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William E. Barnes collection

 Collection
Call Number: RH MS 1484

Overview

This collection contains William E. Barnes' ledgers from his plants nursery in Douglas County, Kansas, the first nursery in Kansas, and a notebook from an agriculture class taught at the Vinland, Kansas high school and used by Albert James Wood.

Dates

  • Creation: 1878 - 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.

Biography of William E. Barnes

William Eliot Barnes, born in Massachusetts in 1832, was a co-founder of Vinland, Douglas County, Kansas after arriving in the territory in 1856, being one of the first settlers of the area with his vinyard and fruit farm. His fruit farm, called Vinland Nursery and Fruit Farm after forming a partnership with Seth Kelly in the 1860s, was previously known as Coal Creek Nursery. The nursery was the main property for production. He established one of the first wineries in Kansas and also produced apple and pear crops.

Barnes had no children of his own but donated several acres for schools for the Vinland area children, first in 1870 for a one-room school and then in 1916 for a high school. The high school was one of the first schools to provide vocational agricultural training in Kansas.

Barnes married Gertrude Dunn, daughter of Jonathan and Irene (Clark) Dunn, in June 1867. She died in 1904, and Barnes died in 1925.

Extent

1 linear foot (2 document cases)

Language of Materials

English

Physical Location

RH MS 1484

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, David and Barbara Maycock, 2011.

Source

Title
Guide to the William E. Barnes Collection
Subtitle
William E. Barnes collection
Author
Finding aid prepared by rmk. Finding aid encoded by rmk.
Date
2019-04
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Finding aid written in English.
Finding aid permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/10407/2559726991
Preferred citation
Willam E. Barnes collection, RH MS 1484, 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