Frontier and Pioneer Life

Phoebe Newton Goodell Judson Travel Note, no date (C2770)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

Note about the route of the Judson family from Ohio to Washington Territory in 1853.

Kanardy L. Taylor Collection on J. Christian Bay, 1922-1959 (C4507)
0.8 cubic feet (18 folders)

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Correspondence, photographs, and books written or edited by Jens Christian Bay, a Danish-American writer and librarian. Most were sent as gifts to Kanardy L. Taylor.

Kansas Town Company Records, 1839-1957 (K0352)
0.27 c.f.

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Original records of the Town Company which was the origin of Kansas City, MO. Includes minutes and financial accounts of the corporation: lists of lots sold, notes receivable, distribution of proceeds, holdings, and minutes of the proprietors' meetings. Also research on the town site, the Town Company, its Founders, and the Town of Kansas from its origin until 1850.

Archy Kasson Letter, 1831 (C1880)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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To Isaiah and John Townsend, Albany, NY, from St. Louis, Jan. 17, 1831.

Letter describing his steam saw mill, and giving information about St. Louis and state of Missouri in general.

Kelley Family Collection, 1815-1996, bulk 1946-1996 (R1348)
2.25 cubic feet (70 folders)

 Finding Aid

The Kelley Family Collection contains photocopied personal papers of Isaac E. Kelley and James L. Kelley. The collection also includes the genealogical research collection of Patricia Lou Kelley. The research includes information on the Kelley family, but also the connected Barr, Randel, Dyer, Whitson, Bettis, Chilton, Criswell, Huddleston, Payne, Graves, Daniel, and Turley families.

Henry S. Kelley Autobiographical Sketch, no date (C0681)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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The sketch contains a description of pioneer life in the community of Marion, Indiana, in 1846 and later.

Lyle Kennedy Papers, 1885-1983 (K0050)
6 c.f.

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Research notes and papers, maps, books, newspaper clippings, photographs, and slides related to local historian Kennedy's studies of Kansas City history.

Kensinger Family Papers, 1856-1920 (C3712)
0.2 cubic feet (6 folders)

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The papers largely contain correspondence between members of an Ohio family that began settling in western Missouri in the early 1850s. The collection also includes property tax receipts and miscellaneous family papers.

Willard Keyes Journal, 1817-1855 (C2748)
0.06 cubic feet (3 folders)

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Travel to Wisconsin and Illinois from Newfane, Windham County, VT, 1817-1820; occupations and experiences on frontier; description of Indians, wilderness, logging operations on Mississippi and Black Rivers; travel from Quincy, IL, to New England by stage, boat, and train with itemized account of expenses, 1852.

Elijah King Papers, 1873-1888 (C0351)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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Letters written to King in Iowa from Munn and Farwell, land agents in Grant City, MO, giving prices and description of land. Broadside advertising cheap western homes in the Grand and Platte River country of northeast Missouri, and a genealogy of the King, Munn, and Farwell families.

G.S. Kunkel Autobiography, 1918 (C0463)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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Memoirs of G.S. Kunkel of Oregon, Holt County, MO. Mentions milling, Brigham Young, a trip to Pike's Peak, the Black Hills, Indian and Mormon massacres, California, Chinese inhabitants, gold mining, Virginia City, Mark Twain, patents, and his family.

Thomas C. Lannan Letters, 1849 (C2205)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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Two letters (April 20 and June 18) from a schoolteacher in Saline County, MO, to George Peter of Darnestown, MD, describing life in central Missouri, including a cholera epidemic, opportunities for purchasing land and farming, politics, and teaching.

Bazel F. Lazear Papers, 1851-1904 (C1014)
0.31 cubic feet (15 folders)

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Letters to wife from California gold fields and while on duty with Missouri State Militia during the Civil War, describing encounters with guerrilla forces, battles, and personal relations with fellow soldiers; letters about his dismissal from job with Railway Mail Service and about his Civil War pension claim.

