Business and Organizational Records

The Kansas State Historical Society collects the unpublished records of businesses, associations, churches, clubs, and other organizations in Kansas and the surrounding region. more information

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American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada, Local 36-665
This collection was created by various Topeka Musical Association/American Federation of Musicians, Local 36-665 (TMA/AFM), secretary - treasurers, whose duties included attending all meetings; keeping correct minutes of the proceedings; receiving communications; answering communications; receiving applications; transferring cards for membership; collecting all dues & fines; and keeping an accurate account of said dues, disbursements & cash income.

American War Mothers, 1927-1976
Minutes, membership roles and scrapbooks are included in this collection which records this patriotic group from the time of its organization to its disbandment.

Bureau of Indian Affairs, Central Classified Files, 1907-1939
This microfilm collection includes only part of a multi-part microfilm publication, 25 reels from a series titled "Tribal Delegations to Washington". For more information on the BIA archives, visit the following sites, National Archives or Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Records, 1879-1933
This collection contains one series of records of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Company, 1879-1933, documenting contractual and other relationships with subsidiary and other railroads in the region. The files are primarily from the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Company and its close affiliate, The Chicago Kansas and Nebraska Railway Company, ranging from 1880 to 1927.

Records of the Central Superintendency of Indian Affairs, 1813-1878
The Central Superintendency was established in 1851 as the successor to the St. Louis Superintendency. Originally it was responsible for most of the Indians in what is now Kansas & Nebraska and in the upper regions of the Missouri, Platte, & Arkansas Rivers in the Dakotas, Wyoming, & Colorado. With the establishment of new superintendences, it gradually became responsible for only the Indian Territory (present Kansas and Oklahoma). Included are documents relating to negotiation & enforcement of treaties; land surveys & allotments; Indian removal; annuity & other payments; Indian delegations; intrusions on Indian lands; traders & licenses; enforcement of federal laws & regulations; hostilities & military operations; depredation claims; location of agencies; school attendance & curricula and medical treatment.

Eicholtz & Sons, 1881-1951
The major part of this collection consists of “Undertaker’s Register and Account Books,” 1881-1944. These books are a record of undertaking services performed by the Eicholtz family and employees. Because this firm was Abilene’s only funeral home for many years, these records may serve as a fairly-complete register of deaths and funerals in the Abilene area.

Forgotten Settlers of Kansas Collection, 1983-ongoing
This collection, generated by a Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies program recognizing early Kansas settlers, contains items submitted that document pioneers profiled in published volumes. Among the materials researchers will find in this collection: extracts or copies of censuses, marriage licenses or certificates, obituaries, birth certificates, deed records, newspaper articles and military pension records, mostly from the Civil War.

General Federation of Women's Clubs of Kansas
The General Federation of Women’s Clubs of Kansas (GFWCK) is the State affiliate of an international women’s organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. Kansas club women represent the full spectrum of lifestyles of women today: married, single, with or without children, homemakers, women in the marketplace, professional women, career women — all interested in self improvement as well as community improvement.

Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Kansas Records, ca. 1878-1945
The records of the Grand Army of the Republic, Kansas Department, held by the Kansas State Historical Society are important for their documentation of Civil War veterans, military pensions and benefits, and regional and national political issues in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This guide includes a history of the organization and a list of state department commanders, and descriptions of the administrative records of the state department and the records created by local GAR posts and their auxiliaries.

Great Plains Association of Chemistry Teachers in Liberal Arts Colleges Collection, 1966-1985
The members of this association were Chemistry teachers at non-tax supported colleges in central states including Kansas. The group disbanded in 1980. There is annual meeting correspondence, membership lists and other miscellaneous materials.

Hotel Cottage (Montezuma, Kan.) Register, 1887-1890, and Scrapbook [ca. 1897]
Dr. T. J. Wheeler established the Hotel Cottage (or Montezuma Hotel) in 1886 or 1887 in Montezuma, Kans. The hotel is presumed to have closed by 1895. This collection includes the guest register of the hotel from 1887-1890. The register was alternately used as scrapbook, journal, and copybook, ca. 1897-.

