The Jefferson Highway Association, named after Thomas Jefferson, was formed in 1915 to build a highway through the Mississippi Valley. The highway was the idea of Edwin T. Meredith, publisher of Successful Farming and Better Homes and Gardens and later Secretary of Agriculture under President Woodrow Wilson, who thought the highway would be economically beneficial to the region's farmers.
In November 1915 an organizational meeting of the association was held with representatives from the Louisiana Purchase states for the purpose of constructing an international highway running north-south from Winnipeg, Ontario to New Orleans, Louisiana. This meeting also determined the route of the new highway. Several Kansas counties competed against each other and against the state of Missouri to have the highway pass through their counties. The Crawford County, Kansas division of the Jefferson Highway Association was formed after the 1915 meeting to help plan and fund the portion of the highway they hoped would pass through their county. Townships and private landowners were to be the primary sources for funding. After much discussion and debate, including some citizens who did not want the highway through their towns, the decision ended in a stalemate with both Kansas and Missouri being awarded the highway between Joplin and Kansas City. The dual highways were eventually completed and used by the area communities for many years. The federal and state governments later passed laws that enabled them to build and maintain better highways. The Jefferson highway designation eventually faded away with sections of the road becoming parts of US Highway 69 and US Highway 71.
The collection at Pittsburg State University includes correspondence about the Jefferson Highway Association; minutes and legal matters of the Association; expenses and balance sheets; the newsletter The Jefferson Highway Declaration; travel brochures and guides; newspapers and articles about the highway; association and convention hosts; maps of the highway and surrounding areas.
Finding Aid: Jefferson Highway Association, Crawford County Division Records, 1915-2005 (MS033)
Submissions from 2018
n.d.; Crawford Township, Grant Township and Brazilton City Listing (Sections 7, 10-12), Unknown
n.d.; Crawford Township, Grant Township and Brazilton City Listing (Section 1-3, 6), Unknown
n.d.; Crawford Township, Grant Township and Brazilton City Listing (Sections 30, 11-12, 24-26), Unknown
n.d.; Crawford Township, Grant Township and Brazilton City Listing (Sections 19-24), Unknown
n.d.; Crawford Township, Grant Township and Brazilton City Listing (Sections 14-19), Unknown
n.d.; Crawford Township, Grant Township and Brazilton City Listing (Sections 7-13), Unknown
n.d.; Crawford Township, Grant Township and Brazilton City Listing (Sections 21-30, 23), Unknown
n.d.; Crawford Township, Grant Township and Brazilton City Listing (Sections 16-20), Unknown
Submissions from 2011
n.d.; Brochure, Jefferson Highway Association
n.d.; Resolution from the City of Girard and members of the Jefferson Highway Association Committee, Girard (Kan.), Harry A.; Paul; Marion; and H. P. Russell; Russell; Coulter; Hatfield
n.d.; Crawford Township, Grant Township and Brazilton City Listing, Unknown
n.d.; Resolution from the City of Girard and members of the Jefferson Highway Association Committee, Girard (Kan.), John M. Vincent, [?? HWay Panel?], and R. L. Kirkpatrick
n.d., Letter, from J. Frank Smith, Kansas City (Mo.), to Citizens of Kansas City, J. Frank Smith
Submissions from 2005
2005-05-29; Newspaper article, "Kansas City Star", Russ Pulley
Submissions from 2002
2002-03-24; Newspaper article, "The Morning Sun"
2002-03-24; Newspaper article, "The Morning Sun", Harold Campbell
2002-03-24; Newspaper article, "The Morning Sun", Harold Campbell
2002-03-24; Newspaper article, "The Morning Sun", Michael Francis Jackson
Submissions from 1978
The Birth of the Jefferson Highway and Its Establishment in Crawford County, Michael Francis Jackson
Submissions from 1931
1931-02-11; Minutes, from the Hearing of Cherokee, Crawford, and Labette Counties Delegation
Submissions from 1924
1924-02-29; Minutes, by William G. Frank for the Jefferson Highway Association meeting of Kansas, Paola (Kan.), William G. Frank
Submissions from 1923
1923-12-18; Resolution from Crawford County, Kansas Commissioners meeting, Ray N. Hardin
1923-03-27; Letter, from John O. Morse, Mound City (Kan.), to Rolla B. Stebbins, Girard (Kan.), John O. Morse
1923-02-07; Letter, from H. A. Russell, Fort Scott (Kan.), to Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Fort Scott (Kan.), H. A. Russell
1923-01-17; Invoice from The Conner Hotel Co., Kansas City (Mo.), The Conner Hotel Co.
1923-01-16; Letter, from Harry A. Russell, Paul Russell, Marion Coulter, and H.P. Hatfield, to President, General Manager and International Board of Directors of the Jefferson Highway Association, Joplin (Mo.), Harry A. Russell, Paul Russell, Marion Coulter, and H. P. Hatfield
1923-01-08; Itemization of Travel Expenses, by Marion Coulter, Marion Coulter
1923-01-08, Letter from Linn County (Kansas) Jefferson Highway Association, to its Members, Linn County Jefferson Highway Association
1923-01; Travel expense notes, Girard (Kan.)
