Records of the Kansas Governor's Office : administration of Governor John Pierce St. John (1879-1883)

Restrictions: None

Biographical sketch: Eighth governor of the State of Kansas, 1879 - 1883; of Olathe.

Abstract: Correspondence and other records of the administration of John P. St. John, governor of the State of Kansas from 13 Jan. 1879 to 8 Jan. 1883. Correspondence received includes general letters, official response letters from & letters concerning State agencies, and subject files; some proclamations are also included. Subject files include applications, endorsements, & remonstrances relating to candidates for appointments to normal school, penitentiary, judicial, & other positions; county organizational papers; and letters relating to counties, crime & criminals, justices of the peace, lands, military affairs, relief, the African American "exoduses" from the South to Kansas, and Prohibition. Non-correspondence series include Extradition warrants, 1879-1880, and Executive messages and proclamations, 1881-1882. Additional records of Governor St. John are in separate series common to several governors including an Executive record (Official record), 1861-1879; Executive proclamations, 1861-1980; Pardon and parole files from the Women’s Industrial Farm, 1863-1919; Pardons, 1865-1883; Letter press books, 1865-1904; a Letter register, 1871-1895; a Record of death sentences, 1872-1906; and Death sentence warrants, 1872-1908; Requisitions on governor from governors of other states for persons accused of crimes, 1873-1960; County organization censuses, ca. 1873-ca. 1886; Applications for extradition requisitions: Subseries I and II, 1874-1953; Prisoners in Kansas State Penitentiary, ca. 1875-ca. 1897; and Citizenship pardons, 1876-1960.

Summary: Detailed Description of the Records

Series 193417. CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED, 1879-1883. 12 ft. (24 boxes)

Primarily letters received by Governor St. John, however there are also proclamations and a few petitions, reports, copies of letters sent, and other types of documents. Some proclamations may have also been interfiled with other items received relating to the subjects of the proclamations. Copies of letters sent are described below in the St. John portion of the series Letter Press Books, 1865-1904 (no. 193397).

Organized into 4 subseries: (1) General (Alphabetical) File, 1879-1883; (2) State Departments, 1873-1876 ; (3) Subject Files, 1879-1883; and (4) Proclamations, 1873-1876.

• Subseries 1. General (Alphabetical) File, 1879-1883. 0.4 ft. (27 folders). Box 1
  
  Letters received relating to positions, recommendations, & vacancies; Governor St. John’s addresses; State contracts; the extension of State jurisdiction to former Indian reservations; the judiciary & judicial procedure; legislation; requests for information, publications, or action; politics; services & goods offered for sale; taxation; transportation; public lands; U.S. Dept. of Interior, U.S. Dept. of State, U.S. Dept. of Treasury, U.S. Dept. of War, and interstate co-operation. Letters may have been filed here because there was not an appropriate place for them in the State Departments (no. 2) or Subject Files (no. 3) subseries, described below.
  
  Folders 1-16 A – P (1 per letter)
  Folder 17 Re – Ro
  Folder 18 Ry
  Folders 19-20 S – T
  Folder 21 Underwood – U.S. Indian
  Folder 22 U.S. Interior
  Folder 23 U.S. State
  Folder 24 U.S. Treasury
  Folder 25 U.S. War
  Folders 26-27 V – W, anonymous
  
  Arranged in alphabetical order by author.



• Subseries 2. State Departments, 1879-1883. 0.7 ft. (34 folders)
  
  Letters from or relating to State offices: Some of the letters relate to personnel, vacancies, resignations, and appointments, but most pertain to the operation of individual State agencies. The letters request the Governor to take specific actions, ask his approval, send him information, ask him questions, tell of events, provide legal opinions, forward other letters and petitions, confirm or acknowledge gubernatorial actions, and request the Governor’s presence. Topics include organizing another Kansas’s cavalry regiment, supplies, boards of directors, inspections, State offices, judgeships, audits, the State treasury, federal taxation, State payments, prisoners, bonds, and fraud.
  
  Box 2, folder 1 Agricultural College, Kansas State 1879-1882
  Box 2, folder 2 Agricultural, State Board of 1879-1883
  Box 2, folder 3 Attorney General 1879-1883
  Box 2, folder 4 Blind, School for the 1879-1883
  Box 2, folder 5 Charitable Institutions, Bd. of Trustees 1879-1883
  Box 2, folder 6 Indian Raid Claims, Commission to Examine 1878-1879
  Box 2, folder 7 Deaf and Dumb School 1880-1881
  Box 2, folder 8 Executive 1879
  Box 2, folder 9 Fiscal Agency (New York) 1882
  Box 2, folder 10 Fish Commissioner 1879-1883
  Box 2, folder 11 Historical Society 1881
  Box 2, folder 12 Horticultural Society 1880
  Box 2, folder 13 Idiotic and Imbecile Youth Asylum 1881
  Box 2, folder 14 Insane Asylum, Osawatomie 1880-1882
  Box 2, folder 15 Insane Asylum, Topeka 1879-1881
  Box 2, folder 16 Land Agent, State 1879-1882
  Box 2, folder 17 Legislature 1879
  Box 2, folder 18 Legislature 1881
  Box 2, folder 19 Legislature 1882
  Box 2, folder 20 Medical Examiners, Board of, 1879
  Box 2, folder 21 Normal School, Emporia, Bd. of Regents 1879-1882
  Box 2, folder 22 Penitentiary, Warden’s Recommendations 1880
  Box 2, folder 23 Penitentiary, Warden’s Recommendations 1880
  Box 2, folder 24 Penitentiary, Warden’s Recommendations 1881
  Box 2, folder 25 Penitentiary, Warden’s Recommendations 1882-1883
  Box 3, folder 1 Penitentiary, Warden & Directors 1879-1881
  Box 3, folder 2 Penitentiary, Warden’s Acknowledgements 1879
  Box 3, folder 3 Penitentiary, Warden’s Acknowledgements 1880
  Box 3, folder 4 Penitentiary, Warden’s Acknowledgements 1881
  Box 3, folder 5 Penitentiary, Warden’s Acknowledgements 1882
  Box 3, folder 6 Statehouse Commissioners, Board of, 1879-1882
  Box 3, folder 7 Supreme Court 1879
  Box 3, folder 8 Treasurer 1879-1882
  Box 3, folder 9 University of Kansas, Chancellor & Regents 1879-1882
  
  Arranged alphabetically by name of State agency.



• Subseries 3. Subject Files, 1879-1883. 2 ft. (21 boxes).
  
