Finding Aids

The Home Remedies Manuscript Collection consists of hand-written recipes for treatments for diseases and physical ailments from the 19th century. Its author and date are unknown.

The Barnes and Smith Papers consist of the partnership agreement to establish Barnes and Smith Manufacturing Company.

The Kansas City Theatre Company Collection consists of court records detailing the sale of its lease on the Gayety Theatre building. The documents were filed as an injunction against the sale by one of the company's shareholders.

This collection contains ephemera relating to Percy Bysshe Shelley and Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley.

The Stigers Island Collection consists of a land abstract that details the ownership of Stigers Island. Over time, the size and location of the island were affected by changes in the Missouri River.

The Land Deeds Collection is an artificial collection that includes six deeds of sale for land in Kansas and Missouri made between 1860 and 1888. Also included is a note of the estate of T. Oldheim from 1845.

This collection contains a letter written by a man named Will from Hannibal, Missouri in 1875. Printed on the back of the letter is a map showing the railroad lines that passed through Hannibal.

This collection consists of a letter written by W. Burrier to John M. Burrier from Grass Valley, California in 1851. It notes the average wages and costs of living in town, as well as some of the challenges of mining in the area.

The Indian Territory Documents is an artificial collection that consists of items regarding financial and property transactions in Native American territories and agencies during the 1850s. Included in this collection are correspondence and promissory notes.

This collection consists of a letter written by W. H. Holmes to John Bill on February 5, 1849. The author thanks Bill for sending him a book, and discusses recent events and Bill's new plantation.

This collection consists of a letter written by C. Clements to her brother John Hatcher, Esq., on May 12, 1852. She discusses her current financial situation, the desire for her son to go to college, and requests to see her brother again soon.

The Bernd Foerster Papers collection contains correspondence and working draft copies of chapters from Bernd Foerster's book, Independence, Missouri. The drafts were sent to members of the Independence Heritage Commission for editing, comments, and approval.

This collection consists of a land patent granted to William Allen for 40 acres in Menasha, Wisconsin from 1856.

The Dwight Building Collection consists of floor plans, drawings of details, a longitudinal section, and a grade plan for the Stephen N. Dwight Building located at 1004 Baltimore Avenue.

This collection consists of a receipt from 1846, as well as an inventory of goods of sale dating from November 1856 to June 1857. The items were donated by Josephine C. McLaughlin.

The Jack London Papers collection consists of a facsimile letter London wrote to Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company in 1900. The letter describes London's childhood, education, and early travels.

The Jenkins Music Company Collection consists of items produced by the company for its employees. These include an employee manual, issues of the company newsletter, and two group photographs. The collection was donated on the behalf of the estate of Doris Tharp, a former Jenkins Music employee.

The Henschel Collection consists of correspondence, ephemera, and photographs relating to Leopold H. Henschel's work with the Mexican Isthmus Company and the Mexican Colonization Company, and Henschel family members.

This collection consists of images relating to Kansas City buildings, infrastructure, and historical events. Included are four prints from the Siegrist Engraving Company as well as various magazine-published materials.

Founded in 1894 through a collaboration of existing women’s clubs, the Kansas City Athenaeum is one of the oldest women’s organizations in the area. The Kansas City Athenaeum Collection contains minutes, yearbooks, scrapbooks, photographs, operational and financial records, clubhouse information and building plans, and ephemera documenting the history of the club.

This collection contains a resolution passed by the Common Council of the City of Kansas (now known as Kansas City). Following the death of Jesse James, the resolution commends Missouri Governor Thomas Crittenden, Kansas City Police Commissioner Henry H. Craig, and Clay County Sheriff James Timberlake, "for breaking up and so nearly destroying the notorious Jesse James Band of outlaws."

This collection contains reports, correspondence, permits, regulations, blueprints, and notes concerning the operations of the Kansas City Public Works Department in the early to mid-20th century. The majority of the collection relates to the construction, operation, and maintenance of area sewers, water lines, and their infrastructure.

The materials within the KCPL Reference Hard to Find (HTF) Collection were compiled by Kansas City Public Library reference librarians and staff members to provide an easy to access source of information concerning topics of local and regional interest. The collection primarily consists of newspaper and magazine
clippings, pamphlets, brochures, other forms of printed material, and typed notecards.

This collection contains photographs showing flood damage to residences and buildings in the Kansas City, Kansas area and a permit for Mary Lou Eisert to enter the flood area to regain property from her residence at 628 S. Coy.

This collection contains 35 black and white 8 x 10 photographs from a photo album by the Harkins Commercial Photo Company in Kansas City. The images are of interior and exterior views of the Municipal Auditorium taken around the time it was built in 1934-1935.

The Kansas City Stockyards operated in the West Bottoms of Kansas City from 1871 to 1991. It was the second largest stockyards in the nation and one of Kansas City's most important industries. This collection documents the natural and built environment of the Kansas City Stockyards and West Bottoms from 1828-1983. It is a mostly oversized collection of blueprints, maps, architectural drawings, land abstracts, photos, and correspondence. Some items from this collection have been digitized and are available to view in the "Stockyards" Digital Collection, http://www.kchistory.org/digital-collections.

This collection contains materials relating to the Teachers College of Kansas City, as well as its alumni organization, Tau Kappa Delta. These materials include a scrapbook maintained by members of Tau Kappa Delta, newspaper clippings and photographs detailing the activities and achievements of the Teachers College's students and faculty, and an issue of the school's weekly newspaper, Teachers College Scout.

The North American Aviation Inc. operated a B-25 factory at the Fairfax Airport in Kansas City, Kansas from 1942-1945. This collection, donated by relatives of former North American Aviation employees, consists of issues of the plant's employee newsletter, notices sent to employees, and a patriotic music catalog.

The Aero Club of Greater Kansas City Collection contains a banquet program, eleven 8x10 photographs taken at the banquet, and news articles detailing events involving the club, particularly balloon races.

The Adverettes of Kansas City Collection contains newsletters, membership rosters and news clippings relating to this ladies' auxiliary club.