1990 Excavations at Cottonwood Ranch, 14SD327
Date: 1990
These images were taken at the Cottonwood Ranch site in Sheridan County during the Kansas Archeology Training Program field school in 1990. The ranch was established by Abraham Pratt from Yorkshire, England, in 1878 to raise sheep. The 1990 excavations were exploring an outbuilding that was constructed around 1890 and removed after storm damage in 1911. Shown are a general progress show looking north, two volunteers processing soil flotation, progress shot looking to the southeast, a Daisy Fly Killer along side of one in its original packaging, exposed foundation of the ranch house, and an aerial view of the site.

2002 Excavations at Cottonwood Ranch, 14SD327
Date: 2002
These images were taken at the Cottonwood Ranch site in Sheridan County during the Kansas Archeology Training Program field school in 2002. The ranch was established by Abraham Pratt from Yorkshire, England, in 1878 to raise sheep. The 2002 excavations were exploring the possible location of the icehouse. Shown are volunteers excavating a unit, soil screen in windy conditions, a progress shot of the excavation, three shots highlighting soil stratification in the excavation units, and an overview of the site.

Abraham Pratt
Date: Between 1890 and 1899
This is a portrait of Abraham Pratt, 1827-1901, who settled in Sheridan County, Kansas. His home Cottonwood Ranch was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Abraham Pratt home, Studley, Sheridan County, Kansas
Date: Between 1885 and 1895
A photograph of the Abraham Pratt home near the Solomon River in Studley, Sheridan County, Kansas. Cottonwood Ranch was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Abraham Pratt house, Studley, Sheridan County, Kansas
Date: Between 1885 and 1895
Abraham Pratt home, near the Solomon River in Studley, Sheridan County, Kansas. Footbridge in the foreground. Cottonwood Ranch was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Abram and John Pratt, with two little boys, Studley Home Guard, Studley, Sheridan County, Kansas
Date: 1917
Abram Pratt, sitting, and John Pratt with two little boys at the home of Tom Pratt, Studley, Sheridan County, Kansas in 1917. The Pratt men are in their Studley Home Guard uniforms. Cottonwood Ranch was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

A dog in a dress, John Fenton Pratt home, Studley, Sheridan County, Kansas
Date: Between 1890 and 1900
This is a novelty photograph of one of the Pratt family's dogs in a dress, posing on a chair in front of the John Fenton Pratt home, Studley, Sheridan County, Kansas. Cottonwood Ranch was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Bone Buttons from Cottonwood Ranch, 14SD327
Date: 1878-1920
These three bone buttons were recovered during the 1990 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Cottonwood Ranch in Sheridan County. Shown are two 2-hole pants buttons and a recessed 4-hole sew through button. The ranch was established by Abraham Pratt from Yorkshire, England, in 1878 to raise sheep. Pratt's son, John Fenton Pratt and his family continued to raise sheep at the ranch until 1904. Cottonwood Ranch is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a State Historic Site.

Bone Tatting Shuttle from Cottonwood Ranch, 14SD327
Date: 1888-1978
This bone tatting shuttle was recovered during the 2002 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Cottonwood Ranch in Sheridan County. Tatting is a technique for making lace and tatting shuttles come in a variety of shapes. The sheep ranch was established by Abraham Pratt, from Yorkshire, England, in 1878. Pratt's son, John Fenton Pratt and his family continued to raise sheep at the ranch until 1904. Cottonwood Ranch is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Brass Buttons from Cottonwood Ranch, 14SD327
Date: 1878-1978
These three buttons were recovered during the 1990 and 2002 Kansas Archeology Training Program field schools at the Cottonwood Ranch in Sheridan County. The brass buttons are 4-hole sew through style. One has cotton thread present within the sew through holes. One button has the advertising "BEST SOLID EYELET" and another advertises "IMPROVED FOUR HOLES." These two buttons are generally associated with work wear. The ranch was established by Abraham Pratt from Yorkshire, England, in 1878 to raise sheep. Pratt's son, John Fenton Pratt and his family continued to raise sheep at the ranch until 1904. Cottonwood Ranch is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a State Historic Site.

