$5,000 Reward, Dead or Alive!
Creator: Remington, Frederic, 1861-1909
Date: Between 1898 and 1902
View of "$5,000 Reward, Dead or Alive!" drawing by Frederic Remington.

Bank robbers in Medicine Lodge, Kansas
Date: 1884
This photograph shows a group of robbers from Medicine Lodge, Kansas. The men in shackles are identified from left to right as: John Wesley, Henry Newton Brown, Billy Smith, and Ben Wheeler the would be robbers of the Medicine Valley Bank in Medicine Lodge, Kansas. Brown, a former member of Billy the Kid's Gang, and Wheeler a former outlaw and friend of Brown's, found themselves on the other side of the law with their appointments as marshals of Caldwell, Kansas. However, on April 30, 1884, Brown, Wheeler, Smith, and Wesley attempted to rob the Medicine Valley Bank. The robbery was unsuccessful and the robbers were eventually apprehended and brought back to Medicine Lodge, Kansas. Their time in jail was brief when pandemonium erupted over their capture, creating a diversion for escape. In a hail of bullets, Henry Brown was shot dead while an injured Wheeler was captured and hanged beside Wesley and Smith.

Captain William S. Tough
Creator: Thomson, D. P.
Date: Between 1860 and 1869
This is a photo of Captain William S. Tough who was a military scout and later a U. S. Marshall of Kansas.

Center-fire revolver
Creator: Colt Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company
Date: 1884
Colt Single Action nickel-plated Army Revolver with ivory handle. 45 caliber. Ornately engraved throughout. Presented to Patrick F. Sughrue by the citizens of Dodge City on December 18, 1884. Sughrue served as Constable of Dodge City from 1877 to 1879 and then as Sherriff of Ford County from 1884 to 1888. Sughrue gave the pistol to his son in 1904 after his son suffered a severe injury. His son later had the pistol engraved to commemorate its initial presentation to his father.

Charles Gibson video Interview on experiences in World War II
Creator: Gibson, Charles William
Private First Class [PFC] Gibson was drafted into the Army (Infantry) in 1944 and served until 1945 in the 99th Infantry Division, 1st Army, 12th Army Group. He was trained to use a 30 caliber water cooled machine gun, with a crew of two ammunition bearers. He was involved in the Battle of the Bulge in Europe. He was injured but he described how a doctor in the unit treated him so his leg would not need to be amputated. He was interviewed by Suzette McCord-Rogers. Gibson was born north of Sparks, Kansas on April 1, 1925. He graduated from Sparks High School and worked for farmers until he was drafted. After the war, he returned to Sparks. He worked in construction for a time, helping build a highway between Sparks and White Cloud. He went into law enforcement and served as a deputy sheriff, and under sheriff, and as chief of police in Highland. The 2005 Kansas Legislature passed a bill funding the WWII Veterans Oral History grant program. This transcript is from one of the nine community institutions that received these grants. The transcript from the interview is presented here; the original video copy of the interview is available through the Doniphan County Historical Society (Troy) and through the Kansas State Historical Society.

Chauncey Belden Whitney
Date: Between 1868 and 1873
A portrait of Chauncey Belden Whitney, an early Ellsworth County settler and law enforcement officer. He served as Ellsworth County Sheriff 1871-1873; Under Sheriff, 1870; Ellsworth Township Constable, 1867-1873; and Ellsworth Marshall 1871-1872. On August 15, 1873, Whitney was killed in the line of duty by Bill Thompson. In addition to his law enforcement duties, Chauncey Whitney served as a civilian scout during the Indian Wars and was involved in the Battle of Beecher's Island. In July, 1869, he was a first lieutenant of Company A, Second battalion, Kansas State Militia, and provided settlers' protection against hostile Indians.

Dave [Mysterious Dave] Mather
Date: Between 1870 and 1879
A portrait of Dave Mather also known as Mysterious Dave. He was a resident of Dodge City, Kansas, in the early 1870's. Mather was a gambler, saloon owner, gunslinger,and assistant town marshal.

Davis W. Burns' grave, Lansing, Kansas
Date: December 18, 1923
A photograph of David W. Burns' grave in Mount Muncie Cemetery, Lansing, Kansas. Burns, a records clerk and parole officer at the Kansas State Penitentiary, appears in an inset on the photograph. He was shot and killed by a convict he was transporting from Texas. Printed on the back of the photograph is a eulogy written and read at the funeral by A. B. Carney, chairman of the state board of Administration.

