About Us
Kansas Memory is a digital portal hosted by the Kansas Historical Society (KSHS). Since 2008, Kansas Memory has provided free access to thousands of unique primary sources from the vast collections of the Kansas Historical Society. The site includes nearly 740,000 copies and descriptions of letters, diaries, photographs, films and audio recordings, state government records, maps, museum and archeological artifacts, and historic structures in Kansas and the western United States.
The Kansas Historical Society (KSHS), established in 1875, is a state agency. Designated as the trustee of the state in 1879 and as the repository of official government records in 1905, the agency collects and preserves the story of Kansas history. KSHS is comprised of four divisions: Administration, Cultural Resources, Education and Museum, and State Archives. Through 110 state statutes, several federal acts, and five state rules and regulations the KSHS collects, preserves, interprets, and makes the state’s history accessible.
Kansas Memory provides unprecedented access to collections from the Kansas Historical Society and supports the Society’s mission–to identify, collect, preserve, interpret, and disseminate materials and information pertaining to Kansas history. To fulfill this mission even further, Kansas Memory also hosts many important collections from local Kansas institutions such as from the Butler County Museum, the Miner’s Hall Museum, the Hesston Public Library, and the Seward County Historical Society among many others. Assisting with the preservation of and access to these local collections is an equally important part of the Historical Society’s mission.
Over the years many staff, interns, volunteers and colleagues from local cultural heritage institutions have contributed to make Kansas Memory an inimitable source on the history of Kansas and the western United States. Support has also come from many partner institutions such as from the Information Network of Kansas, the National Historic Publications and Records Commission, the French Family Foundation, and the National Endowment of the Humanities.
We welcome your comments about the site and your suggestions for content and future technical features.