Adjutant General of Kansas to Governor Andrew Schoeppel
Creator: Kansas. Adjutant General's Dept.
Date: Between 1943 and 1947
This memorandum, from the Adjutant General of Kansas to Governor Andrew Schoeppel, addresses the use of conscientious objectors on dairy farms. During World War II, thousands of men applied to the Selective Service as conscientious objectors to war based on their religious beliefs. Many, as this memo indicates, worked on farms during the war.

Affidavit from Homer W. Hunter to U.S. Attorney General Francis Biddle
Creator: Hunter, Homer
Date: March 22, 1943
Affidavit from Homer Hunter of Coffeyville, Kansas, to U.S. Attorney General Francis Biddle. The affidavit describes the treatment endured by Melvin L. Jackson, F. Jerry Molohan, and Homer W. Hunter during World War II. The three men, all Jehovah's Witnesses and conscientious objectors, describe the harsh treatment and threats of violence they faced from some members of the American Legion due to their religious beliefs.

A.L. Foster to the manager of Kelly's Hotel in Iola, Kansas
Creator: Foster, A.L.
Date: March 09, 1945
In this letter, from A.L. Foster of the Chicago Urban League to the manager of Kelly's Hotel in Iola, Kansas, details Foster's experiences at the hotel in the winter of 1945. Foster, a passenger on a bus from Ft. Scott to Wichita, was asked to sit in the rear section of the restaurant solely because he was an African American.

Andrew Frank Schoeppel
Creator: Karls
Date: Between January 11, 1943 and January 13, 1947
Photograph of Andrew Frank Schoeppel, 1894-1962, Kansas governor from 1943-1947.

Andrew Frank Schoeppel, Kansas Governor
Date: April 17, 1946
This photograph shows Kansas Governor Andrew Schoeppel pitching at a Kansas City Blues vs Minneapolis Millers baseball game.

Andrew Schoeppel to James Boyack
Creator: Schoeppel, Andrew Frank, 1894-1962
Date: April 20, 1943
In this letter Kansas Governor Andrew F. Schoeppel informs James E. Boyack that he can not provide detailed information concerning Kansas' contributions to the war effort that Boyack wanted, for the 1943 addition of the aviation yearbook Aerosphere, because of the secret nature of the information. However, Schoeppel does praise the achievements of Kansas' aviation companies up to that point in World War II.

Anne G. Cravens to Governor Andrew Schoeppel
Creator: Cravens, Anne G.
Date: August 15, 1944
In this letter to Governor Schoeppel, Anne G. Cravens of Santa Monica, California, tells Schoeppel that he should work to establish a "Veterans City" in Kansas where returning soliders could live following the war.

A resolution approving and requesting legislative action on a program of basic military training and drill in the high schools of the state of Kansas
Creator: Sunflower Junior Statemens Club
Date: October 4, 1942
This resolution, produced by the Sunflower Junior Statemen's Club: Alumni Association of Sunflower Boys' State, asks that "a program of military drill and training" be required for all junior and senior high school boys throughout Kansas.

Avis Atkinson and Governor Andrew Schoeppel correspondence
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1943-1947 : Schoeppel)
Date: February 12-16, 1943
This correspondence deals with the possibility of moving Japanese Americans to Kansas to serve as laborers during World War II. In the letter to Governor Schoeppel, Avis Atkinson of Fall River, Kansas, urges the Governor to do everything in his power to keep the U.S. government from allowing Japanese Americans to work in Kansas because "Once a Jap Always a Jap." Governor Schoeppel's reply is cordial but reinforces the fact that, if the federal government so desires, he will comply with their wishes and house Japanese Americans and/or Japanese prisoners of war.

Benjamin O. Weaver to Governor Andrew Schoeppel
Date: September 01, 1943
In this letter to Governor Schoeppel, Kansas House of Representatives member Benjamin O. Weaver explains that many of his constituents in Kiowa County, Kansas, are opposed to the use of Japanese Americans as laborers in the state. Included with the letter is a petition signed by numerous Kiowa County residents which states that they are against releasing the Japanese Americans because they "think it dangerous to the war effort." A searchable, full-text version of this letter is available by clicking "Text Version" below.

Chester Stevens to Andrew Schoeppel
Creator: Stevens, Chester
Date: August 02, 1943
In this letter to Governor Schoeppel, Chester Stevens of Independence, Kansas, argues that the proposed cut in the value gasoline "A" coupons to the Midwest is unfair due to the great distances between many towns and cities in that area of the country.

Christmas tree at the governor's mansion, Topeka, Kansas
Creator: Wolfe Commercial Photo Service
Date: Between 1943 and 1947
This black and white photograph shows a Christmas tree decorated at the Kansas governor's mansion, during Governor Andrew F. Schoeppel's administration, in Topeka, Kansas. A number of presents have been arranged around the tree.

Community Service and War Fund
Date: 1943
This item details the various teams and committees related to the Community Service and War Fund in Kansas for the 1943 drive. Included are the quotas for each team and committee.

Coral Bell to Governor Andrew Schoeppel
Creator: Bell, Coral
Date: October 4, 1944
This letter from Coral Bell to Governor Schoeppel, concerns the treatment of the African American citizens of Ellis, Kansas. Bell explains that the Victory Café in Ellis has a sign in the front window that states "We Cater to White Trade Only" and questions is this the type of freedom he fought for while serving in the U.S. military.

