Kansas City Manuscript Collections

Personal papers and family of Eliot Berkley, PhD, who founded the International Relations Council (IRC).

Personal papers and materials collection and generated by Berkowitz, a prominent businessman and civic leader in Kansas City.

Research notes and reference materials, color sketches and drawings and catalogs relating to lighting equipment and architectural details designed, manufactured and distributed by the Benson Manufacturing Company, a brass, metal, and plastics fabrication company in Kansas City.

Company records relating to the activities and history of the J.C. Nichols Company, the premier real estate company in the Kansas City area. Included are some personal papers of J.C. Nichols. Also architectural drawings for some Nichols development buildings and residences.

Correspondence, clippings, notes, photographs of work, and some original art by MacMorris, nationally known portrait painter, muralist, illustrator, decorator and designer from Kansas City.

One volume of customer accounts for what seems to have been a general store in Clay County, MO.

Photocopy of the minutes and list of members for the Missouri Temperance Union of Prathersville, Clay County, Missouri.

Organizational documents including correspondence, bylaws, membership rosters and convention material, but primarily newsletters for the Kansas City branch.

Lecture notes of medical classes taught by Nathaniel Chapman at the Medical Institute of Philadelphia, the first post-graduate medical school in the United States. Such notes were handed down from student to student as textbooks.

Correspondence (primary of Major E.H. Trowbridge MD, president of the chapter) and membership rosters for the chapter. They deal primarily with the organization of the chapter and efforts to secure the National Convention of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States for Kansas City.

Typescript and annotated drafts of poems written by Edward Stewart, MD, noted Kansas City physician and author. Some of the verses were included in his published volume, Poems of a Doctor.

Letters, diary, account books, poems and newspaper clippings belonging to Day, a Civil War veteran from Milford, MA. Much of the material deals with the Civil War or with veterans' organizations such as the Grand Army of the Republic.

Photocopies of short stories and newspaper/magazine articles written by Aker, both rough and final drafts. They cover a variety of topics from the Revolutionary War to household hints. Also an autobiographical story which Mrs. Aker wrote in her 91st year of memories of her childhood in and around Parkville, Missouri

The collection contains photographic prints and negatives depicting activities of Kansas City, Missouri, municipal departments, mayors and councilmembers, city events, city buildings and parks, and other sites in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Material related to Parsons' career as a railway mail clerk. It includes photographs of a train derailment in 1914, copies of postal laws, regulations, and schemes, as well as some railroad passes and correspondence related to his retirement in 1950

Research notes and writing relating to biographical sketches of postal clerks who worked on the Kansas City and Pueblo Railway Post Office line. Also included are lists of postal clerks who served on other lines as well as reminiscences about Barber's family and friends. Genealogical notes on the Barber family and assorted newspaper clippings is included.

The collection contains meeting minutes, financial records, membership records, annual reunion photographs, and memorabilia related to the activities of the 140th F Club.

Letter in which Waggoner, a professor at the University of Kansas City and head of the local chapter of the Americans for Democratic Action, discusses the political situation in Kansas City and its impact on Richard Bolling, U.S. Representative from Kansas City.

Business records for the theater when it operated primarily as a burlesque house. Information on salaries paid, utilities costs, commissions paid for securing entertainers, advertising expenses, and general operating expenses is included in the files. They do not include data on box office receipts, income, or correspondence with entertainers..

The collection consists of six volumes written and illustrated by C.W. Hoffman. The volumes present Hoffman's interpretation of the origins of man and the earth, along with his views of evolution, religion, and ethics.

Scrapbook of newspaper clippings on national political issues and attributed to George W. McCrary, an attorney, judge, congressman, who settled in Kansas City, MO. the scrapbook was made while he was Secretary of War under Rutherford B. Hayes. The clippings are from newspapers throughout the United States

Three volumes of newspaper and magazine clippings on Cuba and the War with Spain in 1898. A fourth volume includes articles Thomas wrote and published in his School and Home, an educational paper he founded, edited and published.

Scrapbook of newspaper clippings, correspondence and some personal manuscripts of Lawrence D. Bailey, a Kansas Politian active in Kansas agricultural circles and served as president of the State Agricultural Society. The majority of the clippings relate to the monetary questions of the 1870's.

Scrapbook of clippings, letters, photographs, and memorabilia related to Billman and his work with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) for which he served as the national historian for at least fourteen terms.

