Charles H. Branscomb to Rev. Edward E. Hale
Creator: Branscomb, Charles H.
Date: April 25, 1857
Charles Branscomb wrote from Lawrence, Kansas Territory to Edward Everett Hale, a member of the New England Emigrant Aid Company's Executive Committee. Branscomb informed Hale that he had advanced money Francis Serenbetz and his party of thirty German emigrants to assist them in their effort to establish a colony on the Neosho River. Branscomb indicated that there had been considerable confusion about whether the New England Emigrant Aid Company had agreed to provide the Serenbetz party with funds, but he felt it best to provide the money.

Charter of the Kansas Sinaloa Investment Company, Dickinson County, Kansas
Creator: Kansas Sinaloa Investment Company
Date: July 11, 1889
This is the original charter for the Kansas Sinaloa Investment Company of Dickinson County, Kansas. The corporation charter was filed with the Kansas Secretary of State's Office on July 11, 1889. The directors were: C. B. Hoffman, Enterprise, Kansas; J. W. Breidenthal, Chetopa, Kansas; Mrs. U. A. McOmber, Ottawa, Kansas; James Butler, Palco, Kansas; J. N. Limbocker, Manhattan, Kansas; C. J. Lamb, Kirwin, Kansas; P. B. Maxon, Emporia, Kansas; G. C. Miller, Ellis, Kansas, and G. C. Clemens, Topeka, Kansas. The group provided financial support for a utopian colony on Topolobampo Bay on the Gulf of California in Mexico, which was founded by the Credit Foncier Company of Sinaloa. Christian B. Hoffman was an idealistic banker and mill owner who led a group of Kansas colonists to Topolobampo in 1891. However, he withdrew his involvement in May, 1893, after disagreements with the leader of Credit Foncier, Albert Kimsey Owen.

Christmas in Silkville
Date: 1889
This photograph was taken of Silkville, Kansas residents at Christmastime. From left to right are Mrs. Lockhart, Mrs. Bitts, and son, Frank Bitts, Mr. Ernest V. de Boissiere, C. Sears, Mrs. A.V. Cobb, Laura Bitts, and Mary Cobb.

Circular letter regarding Silkville, Kansas
Date: August 01, 1877
This circular letter encourages farmers to add the culture of silk to their general farming. The picture is of several multi-storied buildings in Silkville.

City sign for Silkville
Date: Between 1940 and 1950
This photograph shows a highway or city sign for Silkville, Kansas. The photograph was donated by John W. Harvey.

Coyote hunt at Silkville
Date: December 1916
This photograph shows a coyote hunt at Silkville. John O'Neill is holding up a coyote in the center of the photo.

De Boissiere's stone house and a harvest scene in Silkville, Kansas
Date: Between 1870 and 1890
One photograph showing De Boissiere's stone house before it was remodeled and the second photograph showing family and workers during harvest at Silkville, Kansas.

Ephraim Nute to Edward Everett Hale
Creator: Nute, Ephraim
Date: April 28, 1857
Rev. Ephraim Nute, minister of the Lawrence Unitarian Church, wrote from Lawrence, Kansas Territory to Edward Everett Hale, a member of the New England Emigrant Aid Company's Executive Committee. Nute observed that Francis Serenbetz, a German Congregational minister, and his party of thirty German immigrants were in Lawrence and getting ready to head south to establish a colony on the Neosho River that they planned to name Humboldt. Nute was not optimistic that the Serenbetz party would succeed due to their lack of financial resources. Nute commented that immigration into Kansas continued to increase and estimated that nearly 1,000 people per day entered the territory. He stated that most of the new immigrants were from Western states and "of the right kind to stay." Nute also commented on the lack of saw and grist mills in the territory and blamed the New England Emigrant Aid Company for the deficiency.

Food processing buildings at Silkville
Date: Between 1877 and 1900
Three photographs show buildings in Silkville.

Francis M. Serenbetz to Edward Everett Hale
Creator: Serenbetz, Francis M.
Date: March 14, 1857
Francis M. Serenbetz, a German immigrant and minister, wrote from Hartford, Connecticut to Edward Everett Hale, a member of the New England Emigrant Aid Company's Executive Committee. Serenbetz informed Hale that he planned to lead a group of about a dozen families of fellow Germans to Kansas to establish a "christian community." Attached to the letter is an agreement, dated February 8, 1857, outlining the communal labor and property arrangements for the proposed Kansas settlement.