  Topics include applications, endorsements, and remonstrances & appointments to State positions; bonds; charitable & correctional institutions; cities & towns; claims; counties & county organization; crime & criminals, including the Bender family, extraditions, & rewards; fairs; immigration; Indians; invitations; Indian, school, railroad, & other land; legislation; federal & State military affairs; railroads; relief; and the United States government.
  
  
  Box 3, folder 10 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Charitable Institutions, Board of Trustees
  1879-1882
  Box 3, folder 11 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Charitable Institutions, Board, A.T. Sharp
  1881
  Box 3, folder 12 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Deaf & Dumb School, Superintendent
  1879-1880
  Box 3, folder 13 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Detectives
  1879
  Box 4, folder 1 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Feeble Minded, School-Winfield 1881
  Box 4, folder 2 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Fish Commission 1881-1882
  Box 4, folder 3 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Governor’s Staff 1879-1881
  Box 4, folder 4 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Indian Raid Commission 1879
  Box 4, folder 5 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Insane Asylum 1879
  Box 4, folder 6 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Insurance, Superintendent 1879
  Box 4, folder 7 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Judicial Districts 1879
  Box 4, folder 8 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Judicial Districts : 6th 1882
  Box 4, folder 9 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Judicial Districts : 8th 1881
  Box 4, folder 10 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Judicial Districts : 9th-Ady, Houk and Reid 1882
  Box 4, folder 11 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Judicial Districts : 16th : Anderson & Robert 1881
  Box 4, folder 12 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Judicial Districts : 16th : Clayton & Joshua 1880-1882
  Box 4, folder 13 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Judicial District : 16th : Judge of : Cornell, A. B. 1881
  Box 4, folder 14 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Judicial District : 16th : judge of : Nimmocks, George W 1881
  Box 5, folder 1 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Judicial District : 16th : judge of : Orner, George D 1881-1882
  Box 5, folder 2 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Judicial District : 16th : judge of : Strang, J.C. 1881
  Box 5, folder 3 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Judicial District : 17th : judge of : Morse, F.D. 1881
  Box 5, folder 4 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Judicial District 17th : Judge of : Nellis, D.C. 1881
  Box 5, folder 5 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Judicial District 17th : Judge of : Pratt, Louis
  K 1880-1881
  Box 5, folder 6 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Judicial Judge 17th : Judge of : Rathbone,
  David 1881
  Box 5, folder 7 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Judicial Judge 17th : Judge of : Reville, M.C. 1881
  Box 5, folder 8 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Librarian, State 1879-1881
  Box 5, folder 9 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Medical Society, Homeopathic 1879
  Box 5, folder 10 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Militia : Brigadier General 1879-1881
  Box 5, folder 11 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Militia : Major General 1881
  Box 5, folder 12 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Militia : Surgeon General 1881
  Box 5, folder 13 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Normal School, Emporia : President 1882
  Box 5, folder 14 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Penitentiary : Chaplain 1879-1881
  Box 5, folder 15 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Penitentiary : Directors, Board of 1879-1881
  Box 5, folder 16 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Penitentiary : Warden 1879-1880
  Box 5, folder 17 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Penitentiary : Guards 1879
  Box 5, folder 18 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Railroad Commissioners, Board of 1879-1881
  Box 5, folder 19 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Reform School 1879-1881
  Box 5, folder 20 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Relief Commission 1881
  Box 5, folder 21 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: State House Commissioners, Board of 1879
  Box 5, folder 22 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: University, Board of Regents 1879-1881
  Box 5, folder 23 Applications, Endorsements and Remonstrances: Veterinary 1881
  Box 5, folder 24 Applications for Enumerators and Supervisors 1879-1880
  Box 5, folder 25 Inquiries, Request for admission, etc. 1879-1882
  Box 6, folder 1 Cities & Towns : Atchison 1879-1882
  Box 6, folder 2 Cities & Towns : Atwood 1879-1882
  Box 6, folder 3 Cities & Towns : Beloit 1879
  Box 6, folder 4 Cities & Towns : Burlington 1882
  Box 6, folders 5 Cities & Towns : Clay Center 1880
  Box 6, folder 6 Cities & Towns : Columbus 1882
  Box 6, folder 7 Cities & Towns : Hutchinson 1880
  Box 6, folder 8 Cities & Towns : Independence 1879
  Box 6, folder 9 Cities & Towns : Kansas City 1879-1882
  Box 6, folder 10 Cities & Towns : Lawrence 1879
  Box 6, folder 11 Cities & Towns : Manhattan 1880
  Box 6, folder 12 Cities & Towns : Newton 1880
  Box 6, folder 13 Cities & Towns : Osage City 1879
  Box 6, folder 14 Cities & Towns : Oswego 1880
  Box 6, folder 15 Cities & Towns : Topeka 1879- 1881
  Box 6, folder 16 Cities & Towns : Wakefield 1879
  Box 6, folder 17 Cities & Towns : Wellington 1880
  Box 6, folder 18 Cities &Towns : Winfield 1879
  Box 6, folder 19 Claims : Indian Raid of 1878 1879-1882
  Box 6 : folder 20 Claims : Price Raid 1879-1882
  Box 6, folder 21 Claims : Quantrill Raid 1880
  Box 6, folder 22 Claims : Soldiers, Pensions, Bounties, etc. 1880-1881
  Box 6, folder 23 Commissioners of Deeds : Arizona 1882
  Box 6, folder 24 Commissioners of Deeds : Arkansas 1882
  Box 6, folder 25 Commissioners of Deeds : California 1879-1882
  Box 6, folder 26 Commissioners of Deeds : Colorado 1879-1881
  Box 6, folder 27 Commissioners of Deeds : Connecticut 1880-1881
  Box 6, folder 28 Commissioners of Deeds : District of Columbia 1880-1882
  Box 6, folder 29 Commissioners of Deeds : Georgia 1880-1882
  Box 6, folder 30 Commissioners of Deeds : Illinois 1880-1882
  Box 6, folder 31 Commissioners of Deeds : Kentucky 1880-1882
  Box 6, folder 32 Commissioners of Deeds : Louisiana 1879-1882
  Box 6, folder 33 Commissioners of Deeds : Maine 1879-1882
  Box 6, folder 34 Commissioners of Deeds : Maryland 1880-1882
  Box 6, folder 35 Commissioners of Deeds : Massachusetts 1879-1882
  Box 6, folder 36 Commissioners of Deeds : Michigan 1879-1880
  Box 6, folder 37 Commissioners of Deeds : Minnesota 1881
  Box 6, folder 38 Commissioners of Deeds : Missouri 1879-1882
  Box 6, folder 39 Commissioners of Deeds : Nebraska 1879-1882