Candy Dish from Cottonwood Ranch, 14SD327
Date: 1878-1900
These candy dish fragments were recovered in during the 2002 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Cottonwood Ranch in Sheridan County. The dish was reconstructed and archeologists were able to identify the material as slag glass, an opaque pressed glass with a swirling color pattern. Purple and white swirls, like the one on this candy dish, were the most popular color. The ranch was established by Abraham Pratt from Yorkshire, England, in 1878 to raise sheep. Pratt's son, John Fenton Pratt and his family continued to raise sheep at the ranch until 1904. Cottonwood Ranch is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a State Historic Site.

Carter's Ink Bottle from Cottonwood Ranch, 14SD327
Date: 1890-1920
This brown glass ink bottle was recovered during the 2002 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Cottonwood Ranch in Sheridan County. The ink bottle has a conical body, tooled double ring finish, and traces of a paper label. Embossed on the bottle bottom is the bottle mold number and "CARTER'S," indicating it was manufactured for the Carter Ink Company (1858-1976). The ranch was established by Abraham Pratt, from Yorkshire, England, in 1878 to raise sheep. Pratt's son, John Fenton Pratt and his family continued to raise sheep at the ranch until 1904. Cottonwood Ranch is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a State Historic Site.

Child in a winter suit, John Fenton Pratt home, Studley, Sheridan County, Kansas
Date: Between 1900 and 1910
This is a photograph of an unidentified toddler in a winter suit posing in front of the John Fenton Pratt home, Studley, Sheridan County, Kansas. Cottonwood Ranch was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Child, John Fenton Pratt home, Studley, Sheridan County, Kansas
Date: Between 1900 and 1910
This is a photograph of a baby in a stroller in the front yard of the John Fenton Pratt home, Studley, Sheridan County, Kansas. Cottonwood Ranch was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Children at the John Fenton Pratt home, Studley, Sheridan County, Kansas
Date: Between 1900 and 1910
This is a photograph of an adult helping two very young children sit on a horse, John Fenton Pratt home, Studley, Sheridan County, Kansas. Cottonwood Ranch was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Children, John Fenton Pratt home, Studley, Sheridan County, Kansas
Date: 1901
John Pratt (in baby buggy) and Abram Pratt (on horse), sons of Tom Pratt, grandsons of Abraham Pratt, Studley, Sheridan County, Kansas, summer 1901. Cottonwood Ranch was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Children on a rock pile, Tom Pratt home, Sheridan County, Kansas
Date: Between 1910 and 1915
Pratt children eat watermelon atop a pile of rocks. The rocks were meant for construction of the second story of the Pratt home and came from a sheep barn on the John Fenton Pratt ranch that had been destroyed by a tornado in 1911. Cottonwood Ranch was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Coins from Cottonwood Ranch, 14SD327
Date: 1878-1909
These coins were recovered during the 1990 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Cottonwood Ranch in Sheridan County. The pennies, sometimes called an Indian Head cents or Indian Head pennies, shows Liberty with a head dress on the obverse side. The reverse side shows an oak wreath and shield surrounding the words "ONE CENT." The coin on the left was minted in 1865 and coin on the right in 1890. The sheep ranch was established by Abraham Pratt, from Yorkshire, England, in 1878. Pratt's son, John Fenton Pratt and his family continued to raise sheep at the ranch until 1904. Cottonwood Ranch is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Conté Pencil from Cottonwood Ranch, 14SD327
Date: 1878-1978
This sketching pencil was recovered during the 2002 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Cottonwood Ranch in Sheridan County. The advertising "Conté A1" is visible on one side indicating it was made by the Conté Company of France. Conté was established in 1795 by Jacques Conté, the inventor of the modern graphite pencil. The ranch was established by Abraham Pratt from Yorkshire, England, in 1878 to raise sheep. Pratt's son, John Fenton Pratt and his family continued to raise sheep at the ranch until 1904. Cottonwood Ranch is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a State Historic Site.