Ashley Lea Letters, 1839-1884 (C0354)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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Letters of a pioneer Missouri family discussing conditions on the journey to the California gold fields, family news, and crop conditions in Mississippi in 1857.

Abiel Leonard Papers, 1782-1932 (C1013)
16.4 cubic feet (1245 folders)

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

The papers contain the personal and business papers of the Leonard family of Fayette, Missouri, including correspondence, deeds, legal cases, bills, accounts, receipts, and Missouri Militia correspondence. Abiel Leonard was a lawyer, farmer, landowner and prominent Whig, who served on the Missouri Supreme Court.

"Letters of a Missourian Who Died in the Gold Rush," Charles H. Philpott, editor, no date (C1206)
0.01 cubic feet (1 volume)

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Synopsis of letters written between 1848 and 1850 by Alexander M. Philpott, the editor's uncle. A.M. Philpott was a medical student in Jefferson City when he left for the gold fields. He died in Sacramento in 1850.

"Letters of a Missourian Who Died in the Gold Rush," Charles H. Philpott ed., no date (C0387)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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Synopsis of letters written between 1848 and 1850 by Alexander M. Philpott, the editor's uncle. A.M. Philpott was a medical student in Jefferson City when he left for the gold fields. He died in Sacramento, 1850. Also genealogical information.

Ethelbert Wallis Lewis Letters, 1837-1851 (C1674)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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To his brother, William W[alker] Lewis, Culpepper County, VA, from Missouri. Lewis emigrated from Virginia in 1836. Howard County; 1837 Missouri legislature; comparison of Missouri and Virginia; and Missouri life in general.

Meriwether Lewis Astronomy Notebook, 1805 (C1074)
1 volume

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

Set of formulae prepared by Robert Patterson of Philadelphia for Lewis to use in determining geographical locations by astronomical observation. Also includes a "sketch given us by Yallept, the principal chief of the Wollah-wollah nation," and a drawing, probably by Lewis, Microfilm copy available for loan.

Solomon Litton Letter, 1850 (C2181)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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To his wife from Nevada City, CA, Nov. 30, 1850. Description of a trip to California during the Gold Rush. Explanation of the process of "washing out" gold. Health, weather, and living conditions.

William C. Lobenstine Diary, 1852-1858 (C0525)
0.04 cubic feet (2 folders)

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Photocopy of privately printed edition of diary kept while traveling to California to mine gold in 1852. Includes scattered entries for years Lobenstine was in Volcano and Camp Secco, California, as a miner and, later, a merchant. Entries from April 20 to July 1, 1858, describe his return to the East via the Isthmus of Panama and his intent to settle in Leavenworth, Kansas.

Logan Family Papers, 1836-1866 (C0363)
0.13 cubic feet (6 folders)

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Family letters concerning business, family matters, and health. Letter, 1836, from Philadelphia about purchases and shipment of goods. Letters also written from Kentucky, Missouri, and California. Diary of Martha Logan describes the route taken to California in 1864.

William C. Long Papers, 1859-1891 (C2624)
0.17 cubic feet (8 folders)

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Nineteen Civil War letters; letters to and from Irwin Walley, Long's son-in-law; miscellaneous family papers; and photographs of the opening of the Oklahoma Territory, 1891.

Lovewell, Kansas, History, no date (C3499)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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History of the post office, the first store, Lake Lovewell, and some early Lovewell residences.

Lykins Family Papers, 1841-1950 (K0294)
0.16 c.f.

 Digitized Materials

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Scrapbooks and other items, chiefly clippings, documenting Mrs. Lykins' promotion of the establishment of the Home for Widows and Orphans of Confederate Soldiers: an account book kept for the Potawatomi Baptist School and Mission, which Lykins, missionary, businessman, mayor of Kansas City, MO, took over from his first father-in-law, Isaac McCoy; an account book by Lykins and Brent; and clippings of material written by Mrs. Lykins, Lykins, and others.

