule provides details--including the name, age, race, and occupation--of settlers in Farmer Township in Wabaunsee County, Kansas. The county included a black population (B=Black) who had settled there in 1879 with the help of the Freedmen's Relief Association.

Blackhoof or Catahecassa, the famous Shawnee Chief
Date: February 19, 1907
This item provides a detailed history of the Shawnee Native American warrior Blackhook (Catahecassa). Born in Florida, Blackhoof moved with his tribe as it was pushed north and west during the early expansion of Colonial America and, later, the United States.

C. H. Way with a large fish
Date: Between 1910 and 1920
This is a photograph showing C. H. Way with a large fish. The photograph was taken while Way was on vacation in Florida.

Creek Bowl
Date: Unknown
This complete Creek bowl was donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 1915. The Creek Indians, also called the Creek Confederacy or the Muscogee, lived in southeastern America in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and Florida. The majority of the Creek people were later forcibly removed to Oklahoma. The bowl's rough surface has not been glazed or painted, but does show firing clouds, darkened areas on the surface of a vessel caused by uneven firing.

Creek Bowl
Date: Unknown
This complete Creek bowl was donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 1915. The Creek Indians, also called the Creek Confederacy or the Muscogee, lived in southeastern America in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and Florida. The majority of the Creek people were later forcibly removed to Oklahoma. The bowl's rough surface has not been glazed or painted, but does show firing clouds, darkened areas on the surface of a vessel caused by uneven firing.

Ernest Leroy Boaz
Date: 1918
This is a postcard showing Ernest Leroy Boaz who served during World War I. The photograph was probably taken while he was in basic training at Camp Johnston in Jacksonville, Florida. While in basic training, Boaz contracted mumps and spent 29 days in a hospital. He was born while the family was living in Cheyenne County, Nebraska and they later moved to Kansas. Boaz was living in Papillion, Nebraska and working as a farm laborer when he registered for the draft on June 5, 1917. Later, he was employed as a civilian guard at the Topeka Army Air Base (later Forbes Air Force Base) during World War II and Hill's Packing Company before moving to California.

Garold Schneider to Governor Andrew Schoeppel
Creator: Schneider, Garnold
Date: August 19, 1945
In this letter to Governor Schoeppel, PfC Garnold Scheider asks Schoeppel to help facilitate his return to civilian life. Arguing that his experience as a teacher is needed in Goodland, Kansas, Schneider ponders why the school systems in the U.S. have not "banded together and requested the release of men as the railroad and mining industries have?"

Group at Maximo Point, near St. Petersburg, Florida
Date: 1914
This group photograph was taken at Maximo Point near St. Petersburg, Florida in March 1914 and includes members of the St. Louis Browns baseball team. The team was in St. Petersburg for spring training. Individuals in the photo are not identified, but two Kansans were on the Browns team in 1914--Wiley Taylor, a right-handed pitcher from Louisville, Kansas and Earl Hamilton, a left-handed pitcher from Oswego, Kansas. Wiley Taylor started his professional baseball career in 1910 with the minor league Ellsworth team of the Central Kansas League. He had trial outings with the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago White Sox, but most of his major league games (21 of 27) were with the St. Louis Browns, where he played in 1913-14. Taylor's major league record was 2-10, with an ERA of 4.10. After his baseball career, he remained in Pottawatomie County, where he farmed and served four terms as the county sheriff (1925-28 and 1945-48). Late in life, he also ran a service station and a recreation parlor in Westmoreland. Wiley Taylor died at the age of 65 in 1954. Earl Hamilton was born in Illinois in 1891, but moved with his family to Kansas as a youth and lived in Oswego during much of his major league career. He pitched in the majors for 14 seasons, from 1911 to 1924, mostly with the St. Louis Browns and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hamilton's major league record was 115-147, with an ERA of 3.16. His achievements included a no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers in 1912. After his pitching career, Hamilton was active as a minor league team owner; he owned the Topeka Owls in 1942. Earl Hamilton died in California in 1968.

