Kansas Archives, Libraries, and Societies
This entry was originally written by Marsha Hoffman Rising, CG, FUGA, FASG and Mary Clement Douglass, CGRS for Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources.
Contents
Kansas State Historical Society
6425 SW Sixth St.
Topeka, KS 66612
www.kshs.org
The Center for Historical Research at the society is comprised of three sections: Library, State Archives, and Manuscripts. The society has published a listing of historical societies, genealogical societies, and museums throughout Kansas, which includes their addresses, hours of operation, and general descriptions of their collections. Interested individuals may purchase a copy from the Kansas State Historical Society.
Most extant territorial records, including census enumerations, are retained here. The researcher should review the specific category of records of interest for exact information. Included are territorial records pertaining to John Brown, the New England Emigrant Aid Company, and territorial military records as well as information about early settlers and pioneers.
Kansas Genealogical Society
Village Square Mall Lower Level, 2601 Central
P.O. Box 103
Dodge City, KS 67801
www.dodgecity.net/kgs/catalog/kgscatsubj.html
The society serves as home for the Kansas Daughters of the American Revolution Library.
Topeka Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 4048
Topeka, KS 66604
In each April issue, the Topeka Genealogical Society Quarterly publishes a listing of all the material on Kansas that has been published by the genealogical societies within the state during the year. This has been an annual listing since 1979. Back issues may be obtained from the society.
Jefferson County Genealogical Society
P. O. Box 174
Oskaloosa, KS 66066-0174
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Wichita State University
Ablah Library Special Collections
1845 Fairmount
Wichita, KS 67260-0068
http://specialcollections.wichita.edu/
The collections include online digitized maps and other Kansas material, especially on the aircraft industry.
University of Kansas
Kenneth Spencer Research Library, Kansas Collection
1450 Poplar Lane
Lawrence, KS 66045-1616
http://spencer.lib.ku.edu/kc/
Among its holdings are the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps.
Iola Public Library
2186 Madison
Iola, KS 66749
www.iola.lib.ks.us/
The Raymond L. Willson Genealogy Collection here is an extensive collection that includes 2700 books and 8000 reels of microfilm. Books are arranged by state, with those not specific to a state in the first section. A complete set of Kansas census microfilm is available, along with a large selection of census microfilm from other states. Most interlibrary loan of genealogical material comes from this library.
Wichita Public Library
223 South Main ST
Wichita, KS 67202
www.wichita.lib.ks.us/
Lawrence & Lucile Wulfmeyer Genealogy / Special Collections Center at the Wichita Public Library. 316-261-8509. Open Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Sundays from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Closed major holidays. Contains over 23,000 genealogy books and magazines covering Kansas, the Great Plains, the Midwest, the South, the Colonial States, and items on Native Americans. Other major collections include: the Dawes Rolls Applications, Draper Manuscripts, Germans to America, Italians to America, and the Barbour Collection. Over 15,000 rolls of microfilm include the city's major newspapers, the Wichita Eagle and the Wichita Beacon, and state and federal census.
A listing of Kansas genealogical societies for various counties can be found online at Kansas GenWeb.
