1963-1964 Kansas Legislature
Date: Between January 01, 1963 and December 31, 1964
This roster represents the Kansas Legislature in office from 1963 to 1964 while Govenror John Anderson Jr. was in office.

Anonymous resident to the governor's wife
Date: August 20, 1963
An anonymous Kansas resident writes the wife of Governor John Anderson Jr. of Topeka concerning a proposed atheist colony near Stockton, Kansas. The author expresses her opposition to the colony and regards it as a plot of communist Russia. Madalyn Murray [O'Hair] of Baltimore, Maryland, proposed the colony after the Supreme Court decision in Murray v. Curlett (1963) declared prayer in schools unconstitutional. Ms. Murray formed Other Americans, Inc. (a Maryland corporation) to advance atheist interests and establish an atheist colony in Kansas. Carl Brown, a farmer near Stockton and former Kansas state senator, served as a director of that corporation. Mr. Brown, an avowed atheist, deeded 160 acres of land near Stockton to the corporation. During the 1950s and 1960s, the national debate over the role of religion in public life centered on the use of prayer in public schools. Many people associated atheists with communists and approached this issue from the larger context of the cold war. Historical Society staff removed the author's name and place of residence from this copy of the letter to comply with her request for privacy.

Battle of Mine Creek centennail ceremony, Linn County, Kansas
Creator: Kansas Department of Transportation
Date: 1964
This photograph shows from left to right: Governor John Anderson; General Joe Michell, Attorney General of Kansas; Governor John Dalton of Missouri; and Professor William E. Berger of Drury College, Springfield, Missouri. The photograph of these men was taken at the centennial cermony of the Civil War battle at Mine Creek in Linn County, Kansas in October 1964.

Battle of Mine Creek centennial ceremony, Linn County, Kansas
Creator: Kansas Department of Transportation
Date: 1964
These two photographs from the centennial ceremony of the battle at Mine Creek in Linn County, Kansas depicts soldiers dressed in uniform with Governor Dalton of Missouri and Governor Anderson of Kansas.

Comemorating the raising of the 34th star flag
Creator: Schick, Jules
Date: February 22, 1961
A photograph showing Kansas U. S. Senator Andrew F. Schoeppel, far right; Governor John Anderson, second from right; and U. S. Senator Frank Carlson, far left, holding framed engravings of President Lincoln raising of the thirty-four star flag. The engravings were presented at the centennial commemorative ceremonies in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Final report of the Kansas Centennial Commission
Creator: Kansas. Centennial Commission
Date: 1962
This is the final report of the Kansas Centennial Commission which was submitted to Governor John Anderson, Jr. and the Legislature. The Commission was formed for the 1961 observance and celebration of the Kansas Centennial. The report provides information on all of the activities of the Commission. It lists the members of the various committees, the chairman of each county's centennial efforts, and Centennial Commission staff. Maurice Fager, Topeka, served as chair of the Kansas Centennial Commission board of directors and Roger D. Kirkwood was the executive director. Members of the Kansas Centennial Commission Board of Directors were Miss Barbara Aldrich, Mrs. Lois Barrett, Arden Booth, F. W. Brinkerhoff, Rolla Clymer, Jack Harris, Mrs. Frank Hauke, Mrs. Max Jones, Sid Kross, John Montgomery, Z. Arthur Nevins, Jr., Lawrence Smith, and George Stanley. Nyle Miller of the Kansas State Historical Society served as the historical consultant.

Governor John A. Anderson, Jr. taking the oath of office
Creator: Kansas State Historical Society
Date: January 14, 1963
Here are two photographs showing Kansas Governor John A. Anderson, Jr. taking the oath of office. Governor Anderson, a Republican, served from 1961 to 1965.

