Kansas Stereocards
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
- Ulrich, Donald (Bookseller, Person)
- 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