This black and white photograph shows a fleet of United States Army tanks on flatcars at the New York Central embarkation yard to be shipped overseas for World War II operations. Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
This is a photograph showing Howard Athon, Eunice Roberta Tournade, Merrill Dean Athon and Robert Eugene Athon posed by the Athon's Alexander Eaglerock bi-plane in Topeka, Kansas. Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
These dart points were found at the Trowbridge archeological site (14WY1), in Wyandotte County, and donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 1973. Trowbridge is a Kansas City Hopewell site from the Early Ceramic Period. During this time archeologists find evidence of houses, cultivated plants, and decorated pottery. These broad dart points were flintknapped from non-local chert, mounted to the dart fore shaft, and then thrown with an atlatl. Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
This artifact was found on the surface of the Ladder Creek Tipi Ring site (14WT302), a camp site in Wichita County, Kansas. It was made of Dakota Sandstone, likely hafted on a handle, and used to scrap hides. It would have required periodic resharpening. Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
This quartzite biface was recovered as an isolated find in Wichita County, Kansas. Archeologists use the term "isolated find" when only one artifact is found at a location. A biface like this one could have been used as a cutting tool or, with more work, turned into a specific tool. Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
This is a photograph showing Howard Athon's Alexander Eaglerock bi-plane at the Topeka Airport, Rooney Field in Topeka, Kansas. Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
These marbles were excavated from Fort Hays in Ellis County in 1966. They are made of clay and glass and represent hours of fun at the fort. Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
This nearly complete bottle was found in 1966 at historic Fort Hays in Ellis County. The bottle probably post dates the occupation at the fort, but is still an interesting addition to the Kansas Historical Society's archeological collection. The bottle's bottom side announces it was "Registered Trade-Marked" and "Made in Austria." It was made for the Colby Bottling Works of Colby, Kansas. What could it have held? Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
This scrapbook contains clippings and photos documenting Lee Dodson's 1947 season with the Topeka Owls minor league baseball team. With an 18-4 record and an ERA of 2.37, Dodson led the Class C Western Association that year in both winning percentage and earned run average. Dodson was a right-handed power pitcher from Topeka. As a youth, he played in Topeka High's intramural league and the American Legion's Junior Baseball program. After serving in the Army during World War II, Dodson pitched professionally in the minor leagues from 1946 through 1950. In 141 game appearances, he earned 37 wins against 35 losses, and had an ERA of 3.76. Besides Topeka, Dodson pitched for the Chanute Owls, Kansas City Blues, Newark Bears, Muskegon Clippers and Beaumont Roughnecks. After the minor leagues, he pursued a career in education, serving for many years as the Dean of Students at Washburn University. Throughout his adult life, Dodson was a leader in Topeka's baseball community. Over the years, he founded and managed several leagues, and managed and coached countless teams. He also was co-founder and president of the Topeka Baseball Federation. Known as Topeka's 'Mr. Baseball,' Lee Dodson died in 2013 at the age of 89. Digital reproduction of the scrapbook was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame. Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Emilio 'Murph' Malattia of the Topeka Owls minor league baseball team is pictured in this snapshot from 1947. Malattia's minor league career spanned eight seasons between 1937 and 1949, but was interrupted during World War II because of his service in the military. Following the war, he resumed his career in 1946 with the Class D Chanute Owls, an affiliate of the Topeka Owls. He was promoted to the Class C Topeka Owls in 1947, and played again for Topeka in 1949. Malattia was known for his defensive skills as a first baseman, but he also was adept at the plate, hitting .290 in 829 minor league games. Malattia, a native of Illinois, returned to the Chicago area after his professional baseball career, and for many years ran a tavern in Cicero that was first opened by his father. In 1979, Murph Malattia was murdered by intruders who burglarized the tavern. Digital reproduction of the photograph was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame. Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
This is a photograph of Charles F. Forsyth, who was born April 2, 1921 in Valley Falls, Kansas. After receiving his education, he became an attorney and established a law practice in Erie, Kansas. In 1961, Forsyth, a Republican, was elected to the Kansas State Senate representing District 13. He served from 1961 to 1964. Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Ray 'Scooter' McLean, center fielder for the Topeka Owls minor league baseball team, is shown in this photo from 1947. McLean, who batted .271 during his only season in Topeka, was better known for his professional football career. He played halfback for the Chicago Bears for eight seasons (1940-47); the Bears won four championships during his tenure with the team. McLean later coached football at the collegiate and professional levels, including a one-year stint as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers. After leading the Packers to a franchise-worst record of 1-10-1 in 1958, McLean was replaced by Vince Lombardi. Digital reproduction of the photograph was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame. Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
This is a photograph showing (left to right) Sarah Emma Preston Lanning, Hallie Lanning Athon, and Aaron Lane Lanning possibly at the Lanning home in Melvern, Kansas. Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
These two photographs from 1949 were taken in the lobby of Topeka's Grand Theater during a promotion for the film, 'Top O' The Morning,' starring Bing Crosby. An element in the film's storyline involved a recording made with Dictaphone's Time-Manager dictating machine. In the promotion, moviegoers were invited to send greetings to hospitalized veterans by recording their message with the Time-Manager. Modeling use of the equipment in the photo is Donna Coffman, a secretary with Thacher, Inc., the Topeka distributor for Dictaphone. With her is the district manager for Fox Midwest Theaters. Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
This map shows oil and land ownership in Johnson County, Kansas. The map was distributed by Hedrick Abstract & Guaranty Company of Olathe, Kansas, and road information was provided by Kansas Engineering Company. Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
This is a map compiled by A.W. Kuchler showing the potential natural vegetation of Kansas. A legend has been provided that identifies the shaded regions and their native flora. Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Comprehensive Transportation Program, House Bill No. 2071 signed by Governor William Graves. Graves signed the historic 10-year, $13-billion comprehensive transportation program into law improving highways,railroad infrastructure, airports, and public transit service in Kansas. The framed copy includes a note to Dean Carlson and the ceremonial pen. E. Dean Carlson led the Kansas Department of Transportation for all eight years of the Graves administration. Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Pair of woman's black suede, high-heeled pumps. The shoes are decorated with a subtle, perforated design, black patent leather trim, and a small bow. The shoes were made by the Selby Shoe Company as part of their "Styl-EEZ" line, which was popular in the 1940s. A mark in one shoe indicates that the style was made expressly for the John Braitsch Shoe Company of Wichita, Kansas. According to city directories, Braitsch operated a shoe store in Wichita as early as the 1870s. Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