Lindsay, special correspondent in the Washington office of the Kansas City Times and other Missouri papers, maintained a scrapbook of articles he wrote for the Kansas City Times and The Republic. They are all political in nature relating to congressional activity, the Missouri State Legislature, and to the 1896 Republican National Convention.

The collection contains documents relating to a private women's college in Liberty, Missouri. It includes a grade book for the academic years of 1905-1906 and 1906-1907, a small amount of correspondence, and a record book, along with miscellaneous receipts and other items from 1909 to 1910.

Account book of the wagonmaker and wheelwright business, Stone and Umbarger, and its descendent companies which operated in Liberty, Missouri. Also included are personal financial records of Ovid H. Corbin, one of the owners of the company.

This collection consists of a correspondence book containing letterpress copies of correspondence written by Philip Shelley Brown from 1903 to 1905. Most of the letters concern his Kansas City, Missouri, law practice.

This collection contains a photocopied scrapbook of prose and poetry written by George Woodward Warder, a Kansas City, Missouri, attorney, real estate investor, and builder and owner of the Warder-Grand Opera House. The collection also contains items pasted into a personal copy of his book, Poetic Fragments, or, College Poems published in 1873.

Newspaper clippings pertaining primarily to the Civil War and events immediately following, such as the assassination of President Lincoln. Chiefly the New Orleans Daily Picayune and the New Orleans Times, although other papers are included.

Business records of a drug store in Liberty, Missouri: daybooks; journals; want books; an inventory book; a poison register; and invoices for goods purchased by store, which display late nineteenth and early twentieth century illustrated letterheads with representations of the buildings and goods of the firms.

Organizational records of the Church in Parkville, MO, one of the oldest congregations in the Greater Kansas City area. Consists of Session Minutes as well as scattered reports of committees, financial material and documents for the Church; Church Rolls; Correspondence; and Scrapbooks.

Miscellaneous correspondence, papers and photographs of the Preston family while in Rocheport, Fayette, and Walker, MO.

Architectural drawings, specifications, contracts, photographs, correspondence, and related memorabilia of Underhill, a woman architect in Kansas City, MO who specialized in school buildings in Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri. However, other types of buildings are also included.

Genealogical research and document relating to the family who settled in Clay County, MO. Includes letters, diaries, photographs, land transfer documents, and related family papers.

Scrapbook kept by Johnstone, a noted physician in Kansas City, MO, of news clippings, correspondence and other material, and the professional reaction to his article, "Studies in the Etiology and Treatment of Acute Renal Failure."

Photocopy of, Bits and Pieces from the Mary Johnson Bland Files on The Cox, Harris and Johnson Families of St. Clair County, Missouri, 1700-1925. Also included is research on the Bland family and a Mrs. Bland's journal kept while in England and France with the Red Cross in 1944. Other materials concerning her work with the Red Cross and other organizations.

Scrapbook of clippings, campaign literature, and other memorabilia related to Backstrom's career on the Kansas City City Council during the reform movement of the 1930s-1940s.

Personal notes and records documenting the Hall, Colton, and Williams families in the Maryville, Nodaway County, MO. Diaries of Nellie Hall and her mother, during their trip to California in 1923. Also a diary by Nellie during her final year in high school and her several reminiscences of her life and career as a teacher in rural Missouri.

Scrapbooks, newspaper clippings and memorabilia of Midgley, Kansas City attorney, president of the Good Government Association, and acting City Manager during the early years of the Mayor John B. Gage. Also typescript recollections and biography.

Minute books, official documents, financial records, scrapbooks, and historical materials for a women's cultural club in St. Joseph, Missouri.

A letter, undated and unsigned, presumably by Miss Burton's mother describing her experiences as a pioneer in Indiana and Nebraska; a biographical statement on Mattie Burton, owner of the Burton Publishing Company in Kansas City; and drafts by Mattie Burton of Westport Branch of the National League of American Pen Women activities.

Organizational records of the Greater Kansas City Section, including administrative, financial, membership, committee, publications, and public relations files.

Scrapbook of newspaper clippings and enclosed items relating to real estate and construction activities in Kansas City, MO: articles are from local Kansas City report real estate news, proposed building and residential projects, and completed construction.

Correspondence, reports and other documents found in the National Archives pertaining to the establishment and operation of Fort Osage, near what is now Sibley, Missouri.

Financial, medical journals (listing patient name, ailment, treatment and charge for the service), and other records of Parker, a physician in Westport, MO prior to the Civil War. The records also include information on the overland trade in which Parker invested, both in Westport and in Nebraska City, NE.

