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Kansas Stereocards

 Collection
Call Number: RH PH 518

Overview

This collection consists of 95 stereocards capturing townscapes and rural scenes of Kansas from the 1880s to the early 1900s. Common everyday scenes and activities were documented through the photographs, such as churches, homes, railroad tracks, schools, public buildings, and storefronts.

Dates

  • Creation: 1880 - 1903

Conditions Governing Access

No access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

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

History of Stereocards

Stereocards are a double set of photographic paper prints mounted on cardstock that is viewed through a stereoscope to produce a three-dimensional image. It was a popular photographic medium in Europe during the mid-1800s. Once mass-production methods became available, stereocards became distributed across the United States by the 1880s.

One of the most prominent stereocards manufacturers in the United States was Underwood & Underwood. Two brothers, Elmer and Bert Underwood established their company in Ottawa, KS in 1880. They eventually moved their business to New York City in 1891.

Extent

1 linear foot (2 document cases)

Language of Materials

English

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of stereocard views of various cities throughout Kansas. Notable cities with more than one view in the collection include Beloit, Leavenworth (including the fort), Manhattan, Topeka, Salina, Marysville, and Emporia. The collection is organized alphabetically by city name.

Specific events such as the construction of the State Capitol in Topeka, and the great flood of 1903 in Topeka, Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri are also documented.

One of the most prominent stereocards manufacturers were Underwood & Underwood established in 1880, in Ottawa, KS. Some of their images are included in this collection, as well as images photographed by individual photographers, photography studios, fine art galleries, and even a musical instrument and merchandise store.

Physical Location

RH PH 518

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchase, Donald E. Ulrich, 1996.

Source

Title
Guide to the Kansas Stereocards collection
Subtitle
Kansas Stereocards
Author
Finding aid prepared by fi.
Date
2016-06-30
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Finding aid written in English.
Finding aid permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/10407/0784982953
Preferred citation
Kansas Stereocards Collection, RH PH 518, 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