  Box 6, folder 40 Commissioners of Deeds : New Jersey 1880
  Box 6, folder 41 Commissioners of Deeds : New Mexico 1881-1882
  Box 6, folder 42 Commissioners of Deeds : New York 1879-1882
  Box 6, folder 43 Commissioners of Deeds : North Carolina 1880
  Box 6, folder 44 Commissioners of Deeds : Ohio 1879-1882
  Box 6, folder 45 Commissioners of Deeds : Oregon 1880
  Box 6, folder 46 Commissioners of Deeds : Pennsylvania 1879-1882
  Box 6, folder 47 Commissioners of Deeds : South Carolina 1882
  Box 6, folder 48 Commissioners of Deeds : Texas 1881
  Box 6, folder 49 Commissioners of Deeds : England 1881
  Box 6, folder 50 Commissioners of Deeds : France 1881
  Box 7, folder 1 Congratulatory Messages on St. John’s nomination and election to a second term. 1880
  Box 7, folder 2 Congratulatory Messages on St. John’s nomination for a third term. 1882
  Box 7, folder 3 Counties : Allen 1879
  Box 7, folder 4 Counties : Anderson 1881
  Box 7, folder 5 Counties : Atchison 1880
  Box 7, folder 6 Counties : Barbour (Barber) 1880
  Box 7, folder 7 Counties : Bourbon 1879
  Box 7, folder 8 Counties : Brown 1879
  Box 7, folder 9 Counties : Butler 1881
  Box 7, folder 10 Counties : Clay 1879
  Box 7, folder 11 Counties : Davis 1881-1882
  Box 7, folders 12-18 Counties : Decatur 1879-1880
  Box 7, folder 19 Counties : Dickinson 1880
  Box 7, folder 20 Counties : Doniphan 1882
  Box 7, folder 21 Counties : Edwards 1879-1880
  Box 7, folder 22 Counties : Ellsworth 1879-1880
  Box 7, folder 23 Counties : Foote (Gray) 1879
  Box 7, folder 24 Counties : Ford 1879
  Box 7, folder 25 Counties : Franklin 1880
  Box 7, folders 26-29 Counties : Gove 1880-1881
  Box 8, folders 1-23 Counties : Graham 1877-1880
  Box 9, folder 1 Counties : Greenwood 1879-1883
  Box 9, folder 2 Counties : Harper 1879-1883
  Box 9, folder 3 Counties : Harvey 1879-1883
  Box 9, folder 4 Counties : Hodgeman 1879-1883
  Box 9, folder 5 Counties : Jackson 1879-1883
  Box 9, folder 6 Counties : Jewell 1879-1883
  Box 9, folder 7 Counties : Kingman 1879-1883
  Box 9, folder 8 Counties : Labette 1879-1883
  Box 9, folder 9 Counties : Lane 1879-1883
  Box 9, folder 10 Counties : Lincoln 1879-1883
  Box 9, folder 11 Counties : Lyon 1879-1883
  Box 9, folder 12 Counties : McPherson 1879-1883
  Box 9, folder 13 Counties : Marion 1879-1883
  Box 9, folder 14 Counties : Mitchell 1879-1883
  Box 9, folder 15 Counties : Morris 1879-1883
  Box 9, folder 16 Counties : Nemaha 1879-1883
  Box 9, folders 17-24 Counties : Ness 1878-1881
  Box 10, folder 1 Counties : Norton 1880
  Box 10, folder 2 Counties : Osage 1880-1882
  Box 10, folder 3 Counties : Osborne 1880
  Box 10, folder 4 Counties : Ottawa 1882
  Box 10, folder 5 Counties : Pawnee 1879-1882
  Box 10, folder 6 Counties : Phillips 1880-1882
  Box 10, folders 7-16 Counties : Pratt 1879-1882
  Box 10, folders 17-20 Counties : Rawlins 1879-1886
  Box 10, folder 21 Counties : Reno 1879-1881
  Box 10, folder 22 Counties : Rice 1879-1882
  Box 10, folder 23 Counties : Riley 1879-1882
  Box 10, folder 24 Counties : Rush 1880
  Box 10, folder 25 Counties : Russell 1879
  Box 11, folder 1 Counties : Saline 1879
  Box 11, folder 2 Counties : Scott 1880
  Box 11, folder 3 Counties : Sedgwick 1879
  Box 11, folder 4 Counties : Shawnee 1882
  Box 11, folders 5-7 Counties : Sheridan 1880
  Box 11, folders 8-13 Counties : Stafford 1879
  Box 11, folder 14 Counties : Sumner 1879
  Box 11, folders 15-16 Counties : Trego 1879-1881
  Box 11, folder 17 Counties : Wallace 1879-1881
  Box 11, folder 18 Counties : Washington 1881
  Box 11, folder 19 Counties : Wilson 1880-1883
  Box 11, folder 20 Counties : Wyandotte 1879
  Box 11, folder 21 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions BY Kansas on other states : Arizona 1882
  Box 11, folder 22 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions BY Kansas on other states : Arkansas 1879-1882
  Box 11, folder 23 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions BY Kansas on other states : Colorado 1879-1882
  Box 11, folder 24 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions BY Kansas on other states : Dakota Territory 1879-1882
  Box 11, folder 25 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions BY Kansas on other states : Illinois 1879-1882
  Box 11, folder 26 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions BY Kansas on other states : Indiana 1880-1882
  Box 11, folder 27 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions BY Kansas on other states : Iowa 1879-1882
  Box 11, folder 28 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions BY Kansas on other states : Missouri 1879-1882
  Box 11, folder 29 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions BY Kansas on other states : Nebraska 1879-1882
  Box 11, folder 30 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions BY Kansas on other states : Nevada 1880
  Box 11, folder 31 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions BY Kansas on other states : New Mexico 1879-1882
  Box 11, folder 32 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions BY Kansas on other states : Ohio 1879-1880
  Box 11, folder 33 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions BY Kansas on other states : Pennsylvania 1882
  Box 11, folder 34 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions BY Kansas on other states : Texas 1879-1882
  Box 11, folder 35 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions ON Kansas by other States : Arkansas 1879
  Box 11, folder 36 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions ON Kansas by other States : Cherokee Nation 1882
  Box 11, folder 37 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions ON Kansas by other States : Colorado 1882
  Box 11, folder 38 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions ON Kansas by other States : Illinois 1879
  Box 11, folder 39 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions ON Kansas by other States : Indiana 1879
  Box 11, folder 40 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions ON Kansas by other States : Iowa 1879-1882
  Box 11, folder 41 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions ON Kansas by other States : Missouri 1879-1882
  Box 11, folder 42 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions ON Kansas by other States : Nebraska 1879-1882
  Box 11, folder 43 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions ON Kansas by other States : Pennsylvania 1879
  Box 11, folder 44 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions ON Kansas by other States : Texas 1879
  Box 11, folder 45 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions ON Kansas by other States : West Virginia 1879
  Box 11, folder 46 Crime & Criminals: Extradition papers : Requisitions ON Kansas by other States : Wisconsin 1882
  Box 12, folder 1 Crime & Criminals: Miscellaneous : Bancroft Case 1879-1881
  Box 12, folder 2 Crime & Criminals: Miscellaneous : Bender Case 1879-1882
  Box 12, folder 3 Crime & Criminals: Miscellaneous : Hillmon Case 1879-1882
  Box 12, folder 4 Crime & Criminals: Miscellaneous : Report of Commutations of Sentence 1879-1880
  Box 12, folder 5 Crime & Criminals: Miscellaneous : Report of Pardons granted 1879-1880
  Box 12, folder 6 Crime & Criminals: Miscellaneous : List of Returned Warrants 1879
  
