Firing cannons on the state capitol grounds for Governor George Docking's inauguration
Date: January 12, 1959
This is a photograph showing the Kansas National Guard firing cannons on the state capitol grounds at Governor George Docking's inauguration. Governor Docking, a Democrat, served from 1957 to 1961.

George Docking
Date: Between January 14, 1957 and January 9, 1961
This is an informal portrait of Governor George Docking, 1904-1964, sitting at his desk signing paperwork at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kansas. Docking, a native of Clay Center, Kansas, served as a Democratic governor of Kansas from 1957 to 1961. His son, Robert B. Docking, 1925-1983, served as a Democratic governor of Kansas from 1967 to 1975.

George Docking
Date: Between 1957 and 1961
This portrait shows George Docking, 1904-1964, a native of Clay Center, Kansas. He served as the Democratic governor of Kansas from 1957 to 1961. His son, Robert B. Docking, 1925-1983, also served as a Democratic governor of Kansas from 1967 to 1975.

George Docking
Date: Between January 14, 1957 and January 9, 1961
This portrait shows George Docking, 1904-1964, a native of Clay Center, Kansas. He served as the Democratic governor of Kansas from 1957 to 1961. His son, Robert B. Docking, 1925-1983, also served as a Democratic governor of Kansas from 1967 to 1975.

Governor George Docking
Creator: Richards, Donald P.
Date: 1958
This is a photograph of Governor George Docking (1904-1964) sitting at his desk in the Kansas capitol. Docking, a native of Clay Center, Kansas, served as a Democratic governor of Kansas from 1957 to 1961. His son, Robert B. Docking, 1925-1983, served as a Democratic governor of Kansas from 1967 to 1975.

Kansas State Reprsentative Roland Hug and Kansas Governor Robert Docking
Date: 1968-1972
This photographs shows Kansas State Representative Roland Hug with Kansas Governor Robert Docking.

Killer, 21, spared as governor acts
Creator: Topeka State Journal Company
Date: April 12, 1960
A Topeka State Journal article reports on Governor George Docking's opposition to capital punishment. Docking commuted the death sentence of Bobby Joe Spencer to life in prison. Spencer was sentenced to death by the Wyandotte County District Court for killing his landlady. The Governor's strong opposition to capital punishment partly explains the eight year hiatus on state-sponsored executions in Kansas between 1954-1962.

Political "triple play" resignations and oaths of office
Creator: Kansas. Secretary of State
Date: 1956-1958
This item contains the resignations of Fred Hall and William A. Smith and the oaths of office for John McCuish, Fred Hall, and George Docking. These records are part of what is known as the political "triple play" involving Kansas Governor Hall, Lieutenant Governor John B. McCuish, and William Smith, the Chief Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court. Incumbent Governor Hall was defeated in the 1956 Republican primary by Warren Shaw, who lost in the general election to George Docking. Then Chief Justice Smith resigned from the Supreme Court due to ill health on December 31, Hall quickly resigned as governor on January 3, 1957, and Lieutenant Governor McCuish became governor for the next eleven days. McCuish immediately appointed Hall to the newly vacated Supreme Court seat. While perfectly legal, this sequence of actions was considered by many to be highly unethical. In response to the "triple play," the 1957 Kansas legislature passed a resolution for a constitutional amendment concerning the way judges were appointed. The amendment was passed in the 1958 general election.

Program for Governor George Docking's inauguration
Date: January 14, 1957
This is a program for Kansas Governor George Docking's inauguration held at the Municipal Auditorium in Topeka, Kansas. Governor George Docking, a Democrat, served from 1957 to 1961.

Remember in November Docking stands for you!
Date: 1970
A 1970 campaign brochure with an eye on the cover and the slogan "Keep your eye on the future of Kansas". Inside, an image of Robert Docking is featured, along with a pop up image of him and the campaign slogan, "Docking stands for you". In his re-election for governor, Docking has listed his accomplishments during his previous administrations to reassure voters that he will keep an eye on the future of Kansas.

Richard Eugene Hickock inmate case file
Creator: Kansas State Penitentiary
Date: 1959 - 1965
The Kansas State Penitentiary case file on Richard Hickock, inmate number 14746. Hickock and his accomplice, Perry Smith, were convicted of first degree murder for the brutal 1959 killings of Herb and Bonnie Clutter, their daughter, Nancy, and son, Kenyon, in Holcomb, Kansas. The murders inspired the non-fiction novel "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote. Hickock was executed by hanging on April 14, 1965. Please note that some images have been removed in accordance with K.S.A. 45-221(a)(29) and have been labeled with pages indicating their removal. Additional redactions of personally identifiable information made in accordance with K. S. A. 2005 Supp. 45-221(a)(30).