Submissions from 1922
1922-08-18, Letter, from James A. Gibson, Joplin (Mo.), to R. B. Stebbins, Girard (Kan.), James A. A. Gibson
1922-08-12; Minutes, by Charles E. Grandle for the Jefferson Highway Association meeting, Paola (Kan.), Charles E. Grandle
1922-08-12; Order Regarding Marks Of Jefferson Highway Placed On Short Line In Counties of Kansas, H. A. Russell, Paul Russell, Marion Coulter, and E. P. Hatfield
1922-08; Petition and Signatures, Girard (Kan.), Chas. [Charles] E. Gamble
1922-07-20; Letter, from E. Bee Guthrey, Tulsa (Okla.), to H. W. Bouck, Girard (Kan.), E. Bee Guthrey
1922-07-17; Letter, from L. J. Pettijohn, Topeka (Kan.), to Parker Bailey, Girard (Kan.), L. J. Pettijohn
1922-07-14; Report, from L. J. Pettijohn, Topeka (Kan.), regarding Jefferson Highway Association Hearing, L. J. Pettijohn
1922-06-30; Letter, from L. J. Pettijohn, Topeka (Kan.), to Parker Bailey, Girard (Kan.), L. J. Pettijohn
1922-06-20; Memorandum, from T. W. Morse, Topeka (Kan.), to Parker Bailey, Girard (Kan.), T. W. Morse
1922-06-17; Letter, from Parker Bailey, Girard (Kan.), to T. W. Morse, Topeka (Kan.), Parker Bailey
1922-06-15; Letter, from John O. Morse, Mound City (Kan.), to H. A. Russell, Fort Scott (Kan.), John O. Morse
1922-06-15; Memorandum, from T. W. Morse, Topeka (Kan.), to Girard (Kansas) Chamber of Commerce, T. W. Morse
1922-06-13; Letter, from T. W. Morse, Topeka (Kan.), to L. J. Pettijohn, Topeka (Kan.), T. W. Morse
1922-06-09; Certification Notice from G. E. Seay, Saint Joseph (Mo.), G. E. Seay and Paul H. Hoffmeister
1922-06-06; Letter, from F. W. Newman, Charles Wells, Merton W. Stoffle, and D. A. Glenn, Pittsburg (Kan.), to L. J. Pettijohn, Topeka (Kan.), F. W. Newman, Chas. [Charles] Wells, W. Merton Stoffle, and D. A. Glenn
1922-05-13; Letter, from Parker Bailey, Girard (Kan.), to H. A. Russell, Fort Scott (Kan.), Parker Bailey
1922-05-02; Minutes, Board of Directors meeting, Kansas division of the Jefferson Highway Association, Fort Scott (Kan.), Parker Bailey
1922-04-26; Minutes, by Harry Bouck, for the Jefferson Highway Association meeting, Paola (Kan.), Harry Bouck
1922-04-21; Minutes, by Parker Bailey for the Crawford County Jefferson Highway Association meeting, Girard (Kan.), Parker Bailey
1922-04-21; Election Certification, Crawford County (Kan.), Harry Bouck and J. T. Leonard
1922-04-20; Letter, from Parker Bailey, Girard (Kan.), to H. A. Russell, Fort Scott (Kan.), Parker Bailey
1922-04-18; Minutes, by Parker Bailey, for the Jefferson Highway Association meeting, Paola (Kan.), Parker Bailey
1922-04-18; Minutes, by Parker Bailey, for the Jefferson Highway Association meeting, Paola (Kan.), Harry Bouck
1922-04-18; Letter, from H. A. Russell, Paul Russell, F. P Hatfield [?] and E. B. Van Ness, Paola (Kan.), to L. J. Pettijohn, Topeka (Kan.), H. A. Russell, Paul Russell, F. P. Hatfield, and E. B. Van Ness
1922-04-18; Letter, from H. A. Russell, Paul Russell, F. P. Hatfield and E. B. Van Ness, Paola (Kan.), to National Jefferson Highway Association, H. A. Russell, Paul Russell, F. P. Hatfield, and E. B. Van Ness
1922-03-23; Minutes, from A. E. Goldman, for the Jefferson Highway Association Delegates, Pittsburg (Kan.), A. E. Goldman and D. A. Ahrens
1922-01-03; Letter, from J. D. Clarkson, St. Joseph (Mo.), to Joe S. Johnson, Osawatomie (Kan.), J. D. Clarkson
The Modern Highway, Vol. 6 No. 12, January 1922, Jefferson Highway Association
Submissions from 1921
The Modern Highway, Vol. 6 No. 8-9, September-October 1921, Jefferson Highway Association
1921 (c.); Good Roads Association of Greater K. C. Map, Good Roads Association of Greater K. C.
