The Caldwell family papers are those of an African American family from Salina, Kansas. The majority of the papers concern Robert C. Caldwell, who was a Salina teacher, City Commissioner, and Salina's first African American and first school teacher elected Mayor. He also served as Representative for Salina in the Kansas State Legislature.

The Virginia Ricard Papers are those of a native Kansan who attended Dunbar School in Salina, Kansas and later became an educator.