Nathaniel Lyon Letter, 1850 (C0541)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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Typed copy of a letter written by Nathaniel Lyon to G[eorge] A. Tisdale, Sackets Harbor, New York, from Monterey, California, April 30, 1850. Letter tells of a prospective trip to northern California and Oregon to handle conflicts with Native Americans. Also mentions the issue of slavery and local amusements.

Garland Jefferson Mahan Diaries, 1864-1873, 1961 (C2586)
0.06 cubic feet (3 folders)

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

The collection contains diaries detailing a trip taken by ox train in 1864 from Cole County, MO, to Virginia City, MT. Also chronicled, although to a lesser extent, is the return trip by steamboat down the Missouri River in 1866. Diaries also include drafts of letters, notes, and lists of students. A typescript of the diaries, plus photos of some of the sites along the route taken in 1961, complete the collection.

James F. Mahan Authorizations, 1851 (C1594)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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Mahan authorized B.B. King to receive payment for an abstract of lands sold at the Palmyra, MO, land office, from March 1845 to February 1846. Allen M. Richardson, register, certified he received abstract of lands. Receipt to auditor of public accounts to B.B. King.

David Manchester Letter, 1819 (C2064)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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To Lydia, Washington County, NY, from Chariton, MO, Apr. 19, 1819. Writes his sister about land and corn prices, and admission of Missouri Territory as a state.

Mary C. Marmaduke Clippings, no date (C0791)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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The collection contains newspaper clippings on the Marmaduke and Sappington families and Arrow Rock Tavern.

Elias Joseph Marsh Diary, 1859 (C2599)
0.06 cubic feet (3 folders)

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Account of a journey to the northern reaches of the Missouri River. Describes the departure, route, passengers, river currents, fur trappers, Indians, prairie country, Mormon camp, Sioux City, the wilderness, Fort Pierre Chouteau, hunting and wildlife, Fort Berthold, Fort Union, and Yellowstone River.

America Mathews Overland Diary, 1857 (C0413)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

Personal diary kept by America Mathews as she and her family left Gallatin County, Kentucky, in October 1857 and traveled by covered wagon to a place near Brunswick, Missouri.

Hugh McCanne Diary, 1850 (C1932)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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The collection contains a diary kept by McCanne of his trip from Randolph County, MO, to California in the spring and summer of 1850.

Abraham McClellan Receipts, 1840-1841 (C1536)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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Receipts to John Rea, Joseph H. Reynolds, Leonard H. Rennick, John M. Clark, and Marturin Latimer for land purchases and payment of property taxes, from Abraham McClellan, Missouri state treasurer.

McCormack Family Papers, 1777-1873 (C2338)
0.21 cubic feet (10 folders)

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Letters from John Burgoyne to Horatio Gates about treatment of wounded and noncombatants during the Revolutionary War, 1777. Correspondence about immigration to Texas from Missouri, 1842-1844; economic conditions; politics; J. Cox estate in Jefferson County, MO; business accounts, 1841-1852; weather and farm labor journal; marriage and death records; and diary of James McCormack.

Cyrus T. McCormick, "The Missouri Indian Trails" Collection, no date (R0031)
0.01 cubic foot (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

The collection contains a photocopy of Cyrus T. McCormick's paper, "The Missouri Indian Trails." The paper describes Indian trails and the earliest roads in Missouri, with an emphasis on the southeastern portion of the state.

Eleanor (Ellen) Waddle McCoy Papers, 1838-1863 (K0226)
0.01 c.f.

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

Letters to Ellen McCoy, wife of William McCoy (1813-1900), first mayor of Independence, MO. They were written from Independence from Washington, D.C. detailing the writters experiences and observations.

