Aerial view of Thomas County & Decatur County, Kansas
Creator: Kansas Department of Transportation
Date: 1949
This aerial photograph taken by the Kansas Department of Transportation shows U.S. Highway 83 and U.S Highway 383 along the Thomas County and Decatur County Line.

Albert Henning to George W. Martin
Creator: Henning, Albert
Date: August 16, 1905
In this letter to George W. Martin of the Kansas State Historical Society, Albert Henning describes finding "the body of an indian with a number of bullet holes in his body." According to Henning, the Indian that he found was killed by a party of men from Oberlin who had gathered together in the aftermath of a March 1879 attack by the Northern Cheyenne under Dull Knife.

Arthur Alexander and Christena Randall
Date: Between 1940 and 1945
This is a photograph of Arthur Alexander "Nace" Randall and his wife Christena "Stean" Randall who lived and farmed in Decatur County, Kansas.

Arthur Alexander and Christena Randall's farmhouse in Decatur County, Kansas
Date: Between January 01, 1930 and December 31, 1935
This is a postcard showing three men and a horse standing next to Arthur Alexander Randall's farmhouse in Decatur County, Kansas. A windmill is visible next to the farmhouse.

Arthur Alexander Randall and Elmer Nicholson with horses
Date: Between January 01, 1905 and December 31, 1910
This is a photograph of Arthur Alexander "Nace" Randall and Elmer Nicholson with horses on a farm in Decatur County, Kansas. There is a windmill in the background.

Benton residence, Oberlin, Kansas
Date: December 29, 1912
A postcard showing the Benton residence in Oberlin, Kansas. The postcard is addressed to Flora Albin of Greenfield, Kansas.

Big Timber Band, Decatur County, Kansas
Date: Between 1890 and 1899
This is a photograph of young children and members of the Big Timber Band of Decatur County, Kansas. The children are dressed in uniforms with caps and ribbon sashes.

Bob's Hotel in Jennings, Kansas
Date: Between January 01, 1905 and December 31, 1910
This is a postcard showing people in front of Bob's Hotel in Jennings, Kansas.

Buzzard Roost 248彩票网house, Jennings, Kansas
Date: Between 1880 and 1899
This black and white postcard shows students standing in front of the Buzzard Roost sod 248彩票网house near Jennings, Kansas.

C. C. Evans to Governor Edmund Morrill
Creator: Evans, C. C.
Date: December 24, 1894
The chairman of the Sheridan County Republican Central Committee, C. C. Evans, of Allison (Decatur County), writes Governor Edmund Morrill to inform him of the desperate circumstances facing farmers in western Kansas and to ask the state to furnish seed grain to the farmers. Several years of drought and low crop yields left many farmers without sufficient seed grain for the next season's crops. Evans asks the governor to rally Republican legislators to quickly pass an appropriation for farm relief. The letter claims that Populists have thwarted local efforts to address the problem and that effective actions by Republicans at this time would attract more people in western Kansas to the Republican Party.

Chris and Ellen Nicholson on their farm near Jennings, Kansas
Date: Between January 01, 1910 and December 31, 1915
This is a photograph of Chris and Ellen Nicholson posed with their work horses. The Nicholson farm was located near Jennings, Kansas.

Chris and Ellen Nicholson's farmhouse near Jennings, Kansas
Date: Between 1910 and 1915
This is a photograph of Ellen Nicholson standing on the porch of her farmhouse near Jennings, Kansas.

Christena Nicholson and Ellen Nicholson in a horse drawn carriage
Date: Between January 01, 1900 and December 31, 1905
This is a photograph showing Christena "Steen" Nicholson and her mother Ellen Nicholson in a horse drawn carriage. The photograph was probably taken in Decatur County, Kansas

Christena Randall driving a Ford automobile
Date: Between January 01, 1910 and December 31, 1915
This is a photograph showing Christena "Stean" Randall driving a Ford automobile. The photograph was probably taken in Decatur County, Kansas.

Christena, Velda, Casey and Gladys Nicholson in Decatur County, Kansas
Date: Between January 01, 1905 and December 31, 1910
This is a photograph of Christena Nicholson holding Velda Nicholson and Casey and Gladys Nicholson in Decatur County, Kansas.

