Adam and Fred Thielen and friends in an automobile, Dorrance, Kansas
Creator: Halbe, L. W. (Leslie Winfield), 1893-1981
Date: May 7, 1911
View of four people seated in the open 1908 Reo automobile, and three people posed next to the auto, in Russell County, Kansas. The two men seated in the automobile may be Adam and Fred Thielen. One of the young women is seated on an American motorcycle. The Reo auto was noted as a 2 cylinder, chain drive car, with two seats in front and a small jump seat on the back.

Albin K. Longren
Date: Between 1910 and 1919
This black and white photograph shows inventor and aviator Albin K. Longren posing with an Indian motorcycle. The following has been written across the bottom of the photograph "Longren Clay Center, Kansas."

Ambulance Company, 32nd Division (possibly)
Creator: Garrett & Rudd
Date: Between 1916 and 1918
This panoramic photograph shows an ambulance company, possibly from the 32nd Division. It show a number of ambulances and motorcycles with side cars. There are soldiers seated on the ground in front of the vehicles. The bottom left of the image includes the name Captain A. A. Mitten. In the background on the right side of the image is a tent with several women in hats. There might have been some sort of public event occurring. There is an rock outcropping and evergreen trees behind the vehicles. The photographer was Garret and Ruud from Madison, Wisconsin but the location is unknown.

Brown's Garage, Dorrance, Kansas
Creator: Halbe, L. W. (Leslie Winfield), 1893-1981
Date: August 29, 1911
View of three men in the Brown Garage in Dorrance, Russell County, Kansas. One man is leaning against a work bench, another is seated on an Indian motorcycle, and a third is seated in an open convertible automobile.

Excelsior motorcycle dealership in Lyons, Kansas
Date: 1915
This photograph is an exterior view of an Excelsior motorcycle dealership in Lyons, Kansas. The façade of the dealership building is in the background, while the foreground includes two Excelsior motorcycles and several shipping crates containing additional machines. The motorcycle on the left is equipped with a Miller Triplex Side Seat to accommodate more than one rider. A photographer's imprint in the lower right-hand corner indicates that the image was made by Jones Studio.

Fair bulletin
Creator: Miami County Agricultural and Mechanical Association
Date: September 1896
This fair bulletin lists the entertainment, activities, and exhibits that will be available at the Miami County fair in Paola, Kansas. Attractions include a mechanical department, a ladies' department, livestock exhibit, horse races, a poultry exhibit, live music, and fruit, floral, and vegetable displays. Fair officers are J. F. Donahoe, president, and G. P. Leavitt, secretary.

Gilbert Herrman interview, WWII oral history, Kinsley, Kansas
Creator: Herrman, Gilbert
Date: December 15, 2009
This is an interview with Gilbert Herrman, part of an oral history project entitled "Patchwork of Dependency: The Effects of WWII on Edwards County, Kansas" conducted by the Kinsley Public Library. The project was supported by a Kansas Humanities Council Heritage Grant. Gilbert talks of his family, education, military career, and the home front during WWII.

Group of six motorcyclists, Kansas Short Grass Motorcycle Club Tour
Date: Between 1911 and 1915
This photograph shows six motorcyclists who participated in a Kansas Short Grass Motorcycle Club tour, possibly in 1913. The motorcyclist on the far left is believed to be Phil Zimmerman, the Short Grass club's Secretary-Treasurer. Third from the left is Inez Patterson, daughter of the club's founder, Dr. Benjamin J. Patterson. Inez was an active participant in the club, serving as captain of the Girls' Division. The others in the photo cannot be identified. The motorcycles pictured are from the following manufacturers (left to right): Pope, Excelsior, unknown, Harley Davidson, Indian, Indian. The Kansas Short Grass Motorcycle Club was founded in Rexford in the summer of 1910 under Dr. Patterson's leadership. It achieved national attention and acclaim, largely because of its well-publicized, long-distance motorcycle tours into Colorado and Wyoming. The Short Grass club was most active between 1910 and 1915, sponsoring tours each of those years except 1914. During its heyday, the club described itself as "the most famous motorcycle club in the world."