Jess, Charles and Virgil Barnes in St. Petersburg, Florida
Date: March 1924
This photograph is of three Barnes brothers from Jackson County, Kansas (from left to right): Jess Barnes, Charles Barnes, and Virgil Barnes. The photo was made in March 1924 in St. Petersburg, Florida. At the time, Jess and Virgil Barnes were major league pitchers--Jess for the Boston Braves and Virgil, for the New York Giants. Charles, also a pitcher, tried out with the Braves during spring training camp, but did not make the roster. The photo opportunity occurred when the Braves and Giants met in an exhibition game on March 22, although none of the brothers appeared in the lineup that day. The image was published in the April 3, 1924 issue of The Sporting News. Jess Barnes' career spanned the period 1915 through 1927, and involved three different teams--Boston Braves, New York Giants, and Brooklyn Robins. His overall record was 152 wins and 150 losses, with an ERA of 3.22. His best years were with the Giants, where he led the National League in wins in 1919, had two World Series wins in 1921, and pitched a no-hitter in 1922. Virgil "Zeke" Barnes pitched seven full seasons in the majors. He joined the New York Giants full-time in 1922 and stayed with the team most of his career. He had 61 major league wins, and a career ERA of 3.66. He made World Series appearances in 1923 and 1924, including the starting assignment in Game 7 of the 1924 World Series. On June 26, 1924, Jess and Virgil Barnes became the first pair of brothers to oppose each other as starters in a major league game--Jess for the Braves and Virgil for the Giants. Not pictured in the photograph is the youngest brother in the family, Clark Barnes. Clark also was a pitcher who received a tryout at the major league level. Like Charles, however, he did not make a major league roster. The four Barnes brothers and their three sisters were raised in Circleville, Kansas, by their parents, Luther and Sade Barnes.

Kaolin Pipe
Date: Unknown
This pipe was donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 1963 and may have originated in Florida. The pipe is made of a white clay, also called Kaolin or pipe clay. The tall bowl and stem are decorated in an ornate floral and line design. The pipe's age is unknown, but it was not made by Native Americans.

Lee McComb
Date: 1895-1905
Five photographs of Sergeant Lee McComb, a native of Alma, Kansas, who fought in the Spanish-American War and the Phillippine-American War.

Letter from Hugh F. McKean to Dr. Charles W. Helsley
Creator: McKean, Hugh F.
Date: March 17, 1954
Hugh F. McKean, who served as President of Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, wrote to Dr. Charles W. Helsley at Central Congregational Church in Topeka, Kansas. This letter discusses a memorial stone in the "Walk of Fame" for Dr. Charles M. Sheldon.

Lieutenant Russell Friend's World War I scrapbook
Creator: Friend, Russell DeVere
Date: 1917-1919
This is a scrapbook compiled by Lieutenant Russell DeVere Friend, who graduated from the University of Kansas in 1918 with a B.A. degree. Russell enlisted on February 26, 1918 and called to active duty April 12, 1918. He was commissioned on December 3, 1918, received his commission on December 3, 1918, and was stationed at the Massachusetts Institution of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts; San Diego flying school, San Diego, California; and Pensacola, Florida where he trained as a hydroplane pilot and instructor until January 30, 1919. Friend was discharged on February 25, 1922. The scrapbook contains newspaper clippings, photographs, telegrams, and letters. Also, the scrapbook includes information on Paul H. Friend, Russell's brother. Paul was a sergeant with Base Hospital Unit 28 and served in France during World War I.

Map of the new islands which are called the islands of the West or of the Indies
Creator: Munster, Sebastian, 1489-1552
Date: Between A.D. 1552 and A.D. 1568
Hand-tinted woodcut map of the New World. The map's text is in Latin, except for a French title that translates as, "Map of the new islands which are called the islands of the West or of the Indies." This map was the first to depict North and South America as separate from the rest of the world's land masses yet connected to each other by land. North America is labeled "Terra florida." Forests and mountains are indicated on the continents, and cannibals are depicted as living in present-day Brazil. All land masses and oceans are presented out of proper perspective. This map appeared in a French edition of the book Cosmographia by the German cartographer Sebastian Münster. The book was widely read, with about forty editions printed during the century following its first appearance in 1544.

Members of Field Remount Squadron 329 at Camp Joseph E. Johnston
Date: 1918
This is a panoramic photograph showing members of the Field Remount Squadron 329 at Camp Joseph E. Johnston, Jacksonville, Florida.