Christian and Ellen Nicholson with their granddaughters
Date: 1922
This is a photograph of Christian and Ellen Nicholson and their granddaughters Velda (sitting) and Elma (seated). The parents of the granddaughters were Elmer and Christina (Randall) Nicholson. The photograph was probably taken on the Nicholson farm in Decatur County, Kansas.

Construction on the Masonic Temple in Oberlin, Kansas
Creator: Dyer
Date: Between 1925 and 1930
These four sepia colored postcards show a group of men building the Masonic Temple in Oberlin, Kansas.

Cornet band, Norcatur, Kansas
Creator: Marsh, Ben J., Norton, Kansas
Date: Between 1888 and 1894
This sepia colored photograph shows members from the Cornet Band of Norcatur, Kansas standing with their musical instruments on the steps of an unidentified building.

Council of National Defense Woman's Committee correspondence
Date: 1918
This collection consists of correspondence between individuals and committee members to the state chair of the Woman's Committee of the Kansas Council of National Defense. The Council of National Defense was established at the federal level in 1916 as an emergency agency under the Army Appropriation Act and abolished in 1921. It was created in reaction to World War I to coordinate resources and industries for national defense and improve civilian morale. The Woman's Committee of the Kansas Council of National Defense performed the same functions at the state and local levels, coordinating women's activities for national defense. The materials are organized alphabetically by county. The digitization of this collection was paid for through the Margot R. Swovelan Endowment Fund.

Decatur County Courthouse, Oberlin, Kansas
Date: Between 1907 and 1910
This set of post cards represent the Decatur County Courthouse, located at 187 South and Penn Avenue, in Oberlin, Kansas. The two-story building designed by Mr. White was constructed in 1886. Designed in the Italianate style the structure features arched windows and a rectangular form. The building served as the county courthouse from 1896 until 1927 when a new courthouse was constructed. In 1994 the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places

Decatur County High School baseball team
Creator: Dyer
Date: 1935
This is a photograph of the Decatur County High School baseball team. Lyle Walton, captain of the team, is seated at the far left in the front row.

Decatur County livestock brand registrations
Creator: Kansas. State Planning Board
Date: 1881-1935
Records of livestock brands in Decatur County, Kansas, as compiled by workers on a project sponsored by the Kansas State Planning Board. The forms provide the owner's name and county in which he or she resided; date brand was registered; whether it was used for cattle, horses, sheep, or hogs; a brief description usually indicating where the brand was placed on the animal; and a copy of the brand design. The registrations in this folder are in chronological order by date filed.

Decatur County organization records
Creator: Kansas. Secretary of State
Date: 1879-1880
In order for an unorganized county to be recognized by the state of Kansas, a certain number of householders/legal electors had to petition the governor. The governor would appoint a census taker. Initially, unorganized counties were required to document that they had at least 600 inhabitants in order to be recognized as a county by the state legislature. Over time the number of residents needed to organize a county changed to 1500 and later to 2500 residents. The census was submitted to the governor who then issued a proclamation indicating that the requirements had been met, appointing county commissioners and a county clerk, and naming a county seat. Not all of these documents are available for each county. Included in this file is the proclamation from the governor appointing county officials and designating Oberlin as the temporary county seat. Also, a letter certifying the county seat results between Decatur Center and Oberlin, with Oberlin having the most votes. A complete transcription is available by clicking "Text Version" below.

Dr. W.H. Goldsbury to Kansas Historical Society
Creator: Goldsbury, Dr. W.H.
Date: February 16, 1942
This is a letter from Dr. W.H. Goldsbury, Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, to the Kansas Historical Society, Topeka, Kansas. In the letter, Goldsbury recounts an Indian massacre that supposedly took place in 1878 at Sappa Creek in Kansas. Reported to be killed was a George F. Walters. But Dr. Goldsbury personally reports that Mr. Walters lived near Hennessey, Oklahoma, until 1901. Dr. Goldsbury asks if the Historical Society has any information on the raid and if he can have a copy.

D. S. Logan family
Date: December 23, 1902
This is a photograph of the D. S. Logan family which lived in Allison Township, Decatur County, Kansas. Several of the family members are identified on the photograph.