Photocopied scrapbook, including photographs of homes Rivard designed and newspaper clippings related to her career as a woman architect in Kansas City, MO.

Organizational records of the Kansas City office of the State Historical Society of Missouri Research Center-Kansas City (formerly the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Kansas City pre-2012).

Account books which appear to relate to a dry goods establishment in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin. Some of the volumes were recycled as scrapbooks with clippings of poetry and other materials pasted into them. These were photocopied and disassembled to reveal the original account books.

Annual yearbook of the Chapter includes constitution and by-laws, membership lists, and lists of officers and committee people.

Monthly financial journal reports on the KCAC building's operation showing income and expenses for advertising, catering, rooms, insurance, debt retirement, and the bar. Also a time record book for employees. ..

Papers of a scout executive, civic leader, public speaker, church leader, educator, and mayor of Kansas City, Missouri.

Correspondence relating to the reconstruction of Fort Osage by the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department in consultation with the Native Sons of Greater Kansas City. Also research on the history of the Fort; reconstruction techniques and materials; and authentic artifacts, furniture, costumes, and artillery.

Genealogical research, correspondence, and copies of the documents to prove the lineage, anecdotes and reminiscences about family members in the form of short stories, and clippings; death, birth, and marriage certificates; and photographs relating to family history in Clay County, MO.

An early private phone company in Parkville, MO. Records include minutes, Articles of Association and Amendments, bonds and bylaws, annual reports, appraisals, operational costs reports, telephone rates, governmental ordinances and regulations, and correspondence with other phone companies and customers. Also are maps of the territory, architectural plans, clippings, and articles about the company.

Minutes of the Exchange including the membership meetings, the meetings of the Board of Directors and various committees and special groups; an incomplete set of the published constitution, bylaws, rules and regulations of the Exchange; and, a series of Annual Live Stock Reports of activity at the Kansas City Stock Yards.

Doctoral dissertation entitled "A Cooperative Study of Occupations in the Greater Kansas City Area." Wilson was Director of High School Counseling in the Kansas City, Missouri, School District, and directed an occupational study in the Greater Kansas City area.

Book of abstracts of the news stories including entries on the people and events of Gentry County. A surname index is included at the end of the volume.

One-volume transcription of records of the school district records which includes names of tax payers for the district, minutes of the school board's meetings, lists of teachers for the school, financial records, and enumeration lists.

An artificial collection of maps from various sources.

A development plan for the Quality Hill area of Kansas City overlooking the Missouri River and containing significant architectural homes and buildings.

Photocopies of minutes, tax levies and tax receipts for the Mount Gilead School District in Clay County, Missouri. Also is an "Inventory of Sale of Personal Property of T.M. Gosney, Deceased."

Photocopy of a minute book of the Church. Also included deeds for land which became the Mount Gilead Church Cemetery, and a series of news clippings relating the history of the Church, the adjoining school and their eventual transfer to Clay County to become part of the County Parks system.

Photocopied typescript of Shelton's recollections of his life, experiences and services in the Civil War as a Confederate soldier.

Photocopied genealogical research concerning Wesley S. Davidson and his family. It includes Davidson's civil war documents, some correspondence, records pertaining to family members and research correspondence.

Civil War veteran, Indian Agent, first mayor of Guthrie, OK, real estate investor, owner/president of the Augusta, GA Street Railway Company, publisher, Dyer was a nationally known collection of Native-American artifacts. Included are newspaper clippings, pamphlets, some correspondence and memorabilia, and three scrapbooks of similar materials dealing primarily with Dyer's life and interest in primitive cultures.

Letters and documents related to Thomas' service in the Civil War including a significant number written while a prisoner-of-war in Libby Prison. Also included are membership certificates and notices of election to public office and speeches Thomas delivered as part of his public career as mayor of Aurora, NE, state representative from Hamilton County, NE.

A Degree Book and an Historical Register for the lodge in Savannah, Andrew County, MO.

Guest register for a hotel in Bolckow, Andrew County, MO. Guests registered by name, city and/or occupation.

Independent telephone company in Savannah, Andrew County, MO. Includes Minutes, membership lists, and financial records, the Constitution and By-laws of the Company, and a telephone directory for the Andrew County Mutual Telephone Company.

Records of marriages conducted by Hart in Princeton, Mercer County,; in Raytown, Jackson County; and in Hannibal, Marion County. Each volume has an index.

Photocopied student enrollment, attendance and grade reports, as well as teacher comments on the students and the school. Also annual statistical reports to the County Superintendent of Schools.

