The Special Collections and Archives departments contain material pertaining primarily to Kansas and Pittsburg State University. The departments specialize in printed materials from Southeast Kansas, its culture and inhabitants, and the correspondence, libraries, business files and memorabilia of significant Southeast Kansans.
This gallery provides downloadable finding aids for the departments processed collections, and links to available digitized collections in Digital Commons.
SEARCH TIP: Keywords associated with each collection were drawn from the following list. These terms can be entered into the search box on the right.
Agriculture | Health and Medicine | Race and Gender |
---|---|---|
Architecture | Immigration and Emigration | Transportation |
Athletics | Languages and Literature | Recreation and Tourism |
Business and Industry | Military and War | Religion and Philosophy |
Education | Mining | Science and Technology |
Fine Arts | Nature and Geography | Social Life and Customs |
Government and Law | Performing Arts | Social Movements and Services |
Items in the Special Collections area cannot be checked out, but may be used with the assistance of the Special Collections staff. The Collection is usually open from 8:00 to 12:00 AM and 1:00 to 5:00 PM weekdays. For more information about the collections highlighted here or to schedule a visit contact:
Special Collections | Leonard H. Axe Library | Pittsburg State University | Pittsburg, KS 66762-7531 | Phone: 620-235-4883
-
Wayland, Julius A., Collection, 1871-1985
Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library
The papers of the Julius A. Wayland Collection contain material concerning Wayland’s career as a socialist publisher, particularly that of his newspaper, Appeal to Reason, which he published from his Girard, Kansas publishing company. The collection also includes family papers and items, documents, and genealogical research.
The Special Collections also holds print and microfilmed copies of the Appeal to Reason, and The Coming Nation.
-
Weede, Garfield W., Collection
Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library
Biographical information; newspaper articles regarding Garfield “Doc” Weede and his career as coach, Athletic Director and professor; articles about Pittsburg State athletics; pamphlets, newspaper and other souvenirs from the 1936 Berlin Olympics; photographs of “Doc” and student athletes; articles and souvenirs form the 1971 dedication of the Garfield W. Weede Physical Education Building.
-
Welsh, John F., Collection of Libertarian and Individualist Thought
Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library
The John F. Welsh Collection of Libertarian and Individualist Thought consists of books, periodicals, and pamphlets that discuss various aspects of the history and theory of individualist and egoist anarchism. Since its origin in 1987, the Collection has expanded to include literature on Ayn Rand and Objectivism, the Austrian School of Economics, Libertarianism, and the egoist thought of Max Stirner. Dr. Welsh's initial advocacy and continuing contributions to the Collection have produced the greatly expanded "Liberty Library," which houses not only the Welsh Special Collection, but also other collections donated by authors and collectors of libertarian, individualist, and anarchist literature.
-
Wheeler, Ray, Collection, 1963-1979
Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library
Ray Wheeler was a poet, playwright, and author of short stories and novels. The materials in this collection pertain to Wheeler’s relationship with James Tate, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, and alumnus of Pittsburg State University. This includes correspondence, biographical articles, clippings, programs, poems, manuscripts, publicity material, photographs, and sketches.
-
Whitehead, Mary, Collection, 1965-2004
Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library
A collection of family records, correspondence, farm records, photographs, newspaper clippings, media, and miscellaneous materials of Mary Whitehead. Mary Louise Hertlein was born July 12, 1924, in Pratt, Kansas and died on July 29, 2013, in Olathe, Kansas. She married Bryan Whitehead in 1943. Bryan Whitehead was a member of the U.S. Army Air Force and was also a railroad man, and a member of the Railway Clerks Union. Mary Whitehead was a railroad enthusiast, a gardener who took interest in both common and exotic flowers, and a photographer. She volunteered at several community nutrition programs that were offered at her local community center. She endowed the Hertlein-Whitehead Visiting Scholars program at the Axe Library of Pittsburg State University.
-
Whitesitt, E. Kennedy, Collection
Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library
Personal correspondence of E. Kennedy Whitesitt; examples of his print work; book catalogue of his personal library and a proposal to start a typographic center; typeface series and letterhead examples; teacher’s manuals to teach the Industrial Arts; student workbooks for printing and type; syllabi for Industrial arts; manuals for linotype machines; miscellaneous pamphlets and booklets about typography and typographers; Gutenberg Museum pamphlets and material; The Washburn Bible informational material; photographs of E. K. Whitesitt and his personal library and printing; A. H. Whitesitt’s papers (E. Kennedy Whitesitt’s father); posters on comparatives of printing paper and typefaces; posters about typography and typographers; newspapers of different typefaces; newspaper article about E. Kennedy Whitesitt; loose type pieces; E. K. Whitesitt’s signature in type; small replica of the Washington Press; halftones, lithograph stone; an early composing stick; handmade galley; and miscellaneous items.
-
Whittemore, Arthur G., Collection, 1940-1944
Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library
A collection of photographs taken by Arthur G. Whittemore.