Governor John Anderson capital punishment received correspondence
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1961-1965 : Anderson)
Date: 1961-1964
Republican politician John Anderson compiled this series of correspondence on capital punishment issues from letters received while governor of Kansas from 1961-1965. The State of Kansas executed fifteen men between 1944 and 1965. Two AWOL soldiers, George York and James Latham, who were hung on June 22, 1965, became the last persons executed before the Supreme Court ruling of 1972 invalidated Kansas' death penalty. In 1976, the U. S. Supreme Court's Gregg vs. Georgia decision allowed states to pass new death penalty laws if they followed certain guidelines, and after much debate, this eventually led to the passage of the 1994 law which permits execution by lethal injection, which Governor Finney refused to sign. That death penalty law was rejected by the Kansas Supreme Court, but then upheld in 2006 by a five to four vote of the U. S. Supreme Court. Although eleven men have received the death sentence since the new law was passed (1994), none have been executed.

Governor John Anderson communism received correspondence
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1961-1965 : Anderson)
Date: 1961-1964
Republican politician John Anderson complied this series of correspondence on communist issues from letters received while governor of Kansas from 1961-1965. Anderson's tenure in office was in the early 1960s and one of the signs of the times was the perceived threat of the Soviet Union and the Cold War in international politics. Ordinary Kansans felt this threat and called upon the governor to do everything in his power to halt the spread of Soviet communism. The communist party had, in fact, been outlawed in other states (Arizona and Arkansas, for example). Of all of the issues of the time, the threat of Soviet expansion and spread of communism probably caused more anxiety and fear than any other. The letters from individual Kansans and organizations such as the Veterans and Citizens Committee Against Communism and the National Indignation Convention reveal a level of anxiety bordering on paranoia.

Governor John Anderson interview
Creator: Beatty, Bob, 1966-
Date: December 15, 2003
Click the thumbnail images below to play clips of Kansas Governor John Anderson discussing his experience as governor of Kansas from January 9, 1961 to January 11, 1965. Bob Beatty, Political Science Department, Washburn University, conducts the interview as part of the Kansas Governors Recorded History and Documentary Project, Dr. Bob Beatty and Washburn University, 2005. A complete transcript of the interview is available by clicking Text Version below. The interview is the basis for Beatty's article "'For the Benefit of the People': A Conversation with Former Governor John Anderson, Jr.," Kansas History, v30 (Winter 2007/2008).

Governor John Anderson Jr. in Governors' Office
Date: January 1, 1961-December 31, 1965
This is a photograph of Governor John Anderson Jr., the thirty-sixth governor of Kansas, surrounded by a group of people holding a U. S. centennial flag in the Governors' Office at the State Capital.

Governors William Henry Avery, Kathleen Sebelius, John Anderson Jr., and John Michael Hayden
Date: May 18, 2005
This photograph represents Kansas Governors William Henry Avery, Kathleen Sebelius, John Anderson Jr., and Mike Hayden.

John Anderson Jr.
Date: 1961
This is a portrait of Governor John Anderson Jr. inscribed to "Monte Canfield with personal regards", dated May 22, 1961. Anderson served in the Kansas Senate from 1953 to 1956, was Attorney General of Kansas from 1956 to 1961, and was the thirty-sixth Governor of Kansas from 1961 to 1965. Anderson was the first governor to occupy Cedar Crest, which became the official residents of Kansas Governors.

John Anderson, Jr.
Date: Between 1952 and 1958
This formal portrait shows John Anderson, Jr., a lawyer and politician from Olathe, Kansas. He began his political career in 1946 when he was elected as county attorney of Johnson County on the Republican ticket. In 1952 Anderson was elected to the Kansas Senate representing District Six of Johnson County. A position he served from 1953 to 1956 before his appointment as Attorney General of Kansas. He served from 1956 to 1961 and won the elections of 1956 and 1958. In the November general election of 1960, Anderson defeated Democratic incumbent George Docking to become the thirty-sixth Governor of Kansas serving from 1961 to 1965. He was also the first Governor to occupy Cedar Crest, which became the official home of the Kansas Governor.

John Anderson, Jr.
Date: 1961
This photograph shows Kansas Governor John Anderson, Jr., receiving a Kansas Centennial Model "G" Colt during ceremonies at the Santa Fe Trail Caravan in Council Grove, Kansas. The men to the right have been identified as Charles Kidwell, a representative of the Colt Arms Company and H.W. Brawley, Deputy U.S. Postmaster General from Washington, D.C.