French farm laborers at Silkville, Kansas
Date: Between 1880 and 1900
A group photograph of French laborers at Silkville. To the far left is Charles Sears. The two little boys are Warren and Willm Sears.

Heaven on Earth. Described and how secured
Creator: Welburn, J. B.
Date: February 1, 1889
Mr. Welburn from Effingham, Kansas, wrote this pamphlet that is a combination of a discussion of the gospel as an "emancipation proclamation" and a description of a utopian community where no one residing there own individual property (though there is no evidence that one was organized based on these ideas). The content ties to the Populist movement because it is concerned with the problems caused by the private property system.

Isaiah T. Montgomery to Governor John P. St. John
Creator: Montgomery, Isaiah T. (Isaiah Thorton), 1847-1924
Date: May 23, 1879
Isaiah T. Montgomery of Hurricane, Mississippi, wrote Governor John P. St. John of Topeka, Kansas, concerning the migration of twenty five families of black refugees from Mississippi to Kansas. Montgomery described the difficulties faced by the families and a visit he made to Kansas to assess their conditions. He also critiqued the relief programs in Kansas and made recommendations for assisting present and future migrants. In addition, the letter addresses Montgomery's broader effort to establish a community for black refugees in Kansas and the oppressive conditions under which blacks lived in Mississippi. Montgomery dictated a letter sent to him from William Nervis regarding the conditions of the refugees. During 1879 and 1880 a mass exodus of blacks from the deep South, known as the Negro Exodus, overwhelmed the state's ability to accommodate the refugees. These refugees were called Exodusters. Governor St. John established a Freedman's Relief Association to assist the migrants but its efforts were largely seen as a failure.

Mulberry trees at Silkville
Date: 1870
These four photographs show the mulberry trees planted at Silkville to feed the silkworms.

Odd Fellows orphans' home at Silkville, Kansas
Date: 1893
The DeBoissiere house in Silkville was remodeled by the Odd Fellows (International Order of Odd Fellows, I.O.O.F.) for an orphans' home.

Rabbit hunt at Silkville, Kansas
Date: 1889
A photograph showing a rabbit hunt at Christmas in Silkville, Kansas. From left: Mrs. Lockhart; Mrs. Bitts and son Frank; Mr De Boissiere, the founder of Silkville; C. T. Sears; Mrs. A. V. Cobb; a niece, Laura Bitts; and Mary Cobb.

Rosedale Consolidation with Kansas City
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1915-1919: Capper)
Date: 1915
This file includes newspaper clippings and general correspondence relating to Rosedale consolidation with Kansas City. Topics included, but not limited to, in the file is construction of hotels and improvement of Union Station, effects on tax payers, and confirmation or denial of the rumors of the consolidation. This is part of a bigger collection of Governor Arthur Capper correspondence.

School in Silkville, Kansas
Date: 1884
Unidentified students and teachers are shown in front of the school at Silkville, Kansas.

Silkville cheese house
Date: 1885
This photograph shows the cheese house at Silkville after a hail storm. Note the shattered windows. Farmers brought milk here to be made into cheese to be sold here. Grandfather Sears and Gertrude Sears are in the foreground. The photograph was donated by Harold S. Sears.

Silkville, Kansas
Date: Between 1875 and 1890
This photograph shows Old Blind Jim carrying milk at Silkville, Kansas. Cow and pig barns, and a corn crib are visible in the background.

Silkville residence
Date: Between 1930 and 1950
An unidentified residence built on the ruins of an old dormitory at Silkville, Kansas.

Stone schoolhouse in Silkville, Kansas
Date: Between 1920 and 1940
Old stone schoolhouse with boarded up windows, Silkville. The photograph was donated by John W. Harvey.

Stone silk mills
Date: Between 1870 and 1890
These are three views of one of the original stone silk mills built when the manufacturing of silk was a thriving industry in Silkville, Franklin County, Kansas.

Stone silk mills at Silkville
Date: Between 1930 and 1950
Five views of two buildings considered silk mills. Located at Silkville. Photographs donated by R. Richmond.

The original stone house at Silkville
Date: Between 1880 and 1890
Here are two views of the original stone house at Silkville, Franklin County, Kansas, which was Mr. DeBoissiere's residence. It was known as "The Chateau". Persons are unidentified. The photograph was donated by the Woman's Kansas Day Club.