Indian Mission Schools, 1837-1879
Correspondence between Indian agents and the missionaries in Kansas are featured in this collection. They are primarily from the Annual Reports of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs published by the US Office of Indian Affairs. The reports range in subject matter from the number of Indian converts to the number of indian children attending school. Some reports mention the children by name. There were also policy recommendations which include allotment and restrictions on the sale of liquor to indians.

Jacob Hait Papers, 1863-1931
This collection includes record books of B’nai Jeshurun, a conservative Jewish congregation established in Leavenworth, Kansas in 1859. There are receipt books for the Jewish men’s fraternity, the Independent Order of B’nai B’rith Sholem Lodge No. 78. Also contained in this collection is a ledger book for the Sons of Truth, an organization that administered a Jewish Cemetery. Business ledgers for the Jacob Hait Furniture Company can also be found here.

John L. Hodson Collection of Non-Santa Fe Railroad Documents, 1890-1980
John Hodson collected materials on six railroads the Missouri-Kansas Texas Railroad; the Missouri Pacific Lines; the Quanah, Acme and Pacific; the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway Company; the Southern Pacific Railroad; and the Union Pacific Railroad. This collection offers railroad standards and standard plans (i.e. blueprints of railroad cars, track, locomotives, and railroad equipment.) Railroad enthusiasts will find these records especially valuable with restoration projects.

George M. Hoover Account Books, 1883-1885
One of the founders of Dodge City, Kansas, Hoover was one of the few proprieters who stopped serving liquor at his saloon during prohibition. This collection includes records of purchases for beverages and groceries for his business. He served as mayor for the town from 1876-1883 and was the man who contracted with Wyatt Earp to act as lawman when Dodge City's reputation for rowdiness became widespread.

Hyer Boot Company, 1876-1988
This collection consists of a wide variety of papers of the C.H. Hyer & Sons Boot Company of Olathe, Kansas, 1876-1988, including catalogues, scrapbooks, order forms, newspaper clippings photographs, as well as other material. The only financial records exist in the form of account books ranging from 1896 to 1923. The only minutes of meetings are for a stockholders' meeting in 1966.

Kansas Association of Commerce and Industry Records, 1927-1987
The purpose and objective of this organization is to promote and attract business and industry in Kansas, to limit government intervention in private enterprise and to educate businessmen in economic and business practices. Many of the records in this collection refer to the organization's role as a lobbyist at the state and federal level and show how unified Kansas businesses can be a strong force in politics. Other records in this collection are concerned with democracy, communism, social welfare programs, education, and advertising.

Kansas Association of School Librarians, 1949-1984
The collection covers the association from its beginnings (1949) to the present. Because there has always been a History and Archives Committee, coverage of those years is fairly equal, although in some series records are retained by KASL longer than in others. The records of the KASL portray the growth of a vocation struggling toward professionalization. They also shed light on women’s and men’s participation in a largely female-dominated profession.

Kansas Bar Association, 1883-1989
These records primarily document the operation of a state bar association through correspondence, committee records, minutes of meetings, membership files, and financial records; discuss important legal issues; and contain correspondence with other bar associations. Unfortunately, the chronological continuity is scattered. This collection contains few records prior to 1952.

Kansas Press Women
Statewide organization of Kansas communications professionals founded as Kansas Press Women in 1941 to promote high standards, foster professional development & the exchange of ideas, provide mutual assistance, and protect the rights of the press. Correspondence, subject files, financial records, membership files, reports, publications, conference materials, clippings, and other records of Kansas Professional Communicators.

Kansas State Historical Society Education/Outreach Division, 1983-1999
The Education and Outreach division of the Kansas State Historical Society has the task of facilitating public understanding and appreciation of Kansas’ history and culture through the dissemination of information. This collection includes rough drafts of numerous articles on a variety of subjects that were submitted for Kansas History, and agency publication. There is also information on the Traveling Trunk program and book reviews.

Kansas State Nurse's Association, 1912-1981
This organization was born in an effort to persuade the Kansas Legislature to enact a Nurse's Registration law in 1912. Later, the group focused on improving professional and educational standards thoughout the state. The records in this collection span several decades and are a recorded history of the KSNA.