Arthur Glenn Whittemore (1907-1980) grew up in Warsaw, Ohio. Prior to World War II, he worked for the Ohio Highway System, as a truck driver, and as a photographer. He entered the Enlisted Reserve Corps in July of 1942 as a Liaison Flying, receiving training in Pittsburg, Kansas. He was called to active duty at Fort Leavenworth in May 1944. Arthur was reclassified to the Patrol Squadron 152 and was assigned to the 4504th at the Pratt Army Air Base, in Kansas. Arthur and Betty Lou Reese, of Pittsburg, Kansas, were married by 1944. After the war, Arthur Whittemore worked as a professional photographer, mainly in Columbus, Ohio, taking aerial and commercial shots, focusing on many subjects like his wife, people, railroads, and nature. In the mid-1950s, Arthur and Betty divorced. Afterwards, Arthur Whittemore married Ferol Funk.
-
Winrod, Gerald B., Collection, 1929-1981
Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library
Gerald Burton Winrod was born March 7, 1900 in Wichita, Kansas to John Wesley and Mabel Craig Winrod. Approximately 1918 John Wesley Winrod became a preacher, and in 1925 Gerald B. Winrod’s parents started the Healing Temple in Wichita, Kansas. Gerald B. Winrod stopped attending school in the fifth grade but was tutored in theology by revivalist Newton N. Riddell. Gerald Winrod is believed to have preached his first sermon when he was twelve years old, and by the time he was in his twenties was a full-time evangelist. In November 1925 Winrod was named the executive director of The Defenders of the Christians Faith, an organization he helped organize, and in April 1926 he began to publish a religious magazine titled The Defender. That same year, Winrod became the World’s Christian Fundamentals Association secretary. Between 1932-1934, Winrod’s beliefs transitioned into conspiratorial anti-Semitism views. When World War II began Winrod supported Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany, with support growing throughout the war. Because of this, he had the nickname of “the Jayhawk Hitler.” Collection consists of correspondence, journals, pamphlets, newsletter, newspapers, photographs, books, and 78s LPs that relate to Gerald B. Winrod and the Defenders of the Christian Faith organization.
-
Winters, Carolyn, Collection
Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library
A collection of documents relating to the history of mining in Southeast Kansas.
-
Wolfer Drug Store Collection, 1878-1884
Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library
A collection of ledgers from Wolfer Drug Store in Yates Center during the 1870s-1880s.
Wolfer Drug Store was started by James M. Wolfer (c1852-?), the first drug store in Yates Center, Kansas and was the third store in the town. Yates Center, the county seat of Woodson County, was founded in 1875 and named after the original owner of the town site, Abner Yates. In 1880, the store was sold to Dr. Samuel Jewett Bacon (1847-1908) who operated the store until the early 1900s.
-
Woman’s Literature Club, Cherokee, Kansas, Records, 1899 – 1937
Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library
Records of the Woman’s Literature Club of Cherokee, Kansas. The records consist of minute books, a financial ledger book, and a scrapbook containing newspaper clippings about club activities and a club history.
-
Woodruff Family, Papers, 1896-1958
Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library
A small collection of correspondence, writings, clippings and photographs that relate to the Woodruff family from Independence, Kansas, and Bronxville, New York.
-
Wright, Harold Bell (1872-1944) Collection, 1897-2002
Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library
Harold Bell Wright was a well-known author in the 1920’s and 30’s. He wrote one autobiography and 18 novels, five of which were on the New York’s Bestsellers List, and was America’s first millionaire author. In this collection there are correspondence, biographical material, bibliographies, essays, play scripts, clippings, and photographs.
-
Yount, Kent E., Collection, 1941-1954
Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library
A collection of documents, reports, transcriptions, and correspondence regarding court cases and orders in Cherokee County, Kansas.
Kent E. Yount was born on March 20, 1916 and died May 1, 1954. He graduated from Galena High School in 1932 at the age of 16. He was an attorney in Cherokee County, Kansas, and was a member of the Galena Chapter of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
-
Youvon, Margaret Stahl, Collection, 1928-1993
Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library
Margaret Stahl Youvon was a member of the Frontenac, Kansas community for most of her life. She collected newspaper clippings that related to local Frontenac news, national and international news, and news related to the Catholic Church. There is also correspondence, programs, and miscellaneous papers.
Margaret Stahl Youvon was born on October 27, 1912 to John and Theresa Gruber Stahl. She lived in Frontenac Kansas a majority of her life, except for the years between 1934 and 1945 when she lived in Kansas City. In September of 1970, Margaret married Herman Youvon. Margaret Youvon worked at Fedell Drug Store, in Frontenac, for several years, before working for the Frontenac schools from 1960 to 1981. She was an active member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Frontenac. Herman Youvon passed away on January 9, 1980. Margaret Youvon died on January 20, 2002 in Pittsburg, Kansas.