Kansas State Archives

Overview

The Kansas State Archives is a division of the Kansas Historical Society, headquartered in Topeka, and has preserved the historical records of Kansas since 1875.

History

The Kansas Historical Society was authorized by the legislature in 1893 to occupy space in the statehouse. In 1905 the Kansas Legislature passed a law establishing the Historical Society as the official repository of state government records, formally making it the State Archives for Kansas.

Collections, Holdings, and Publications

Holdings include letters from figures such as John Brown and Carry Nation, along with government, newspaper, and genealogical records documenting Kansas history. The Kansas Historical Society also administers the Kansas Museum of History and a network of state historic sites, and publishes the scholarly journal "Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains."

Access and Usage

The State Archives research room is located at the Kansas Historical Society headquarters, 6425 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka, Kansas.