Hockaday Motor Cycle Company
Date: 1909-1910
Business advertisement contained in the Automobile Club of Wichita's "Year Book" for 1909 to 1910. "Woody" Hockaday, a automobile dealer from Wichita, launched a campaign to mark Kansas auto routes. Later in 1918, he published a road map showing 33 marked highways in the United States.

Howard Morgan
Date: 1912
This postcard shows Howard Morgan seated on an Indian Motorcycle near Park, Gove County, Kansas.

Jackson's Garage, Clay Center, Kansas
Date: 1910
This black and white photograph shows the store front of Jackson's garage in Clay Center, Kansas. In the doorway of the business, a gentlemen informal stands before the camera while a second man poses with an Indian (Motocycle). To the left of the men, a wooden sign reads "LIKE A FLASH" Indian (Motocycle). The Indian (Motocycle) Company was founded as the Hendee Manufacturing Company in the early 1900s by George M. Hendee and Carl Oscar Hedstrom in Springfield Massachusetts. The dark red motorcycle, a company trademark, was purchased by customers from all walks of life.

Kansas Short Grass Motorcycle Club pathfinders in Pratt, Kansas
Date: June, 1912
In this photograph, two riders pose on their Indian motorcycles, ready to leave Pratt on a pathfinding mission in advance of the Kansas Short Grass Motorcycle Club's annual tour. Plans called for the tour to originate in Garden City, and extend into Nebraska, Wyoming, and Colorado. The pathfinders' job was to select the routes, make arrangements for fuel, supplies, and campground locations, and attend to other logistical details. The tour itself departed from Garden City on August 11, 1912, with one of the main itinerary attractions being Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming. A handwritten note beneath the image identifies the two pathfinders as Cross and Bennett. The latter is Wells Bennett, a Wichita native who was one of the state's leading dirt-track racers at the time. He would later establish himself as a premier national competitor in several motorcycle event categories. Bennett was inducted into the national Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2000, and is described by the Hall of Fame as "one of the pioneers of motorcycle racing," and "one of the greatest cross-country riders of all time." The Kansas Short Grass Motorcycle Club was founded in Rexford in 1910 under the leadership of Dr. Benjamin J. Patterson. It achieved national attention and acclaim, largely because of its well-publicized, long-distance motorcycle tours into Colorado and Wyoming. The Short Grass club was most active between 1910 and 1915, sponsoring tours each year except 1914. During its heyday, the club described itself as "the most famous motorcycle club in the world."

Kansas Short Grass Motorcycle Club tour in Dodge City, Kansas
Date: 1913
This photograph, taken in Dodge City, is a scene from the Kansas Short Grass Motorcycle Club's annual tour in 1913. Approximately 100 motorcyclists from eleven states gathered in Hutchinson on July 14 to embark on a nine-day journey to Denver, host city for the 1913 national convention of the Federation of American Motorcyclists. The tour group spent its first night in Larned, and arrived in Dodge City mid-day on July 15. The Short Grass tour followed a detailed itinerary, with events scheduled at designated points along the way. In Dodge City, amateur and professional motorcycle races were held on a two-mile track northeast of town that had been constructed specifically for the occasion. The races were marred somewhat by hot temperatures, wind, and dust, but the event still drew 1,000 spectators. In the evening, Dodge Citians entertained their guests with a bronco busting demonstration, a "parade of the suffragette band," and a reception featuring storytelling by some of the town's old-timers. After Dodge City, the tour's remaining overnight stops were all in Colorado, including the cities of Holly, Las Animas, Pueblo, Canon City, and Colorado Springs. The Kansas Short Grass Motorcycle Club was founded in Rexford in the summer of 1910 under the leadership of Dr. Benjamin J. Patterson. The club achieved national attention and acclaim, largely because of its well-publicized, long-distance motorcycle tours into Colorado and Wyoming. The Short Grass club was most active between 1910 and 1915, sponsoring tours each of those years except 1914. During its heyday, the club described itself as "the most famous motorcycle club in the world."