Dr. H. C. Perdue's Neosho County Advertiser, Erie, Kansas
Date: Between 1887 and 1889
This pamphlet titled The Neosho County Advertiser was published by Dr. H. C. Perdue, M. D., in Erie, Kansas. It contains approximately 50 pages of descriptions of medical cures and other advertising. Descriptions of Dr. Perdue's Ague Cure and other medical treatments are on pages 2-28, and other advertisements are on pages 29-49, plus the inside and outside of the back cover. Besides information on Dr. Perdue's medical practice, there are numerous advertisements for drug stores. Drug stores listed in the advertisements (and their town locations, all in Kansas) include: Palace Drug Store, Erie; Ira Steinberger Drug Store, Erie; New City Drug Store, Erie; Dr. C. E. Steadman, Druggist, Osage Mission; I. N. Wherrett General Merchandise and Drugs, Vietsburg; M. Devine, Druggist, Osage Mission; Baldwin House Drug Store, Thayer; W. R. Kramer, Druggist, Chanute; John McCarthy, Druggist, Galesburg; and Mrs. Samuel Whelpley, Druggist, Morehead. Druggists listed as references for Dr. Perdue include Charles H. Eaton and J. T. Brown, both of Erie. Other businesses and professions advertised include attorneys, real estate agents, merchants, banks, doctors, clothing stores, millinery and dress making stores, grocery stores, jewelry stores, candy stores, cigar stores, meat markets, bakeries, livery stables, abstracters, tree nurseries, buggy harness stores, carpenters, hardware stores, fur dealers, barber shops, lumber companies, monument dealers, dry goods, dentists, hotels, and furniture stores.

E. P. Lamborn correspondence and research papers
Creator: Lamborn, E. P. (Edward Parker), 1890-1978
Date: 1915-1965
This collection reflects E. P. Lamborn's life long interest in crime, criminals and law officers. E. P. Lamborn was an amateur historian and collector of sources on crime and criminals of the Middle West in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His interests ranged from bandits, peace officers, famous detectives, and buffalo hunters. The Correspondence and Research section, presented here, contains much information on these topics from friends, relatives, companies, law officers, etc., who had some connection or dealings with these individuals. The arrangement for this section, generally, is alphabetical by last name of the correspondent. A detailed, searchable calendar of correspondents is available by clicking on "Text Version" below or by accessing the full collection finding aid in the link below. A transcription of this correspondence is not yet available. This series comprises boxes 2 and 3 of the E. P. Lamborn collection. You can find individual items in the order they are described in the "calendar of correspondents" by using the page selection feature available when you are looking at a full sized page image.

Elect Vern Miller, Democrat sheriff
Date: June 17, 1962
A political advertisement for Vern Miller, who was the Democratic candidate for Sedgwick County Sheriff, Wichita, Kansas.

Elisha R. Mardin
Date: Between 1861 and 1865
A photograph portrait of Elisha R. Mardin (or Marden), who ranched near the Cottonwood River in northeast Chase County, Kansas. He was born on August 27, 1833, in Chenango County, New York, and moved when he was twenty-one to Bloomington, Illinois, where he taught school and engaged in agriculture. It was at that time he met his future wife Elizabeth Frank. Elisha came to Kansas in 1859. He farmed, raised livestock, and bought cattle for Dolby Brothers, Drovers and Livestock, of Chicago. Late in the summer of 1861, he and Elizabeth were married and moved to his farm in Chase County, Kansas. In 1868, Elisha was elected county sheriff, and the Mardins' sold their farm and moved to Cottonwood Falls. Diaries kept by the Mardins' are at the State Archives and Library, Kansas State Historical Society.

Fredrick Peter Beck and Margretha Hansen Beck
Date: Between 1900 and 1905
This is a photograph of Fredrick Peter Beck and Margretha Hansen Beck. The photograph was possibly taken in Glasco, Kansas. Fredrick Beck is wearing a marshal's badge.

G. B. Woodford to Governor John Martin
Creator: Woodward, C.B.
Date: April 1, 1886
In this letter, the local authorities of Labette County, Kansas, plead with Kansas governor John Martin for militia support to preserve order in Parsons during the railroad strike of 1886. 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.

Governor Clyde M. Reed correspondence, Deputy Game Warden applications
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1929-1931 : Reed)
Date: 1929-1931
This file includes subject correspondence relating to applications of employment as the Deputy Game Warden. A game warden is a law enforcement officer who protects wildlife and the environment. This file is part of a bigger collection of Governor Clyde M. Reed correspondence.