John Calvin McCoy Collection, 1871-1950 (K0296)
0.25

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The collection consists of a scrapbook of newspaper clippings pertaining to John Calvin McCoy’s writing for the Kansas City Journal and various other newspapers. The scrapbook also contains a biography, obituaries, and memorials of McCoy, which were published after his death in 1889. The scrapbook includes an index compiled by the Native Sons and Daughters of Greater Kansas City. Additional materials include correspondence and typescript copies of writing by McCoy and his daughter, Nellie McCoy Harris.

McDaniel Family Diaries, 1836-1843 (C2628)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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Reuben E. McDaniel diary of a trip from Virginia to St. Louis, MO, 1836. Delia Richerson McDaniel diary of a trip from Caroline County, VA, to Boonville, MO, 1841. Also her diary of a trip from Boonville to Virginia in 1843.

Elijah Milton McGee Papers, 1843-1950 (K0471)
0.1 c.f.

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Frank McKenzie Scrapbook, circa 1940 (RA0495)

Typescript copy of the diary of Joseph Rountree.

Hayes McKinney Papers, 1789-1897 (C0146)
0.12 cubic feet (6 folders)

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Six land grants, 1825-1836, signed by John Q. Adams and Andrew Jackson. Also several pamphlets, annual catalog of Bellevue Collegiate Institute and Episcopal Methodist College, 1873-1874, and two surveying textbooks.

William Meeter Letter, 1827 (C2200)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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The collection contains a letter to John McClure, Greenville, Augusta C[oun]ty, VA, from William Meeter, Callaway County, MO, Dec. 20, 1827. The letter includes a description of a trip from Virginia to Missouri titled "A Virginia Youth's Impressions of Missouri," discussing the appearance of the country, people, water, industry, prices, and marriageable women.

Jesse Mellon Letter, 1839 (C1730)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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To Mary Ewers, Philemont, VA, from Columbia, MO, May 24, 1839.

Mellon brought his family from Virginia to Missouri. He wrote his mother about the trip, arrival in Columbia, health, rent, soil, land and commodity prices. He purchased a 160-acre farm with improvements. Inquiries about family and friends.

"The Melting Pot," Ralph D. Killian, no date (C2895)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

 Finding Aid

The collection contains a history of Jefferson, Ste. Genevieve, Perry, and Cape Girardeau Counties, MO, describing the geology, natural resources, and early settlers.

"Memoirs of the Life of Lee Caruth Miller, M.D.," L.C. Miller, 1903 (C2718)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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A personal history relating his trip west for the California gold rush and back to Missouri by boat, and his experiences with Quantrill's raiders.

Pierre Menard Sr. Collection, 1805-1905 (K0275)
0.5 c.f.

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Microfilm of the Menard incoming and outgoing personal and professional correspondence in the Illinois State Historical Library and the Illinois Historical Survey. Letters deal with Menard's involvement in the fur trade and other businesses. Of particular interest are the letters from his daughter Berenice and her husband Francois Chouteau from their home at the mouth of the Kansas River.

Mercer County, Missouri Atlas Frontispiece, 1877 (C0829)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)

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The collection contains a history of Mercer County, Missouri, as given on the frontispiece of the 1877 atlas.

Julius Caesar Merrill Diary, 1864 (C0371)
0.06 cubic feet (3 folders)

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Typed copy of diary which gives an account of trip from Milwaukee to Boise City, ID, in 1864. Describes the journey over the old Oregon Trail, storms, severity of weather, shortage of food and water for their livestock, scarcity of firewood and wild game food for themselves, difficulties in fording rivers, fear of Indian attack, encounters with Indians wanting to trade, and other problems of wagon train life.

The Missouri Collection, 1771-2024 (C3982)
18.6 cubic feet (850 folders, 892 photographs), 32 oversize items, 9 audio cassettes, 7 audio discs, 9 CDs, 1 computer disc, 1 film, 6 film strips, 6 DVDs, 3 video cassettes, 583 MB of digital files

 Digitized Materials

 Finding Aid

The Missouri Collection is an artificial collection combining miscellaneous small acquisitions related to Missouri places, individuals, organizations, and events.