Kansas Short Grass Motorcycle Club tour in Dodge City, Kansas
Date: 1913
This photograph, taken in Dodge City, is a scene from the Kansas Short Grass Motorcycle Club's annual tour in 1913. Approximately 100 motorcyclists from eleven states gathered in Hutchinson on July 14 to embark on a nine-day journey to Denver, host city for the 1913 national convention of the Federation of American Motorcyclists. The tour group spent its first night in Larned, and arrived in Dodge City mid-day on July 15. The Short Grass tour followed a detailed itinerary, with events scheduled at designated points along the way. In Dodge City, amateur and professional motorcycle races were held on a two-mile track northeast of town that had been constructed specifically for the occasion. The races were marred somewhat by hot temperatures, wind, and dust, but the event still drew 1,000 spectators. In the evening, Dodge Citians entertained their guests with a bronco busting demonstration, a "parade of the suffragette band," and a reception featuring storytelling by some of the town's old-timers. After Dodge City, the tour's remaining overnight stops were all in Colorado, including the cities of Holly, Las Animas, Pueblo, Canon City, and Colorado Springs. The Kansas Short Grass Motorcycle Club was founded in Rexford in the summer of 1910 under the leadership of Dr. Benjamin J. Patterson. The club achieved national attention and acclaim, largely because of its well-publicized, long-distance tours into Colorado and Wyoming. The Short Grass club was most active between 1910 and 1915, sponsoring tours each of those years except 1914. During its heyday, the club described itself as "the most famous motorcycle club in the world."

Kansas Short Grass Motorcycle Club tour in Larned, Kansas
Date: 1913
Participants in the Kansas Short Grass Motorcycle Club's annual tour are preparing to leave Larned in this photograph made on July 15, 1913. Larned was the first overnight stop on the 1913 tour, which originated in Hutchinson the day before. Approximately 100 motorcyclists came from eleven states to make the nine-day journey to Denver, host city for the 1913 national convention of the Federation of American Motorcyclists. The Short Grass tour followed a detailed itinerary, with events scheduled at designated points along the way. In Larned, the group's stay featured a series of six professional and amateur motorcycle races at the fairgrounds. Evening events included a band concert and a social gathering. Other overnight stops on the 1913 tour included Dodge City and the following cities in Colorado: Holly, Las Animas, Pueblo, Canon City, and Colorado Springs. The Kansas Short Grass Motorcycle Club was founded in Rexford in 1910 under the leadership of Dr. Benjamin J. Patterson. It achieved national attention and acclaim, largely because of its well-publicized, long-distance motorcycle tours into Colorado and Wyoming. The Short Grass club was most active between 1910 and 1915, sponsoring tours each year except 1914. During its heyday, the club described itself as "the most famous motorcycle club in the world."

Leslie Parsons Collection
Creator: Parsons, Leslie
Date: Between 1918 and 1925
A collection of glass plate negatives taken by Leslie Parsons showing people and scenes around Marshall County including the towns of Randolph, Waterville, and Vliets, Kansas. There is one image of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway yards and depot in Topeka, Kansas.

L. W. Halbe Collection
Creator: Halbe, L. W. (Leslie Winfield), 1893-1981
Date: 1908-1912
The L. W. (Leslie Winfield) Halbe photo collection consists of 1500 glass plate negatives produced by Halbe during his teenage years. Halbe lived in Dorrance, Russell County, Kansas, and began taking photographs of the region with an inexpensive Sears and Roebuck camera when he was fifteen years old.

Man and woman sitting on a motorcycle
Date: Between 1910 and 1915
This is a photo of an unidentified man and woman sitting on a motorcycle at an unknown location.