Governor Clyde M. Reed correspondence, Kansas State Industrial Reformatory applications
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1929-1931 : Reed)
Date: 1929-1931
This file includes subject correspondence relating to applications of employment with the Kansas State Industrial Reformatory, currently known as the Hutchinson Correctional Facitlity in Hutchinson, Kansas. This file is part of a bigger collection of Governor Clyde M. Reed correspondence.

Governor Clyde M. Reed correspondence, National Commission on law enforcement
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1929-1931 : Reed)
Date: 1929-1931
This file includes topical correspondence relating to the National Commission on law observance and enforcement which is part of a bigger collection of Governor Clyde M. Reed correspondence.

Governor Clyde M. Reed correspondence, State Penitentiary applications
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1929-1931 : Reed)
Date: 1929-1931
This file includes subject correspondence relating to applications of employment with the State Penitentiary. This file is part of a bigger collection of Governor Clyde M. Reed correspondence.

Governor Clyde M. Reed correspondence, State Penitentiary applications
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1929-1931 : Reed)
Date: 1929-1931
This file includes subject correspondence relating to applications of employment with the State Penitentiary. This file is part of a bigger collection of Governor Clyde M. Reed correspondence.

He doesn't like female mayors
Date: January 28, 1888
In this newspaper article, the former city marshal of Argonia, Sumner County, Kansas, laments the election of Susanna Salter as mayor, saying that "female mayors are no good." In particular, he was frustrated that she asked him to close his poker room, and she also prevented the local druggist (pharmacist) from keeping alcoholic beverages in stock. He claims that "Mrs. Salter has just killed Argonia." Originally published in the Indianapolis Journal, Indianapolis, Indiana, the article was republished in the Meade County Globe, Meade, Kansas, on January 28, 1888.

Henry Newton Brown and Ben Wheeler
Creator: Siringo, Charlie
Date: Between 1882 and 1884
This sepia colored post card shows the portraits of Henry Newton Brown and Ben Wheeler. Brown, a former member of Billy the Kid's Gang, and Wheeler, a former outlaw and friend of Brown's, found themselves on the other side of the law with their appointments as marshals of Caldwell, Kansas. In this south central Kansas community Brown and Wheeler, with their quick draw on the gun, turned the once lawless cowtown into a safe and peaceful place to live. They were trusted as lawmen until the unthinkable happened on April 30, 1884, when Brown and Wheeler and two of their outlaw friends John Wesley and Billy Smith attempted to rob the Medicine Valley Bank. The robbery was unsuccessful, and the robbers were eventually apprehended and brought back to Medicine Lodge, Kansas. Their time in jail was brief when pandemonium erupted over their capture creating a diversion for escape. In a hail of bullets Henry Brown was shot dead while an injured Wheeler was captured and hung beside Wesley and Smith.

Hugh A. Cook
Date: Between 1856 and 1860
A cased daguerreotype of Hugh A. Cook, 1827 -1901, sheriff of Franklin County, Kansas.

Hugh A. Cook
Date: Between 1861 and 1865
Mounted tintype portrait of Hugh A. Cook taken during the Civil War. He was the second Sheriff of Franklin County, Kansas.

Interior view of the sheriff's office, Wabaunsee County, Kansas
Date: Between 1930 and 1935
This is an interior view of the Sheriff's Office, located in the new Wabaunsee County Courthouse in Alma, Kansas. Sheriff August Thowe is seated at the left with Undersheriff Gus Kratzer seated right.

James Butler 'Wild Bill" Hickok
Date: Between 1870 and 1875
This formal portrait shows James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok (1837-1876). The legendary lawman and gun-slinger began his career in 1858 as peace officer of the Monticello Township in the Kansas Territory of Johnson County. For a number of years Hickok also worked as a government scout, guide and deputy U.S. marshal across the Great Plains. His reputation as a skilled marksman proceeded him wherever he went. In 1869 Hickok was elected marshal of Hays, Kansas and sheriff of Ellis County, Kansas. A role he served until 1870. In 1871, he was hired as Abilene, Kansas' town marshal. As marshal he earned fame for being a quick draw and for spending most of his time playing cards. Hickok was killed on August 01, 1876 while playing a game of poker at a saloon in the Deadwood, Dakota Territory.