  Box 12, folder 7 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : Burke - Wilkerson 1879-1882
  Box 12, folder 8 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : Bandle, George 1880
  Box 12, folder 9 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : Barker, James & Jones, Robert, (alias Triplett) 1879-1880
  Box 12, folder 10 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : Beal, L.D. 1882
  Box 12, folder 11 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : Bedford, Henry and Garten, John 1880
  Box 12, folder 12 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : Bird, J.W. 1881-1882
  Box 12, folder 13 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : Burks, James & Walters, Samuel 1882
  Box 12, folder 14 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : Daulton, Charles & Fuller, James 1882
  Box 12, folder 15 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : Edington, William & Hannah 1882
  Box 12, folder 16 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : Goltra, Joseph W. 1879-1880
  Box 12, folder 17 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : Gwinder & Simpson 1880
  Box 12, folder 18 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : Henson, Dan 1879
  Box 12, folder 19 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : Howard, Bill 1879
  Box 12, folder 20 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : Jennings, William 1879
  Box 12, folder 21 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : Jones James 1879
  Box 12, folder 22 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : McClarney, Patrick 1879-1881
  Box 12, folder 23 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : McClain, R.G. (George) 1880-1882
  Box 12, folder 24 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : McCoy, John M, 1879
  Box 12, folder 25 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : McPherson, Frank 1879
  Box 12, folder 26 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : Pearson, Jack and Phil 1880
  Box 12, folder 27 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : Plowman, George A, 1882
  Box 12, folder 28 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : Stackhouse, Charles, 1879
  Box 12, folder 29 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : Steward, George, 1881
  Box 12, folder 30 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : True, J. B. 1879
  Box 12, folder 31 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : Wells, John, 1879-1882
  Box 12, folder 32 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : Wilson J. C. 1879
  Box 12, folder 33 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : Wooten, Thomas & McCollom, James, 1882
  Box 12, folder 34 Crime & Criminals: Reward Papers : Unidentified (By County) 1879-1882
  Box 13, folder 1 Elections 1881-1882
  Box 13, folder 2 Fairs, Expositions, Centennials and Conventions: American Humane Association – St. Louis AGRI & Mechanical Association. 1879-1882
  Box 13, folder 3 Fairs, Expositions, Centennials and Conventions: Cincinnati Industrial Exposition 1879
  Box 13, folder 4 Fairs, Expositions, Centennials and Conventions: International Dairy Fair, New York, 1879
  Box 13, folder 5 Fairs, Expositions, Centennials and Conventions: Mississippi River Improvement Convention,
  Council Bluffs, 1881
  Box 13, folder 6 Fairs, Expositions, Centennials and Conventions: Mississippi Valley Cane Growers Association, 1882
  Box 13, folder 7 Fairs, Expositions, Centennials and Conventions: National Agricultural Society, 1879
  Box 13, folder 8 Fairs, Expositions, Centennials and Conventions: National Tariff Convention, New York, 1881
  Box 13, folder 9 Fairs, Expositions, Centennials and Conventions: National and International Convention, New
  Orleans, 1878
  Box 13, folder 10 Fairs, Expositions, Centennials and Conventions: Soldiers Reunions, 1879-1881
  Box 13, folder 11 Fairs, Expositions, Centennials and Conventions: World’s Fair, (1883) New York, 1879-1881
  Box 13, folder 12 Fairs, Expositions, Centennials and Conventions: Yorktown Centennial, 1879-1881
  Box 13, folder 13 Freedman’s Institute, Relief Association, 1879-1880
  Box 13, folder 14 Freedman’s Institute, Relief Association, 1881
  Box 13, folder 15 Freedman’s Institute, Relief Association, 1882
  Box 13, folder 16 Garfield Monument Fund, 1881-1882
  Box 13, folder 17 Immigration 1879
  Box 13, folder 18 Immigration, 1880
  Box 13, folder 19 Immigration, 1881
  Box 13, folder 20 Immigration : Negro Exodus 1879 Apr.
  Box 14, folder 1 Immigration : Negro Exodus 1879 May
  Box 14, folder 2 Immigration : Negro Exodus 1879 June
  Box 14, folder 3 Immigration : Negro Exodus 1879 July
  Box 14, folder 4 Immigration : Negro Exodus 1879 Aug.
  Box 14, folder 5 Immigration : Negro Exodus 1879 Sept.
  Box 14, folder 6 Immigration : Negro Exodus 1879 Oct.
  Box 14, folder 7 Immigration : Negro Exodus 1879 Nov.
  Box 14, folder 8 Immigration : Negro Exodus 1879 Dec.
  Box 14, folder 9 Immigration : Negro Exodus 1880 Jan.
  Box 15, folder 1 Immigration : Negro Exodus 1880 Feb.
  Box 15, folder 2 Immigration : Negro Exodus 1880 Mar.
  Box 15, folder 3 Immigration : Negro Exodus 1880 Apr.-June
  Box 15, folder 4 Immigration : Negro Exodus 1880 July-Sept.
  Box 15, folder 5 Immigration : Negro Exodus 1880 Oct.-Dec.
  Box 15, folder 6 Indians 1879
  Box 15, folder 7 Indians 1880
  Box 15, folder 8 Indians 1882
  Box 15, folder 9 Indians : Trial of Dull Knife & Cheyenne 1879
  Box 15, folder 10 Invitations 1879
  Box 15, folder 11 Invitations 1880
  Box 16, folder 1 Invitations : Speeches 1880
  Box 16, folder 2 Invitations : Speeches 1881-1882
  Box 16, folder 3 Justices of the Peace: Allen & Atchison Counties, 1879-1882
  Box 16, folder 4 Justices of the Peace: Barber, and Bourbon Counties, 1879-1882