Kansas Women's Temperance Union/Mary Evelyn Dobbs Collection, 1885-1940
The record of the Kansas Woman’s Christian Temperance Union contributes to an understanding of the temperance movement, especially in Kansas. It also provides a perspective on women’s role in Kansas during 1885-1940.

Kanwaka Literary Club Record, 1992-1997
Organized in 1899 in the Kanwaka community west of Lawrence, Kansas, this club was designed to provide an outlet for women's social and intellectual needs. The record books generally list the member's names, dates of attendance, location of meeting and the minutes of the programs. Available on microfilm through interlibrary loan.

The Land Institute Collection, 1974-ongoing
The Land Institute is a non-profit research and educational organization devoted to the development of alternative forms of agriculture. Established near Salina, Kansas, in 1976 by Wes and Dana Jackson, it's devoted to finding a type of agriculture that mimics the native prairie of Kansas, does not deplete natural resources, and promotes prosperous communities. The collection includes correspondence, itineraries, financial records, research materials, newspaper and magazine articles, and speeches.

Leonardville United Methodist Church Records, 1882-1999
Collection includes records of church members, baptisms, marriages, deaths and funerals, correspondence, mergers with other churches, fires, building construction records and blueprints, and notes concerning the churches' history and anniversaries. Available on microfilm through interlibrary loan.

The Leavenworth Depot & Railway Company, 1887-1960
The Leavenworth Depot & Railway Company was created by several railroad companies to provide services and maintenance at the depot. Formed in 1887, the company remained active until 1960. This collection includes minutes from board and stockholder meetings, correspondence, and financial records.

Mann & Company Papers, 1911-2004
This Hutchinson architectural firm was founded in 1908 by Arthur Mann, and after weathering several partnerships, adopted the name Mann & Company. The collection includes a list of day care, educational and hotel projects done 1911 through 2004.

Margrave Family Papers, 1861-1961
The Margrave family, descended from the Sac and Fox, owned land in southeast Nebraska and northeast Kansas which they used for cattle ranching. This collection consists of the papers relating to the ranching business, including real estate papers, stock certificates and account ledgers. There are also reproductions of fifty-two photographs.

The Menninger MS Collection, 1920-1999
The Menninger Clinic, has enjoyed an international reputation for innovations in psychiatric care. This collection is broken down in to three parts; family papers, business records from the Menninger Foundation, and papers from those who have treated the mentally ill or been their advocates. In addition to the Menningers, the researcher will find correspondence, notes, articles and lectures from many familiar names including Sigmund Freud, Dorthea Dix, Florence Nightingale, and Benjamin Rush.

Mills Building Company Collection, 1909-1919
This collection consists of financial records for The Mills Building Company. It includes articles of incorporation, account books, and ledgers.

National Letter Carriers Association, Wichita Papers, 1891-2003
The NALC in Wichita, Kansas, was organized in April of 1891 as an advocate for U. S. Post office employees. This collection represents the efforts of a local union to get better pay, better working conditions and better benefits for its members. The records include By-laws and the mintes of regular, special and Executive Committee meetings.

Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas, 1915-2004
The Native Sons, first organized in 1902, and the Native Daughters, founded in 1915, merged to form the Native Sons and Daughters in 1919. In keeping with the organization’s goal of preserving Kansas history, one of the group’s first projects was championing a bill before the state legislature providing for an appropriation to improve John Brown Park in Osawatomie.

New England Emigrant Aid Company Papers, 1854-1897
Official records and correspondence of organization established in 1854 to promote settlement of Kansas Territory by antislavery Northerners. Available on microfilm through interlibrary loan.

Pleasant Hour Club Records, 1902 - 1939
The Pleasant Hour Club was organized in 1899 in Wakarusa Township, west of Lawrence, Kansas, to provide an outlet for women interested in educational topics and current events. The membership of the Pleasant Hour Club included women who lived in the Brackett Rural School District No. 54. This area has since been absorbed by the City of Lawrence. Many of the members were also members of the Kanwaka Literary Society. The Pleasant Hour Club disbanded around 1960. The records include meeting minutes and historical notes about the club. Available on microfilm through interlibrary loan.