Man with Early Motorcycle, colonel test 008, JPG
Creator: Hughes, James Clark, 1888-1964
Date: [Date unknown]
The man standing by an early motorcycle is not identified in the photo taken by Captain Hughes. The location and date are not mentioned either. James Clark Hughes was born in Topeka, Kansas, in 1888, and served in the Mexican Border Conflict, World War I, and World War II. He used an autographic camera to take pictures of friends, family, and places in the United States and Europe during World War I. After the Armistice was signed November 11, 1918, Captain Hughes became part of the Army of Occupation. He finally returned to the U. S. arriving July 31, 1919 as part of the 13th Field Artillery, 4th Division. He was assigned to Camp Dodge, Iowa until August, 1920. Then Captain Hughes was assigned to the Motor Transport School, Camp Holabird, Maryland for training in Army vehicles for six months. From there Hughes and the 13th F.A. went to Fort Lewis, Washington. Hughes was the Battery Commander of the 13th F.A. During this time he had applied for enlistment in the Regular Army. On September 7, 1920 he was discharged from the National Guard and appoint to the Regular Army. It was then that Captain Hughes and his family moved to Schofield Barracks, Hawaiian Territory where they stayed until September, 1923. His next appointment was as Battery Commander of the 15th Field Artillery at Fort Sam Houston. In September 1924, Hughes attended the Battery Officers Course in the School of Artillery at Fort Sill, Oklahoma for nine months. From 1924 until 1933 the Hughes family continued to be moved frequently from Ft. Sill to Houston, to Waco, back to Hawaii and eventually to Long Beach. It was here in 1935 that Hughes was promoted to Major. By August of 1940 he had been promoted to Lt. Colonel. In 1941, he commanded a Philippine regiment (Filipino soldiers led by American officers), which surrendered in 1942 on the Bataan peninsula. Hughes spent the next 41 months in various Japanese P.O.W. camps. He was liberated by Russian forces at Camp Hoten, Manchuria, in 1945. He was assigned permanent limited duty status and April 1, 1946 was promoted to Colonel. He retired from the Army March 20, 1948. Hughes died in 1964 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Motorcycle group pose on a street in Colby, Thomas County, Kansas
Date: 1909
In this photograph a group of men on motorcylces pose on a street in Colby, Thomas County, Kansas. The number "27" is displayed on several signs and banners on the buildings and utility poles.

Motorcycle mechanics at Camp Funston, Kansas
Date: 1918
Seven U.S. Army motorcycle mechanics pose for this view at Camp Funston, Kansas in the winter of 1918. The men are unidentified, but Basil Stella, Laura Palenske's husband-to-be, was included in this group. Funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Motorcycle mechanics at Camp Funston, Kansas
Date: December 6, 1918
This photo of sixteen U.S. Army motorcycle mechanics at Camp Funston, Kansas shows the group in front of their camp garage. Dated December 6, 1918, the soldiers are identified back row, left to right: Boerk, Prophet, Armstrong, Ward, Townsend, Kost, Barrett, Bellinger; front row, left to right, Basil Stella, McCullough, Miller, Bucher, Kiser, Sweet, Kirk and Vidich. Funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Motorcycle race, Gray County, Kansas
Date: Between 1935 and 1939
This photograph shows a motorcycle race at the Gray County, Kansas, fair grounds.

Motorcycles and automobiles, Dorrance, Russell County, Kansas
Creator: Halbe, L. W. (Leslie Winfield), 1893-1981
Date: July 28, 1912
View of eleven motorcycles and three automobiles on a business street, Dorrance, Kan. Two of the automobiles are identified as a Buick and Maxwell.

Motorcycle used to deliver the mail from the Brewster, Thomas County, Kansas post office
Date: Between 1925 and 1935
In this photograph, a mail carrier poses with the motorcycle he uses to deliver the mail to rural homes served by the Brewster, Thomas County, Kansas post office.