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Pioneer life in Kansas

 Collection — folders: 1-2
Call Number: RH MS P114

Overview

This collection consists of a single, three-page typescript reminiscence by Caroline Updegraff Parker, relating the experiences of her brother William W. Updegraff and her own family in Osawatomie, Kansas from 1855 to 1869, as well as a photograph of her brother William later in his life.

Dates

  • Creation: [between 1875-1910]

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

No access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.

History of the Updegraff and Parker families

The Updegraff family moved to Indiana in the first half of the 19th century. William Updegraff attended medical school--both of his and his sister Caroline's parents were doctors--in Indianapolis before enlisting in the Army and fighting in the Mexican-American War of 1848.

In 1855 Updegraff moved to Kansas after the territory opened for settlement. He joined the free state movement, becoming first lieutenant under John Brown's command of the 5th Regiment. In 1858 his sister Caroline (Updegraff) Parker and her family moved out to Osawatomie as well, and her sons enlisted when the civil war started. One of her sons was killed in the Lawrence, Kansas raid led by William Clark Quantrill.

William Updegraff served as the last president of the Kansas Territorial Council and first speaker of the State House of Representatives. He was also superintendent of both the State Insane Aslyum at Osawatomie and the state institute for the blind at Wyandotte.

Extent

2 folders

Language of Materials

English

Physical Location

RH MS P114

Physical Location

RH MS-P P114

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, Mrs. Homer Terry, granddaughter of Mrs. Parker, 1953.

Title
Guide to the Caroline Updegraff Parker Collection
Subtitle
Pioneer life in Kansas
Author
Finding aid prepared by kpz, 22 January 1973 and nb, 1989. Finding aid encoded by mg, 2004. Finding aid revised by mwh, 2017. This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2017-03-07 13:48:28 -0600.
Date
2004
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Finding aid writtenin<language> English.</language>
Finding aid permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/10407/9317406196
Preferred citation
Caroline Updegraff Parker Collection, Kansas Collection, RH MS P114, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas

Repository Details

Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository

Contact:
1450 Poplar Lane
Lawrence KS 66045-7616 United States
785-864-4334