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Presbytery of Southern Kansas
Records of the Saxman United Presbyterian Church, 1913-1989 (series 1), the Stafford United Presbyterian Church, 1895-1984 (series 2), and the West Side Presbyterian Church of Wichita, Kan., 1907-1997 (series 3). The contents of the three series is rather incomplete. There are no minutes of meetings of the governing boards of any of these three churches. Sabbath school records abound in the first two series. Stafford church records offer the most diversity. West Side Church records concentrate mainly on property records and the 75th building anniversary.

Roosevelt Jr. High School Collection, 1938-1980
Roosevelt located at 211 Buchanan, was built in 1926. Researchers can access the school's ledgers, literary annals, papers and letters on school functions, and the "Roosevelt Celebration" in 1980

Salmagundi Club (Garden City, KS), 1902-1989
Women's mutual-improvement club, of Garden City, Kan., founded in 1901. Included are minutes, yearbooks, and other records. Minutes are lacking for 1915/1916-Dec. 1927 and Feb. 1932-Mar. 1935. Yearbooks begin with the 1905/1906 club year.

St. Joseph Catholic Church (Topeka, KS) Records, 1887-2002
Originally established by German/Russian immigrants in the late 1880's, St. Joseph's offered mass in German until the 1930s. The records in this collection include baptismal, confirmation, first communion, death, and marriage records of the church, kept in 11 volumes. There are no administrative records in the collection. As with most catholic churches of the period, administrative records were usually sent to the archives of the diocese or archdiocese. Available on microfilm through interlibrary loan.

Charles Monroe Sheldon/Central Congregational Church Collection, 1811-1984
Sheldon is best remembered for his internationa bestseller, In His Steps , which posed the question, "What would Jesus Do?" This collection contains Sheldon's sermons and notes as well as the In His Steps papers. It also includes records from the Central Congregational church, particularly on its clubs and members. Only some of the sermons are on microfilm.

Socialism History Collection, 1910-1956
Political movement favoring government ownership, increased power for Labor, social equality, and other liberal causes. Expressed by the Socialist Party of Kansas, formed after the Populist Party lost power in the 1890s. More influential in southeast Kansas and among immigrant groups. Primarily records of the Socialist Party of Kansas. The collection contains correspondence, newsletters, member lists, financial records, minutes of meetings, constitutions, ballots, publications, and other materials.

Third Presbyterian Church, Topeka, Kansas
The Third Prebyterian Church was organized in December of 1881 in Topeka, Kansas and led by Reverand J.W. Crawford. This collection includes records covering church registration, finances, attendance, education, church societies, and the Board of Trustees.

Topeka CemeteryRecords, 1859-1938
The Topeka Cemetery was established 1859 by Franklin L. Crane; of Topeka, Kan.
The original records (5 v.) documenting burials in the cemetery. Each entry shows the interment number; name of the deceased; year, month, day, & place of birth; year, month, & day of death; residence; year, month, & day of interment; disease (cause of death); names of relatives &, often, relationship to the decedent; and the lot, section, & grave number or other specific location. Volumes 2 and 3 of the numerical series (no. 2) also provide undertaker’s names.

Topeka League of Women Voters, 1920-1982
This group was originally created to organize the push for women's sufferage. After the enactment of the Nineteenth Amendment, the TLWV adopted as its new goals, educating new women citizens, working for needed legislation, and encouraging citizens' more active participation in government. Included in this collection are records, bulletins and materials relating to issues of the day as well as studies conducted by the League.

Topeka Y.W.C.A., 1887-1986
The Young Women’s Christian Association’s original goals were to offer safe accommodations to single women while helping them find t employment. The organization changed and expanded to meet community needs through various groups and activities. The process and direction of this growth is chronicled through the Board of Director meeting notes, departmental reports, and a history of events dating from 1887-1951.

United Presbyterian Church of Lyndon Records, 1893-1961
Records include minutes describing types of services & instruction, co-operation with other churches, membership, elections, furnishings & equipment, clergy changes, and music; included are names of members who joined and left the church. Available on microfilm through interlibrary loan.


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