Norbert Dreiling and Governor Robert Docking
Date: Bulk July 10, 1972-July 13, 1972
This black and white photograph shows Kansas Democratic Party chairman Norbert Dreiling and Kansas Governor Robert Docking at the Democratic Convention in Miami, Florida. Dreiling a lawyer from Hays, Kansas, served as the state's party chairman from 1966 to 1974 and was campaign chairman for all of Docking's general election wins.

St. Louis Browns baseball team in St. Petersburg, Florida
Date: 1914
This postcard shows the 1914 St. Louis Browns baseball team at the team's spring training camp in St. Petersburg, Florida. The individual players are not identified on the postcard, but two Kansans were on the team--Wiley Taylor, a right-handed pitcher from Louisville, Kansas and Earl Hamilton, a left-handed pitcher from Oswego, Kansas. Wiley Taylor started his professional baseball career in 1910 with the minor league Ellsworth team of the Central Kansas League. He had trial outings with the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago White Sox, but most of his major league games (21 of 27) were with the St. Louis Browns, where he played in 1913-14. Taylor's major league record was 2-10, with an ERA of 4.10. After his baseball career, he remained in Pottawatomie County, where he farmed and served four terms as the county sheriff (1925-28 and 1945-48). Late in life, he also ran a service station and a recreation parlor in Westmoreland. Wiley Taylor died at the age of 65 in 1954. Earl Hamilton was born in Illinois in 1891, but moved with his family to Kansas as a youth and lived in Oswego during much of his major league career. He pitched in the majors for 14 seasons, from 1911 to 1924, mostly with the St. Louis Browns and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hamilton's major league record was 115-147, with an ERA of 3.16. His achievements included a no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers in 1912. After his pitching career, Hamilton was active as a minor league team owner; he owned the Topeka Owls in 1942. Earl Hamilton died in California in 1968.

State Flags
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1915-1919: Capper)
Date: February 1915
This file includes correspondence and postcards; correspondence from Secretary of States describe the colors, fabric, dimensions, and symbolism of their state flag. The postcard, if provided, shows the graphical design of each state flag. Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by state. This file is part of a bigger collection of Governor Arthur Capper correspondence.

Vern Miller to Honorable Dominick J. Salfi
Creator: Kansas Attorney General, Civil Division
Date: November 20, 1972
Kansas Attorney General, Vern Miller, of Topeka responds to Florida circuit court judge Dominick J. Salfi's request for information on capital punishment in Kansas. Jack N. Williams, Assistant Attorney General for Kansas, prepared the response. Salfi's letter and questionnaire are included. Miller's responses to specific questions are written in the margins of the questionnaire. The U.S. Supreme Court decision in Furman v. Georgia (1972) declared many state capital punishment laws unconstitutional, prompting many states, including Kansas, to reconsider their approach to the death penalty.

Virgil Barnes on a fishing outing in Sarasota, Florida
Date: Between 1924 and 1926
These two photographs are of a fishing outing in which Virgil Barnes, of Jackson County,Kansas, participated. The details of the photos were not recorded. However, Barnes was a pitcher for the New York Giants in the 1920s and the photos are believed to have been made during spring training in Sarasota, Florida, between 1924 and 1926. Besides Barnes, the only other individual identified is George "High Pockets" Kelly, the Giants' first baseman. Virgil Barnes was a right-handed pitcher who played seven complete seasons at the major league level, primarily for the New York Giants. He had 61 major league wins, with a career ERA of 3.66. His best year was 1924, when he had an ERA of 3.06 and a record of 16-10. Barnes made World Series appearances in 1923 and 1924, including the starting assignment in Game 7 of the 1924 World Series. Barnes was born in Ontario, Kansas, in 1897 and was raised in the nearby town of Circleville. During his major league years, Barnes lived during the off-season in rural Jackson County with his wife Della and their two children. In the mid-1930s, the family moved to Wichita, where Barnes lived until his death in 1958. Barnes' older brother Jess also was a major league pitcher for several years. Two younger brothers, Charles and Clark, received tryouts with major league teams, but they did not make their rosters.