Dinner Plate from Cottonwood Ranch, 14SD327
Date: 1880-1904
This dinner plate was recovered during the 2002 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Cottonwood Ranch in Sheridan County. The maker's mark on the back of the plate indicates it was manufactured by Mellor, Taylor and Company of Burslem, England between 1880 and 1904. Additionally, the mark notes the plate is "WARRENTED STONE CHINA," a popular advertising phrase of the time. The ranch was established by Abraham Pratt, from Yorkshire, England, in 1878 to raise sheep. Pratt's son, John Fenton Pratt and his family continued to raise sheep at the ranch until 1904. Cottonwood Ranch is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a State Historic Site.

Dishes from Cottonwood Ranch, 14SD327
Date: 1878-1978
These dish fragments were recovered during the 2002 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Cottonwood Ranch in Sheridan County. Shown are fragments of cups, dish, and creamer fragments. Two sherds are decorated with an annual ware style, with concentric lines around the vessel edge. Four sherds have hand painted floral designs, common throughout the 18th- and 19th-centuries. Three sherds are transfer decorated, where the pattern is printed on paper and placed on the dish. During firing of the piece the paper is burned away, but the pattern remains. The ranch was established by Abraham Pratt from Yorkshire, England, in 1878 to raise sheep. Pratt's son, John Fenton Pratt and his family continued to raise sheep at the ranch until 1904. Cottonwood Ranch is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a State Historic Site.

Dish Sherds with Maker's Marks from Cottonwood Ranch, 14SD327
Date: 1891-1970
These dish fragments were recovered during the 1990 and 2002 Kansas Archeology Training Program field schools at the Cottonwood Ranch in Sheridan County. The ironstone dinner plate was made at the Johnson Brothers pottery between 1891 and 1939. The saucer was made at the J. and G. Meakin pottery between 1891 and 1970. The maker's marks on these dishes show that they were made in England. The Tariff Act of 1891 made country of origin labeling mandatory for items imported to the United States, though Europe had enacted such laws earlier. The ranch was established by Abraham Pratt from Yorkshire, England, in 1878 to raise sheep. Pratt's son, John Fenton Pratt and his family continued to raise sheep at the ranch until 1904. Cottonwood Ranch is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a State Historic Site.

Dugout, Sheridan County, Kansas
Date: 1889
A bachelor's dugout, located south of the Solomon River near Studley, Sheridan County, Kansas. This dugout was used by Abraham, John Fenton, and Tom Pratt; their half-brother James Kirk; and Charlie and Jim Foster when the men first arrived in Sheridan County from Yorkshire, England, prior to 1885.

Egg Cups from Cottonwood Ranch, 14SD327
Date: 1878-1978
These egg cup fragments were recovered during the 2002 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Cottonwood Ranch in Sheridan County. An egg cup is used to hold boiled eggs, still in their shells, for eating. The ones shown here are glass or ceramic with a variety of decorations. These egg cups are evidence that early ranch life was not always rough and utilitarian and that the Pratt's enjoyed some luxuries. The ranch was established by Abraham Pratt from Yorkshire, England, in 1878 to raise sheep. Pratt's son, John Fenton Pratt and his family continued to raise sheep at the ranch until 1904. Cottonwood Ranch is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a State Historic Site.

Elsie Pratt and dogs, John Fenton Pratt home, Studley, Sheridan County, Kansas
Date: Between 1910 and 1915
This is a photograph of Elsie Pratt playing with two white dogs and a cat on the porch of the John Fenton Pratt home, Studley, Sheridan County, Kansas. Cottonwood Ranch was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.