Finding Aids

"The Miracle," a religious pantomime based on a Christian legend, played in Kansas City from November 22, 1926, to December 11, 1926. The play was presented in Convention Hall which was transformed into a medieval cathedral. Many local people were utilized in the production, and approximately 88,000 people attended. The scrapbook contains primarily newspaper clippings that give thorough coverage to the stage production. The clippings feature advertisements, articles, reviews, feature stories, pictures, local business endorsements with ads, etc. The scrapbook has been photocopied and is available in that format.

Local History Index (Citations), Finding Aids

The Rev. Robert R. Lakas was born in 1917. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1935 and taught at Rockhurst College from 1955 until his death in 1974. This collection consists mainly of photocopies of newspaper and magazine articles, programs, and typescripts about Fr. Lakas. There are also nine black and white and two color photographs with accompanying information.

Local History Index (Citations), Finding Aids

Three scrapbooks compiled by Honig that has newspaper clippings, photos, etc., and information on Westport, Kansas City, and places in the state of Missouri. Louis Honig was the author of "Westport: Gateway to the Early West" (BROWSING MVSC 977.8411 H77W ) as well as a book about Jim Bridger (MVSC 92 B851H).

Local History Index (Citations), Finding Aids

Noted as Volume XI, this approximately 200-page travel diary was kept by Henry Van Brunt during a 1901 trip through western Europe, beginning in Geneva and including descriptions of Lyons, Avignon, Nimes, Orange, London., etc.

Local History Index (Citations), Finding Aids

George M. Chase was born in Calais, Maine in 1837. In the spring of 1859 he bought ten acres of land in Kansas City and ran a successful farm and grocery store. His diary includes accounts of day-to-day life in 1860 Kansas City.

Local History Index (Citations), Finding Aids

This one box collection includes 16 landscape drawings done primarily by George Kessler, dated 1910 - 1916 and covering not only Penn Valley Park and North Terrace Park in Kansas City but also projects in China, Oklahoma City, Indianapolis, St. Joseph, St. Louis, etc. It also includes two microfilm reels of official correspondence to and from the Board of Park Commisssioners, held in the same box as the drawings.

Local History Index (Citations), Finding Aids

Bible of Mrs. James H. McGee with newspaper obituary of Eleanor McGee pasted in front cover. Only family information is a note on verso of New Testament page. Loose, miscellaneous items found in pages of Bible.

Local History Index (Citations), Finding Aids

Family Bible of David Lykins and Jemima Willis, parents of Dr. Johnston Lykins. It has a record of births and deaths written on blank leaves between Old and New Testaments. The title page is missing. Photocopies of pages from this bible are in the vertical file for "Lykins, Johnston."

Local History Index (Citations), Finding Aids

This collection contains items ca. 1832-1880s submitted to the Liberty (Mo.) Tribune for publication in the newspaper. They cover a variety of topics. Of particular interest are letters written from California during the Gold Rush as well as letters sent from along the trails to the west. Items pertaining to Liberty, Missouri, and the surrounding Clay, Ray, and Platte Counties provide a glimpse of life in western Missouri during the mid-nineteenth century.

Local History Index (Citations), Finding Aids

Joseph Henry Crooker was a Unitarian minister who died May 29, 1931, in Kansas City, Missouri. He held pastorates in various locations and was a noted author of nearly a dozen books on religious subjects. This collection consists of autographed letters written to Rev. Crooker and has been arranged alphabetically by sender. Includes autographs of Booker T. Washington, Carl Schurz, and many others.

Local History Index (Citations), Finding Aids

This collection contains various items which include the autographs of famous people like political figures, including many presidents, literary greats, Civil War personalities, etc. Includes a letter written by Walt Disney, August 17, 1937, addressed to the Kansas City, Mo. Public Library. Most of the autographs appear to come from Mr. Henry Rule who wrote and corresponded with individuals who provided him the autographs.

Local History Index (Citations), Finding Aids

Mrs. Dungan was Fannie I. Soper Dungan. Thomas C. Dungan was a Senator from the first Senatorial district, including Holt, Achison, Nodaway, and Andrew counties. He held office during the 31st and 32nd sessions (1881-3). The autograph book contains autographs and photographs taken at the end of the 31st session of the General Assembly of Missouri (March, 1881). Includes many state Senators and Representatives of the time as well as other state officials. The phtoographs of the Governor's Mansion and the State Capitol Building are among the earliest known.

Local History Index (Citations), Finding Aids

This 89-page book of autographs does not contain the owner or compiler's name. The 244 signatures appear to have been gathered during 1867-1868. With each name is a state, and because the name of Schulyer Colfax, Speaker of the House of Representatives, appears, it is presumed the names included are United States congressional figures of the time.

Local History Index (Citations), Finding Aids

This 73-page autograph book was compiled, according to dates found with some signatures, in 1878-79 by E. J. Davison in Washington, D.C. The focus of the signatures center around United States government offices and departments and includes the autograph of then President Rutherford B. Hayes and Vice President William A. Wheeler as well as the majority of Senators at that time.