  Box 16, folder 5 Justices of the Peace: Butler County, 1879-1882
  Box 16, folder 6 Justices of the Peace: Chase, Chautauqua, and Cherokee Counties 1879-1882
  Box 16, folder 7 Justices of the Peace: Clay, Cloud, and Cowley Counties 1879-1882
  Box 16, folder 8 Justices of the Peace: Crawford, Davis, and Decatur Counties 1879-1882
  Box 16, folder 9 Justices of the Peace: Doniphan, Douglas, and Edwards Counties 1879-1882
  Box 16, folder 10 Justices of the Peace: Elk, Ellis, and Ellsworth Counties 1879-1882
  Box 16, folder 11 Justices of the Peace: Ford, Franklin, and Graham Counties 1879-1882
  Box 16, folder 12 Justices of the Peace: Greenwood, Harper, and Harvey Counties 1879-1882
  Box 16, folder 13 Justices of the Peace: Hodgeman, Jackson, and Jefferson Counties 1879-1882
  Box 16, folder 14 Justices of the Peace: Jewell, Kingman, and Labette Counties 1879-1882
  Box 16, folder 15 Justices of the Peace: Leavenworth, Lincoln, and Lyon Counties 1879-1882
  Box 16, folder 16 Justices of the Peace: McPherson County 1879-1882
  Box 16, folder 17 Justices of the Peace: Marion, Marshall, and Mitchell Counties 1879-1882
  Box 16, folder 18 Justices of the Peace: Montgomery, Morris, and Nemaha Counties 1879-1882
  Box 16, folder 19 Justices of the Peace: Neosho, Ness, and Osage Counties 1879-1882
  Box 16, folder 20 Justices of the Peace: Osborne, Ottawa, and Pawnee Counties 1879-1882
  Box 16, folder 21 Justices of the Peace: Phillips, Pottawatomie, and Pratt Counties 1879-1882
  Box 16, folder 22 Justices of the Peace: Rawlins, Reno, and Republic Counties 1879-1882
  Box 16, folder 23 Justices of the Peace: Rice, Riley, and Rooks Counties 1879-1883
  Box 16, folder 24 Justices of the Peace: Rush, Russell, and Saline Counties 1879-1883
  Box 16, folder 25 Justices of the Peace: Shawnee, Sheridan, and Smith Counties 1879-1883
  Box 16, folder 26 Justices of the Peace: Stafford, Sumner, and Trego Counties 1879-1883
  Box 17, folder 1 Justices of the Peace: Wallace, Washington, and Wilson Counties 1879-1883
  Box 17, folder 2 Justices of the Peace: Woodson and Wyandotte Counties 1879-1883
  Box 17, folder 3 Lands 1879-1883
  Box 17, folder 4 Lands, Indian 1879-1883
  Box 17, folder 5 Lands, Railroad 1879-1883
  Box 17, folder 6 Lands, Salt Spring 1879-1883
  Box 17, folder 7 Lands, School 1879-1883
  Box 17, folder 8 Lands, School Indemnity 1879-1883
  Box 17, folder 9 Lands, University 1879-1883
  Box 17, folder 10 Legislation 1879-1883
  Box 17, folder 11 Livestock 1879-1883
  Box 17, folder 12 Military Affairs : Fort Hays 1882
  Box 17, folder 13 Militia 1879
  Box 17, folder 14 Militia 1880-1882
  Box 17, folder 15 Militia : Paola Rifles Company 1879-1883
  Box 17, folder 16 Militia : Patrol Guard 1879-1880
  Box 17, folder 17 Military Affairs : Special Scouts 1879
  Box 18, folder 1 Military Affairs : Special Scouts 1880
  Box 18, folder 2 Military Affairs : Special Scouts 1881-1882
  Box 18, folder 3 Notaries public 1879
  Box 18, folder 4 Notaries public 1880
  Box 18, folder 5 President Grant Reception 1880
  Box 18, folder 6 President Hayes Reception 1879
  Box 18, folder 7 Railroads 1879
  Box 18, folder 8 Relief 1879 Mar.-Aug.
  Box 18, folder 9 Relief 1879 Sept. -Dec.
  Box 18, folder 10 Relief 1880 Jan.-Feb.
  Box 18, folder 11 Relief 1880 Mar.-Apr.
  Box 19, folder 1 Relief 1880 May-June
  Box 19, folder 2 Relief 1880 July-Dec.
  Box 19, folder 3 Relief 1881
  Box 19, folder 4 Suffrage, Women’s 1882
  Box 19, folder 5 Temperance (Prohibition) 1879 Jan.-June
  Box 19, folder 6 Temperance (Prohibition) 1879 July-Dec.
  Box 19, folder 7 Temperance (Prohibition) 1880 Jan.-Feb.
  Box 19, folder 8 Temperance (Prohibition) 1880 Mar.-Apr.
  Box 20, folder 1 Temperance (Prohibition) 1880 May-June
  Box 20, folder 2 Temperance (Prohibition) 1880 July
  Box 20, folder 3 Temperance (Prohibition) 1880 Aug.-Sept.
  Box 20, folder 4 Temperance (Prohibition) 1880 Oct.-Nov.
  Box 20, folder 5 Temperance (Prohibition) 1880 Dec.
  Box 20, folder 6 Temperance (Prohibition) 1881 Jan.-Feb.
  Box 21, folder 1 Temperance (Prohibition) 1881 Mar.-Apr.
  Box 21, folder 2 Temperance (Prohibition) 1881 May-June
  Box, 21 folder 3 Temperance (Prohibition) 1881 July-Aug.
  Box 21, folder 4 Temperance (Prohibition) 1881 Sept.-Oct.
  Box 21, folder 5 Temperance (Prohibition) 1881 Nov.-Dec.
  Box 22, folder 1 Temperance (Prohibition) 1882 Jan.
  Box 22, folder 2 Temperance (Prohibition) 1882 Feb.
  Box 22, folder 3 Temperance (Prohibition) 1882 Mar.
  Box 22, folder 4 Temperance (Prohibition) 1882 Apr.
  Box 22, folder 5 Temperance (Prohibition) 1882 May
  Box 22, folder 6 Temperance (Prohibition) 1882 June
  Box 22, folder 7 Temperance (Prohibition) 1882 July
  Box 22, folder 8 Temperance (Prohibition) 1882 Aug.
  Box 22, folder 9 Temperance (Prohibition) 1882 Sept-Dec.
  Box 23, folder 1 Temperance (Prohibition) : Other States 1881 Jan.-Feb.
  Box 23, folder 2 Temperance (Prohibition) : Other States 1881 Mar.-Apr.
  Box 23, folder 3 Temperance (Prohibition) : Other States 1881 May-June
  Box 23, folder 4 Temperance (Prohibition) : Other States 1881 July-Aug.
  Box 23, folder 5 Temperance (Prohibition) : Other States 1881 Sept.-Oct.
  Box 23, folder 6 Temperance (Prohibition) : Other States 1881 Nov.-Dec.
  Box 24, folder 1 Temperance (Prohibition) : Other States 1882 Jan.
  Box 24, folder 2 Temperance (Prohibition) : Other States 1882 Feb.
  Box 24, folder 3 Temperance (Prohibition) : Other States 1882 Mar.
  Box 24, folder 4 Temperance (Prohibition) : Other States 1882 Apr.
  Box 24, folder 5 Temperance (Prohibition) : Other States 1882 May
  Box 24, folder 6 Temperance (Prohibition) : Other States 1882 June
  Box 24, folder 7 Temperance (Prohibition) : Other States 1882 July-Aug.
  Box 24, folder 8 Temperance (Prohibition) : Other States 1882 Sept.-Dec.
  