Dr. J.A. Billingsley and Governor Andrew Schoeppel coresspondence
Date: September 22, 1945-September 24, 1945
This correspondence between Governor Schoeppel and Dr. J.A. Billingsley deals with the severe shortage of doctors that Kansas faced throughout World War II. In his letter to Governor Schoeppel, Billingsley explains that his assistant, Dr. John Betz, has been in the military for three years despite health problems. As a result, Dr. Billingsley has had to rely on the help of "two men who are both past sixty-five and are unable to carry the load."

Earl Schaefer to Governor Andrew Schoeppel
Creator: Schaefer, Julius Earl
Date: January 15, 1945
This letter, dated January 15, 1945, was sent to Governor Andrew Schoeppel by Boeing Vice President J. Earl Schaefer. In the letter, Schaeffer details the recent successes of Boeing's Wichita division, including the building of 100 B-29 Superfortresses a month.

Edward McMaster to Governor Andrew Schoeppel
Creator: McMaster, Edward
Date: April 15, 1945
In this letter to Governor Schoeppel, Lieutenant Edward McMaster, Information and Education Officer for the Headquarters, 8th Fighter Group, at San Fransico, California, asks Schoeppel for information concerning various fields of employment in Kansas.

Edwin Lee Booth to Local Board #1 of Olathe, Kansas
Creator: Booth, Edwin Lee
Date: July 10, 1943
This letter from Edwin Lee Booth of Mission, Kansas, describes his reasons for not reporting to the Civilian Public Service (CPS) camp at Hill City, South Dakota. Booth, a motorcycle mechanic, argues that his duty as minister prohibits him from working for the U.S. government. The CPS camp at Hill City was built to help support the completion of the Deerfield Dam which was designed to provide water for Rapid City, South Dakota, as well as much of the surrounding countryside.

E. E. Baird and Governor Andrew Schoeppel Correspondence
Creator: Baird, E.E.
Date: August 20, 1945
In this letter to Governor Schoeppel, E.E. Baird of Wichita Kansas, asks the governor to use his "good offices and influence on Washington" to speed-up the return of Kansas soldiers who served in World War II. Like many Americans, Baird was anxious to have the troops home following the official end of World War II. However, as Schoeppel's reply indicates, immediate demobilization for all military members was impossible.

E. J. Brosa to Governor Andrew F. Schoeppel
Creator: Broza, E. J.
Date: February 16, 1944
E. J. Brosa, a farmer living near Valley Falls (Jefferson County) writes to Governor Andrew F. Schoeppel of Topeka (Shawnee County) requesting an Italian prisoner be sent to his farm as a laborer. The United States military held Axis prisoners of war at internment camps at several locations in Kansas. The use of war prisoners as farm laborers was a controversial issue for local communities. Some citizens worried about personal and community security and the protection of military intelligence. Other citizens were concerned about the shortage of farm labor and resented Axis prisoners being allowed to work their farms while their children were off fighting the war.

Elmer Jackson to Harold Stauffer
Creator: Jackson, Elmer C. (Elmer Carter), 1912-
Date: November 21, 1945
This letter, from Elmer Jackson of the Kansas branch of the N.A.A.C.P. to Harold Stauffer, Chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents, details the difficulties faced by African American students at the Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia.

For immediate release
Creator: Boeing Airplane Company
Date: January 2, 1945
This news release from the Boeing Airplane Company details the absence percentage for workers at the company's manufacturing plant in Wichita, Kansas.

Forrest Jeffries to the U.S. Department of Justice
Creator: Jeffries, Forrest
Date: April 21, 1943
Forrest Jeffries wrote to the U.S. Department of Justice concerning difficulties faced by Jehovah's Witnesses in Scott City, Kansas, beginning in June of 1942. According to Jeffries' account, the Scott City Jehovah's Witnesses were threatened with violence and told to stop handing out their magazines. Jeffries and several other Jehovah's Witnesses were taken to jail in order to keep them safe from mob violence.

Francisco Moralez to Andrew Schoeppel
Creator: Moralez, Francisco
Date: September 7, 1945
This letter, from Francisco Moralez to Governor Schoeppel, details Moralez's experiences upon returning to Kansas after the end of World War II. Despite being a Mexican American U.S. Army veteran, Moralez faced a great deal of difficulty when attempting to readjust to civilian life due to the racism and discrimination that continued to exist at the end of the war.

Frank Black and Governor Andrew Schoeppel coresspondence
Date: April 07, 1943-April 14, 1943
This correspondence addresses the possibility of bringing Japanese Americans to Kansas as laborers. In the first item, from The Topeka Building and Construction Trades Council, Frank Black, Secretary-Treasurer of the Council, argues that Japanese Americans laborers should not be brought to Kansas because of their "uncanny, treacherous, and barbarian instinct." Furthermore, Black contends that men such as himself will "never submit to any program which will elevate these barbarians to a point of superiority or even on a par with those who are doing our fighting." The second item, a letter from Mr. Black to Governor Schoeppel, explains that The Topeka Building and Construction Trades Council has sent its concerns to Mr. Leiker, and Kansas's Senators and Representatives in Washington. The final item, dated April 14, 1943, contains Governor Schoeppel's response to Mr. Black. In the letter, Governor Schoeppel explains that the idea to bring Japanese Americans to Kansas was developed by the U.S. Government, not by anyone in Kansas.