Submissions from 1919
1919-09-15; Letter, from H. A. Russell, Fort Scott (Kan.), to Oscar W. Schaeffer, Girard (Kan.), H. A. Russell
1919-09-10; Newspaper article, "Topeka Capital"
1919-07-18; Letter, Oscar W. Schaeffer, Girard (Kan.), to Walter Parker, New Orleans (La.), Oscar W. Schaeffer
1919-07-17; Letter, from John E. Cook and A.T. Abbott, Girard (Kan.), to Jefferson Highway Association, Girard (Kan.), John E. Cook and A. T. Abbott
1919-07-12; Letter, from H. A. Russell, Fort Scott (Kan.), to L.E. Coles, Girard (Kan.), H. A. Russell
Submissions from 1917
Jefferson Highway Declaration, Vol. 2, No. 11, December 1917, Jefferson Highway Association
Jefferson Highway Declaration, Vol. 2, No. 11, December 1917, Jefferson Highway Association
1917-06-20; Minutes, Kansas Directors meeting, Fort Scott (Kan.), Parker Bailey
1917-04-07; Letter, from J. Frank Smith, Pleasanton (Kan.), to O. W. Schaeffer, Girard (Kan.), J. Frank Smith
Jefferson Highway Declaration, Vol. 2, No. 02, March 1917, Jefferson Highway Association
Jefferson Highway Declaration, Vol. 1, No. 12, January 1917, Jefferson Highway Association
Submissions from 1916
Jefferson Highway Declaration, Vol. 1, No. 11, December 1916, Jefferson Highway Association
1916-11-23; Minutes, Jefferson Highway Association Meeting, Girard (Kan.), Unknown
Jefferson Highway Declaration, Vol. 1, No. 10, November 1916, Jefferson Highway Association
1916-10-03; Letter, from Walter Parker, New Orleans (La.), to Oscar W. Schaeffer, Girard (Kan.), Walter Parker
1916-10-03; Letter, from Paul Russell, Paola (Kan.), to Oscar W. Schaeffer, Girard (Kan.), Paul Russell
Jefferson Highway Declaration, Vol. 1, No. 09, October 1916, Jefferson Highway Association
1916-09-26; Letter, from Walter Parker, New Orleans (La.), to Oscar W. Schaeffer, Girard (Kan.), Walter Parker
1916-09-23; Letter, from E. T. Meredith, Topeka (Kan.), to Oscar W. Schaeffer, Girard (Kan.), E. T. Meredith
1916-09-19; Letter, from L. E. Coles, Girard (Kan.), to O. W. Schaeffer, Girard (Kan.), L. E. Coles
1916-09-19; Letter, from H. W. Underhill, Mound City (Kan.), to Oscar W. Schaeffer, Girard (Kan.), H. W. Underhill
1916-09-18; Letter, from Hubert Lardner, Topeka (Kan.), to Oscar W. Schaeffer, Girard (Kan.), Hubert Lardner
1916-09-18; Letter, from J. Frank Smith, Pleasanton (Kan.), to Oscar W. Schaeffer, Girard (Kan.), J. Frank Smith
1916-09-16; Letter, from H. A. Russell, Fort Scott (Kan.), to Oscar Schaeffer, Girard (Kan.), H. A. Russell
1916-09-16; Letter, from R. S. Tiernan, Fort Scott (Kan.), to Oscar Schaeffer, Girard (Kan.), R. S. Tiernan
1916-09-13; Letter, from E. T. Meredith, Des Moines (Iowa), to H. A. Russell, Fort Scott (Kan.), E. T. Meredith
Jefferson Highway Declaration, Vol. 1, No. 06, July 1916, Jefferson Highway Association
1916-07-08; Letter, from E. T. Meredith and J. D. Clarkson, Des Moines (Iowa), to O. W. Schaeffer, Girard (Kan.), E. T. Meredith
1916-06-30; Letter, from E. T. Meredith, Des Moines (Iowa), to O. W. Schaeffer, Girard (Kan.), E. T. Meredith
Jefferson Highway Declaration, Vol. 1, No. 05, June 1916, Jefferson Highway Association
1916-05-27; Letter, from J. Frank Smith, Pleasanton (Kan.), to O. W. Schaeffer, Girard (Kan.), J. Frank Smith
1916-05-26; Letter, from Paul Russell, Paola (Kan.) (copy of circular), Paul Russell
1916-05-26; Letter, from Paul Russell, Paola (Kan.) (copy of personal letter), Paul Russell
1916-05-22; Letter, from J. Frank Smith, Girard (Kan.), to O. W. Shafer [Schaeffer], Girard (Kan.), J. Frank Smith
1916-05-15; Letter, from J. Frank Smith, Girard (Kan.), to S. M. Brewster, Topeka (Kan.), J. Frank Smith
1916-05-09; Press Dispatch for Federal Bankhead Bill, J. Frank Smith
1916-05-03; Letter, from E. T. Meredith, Des Moines (Iowa), to O. W. Schaeffer, Girard (Kan.), E. T. Meredith
Jefferson Highway Declaration, Vol. 1, No. 04, May 1916, Jefferson Highway Association
1916-04-28; Letter, from D. C. Flint, Girard (Kan.), to O. W. Schaeffer, Girard (Kan.), D. C. Flint