  Arranged alphabetically by topic.



• Subseries 4. Proclamations, 1879 - 1882. 14 items.
  
  Notices issued by the governor proclaiming rewards for criminals.
  
  Arranged numerically.

Language note: Text is in English.

Biog. Sketch (Full):

John P. St. John was born on 25 February 1833 in Franklin County, Indiana. He was the son of Samuel St. John, a simple farmer, and Sophia Snell St. John. He grew up with one brother and one half-brother. His parents originated from New York State where their parents and grandparents had lived and farmed for many years.

For much of his boyhood he grew up on his father’s farm and was educated in sparse and crude public schools operating with limited resources. In 1848, he moved with his parents to Olney, Illinois, but sadly, soon after settling in their new home, his parents died. His father had fallen victim under the weight of the social class and drank himself poor; his mother suffered from severe anxiety and depression and died of a broken heart. At the age of nineteen he crossed the plains to California, and there he mined, chopped wood, clerked in a general store; he did just about anything so he could pay his living expenses.

In 1852, he married Mary Jane Brewer. They had one son but divorced in 1859.

In 1853 - 54, as a young militiaman he fought in the Indian Wars of northern California and southern Oregon being twice wounded. But St. John’s greatest ambition was to study and practice law. After a long day’s work, St. John would read law books, that he had bought and barely could afford, at night by the flickering light of a candle. He was an adventurous man and traveled extensively to Mexico, South America and the Sandwich Islands (present Hawaii). In 1859, John St. John returned to Illinois a poor man but rich in experience and knowledge of culture and the world. He finished his law studies in the offices of law firm Starkweather and McLain, in Charleston, Illinois. Charleston was also where he married his second wife, Susan J. Parker, in March of 1860; they had two children.

During the Civil War, St. John enlisted in the Army in April of 1862, and served as captain of Company C, 68 th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He later recruited, organized and commanded the 143 rd Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, as a lieutenant colonel. The record shows that he served gallantly.

Unscathed by battle, at the end of the Civil War, he moved to Independence, Missouri, to practice law. Four years later he relocated permanently to Olathe, Kansas.

John P. St. John, by nature was a Republican in heart and mind, standing firmly on whatever he believed to be morally right. In 1872 he was elected to the Kansas State Senate by popular vote. In 1876, the Prohibition Party nominated him for governor of Kansas, but he immediately declined the offer. However, when the affairs of state became frustrating enough to earn his attention, he ran and was elected to that office two years later by the Republican Party and his vast and growing constituency in Kansas. People adored his warm nature of generosity and political style. He held the governorship for two terms but was defeated for a third term in 1882 by George W. Glick.

John St. John was the first governor to have a formal inauguration ceremony held on the steps of the newly completed east wing of the State capitol; the event was eloquently described in the 8 February 1879 issue of the nationally distributed Harper’s Weekly. After a long day’s work and often quite late in the evening, Governor St. John would retire to his cozy residence at the Tefft House. In the subsequent 1880 race for Governor, St. John defeated United States Senator Edmund G. Ross, who was a former Republican running as a Democrat.

In 1879, Governor St. John’s first order of business was to push the Legislature to provide for the building of the west wing of the State House and a new State Reform School in Topeka. Being a staunch politician of temperance, the governor’s agenda included new legislation to amend the constitution of Kansas prohibiting within the State of Kansas the “manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors,” with exception for medical or scientific purposes. The people voted in favor of prohibition and the amendment was adopted at the general election of 1880; in 1881, the Legislature passed the Prohibitory Law making Kansas the second State in the Union, Maine being the first, to pass such a statute.

The governor often spoke sentimentally and from the heart on the issue of temperance, most likely inspired by his father’s alcoholism. St. John never used a prepared speech but delivered his message extemporaneously and ensured no doubt that his agenda was on religious and moral grounds as well being a political statement. “Our covenant touching this matter is with the Lord,” he said, “and we propose to complete the good work.” It was St. John who started what became known as the gubernatorial “water banquettes” where only water was served in lieu of alcohol. This practice fared well for most people visiting the governor but not with Former President Ulysses S. Grant who felt rather annoyed when he wasn’t served his usual alcoholic drink.

One of the greatest results of the Civil War was the thousands of former slaves in the postwar Reconstructed South that were, to a large extent, denied human respect, independence, and the opportunity to work in that region. A huge opportunity for St. John to mark his place in history came during the “exodus” movements toward Kansas that began in 1875 and ultimately resulted in a considerable refugee problem for the State. The 1876 presidential election that put Rutherford B. Hayes in the White House, by very close margin, came with conditions: an agreement with the Democrats that the Republicans would discontinue federal troop occupation in the South and allow the advancement of radical Reconstruction policy promoting African American voting rights, employment, and equality in accommodations. Not surprisingly, the latter was never realized. By 1878 the mass migration of former slaves westward, largely from an existing state of oppression and despair in the South, had begun. Governor St. John stood firmly on moral grounds that to accommodate these brethren, when many other States east of Kansas denied them homestead, was the right thing to do and was in the tradition of Kansas that would later prove beneficial.

