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The Great Topeka Flood album

This album was created by Bob Obenhaus in 1951 while he was a senior and a member of the photography club at Highland Park High School. The flooding of the Kansas River caused widespread damage across Topeka, which Obenhaus captured comprehensively on film. His photographs include flooded businesses, grain elevators, railroads, hotels, bridges, the Owl Ball Park, homes, and overall views of the city from the Capitol dome. The digitization of this project was funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Creator: Obenhaus, Robert
Date: July 01, 1951

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The Great Topeka Flood album - Cover of photograph album created by Bob Obenhaus, 2501 Ohio, Topeka, Kansas in 1951. Bob was a high school student at the time and was in the photography club.The Great Topeka Flood album - Cover photo of Mrs. Obenhaus reading the front page of the July 13, 1951, issue of the Topeka Daily Capital. The headline states "Worst Flood Paralyzes Topeka." She is seated in a chair in a room in their home.The Great Topeka Flood album - A view of the flooded Kansas river, including a flooded or washed out bridge, possibly a railroad bridge. There is a sign saying Kansas River.The Great Topeka Flood album - Mrs. Obenhaus is holding the front page of the July 13, 1951, Topeka State Journal. The headline says "Brickyard, Sardou Bridges Go Out." She is seated in an overstuffed chair in a room in her home.The Great Topeka Flood album - View of flooding. The water in the foreground is apparently overflow from the Kansas River, which is in the background. There is some type of a flooded automobile bridge in the middle of the photo.The Great Topeka Flood album - This photo shows detail of a metal bridge for automobiles. This view shows the previous view in the background.The Great Topeka Flood album - This is a view of a flooded road and bridge. Two automobiles and a portion of a billboard are in the foreground as well as debris.The Great Topeka Flood album - This photo is similar to the previous photo but is shot from a different angle.The Great Topeka Flood album - Mr. Obenhaus is reading the Topeka State Journal. The date is not visible but the headline reads "Crest Above The Great Topeka Flood album - View of Third Street and Kansas Avenue, looking north. Two trucks and a row boat with three men in it are in the middle of the street. A man is also walking in knee high water. Businesses visible include a Budweiser distributor, the "Motor Inn Garage"The Great Topeka Flood album - This photo shows a flooded Socony-Vacuum Oil Co. Inc. Grain elevators are in the background.The Great Topeka Flood album - The Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe freight depot is shown in the photo with flood water in the foreground.

The Great Topeka Flood album - Cover of photograph album created by Bob Obenhaus, 2501 Ohio, Topeka, Kansas in 1951. Bob was a high school student at the time and was in the photography club.

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About this item

Item Number: 440499
Call Number: FK2.S5 T.4 FL.1951 *369-592
KSHS Identifier: DaRT ID: 440499

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