The Special Collections & University Archives Department contains materials related to the history of Kansas and Pittsburg State University. Special Collections includes printed material, manuscripts, correspondence, business records, and memorabilia which document the culture and inhabitants of Southeast Kansas. University Archives acts as the official repository for Pittsburg State University.
This gallery provides downloadable finding aids for the department's 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 Special Collections cannot be checked out but may be used on-site with the assistance of staff. Business hours are from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For more information about the collections highlighted here or to schedule a visit, please contact Special Collections & University Archives at: | (620) 235-4883
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Winters, Carolyn, collection, 1905
Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library
A collection of documents relating to the history of mining in Southeast Kansas.
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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.
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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.
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Women's Federated Clubs collection, 1900-1981
Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library
A collection of yearbooks, meeting programs, minutes, finances, and booklets regarding the organizations of the Women’s Federated Clubs of southeast Kansas.
The Women’s Federated Clubs of Pittsburg and Girard, Kansas were founded at the turn of the 20th century. These clubs included members from other women-focused organizations such as study clubs, reading clubs, and international group chapters in the area. These clubs were both local and international organizations which promoted the education and community of women. One particular interest of the organizations was women helping other women in the home and in the work force. The Women’s Federated Clubs gained membership over time as more organization were created throughout the 20th century.
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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.
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Woodworth, Fred, collection, 1972-2012
Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library
The collection contains various media materials pertaining to The Match!, an anarchist free-thought publication that Fred Woodworth edited and help create. These materials include negatives, paste-ups, plates, and issue cover illustrations of the 110th Edition of The Match! that was published in Spring 2012. This collection also includes a poster, calendar, and flyers pertaining to the publication as well. Cataloged elsewhere also includes various issues of The Match! also including issues of Mystery and Adventure Series Review, Fred’s Multigraph Letter, as well as various works by Woodworth.
Fred Woodworth is a dedicated self-publisher and editor of a publication called The Match! It is an anarchist, atheist, and free-thinking publication that prizes itself on its independent publishing. Since 1969 Fred Woodworth has been a driving force not only for his editing but also his contributions to the publication. Fred Woodworth does most if not all his work out of his own home in Tucson, Arizona.
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World War II and Historical Newspaper collection, 1918-2005
Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library
A collection of World War II correspondence, newspaper clippings, and other items. It also includes news articles regarding world events, Pittsburg, Kansas, presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy, Kansas City floods of 1951 and 1993, and the Hyatt Regency Collapse. Donated by an anonymous donor.
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Wright, Harold Bell, 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.
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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.
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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.