Poor, exhausted, and homeless, many of the former slaves displayed a remarkable cheerfulness and childlike trust in Providence. Governor St. John formed the Freedman’s State Central Association and he became the chairman of its board of directors. A Quaker woman, Elizabeth Comstock from Chicago, was given its managerial charge, and henceforth much was accomplished in relief for these displaced persons. Many black immigrants settled on tiny patches of land throughout Kansas. The most prominent was the large settlement of Nicodemus in Graham County, established by Benjamin “Pap” Singleton from Tennessee, with the aid of W.R. Hill, a white minister and land speculator. Two smaller but poor black colonies were established in Hodgeman County. One former slave there became a prosperous farmer who began by breaking an acre of prairie for wheat with a single spade. His annual harvest grew exponentially to be shipped to and stored in Topeka. F. W. Giles was a well-known resident and historian of Topeka. Giles estimated that over seven thousand former slaves had migrated to Topeka by August of 1879. He estimated the population of Topeka was close to 30 per cent African American, all congregated in a section of town called Tenneseetown. Giles wrote, “many had a vague knowledge, since the mid 1850’s, that somewhere on this earth was a place known as Kansas, and they fancied that in some way the question of their emancipation was connected with it.”

The State Legislature of 1879 posed a huge but delicate question to governor St. John: What is Kansas to do with them? Given the complexity of accommodating their vast numbers, Kansans, principally, rejected any notion of turning these people away. The governor believed that the migration could be well managed if the immigrants were distributed evenly around the State. However, many problems ensued in the distribution, the biggest being prejudice. A proclamation made public by the mayor of Wyandotte (now part of Kansas City) threatened legal action against anyone bringing black migrants into the town. The town councils of Atchison and Leavenworth turned a blind eye to those destitute being unloaded from the steamboats. When the relief association sent a group of blacks to Wichita, the city council returned them to Topeka like substandard merchandise on unproven official grounds that they might be diseased. Governor St. John made it publicly clear that Kansas would have no sentinel at her portals as to birthplace, race, condition, color, politics or religion for condition to enter its borders, however difficult the numbers. The Topeka Commonwealth wrote in support of St. John’s policy, “the question of the exodus is not one of business merely, as shallow thinkers and flippant writers would have us believe. A large portion of the American people will ignore the humanitarian side, but Kansas cannot afford to do so by measure of principle in the right to freedom.” Kansas had indeed become the promised land for those who suffered from America’s worse national disgrace toward humanity.

John St. John believed that State institutions should be self-supporting, and not dependent on State or federal funding, so he opened a coal mine at the State Penitentiary at Lansing to provide jobs for inmates.

The threat of Indian raids along the Oklahoma - Kansas border prompted Governor St. John to post a militia guard along the southern border. However, his fear was cautioned on the grounds that an armed militia would perpetuate the violence; therefore he vacillated on the issue of a massive army permanently keeping watch on the border.

The 1869 treaty with the Osage that resulted in the sale of over 8,000,000 acres of Indian land to the Leavenworth, Lawrence and Galveston Railroad Company eventually gave way to public scrutiny. Plans to expand the railroads northwest inflamed fear because the settlers worried that they could lose their homes in the deal. In 1874, a lawsuit pursued on the validity of the patents issued to the railroad companies for the Osage lands led to seven years of litigation. St. John publicly argued for the settlers and the courts finally decided in their favor in 1881.

Governor St. John’s administration was highly praised for its honesty and integrity of leadership. The Governor’s moral ground and rigid standards of honor for life and liberty gave way to a trusted citizenry and his two - term administration was not blemished with a single questionable act.

St. John’s defeat in the third term race for governor did not dampen his ambition for higher public office. The Prohibition Party of the day was a force of power that was not going away, and the party ultimately nominated St. John for president of the United States in 1884. His stature as a candidate caused his campaign to attract national attention, and he tallied fifteen times more votes then any previous prohibition candidate. The votes he received in New York alone were so voluminous that they cut the Republican Party’s tally greatly and cost James G. Blaine that State and the presidency, making Grover Cleveland the first Democratic president since the Civil War.

Although St. John didn’t get the presidency, his righteous enthusiasm for morality and Prohibition continued; he traveled in excess of 350,000 miles across the country advocating its just cause until his death in 1916.

His first religious preference was Congregational, but he later converted to Christian Science. John P. St. John died on 31 August 1916 in Olathe from the effects of his extensive public speaking crusade on behalf of prohibition; he is buried in Olathe Cemetery.

Administrative History:

The Wyandotte Constitution of 1859 established the office of the governor of the State of Kansas. Some of the more important duties, functions, and responsibilities of the governor are to see that the laws are faithfully executed, to require written explanations from other executive officers - at that time the lieutenant governor, secretary of State, auditor, treasurer, attorney general, and superintendent of public instruction - upon any subject relating to their respective duties, convene the Legislature by proclamation on extraordinary occasions, communicate in writing such information as the governor may possess in reference to the condition of the State at the commencement of every legislative session, recommend such measures as he may deem expedient, and commission officers of the State.

No formal qualifications for the governor have been legislated, aside from the provision that no member of Congress or officer of the State or United States can serve. The governor is elected by a plurality, not necessarily a majority of votes cast. The governor takes office the second Monday in January following election. He was authorized to hire a private secretary, pardon attorney, and other staff as appropriations permitted.

At the beginning of John St. John’s term, the governor had the power to appoint Militia officers; members of part - time boards of directors, trustees, or regents of the State Penitentiary (now Lansing Correctional Facility), schools of higher education, the State insane asylum (now Osawatomie State Hospital), and schools for deaf and blind students; a Board of Visitors for the State Agricultural College (now Kansas State University); the Bureau of Immigration; the Commission for Care of Destitute Orphans and Children of State Soldiers; the State librarian; the superintendent of insurance; and a number of minor commissions. He was also an ex officio member of the State Board of Canvassers, boards of directors of the Agricultural College and Normal School, the Bureau of Immigration, the Board of Treasury Examiners, and other committees. St. John was the fist State chief executive to lobby for, and enforce the law of prohibition making Kansas the second State, behind Maine, to do so. He succeeded in persuading the Legislature to pass a constitutional amendment for prohibition that was put before the voters in 1880.

Scope and content:

Governor John P. St. John’s records consist of three series.

Items in the series Correspondence Received, 1879 - 1883 (no. 03417), are primarily letters received by Governor St. John; however there may also be proclamations and a few petitions, reports, copies of letters sent, and other types of documents. The letters and proclamations are organized into four subseries: (1) General (Alphabetical) File, (2) State Departments, (3) Subject Files, and (4) Proclamations. Some proclamations may have also been interfiled with other items received relating to the subjects of the proclamations.

Documents that may have been addressed to Governor St. John but dated or pertaining to the time period after his term expired in 1883 may be filed with the records of his successor, George W. Glick.