Cases which the Prosecuting Attorney for Andrew County presented for the State of Missouri. Includes the defendant's name, charge and disposition of the case. Index to the defendants name.

Nodaway Township Justice of the Peace Criminal Docket includes the name of the defendant, the charge, notes on the facts of the case, and the disposition of the case. Index to the defendant's name.

Minutes of the annual family reunions and genealogical information on the descendants of John and Magdaline Breit.

Minutes of regular meetings of the Church in Cosby, Andrew County, MO, lists of members, pastors who served the Church, and other information on the activities of the Church.

Patient register kept by Martin, a physician, in Savannah, and first official physician for Andrew County, MO. Lists the patient's names and the services he rendered. Indexed.

Photocopied scrapbook of news clippings from area newspapers, relating marriages, deaths and other family events for people in and around Savannah, Andrew County, MO.

Genealogical notes, letters, transcribed copies of historical documents and other materials relating to family lines of interest to Dr. Logan Wood, a physician in Bolckow, Andrew County, Missouri.

Photographs, diaries, and legal documents, but mainly correspondence to and from Spielman, a resident of Webb City, Jasper County, MO, to her husbands and friends. These letters contain information on the day to day lives of the correspondents.

Financial records, insurance policies, news clippings, photographs and other miscellaneous items relating to the personal finances and interests of Epperson, a prominent businessman and civic leader in Kansas City, MO, and his family.

Legal correspondence, client files, and personal files of Guy, an attorney and officer of the J.C. Nichols Company. In addition to legal work for the Company but also carried on his private practice from his office, as well as served on a number boards, and as a councilman for Westwood Hills, KS.

The University Medical College of Kansas City Records contain directories, annual announcements, attendance records, programs, publications, and photographs, from 1892 to 1937.

The Kansas City Medical Library Club Records consist of subscription cards for the Kansas City Medical Library Club and miscellaneous correspondence and notes, dated 1911 to 1920.

A history and minutes of the Academy, a competitor to the Jackson County Medical Society. Photographs, a calendar and a program are also included.

The College of Physcians and Surgeons of Kansas City Records contain a bound volume of minutes from the Board of Trustees meetings, a diploma, and a photograph. There are some miscellaneous financial papers also included in the collection.

Listing of members of the Man of the Month Fraternity, including biographical statements on many club members and articles on members which appeared in WHB's Swing magazine.

Photocopied family history compiled for Mr. Fordice M. Rogers of the Rogers family of Holden, Johnson County, MO.

Plat maps and other information detailing ownership of real estate properties in Kansas City, MO.

Minutes of the Stockyards Company including attachments and associated items such as the Articles of Incorporation of the organization, proxy statements, contracts, orders to pay dividends, reports to the Board and some correspondence.

Scattered issues of a weekly newsletter published in Kansas City, MO, directed to the gay and lesbian community.

Scattered issues of a newsletter of Integrity, Inc., a ministry of the Episcopal Church to the Gay and Lesbian community. Kansas City chapter formed in 1984.

Plat maps of towns and cities in Illinois and Missouri through which the Chicago and Alton Railroad ran. They are mostly hand drawn and show the area of the community where the tracks and depots were located.

Report of Community Surveys, Inc.'s study evaluating the social, health, recreational, and educational needs of Kansas City and to develop a prioritized blueprint for philanthropic support in the community anticipating creation of Kansas City Association of Trusts and Foundations (KCATF).

Articles of Incorporation for the capital stock company, as well as the minutes of the annual meetings of the stockholders for the purpose of operating the Coates House as a hotel.

The Alice Pearl Metzner Scrapbook contains photographs, programs, postcards, correspondence, and other memorabilia documenting Alice and her father Karl Theodore Metzner's excursion from Kansas City to Europe. The scrapbook also contains unidentified photographs of family and friends, as well as pictures noted as taken in Colorado of trains and mining operations.

The Franklin Hudson Letter is a single, undated letter written by Hudson to the editor of the Kansas City Journal encouraging the establishment of a playground and park in Kansas City.

The Combination Bridge Company Collection contains photographic reproductions detailing the construction of the Combination Bridge over the Missouri River in Sioux City, Iowa.

Abstracts of letters written by George Bent, son of Indian trader William Bent, to George E. Hyde, "Dean of American Indian Historians", reporting his memories and others he interviewed concerning the activities and conditions of the plains Indians from roughly 1860 until about 1875, when the warfare between the whites and the Indians on the Southern Plains had effectively ended. A few of Bent's original letters are included.