African American musicians
Creator: Lawrence, A (Alfred), 19th cent.
Date: Between 1890 and 1919
This photograph, from a glass plate negative, shows a group of African American men holding musical instruments alongside two women and children. Alfred Lawrence's studio was located in Lawrence, Kansas, but the actual location of this photograph is not known.

Marshall County Fair, Blue Rapids, Kansas
Creator: Hawkins, Omar F. (Omar Finlay), 1890-1967
Date: 1929
This photograph shows four African American musicians performing on stage at the Marshall County Fair in Blue Rapids, Kansas. A crowd is gathered around the stage listening to the performance.

Svensk Hyllnings Fest, Lindsborg, Kansas
Date: October 6, 1961
This photograph shows a group of children dancing in the street of Lindsborg, Kansas as part of its Svensk Hyllnings Fest activities. The biennial festival honors the Swedish immigrants who came to the Smoky Valley in the late 1860s. Also visible are spectators, some of whom are in costume, automobiles, an American flag and flag banners, utility poles and power lines, and the buildings and businesses along the city street.

Swedish Concert Band, Savonburg, Kansas
Date: 1922
A photograph of the Swedish Concert Band posed in front of the Friends Home Evangelical Lutheran Church, Savonburg, Kansas. Members of the band are: 1. George Ahnlund, 2. Conrad Erickson, 3. Olaf Gerdin, 4. Evan Holmes, 5. Gilbert Holmes, 6. John Holmes, 7. Clarence Johnson, 8. Oliver Johnson, 9. Wilber Johnson, 10. Robert Larson, 11. Harry Lindberg, 12. Julius Lindberg, 13. Verle Nelson, 14. Arthur Nystrom, 15. Martin Oberg, 16. A. E. (Abe) Olson, 17. George Olson, 18. Merrill Olson, 19. Arthur Sellegren, 20. Grover Sellegren, 21. Robert Sellegren, 22. Emery Vance, and Arthur Westerberg (not in photo).

Swedish pioneers in Greeley County, Kansas
Date: Between 1880 and 1910
This sepia colored photograph shows a group of Swedish pioneers and a horse drawn wagon in Greeley County, Kansas.

Volga German family, Ellis, Kansas
Date: Between 1890s and 1920s
This black and white photograph shows a Volga German family from Ellis, Kansas. Like many Volga Germans the family was likely lured to Kansas by advertising campaigns that promoted the sale of productive farmland and exemption from military service on religious grounds. These incentives encouraged many Volga Germans to migrate to Ellis, Rush, and Russell counties in Kansas to buy the lands owned by the railroad companies. In those close knit and sometimes isolated communities, German customs and strong religious beliefs were maintained for several decades.