John Anderson, Jr.
Date: Between 1958 and 1960
This formal portrait shows John Anderson, Jr., a lawyer and politician from Olathe, Kansas. He began his political career in 1946 when he was elected as county attorney of Johnson County on the Republican ticket. In 1952 Anderson was elected to the Kansas Senate representing District Six of Johnson County. A position he served from 1953 to 1956 before his appointment as Attorney General of Kansas. He served from 1956 to 1961 and won the elections of 1956 and 1958. In the November general election of 1960, Anderson defeated Democratic incumbent George Docking to become the thirty-sixth Governor of Kansas serving from 1961 to 1965. He was also the first Governor to occupy Cedar Crest, which became the official home of the Kansas Governor.

John Anderson, Jr.
Date: January 1, 1953-December 31, 1963
This formal portrait shows John Anderson, Jr., a lawyer and politician from Olathe, Kansas. He begins his political career in 1946 when he is elected as a Republican for county attorney of Johnson County. In 1952 Anderson is elected to the Kansas Senate representing District Sixth of Johnson County. A position he serves from 1953 to 1956 before his appointment as Attorney General of Kansas. He serves from 1956 to 1961 and wins the elections of 1956 and 1958. In the November general election of 1960, Anderson defeats Democratic incumbent George Docking to become the thirty-sixth governor of Kansas serving from 1961 to 1965. He is also the first governor to occupy Cedar Crest, which became the official home of the Kansas Governor.

John Anderson, Jr.,
Date: between 1961 and 1965
This colored portrait shows John Anderson, Jr., a lawyer and politician from Olathe, Kansas. He begins his political career in 1946 when he is elected as a Republican for county attorney of Johnson County. In 1952 Anderson is elected to the Kansas Senate representing District Sixth of Johnson County. A position he serves from 1953 to 1956 before his appointment as Attorney General of Kansas. He serves from 1956 to 1961 and wins the elections of 1956 and 1958. In the November general election of 1960, Anderson defeats Democratic incumbent George Docking to become the thirty-sixth governor of Kansas serving from 1961 to 1965. He is also the first governor to occupy Cedar Crest, which became the official home of the Kansas Governor.

John Anderson, Jr.
Date: Between 1961 and 1965
This formal portrait shows John Anderson, Jr., a lawyer and politician from Olathe, Kansas. He begins his political career in 1946 when he is elected as a Republican for county attorney of Johnson County. In 1952 Anderson is elected to the Kansas Senate representing District Sixth of Johnson County. A position he serves from 1953 to 1956 before his appointment as Attorney General of Kansas. He serves from 1956 to 1961 and wins the elections of 1956 and 1958. In the November general election of 1960, Anderson defeats Democratic incumbent George Docking to become the thirty-sixth governor of Kansas serving from 1961 to 1965. He is also the first governor to occupy Cedar Crest, which became the official home of the Kansas Governor.

Kansas centennial ceremony
Date: 1961
This silent film includes footage of Kansas centennial festivities from across the state. The footage includes Kansas Governor John Anderson, Jr. at a flag raising ceremony; a marching band in a football stadium; Dodge City and Santa Fe Trail reenactors; the first Territorial capitol at Pawnee; a parade; airplanes; and Fort Larned.

Re-enacting President Lincoln raising of the 34 star flag
Date: February 22, 1961
A photograph showing Kansas Governor John Anderson Jr. and Rolla Clymer portraying President Lincoln raising the thirty-four star flag in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at a centennial commemorative event.

Richard Dean Rogers and John Anderson Jr.
Date: 1962
A photograph of Richard Dean Rogers at a campaign picnic with Governor John Anderson Jr. and an unidentified man.

Richard Dean Rogers, Beth Stewart Rogers, and Governor John Anderson Jr.
Date: 1962-1964
This is a photograph of state Republicn Party chairman Richard Dean Rogers, Beth Stewart Rogers, and Governor John Anderson Jr. in the Governor's Office at the State Capital in Topeka, 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).

The Rights and Responsibilities of a Kansas Voter
Date: 1960
This is a 1960 campaign pamphlet promoting Attorney General John Anderson, Jr. as the Republican candidate for Kansas Governor. Only the cover of the pamphlet is included here.