Medium: PhysicalObject
Date: between 1937 and 1942
In the late 1930s artist and Kansas native John Steuart Curry produced this preliminary sketch of conquistadors for the mural Tragic Prelude housed at the Kansas statehouse. The sketch references…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Date: between 1937 and 1942
In the late 1930s, artist and Kansas native John Steuart Curry produced this preliminary sketch for the mural, “Tragic Prelude,” housed at the Kansas Statehouse. The sketch references John Brown…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Date: 1961
This polychrome-lithographed lobby card advertises the film “Splendor in the Grass.” The screenplay for the 1961 film was written by William Inge and based on his personal experience growing up…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Date: 1884
This promotional watercolor of Kansas scenes was painted by artist Henry Worrall for the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). It is believed that Worrall painted the poster for the Kansas…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Date: between 1914 and 1918
Souvenir silk scarf acquired in Europe during World War I by Emporia-native Arthur Joseph Ericsson (1889-1986). The scarf features images of Allied war heroes from World War I, including: French…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Date: between 1915 and 1916
This cotton sack for Manhattan Milling Company flour was cut open along one side, embroidered, and embellished with braid and ribbon. Embroidered designs include the Belgian government’s coat of arms;…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Date: between 1879 and 1882
Nels Ferguson, a Swedish immigrant, used this level in his work as a stonemason. He was involved in the construction of the Kansas Statehouse and the Topeka State Hospital. Ferguson…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Date: between 1879 and 1882
Nels Ferguson, a Swedish immigrant, used this plumb bob in his work as a stonemason. He was involved in the construction of the Kansas Statehouse and the Topeka State Hospital.…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Date: between 1879 and 1882
Nels Ferguson, a Swedish immigrant, used this float in his work as a stonemason. He was involved in the construction of the Kansas Statehouse and the Topeka State Hospital. Ferguson…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Date: between 1879 and 1882
Nels Ferguson, a Swedish immigrant, used this steel tamping bar in his work as a stonemason. He was involved in the construction of the Kansas Statehouse and the Topeka State…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Date: between 1920 and 1931
This Diatonic harmonica with silver cover-plates, brass reed-plates, and a black and orange wood comb belonged to Dean Thomas of Dighton, Kansas. Dean came down with appendicitis on the first…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Date: between 1929 and 1931
This pair of child’s blue denim overalls belonged to Dean Thomas of Dighton, Kansas. Dean came down with appendicitis on the first day of a major two-day blizzard and was…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Date: 1934
Large red steel bicycle with an aluminum basket on the front and a rack attached to the rear. This is a Montgomery Ward Hawthorne bicycle purchased by Hiram Dickson in…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Date: 1961
This set of salt and pepper shakers, designed to resemble shocks of wheat, was produced by Norcrest of Japan. They were manufactured to commemorate the Kansas Centennial in 1961 and…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Date: 1961
Kansas Centennial daisy seed packet. The packet contains daisy seed, a plant that resembles the sunflower, the Kansas flower. Burpee, a Philadelphia-based seed company founded by W. Atlee Burpee in…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Date: 1985
This colored pencil drawing was executed by Elizabeth “Grandma” Layton to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Kansas. Layton, from Wellsville, Kansas, began drawing at age 68 and received national attention…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Date: between 1918 and 1925
Oak desk chair with a blond finish, made by the Abernathy Furniture Company of Leavenworth, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri. LaVern Clair Noyes of Osborne acquired the chair from the…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Date: 1941
This red and yellow wool flag commemorates the 400th anniversary of Coronado’s journey through Kansas in 1541, during his expedition of the southwestern United States. Coronado traveled with a large…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Date: 1961
White paper envelope with cancelled Kansas Centennial stamp. This envelope and stamp was produced to commemorate the Kansas Centennial in 1961. In 1962, the letter’s recipient donated the envelope.
Medium: PhysicalObject
Date: 1961
This commemorative costume vest was produced by Kansas Centennial Distributors Incorporated, a corporation specifically created for distributing and selling items copyrighted with the Kansas Centennial Seal. The vest was produced…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Date: 1961
This souvenir wheat bag was produced by the Kansas Centennial Distributors Incorporated, a entity created for distributing and selling items copyrighted with the Kansas Centennial Seal. The item was produced…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Date: 1861
Kansas statehood Centennial Colt Revolver. Colt manufactured this gold-plated single-action-.22-caliber revolver in 1961. The commemorative weapon could only be purchased through Kansas dealers. The first revolver in this series was…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Date: between 1929 and 1932
Wood and tin model of a Chevrolet Roadster from the 1929-1932 period. Car has movable parts. Harold Kooken of Waverly, Kansas, made this model. Kooken made car models from scraps…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Date: between 1929 and 1932
Wood and tin automobile model of a Buick sedan. Car has movable parts. Harold Kooken of Waverly, Kansas, made this model. Kooken made car models from scraps found on his…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Date: 2010
Drawing of the character Elphaba (a.k.a., The Wicked Witch of the West) rendered by Gregory Maguire. Elphaba appears in the novel entitled “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked…