Local History Index (Citations), Finding Aids

This collection contains correspondence, court records, maps, deeds, bills, etc., and has been arranged by date order with most items relating to Montgomery and Buchanan County, Missouri. It contains maps of state roads for St. Joseph and the Gallatin area. A series of letters were written during the Civil War, some from Vicksburg, others written from the ship the U.S.S. Constitution off Newport, Rhode Island. Folder 23 includes mention of Jim Lane of Kansas, "I fell in with a congressman from Platte County and (also one of Jim Lane's Colonels) I saw Jim Lane in Washington and heard him speak...."

Local History Index (Citations), Finding Aids

The Connett family is noted in the history of the St. Joseph and Sparta, Missouri, area. They had connections at one time with the meat-packing industry in St. Joseph, Missouri. Leonard L. Solomon was a circuit court judge. This small collection is of primarily letters relating to William C. Connett, Jr., and his father-in-law Solomon L. Leonard. They pertain to the northwest area of Missouri and include geographic names as Sparta, Hempland, Platte City, and St. Joseph.

Local History Index (Citations), Finding Aids

John A. Bushnell was a businessman who came to Missouri and settled in Calhoun, Henry County. Collection contains correspondence and legal documents. Most of the material relates to Henry County, Missouri, and most of the correspondence is between Bushnell and Eugenia Bronaugh, whom he married. Includes miscellaneous items relating to the Confederate Home Association of Missouri and mentions of the Civil War.

Local History Index (Citations), Finding Aids

The South Central Business Association began in the 1920s. It was a business group for the Linwood and Troost area of Kansas City, Missouri, and considered by some to be the first shopping district or area away from the downtown Kansas City business area. The records received from this group go into the 1960s.
The collection (SC39) contains 44 scrapbooks (1924-1967); correspondence (1922-1963); minute books (1924-1969); printed weekly program notices; and photographs (P14). The photographs are part of the collection of material kept by the secretary of this association, E. Emerson Paton, and primarily cover the organization's weekly luncheons and speakers, many of them celebrities, as well as the 31st and Troost area. The scrapbooks contain primarily newspaper clippings as well as some brochures, flyers, correspondence, ephemeral items, etc.

Local History Index (Citations), Finding Aids

The Peery family collection contains just over 600 letters including correspondence of John Thompson Peery, an early founder of Methodism in the Kansas City area, and his wife Mary Jane Chick Johnson Peery. Both lived and worked at one time in the 1840s-50s at the Shawnee Indian Mission. Also contains other Peery family member correspondence addressed to relatives in Oklahoma, Oregon, California, and other parts of Missouri. Bulk of the correspondence pertains to the Archibald Peery family and in particular to Horace J. Peery and his wife. Collection contains seven photographs.

Local History Index (Citations), Finding Aids

Robert Thompson Van Horn, 1824-1916, was an early Kansas City leader. He was a newspaper man, mayor, congressman, and civic leader. This collection of one box and 13 folders primarily contains photocopied articles or secondary material concerning Van Horn which appeared in the newspaper, books, magazines, etc.

Local History Index (Citations), Finding Aids

This one box, 16 folder collection includes photographs, photocopied correspondence, newspaper clippings, and charts. The 24 photographs in this collection are primarily of Bridger relatives including Bridger's daughter, Virginia. Genealogy charts for the family and correspondence between relatives is also included. There are photographs taken in 1923 of Ezra Meeker and the ruins of Fort Bridger in Wyoming as well as of Oregon Trail remaining ruts.

Local History Index (Citations), Finding Aids

The date of John Campbell's birth is unknown, although it is known he was a soldier in 1797. He was issued a license to trade with the Indians along the Missouri and Des Moines Rivers in 1822 and was in this area from 1827-35, as an Indian agent. All the material in this small collection are photocopies only and contained in one box and five folders. The material includes photocopied pages from books and magazines, the correspondence of Mrs. Christopher, newspaper clippings, plats, copies of original federal documents, and other county records.

Local History Index (Citations), Finding Aids

This collection contains items relating to the annual Priests of Pallas festival held in Kansas City during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The events were comparable to Mardi Gras in New Orleans and the Veiled Prophet celebration in St. Louis. This is an artificial collection created from items that were originally classed in the library's holdings.

Local History Index (Citations), Finding Aids

This collection consists of the majority of special edition folio woodcut prints commissioned twice a year by the Woodcut Society of Kansas City in the 1930s and 1940s. The collection also includes pamphlets, catalogues, member circulars, and publications relating to the society and its operations.

Local History Index (Citations), Finding Aids

Dr. J. W. Parker was called John as well as James and settled in Westport, Missouri, in 1851 where he practiced medicine among the white settlers and the Shawnee, Wyandotte, and Delaware Indians. During the Civil War he moved with his family to Nebraska City, Nebraska, returning to Westport sometime after 1882. He died March 2, 1907, at the age of 85 and is buried in Union Cemetery, Kansas City, Missouri.

Local History Index (Citations), Finding Aids