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Keplinger family papers

 Collection
Call Number: RH MS 737

Overview

Lewis Walter Keplinger, an Illinois native, established a law practice in Wyandotte, Kansas in 1883; he later became a State Representative and a Wyandotte County judge. The collection includes a diary kept by Keplinger while he served as a soldier during the latter part of the Civil War, as well letters he wrote to his family during Civil War and through the early part of the 20th century. The collection also includes letters by other family members and Keplinger family genealogical information.

Dates

  • Creation: 1862 - 1975

Conditions Governing Access

No access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

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

Biography of Lewis Walter Keplinger

Lewis Walter Keplinger (1841-1928) was born in Morgan county, Illinois. He attended Illinois Wesleyan University but his studies were interrupted with the outbreak of the Civil War. He served in Company A, Thirty-second Regiment Illinois Infantry and during the last half of the war, he fought in Sherman's campaigns. Keplinger graduated from the University in 1868 and that summer was among the first party to climb Long's Peak in Colorado. Afterwards he began his law studies and opened a practice Humboldt, Kansas. In 1883 he moved his practice to Wyandotte (now Kansas City), Kansas. He married Jessie Wolfkill of Logansport, Indiana, in 1886. Besides his law practice, Keplinger was a well-respected citizen, serving as a Kansas State House Representative in 1877 and a judge in Wyandotte County.

Extent

2 Linear Feet (3 boxes + 1 oversize box)

Language of Materials

English

Physical Location

RH MS 737

Physical Location

RH MS Q177

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, Bruce Keplinger, 1998

Title
Guide to the Keplinger Family Collection
Subtitle
Keplinger family papers
Author
Finding aid prepared by mab, 2006. Finding aid encoded by mab, 2006. Finding aid revised by cl, 2010; cmp, 2024.
Date
2006
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Finding aid written in English.
Finding aid permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/10407/9658703123
Preferred citation
Keplinger Family Collection, Kansas Collection, RH MS 737, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas Libraries

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