C. J. Jones' herd of buffalo in Garden City, Kansas
Creator: Wolf, Henry L. 1850-1924
Date: Between 1890 and 1900
The photograph shows part of C.J. Jones' buffalo herd in Garden City, Finney County, Kansas. The photograph also shows a fence and a grassy background.

Day by day Kansas is rapidly washing away
Creator: Topeka Capital
Date: December 4, 1932
This brief article discusses the importance of decreasing water erosion, which has washed away approximately ninety percent of the productive soil in eastern Kansas. Two remedies which are suggested are terracing and the planting of blue grass sod (which will bind the soil together). Scientists at Kansas State Agricultural College (now Kansas State University) were experimenting with these two techniques.

Edmund Burke Whitman to Franklin B. Sanborn
Creator: Whitman, E. B. (Edmund Burke), 1812-1883
Date: November 15, 1860
In this typically long letter/report to Franklin Sanborn in Boston, Whitman wrote from Lawrence on November 15, 1860, regarding the difficult situation facing Kansas settlers/farmers as another winter approached--as "the stock of old corn is exhausted and the grass fails, the prospect is dreary enough and without aid from abroad in some form to supply bread stuffs many of our people must suffer severely for want of food."

Emigrants' guide to the Kansas Pacific Railway lands
Creator: Kansas Pacific Railway Company
Date: April 1871
A railroad company advertisement to emigrants promising cheap, abundant and good land for agricultural purposes.

From the river to the mountains via the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad
Date: 1876
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad promotional advertisement encouraging travel on its western line to the Rocky Mountains from the east. Includes timetable and illustrations by Topeka artist Henry Worrall.

George Walter, History of Kanzas
Creator: Walter, George
Date: 1855
This history was written by George Walter, agent for the New York Kanzas League. The purpose of the League was to assist individuals and families to emigrate to Kansas and help provides reduced prices and other assistance. The office of the New York Kanzas League was located on the 3rd floor of No. 110 Broadway, New York City. Walter provided the information he thought emigrants to Kansas would need including descriptions of the situation in the territory, its climate, soil, rivers, and native products. He also gave information about industry in Kansas Territory, particularly the milling industry. He provided information on routes and supplies needed as well as a copy of the reemption law. The text of the Bill to organize the territories of Kansas and Nebraska was included on pages 24 through 48 of the pamphlet.

Grass fire, Gray County, Kansas
Date: Between 1940 and 1949
This photograph shows a grass fire in Gray County, Kansas.

Guide map of the great Texas cattle trail from Red River crossing to the old reliable Kansas Pacific Railway
Creator: Kansas Pacific Railway Company
Date: 1874
This railroad guide book was produced by the Kansas Pacific Railway to aid cattle ranchers in getting their herds to market.

Hand book for the Kansas Pacific Railway
Creator: Kansas Pacific Railway Company
Date: 1870
This Kansas Pacific Railroad publication advertises good abundant and cheap land readily available on its rail line between Kansas City, Missouri, and Denver, Colorado. The booklet contains descriptions of the country and cities and towns along the Kansas Pacific Railroad and its branches.

History of Kansas and emigrant's guide
Creator: Chapman, J. Butler
Date: 1855
The title page of the printed volume indicated that it contained "a description geographical and topographical--also climate, soil, productions and comparative value with other states and territories, including its political history, officers-candidates-emigrant colonies-election, abolition, squatter and pro-slavery contentions and inquisitions; with the prospects of the territory for freedom or slavery." Mr. Chapman was a resident of the territory and the information in the booklet was compiled by traveling through Kansas Territory in 1854. The description covers most of the territory and includes information about Native American tribes and lands.

Industrial resources of western Kansas and eastern Colorado
Creator: Kansas Pacific Railway Company
Date: 1871
This pamphlet conducts a geological, demographic and distance analysis of western Kansas and eastern Colorado for future economic development.

Irrigation plant on Richter farm, Finney County, Kansas
Creator: Wolf, Henry L. 1850-1924
Date: Between 1890 and 1900
A photograph showing an irrigation plant on the Richter farm, Finney County, Kansas.

Kansas Flint Hills
View of an unknown location in the Kansas Flint Hills. This image was transferred from the William H. Avery Manuscript Collection #137, General Files, Interior, Department of Proposed True Prairie National Park.

Principal crop yields of Kansas by counties for 1911
Creator: Union Pacific Railway Company
Date: August 10, 1912
This Union Pacific Railroad agricultural bulleitn shows aggregate statistical crop yields and population figures for each Kansas county in the entire state. Union Pacific Railroad Company Agriculture Bulletin (No. 103).

Raw prairie, Finney County, Kansas
Creator: Wolf, Henry L. 1850-1924
Date: Between 1890 and 1900
This photograph shows an area of raw prairie in Finney County, Kansas.

Table of Distances Between Fort Harker, Kansas, and Denver City, Colorado Territory
Date: Between 1861 and 1876
This undated table lists the distances, in both miles and yards, between key stations on the route from Fort Harker, Kansas, to Denver, Colorado Territory. Fort Harker was located in present day Kanopolis, Kansas. It also lists additional information in the right column, such as whether each branch of the route had an accessible (and healthy) water supply.

Two horse drawn buggies, Marion County, Kansas
Date: Between 1890 and 1910
This photograph shows two horse-drawn buggies driving through the prairie, probably in Marion County, Kansas. A man and woman are sitting in the front buggy and a woman is sitting in the second buggy, which has a top on it.

Wes Jackson
Date: Between 1975 and 1979
Wes Jackson, Director of the Land Institute, in Salina, Kansas, standing in a field of native grasses.