Kenneth Spencer Research Library Archival Collections

Overview

Typescript of the autobiography of Mary F. Beeson, including Beeson's account of the murder of her father, James Lot Warfield, by William Quantrill's guerrilla band on October 17, 1862 at Shawneetown, Kansas.

Overview

The papers include (1) a testimony to his recent left-handness sworn before Douglas County Clerk in 1867, (2) a manuscript titled "A sketch of my military history" which he entered in a penmanship contest, sponsored by William Oland Bourne, editor of the "Soldier's Friend", (3) a letter from General U.S. Grant awarding Palmer first prize in the contest, and (4) letter awarding Palmer a $50 prize.

Overview

The collection consists of two letters on the subject of William Clarke Quantrill, though not specifically his raid on Lawrence, Kansas. The collection also includes a ribbon from a reunion in honor of the survivors of Quantrill's raid and one issue of the Lafayette Daily Journal of Indiana, dated June 6, 1856, which includes an article about Kansas.

Overview Richards and William Connelley corresponded about Kansas territorial history. Richards, who participated in the border wars between Kansas Territory and Missouri (1854-1861), recounted the events for Connelley, a historian. The letters, dated 1902-1909, were written approximately 50 years after the events. Connelley and Richards were specifically interested in detailing the border war involvement of Richards himself as well as James Lane, John Brown, William Quantrill, and Governor...

Overview Dark Command, a film based on the novel by William Riley Burnett, relates the exploits of William Quantrill and his raid on Lawrence, Kansas, during the Civil War. With such movie stars as John Wayne, Walter Pidgeon, Claire Trevor and Roy Rogers, the film had its premiere showing in Lawrence on April 4, 1940. This collection is comprised of area newspaper clippings about the film's debut and preparations for the gala which included a parade, a ball and a reenactment of the burning of the...

Overview

Episodes in Kansas history; three incidents included in The Gun and the Gospel. Lawrence? ca. 1896?

Overview

Elias Snyder, son of Ely Snyder, interview with William E. Connelley on the Marais des Cygnes Massacre, May 19th, 1858; William C. Quantrill; John Brown on the Snyder Claim; James Montgomery; Marshall Cleveland, and the last of the Jayhawkers. Lawrence, Kan., 1942.

Overview

The accounts in this collection relate to Reuben Randlett's experiences in the 1856 sacking of Lawrence, Kansas; his activities as a spy among the raiders; the Battle of Black Jack; the dissolution of the Free State legislature in Topeka on July 4, 1856; and Randlett's captivity by William C. Quantrill in 1862. The collection also includes a photograph of Randlett.

Overview

This collection of letters was apparently written by two sisters living in Lawrence from 1859 to sometime after 1863. The letters are written to their mother and brother who lived in Westinfield, Connecticut, and concern events in Lawrence prior to and during the Civil War.

Overview

The first two letters are from Banks, who preceded Hutchings to Lawrence, and they describe Lawrence, the lawyers, and law practice in the area. The third letter written by W. B. West mentions Quantrill's raid and asks about job opportunities in Lawrence.

Overview

F.L. Pilla was a minister in Eudora, Kansas at the time of Confederate ally William C. Quantrill's attack on Lawrence, Kansas in mid-August 1863. Pilla writes to his brother recounting this news and indicating that there was some fear that Eudora might have been one of Quantrill's targets.

Overview

This letter from George Edwin Young, a survivor of William Quantrill's raid on Lawrence, Kansas, August 21, 1863, was written to his father two days following the massacre. A typed and annotated transcription of the letter is included.

Overview

Letter from C.F. Gunther to J.J. Lutz regarding the purchase of picture of William Clarke Quantrill from Jesse James.

Overview

Andrew Williams' autobiographical narrative gives an account of Quantrill's raid on Lawrence, Kansas in 1863. Williams wrote it at the urging of William E. Connelley.

Overview

Two volumes of mounted newspaper clippings collected by Watson Library staff from numerous publications circa 1863-1963, on the life of William Clark Quantrill and the raid on Lawrence, Kansas, August 21, 1863. Volume one contains newspaper articles on the James brothers, Frank and Jesse and volume two contains articles on survivors and reunions of the Raid on Lawrence

Overview

This collection consists of copied and original correspondence, clippings, photographs, and other related materials regarding the life of Oscar Eugene Learnard, his family, and the early history of Lawrence, Kansas.

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.

Overview

Reminiscences of Quantrill's raid upon the city of Lawrence, Kansas, thrilling narratives by living eye witnesses. Kansas City, Missouri, Isaac P. Moore, Printer and binder. Compiled and arranged by John C. Shea, the letters were originally written for the Chicago Times.

Overview

The history of our ancestors. Being a record of the Riggs, Baldridge, and Agnew families together with fragmentary data as to other cognate families. Ann Arbor, Mich., 1915.

Overview This collection includes letters from William Clarke Quantrill to his mother, Caroline Clarke Quantrill, preceding and up to the raid of Lawrence, Kansas in 1863. Also included in the collection is the correspondence of William W. Scott, editor of the Iron Valley Reporter and friend of Mrs. Quantrill, who attempted to help Mrs. Quantrill obtain the truth about her son. This correspondence consists of letters between Scott and people who allegedly had known...

Overview

Letters to Scott concerning Quantrill's Raid, including one from Charles F. Taylor who was one of Quantrill's men, and concerning William C. Quantrill's family genealogy.