The General (Alphabetical) File, 1879 - 1883 (subseries 1), consists of twenty-seven folders containing letters received that were filed in alphabetical order by author. Contained therein are letters relating to positions, recommendations, and vacancies; Governor St. John’s addresses; State contracts; the extension of State jurisdiction to former Indian reservations; the judiciary and judicial procedure; legislation; requests for information, publications, or action; politics; services and goods offered for sale; taxation; transportation; public lands; and interstate co-operation. Letters may have been filed here because there was not an appropriate place for them in the State Departments (subseries 2) or Subject Files (subseries 3).

Letters from or relating to State offices are in subseries 2, the State Departments File. Some of the letters relate to personnel, vacancies, resignations, and appointments, but most pertain to the operation of individual State agencies. The letters request the Governor to take specific actions, ask his approval, send him information, ask him questions, tell of events, provide legal opinions, forward other letters and petitions, confirm or acknowledge gubernatorial actions, and request the Governor’s presence. Topics include the Agricultural College (now Kansas State University) (Manhattan), the Attorney General, the School for the Blind (Kansas City), the Deaf and Dumb School (now Kansas School for the Deaf) (Olathe), the Executive Branch, the Fiscal Agency of New York, the Fish Commissioner, the Kansas State Historical Society, the Horticultural Society, the facility for Idiotic and Imbecile Youth, the Insane Asylum, the State Land agent, the Legislature, the Normal School (now Emporia State University), Penitentiary wardens, boards of directors, inspections, State offices, judgeships, audits, the State treasury, the Board of Medical Examiners, Charitable Institutions, Indian raid claims, federal taxation, State payments, prisoners, bonds, the Board of Statehouse Commissioners, detectives, and fraud. A more complete list of contents by folder is in the Detailed Description of the Records section, below.

The largest component of the Correspondence Received is the Subject Files subseries, no. 3. A major part of these files consist of applications, endorsements, and remonstrances; appointments to; and bonds required for State positions. Non-personnel files deal with cities and towns; claims for the Indian raids of 1878, Price’s Raid, and Quantrill’s Raid; soldiers’pensions and bounty claims; commissioners of deeds of other States, England, and France; congratulatory messages; Kansas county affairs, counties and county organization; crime and criminals, extraditions, and rewards; fairs; immigration; Indians; invitations; Indian, school, railroad, and other land; legislation; federal and State military affairs; railroads; relief; the United States government; elections; fairs and expositions; centennials and conventions; the Freedmans Institute and relief associations; the Garfield Monument Fund; immigration; the African American exodus, microfilmed on Kansas Historical Society microfilm roll MS 79, available through interlibrary loan; Indians; invitations; justices of the peace; lands; the Militia; military affairs and special scouts; notaries public; receptions for presidents Grant and Hayes; railroads; relief; women’s suffrage; and prohibition in Kansas and other States. A folder - by - folder contents list is in the Detailed Description of the Records section, below.

The Proclamations subseries, no. 4, consists of notices proclaiming rewards for criminals, 1879 - 1883. Other proclamations are in Executive messages and proclamations, 1881-1882, series 05962, and Series 05959, Executive messages and proclamations, 1877 - 1921.

The series Extradition warrants, 1879-1880; no. 03770, contains two warrants in one folder. The reason why these are housed separately is unknown, but unlike many other warrants a county is not listed.

Executive messages and proclamations, 1881-1882, series 05962, are contained in one volume, Book B. The volume includes handwritten messages and proclamations, arranged chronologically, that were probably used as rough drafts for the printed and signed copies made public. Other proclamations are in the Correspondence received, 1879 - 1883, series, no. 03417, subseries 4, and Series 05959, Executive messages and proclamations, 1877 - 1921.

Additional records of Governor St. John are in separate series common to several governors including an Executive record (Official record), 1861-1879; Executive proclamations, 1861-1980; Pardon and parole files from the Women’s Industrial Farm, 1863-1919; Pardons, 1865-1883; Letter press books, 1865-1904; a Letter register, 1871-1895; a Record of death sentences, 1872-1906; and Death sentence warrants, 1872-1908; Requisitions on governor from governors of other states for persons accused of crimes, 1873-1960; County organization censuses, ca. 1873-ca. 1886; Applications for extradition requisitions: Subseries I and II, 1874-1953; Prisoners in Kansas State Penitentiary, ca. 1875-ca. 1897; and Citizenship pardons, 1876-1960 . Descriptions of each of them are found in the Detailed Description of the Records section, below.

The Kansas Historical Society also holds a large collection of John Pierce St. John’s personal papers (ms. collection 494). A finding aid to the collection is available on-line at http://www.kshs.org/p/john-pierce-st-john-papers-1859-1917/14120 .

Contents:

Records specific to this administration: Correspondence received, 1879-1883 (ser. 193417, 24 boxes) - Executive messages and proclamations, 1881-1882 (ser. 195962, 1 v.) - Extradition and requisition warrants, June 1879-Apr. 1880 (ser. 193770, 2 items).

Records that include this administration: Ser. 193814. Requisitions on governor from governors of other states for persons accused of crimes, 1873-1960 ([2] v. + 1 bundle) -- ser. 193660. Pardon and parole files : Women's Industrial Farm, 1863-1919 (63 ft. (151 boxes)) -- ser. 193397. Letter press books, 1865-1904. ([143] v.) -- ser. 193781. Death sentence warrants, 1872 - 1908 (1 v. (unpaged)) -- ser. 193451. County organization censuses, [ca. 1873-ca. 1886] (0.8 ft. in 2 boxes) -- ser. 193784. Prisoners in Kansas State Penitentiary, [ca. 1875-ca. 1897] (1 v.) -- ser. 195959. Executive messages and proclamations, 1877-1921 -- ser. 193811. Extraditions, 1877-1960 (1 ft. (3 v.)) -- ser. 193789. Pardons, 1865-1883 (4 v.) -- ser. 194090. Applications for extradition requisitions : Subseries I and II, 1874-1953 (37 ft.) -- ser. 193802. Citizenship pardons, 1876-1960 (8 ft. (22 v.)) -- ser. 193791. Record of pardons, 1877-1888 (0.7 ft. (2 v.)) -- ser. 193769. Pardon orders and commutation of sentence orders, 1878-1882 (0.4 ft. (1 box)) -- ser. 193768. Citizenship pardon orders, 1878-1884 (0.8 ft. (2 boxes)).

Other Finding Aid/Index: Copies of the full finding aid, including folder lists, are available in the Research Room of the Center for Historical Research and on its web site, http://www.kshs.org/p/governor-s-records-john-pierce-st-john-administration-jan-13-1879-jan-8-1883/13848

Related materials: Records of the Kansas Adjutant General’s Office (Record Group 34).
Records of the Kansas Attorney General’s Office (Record Group 82).
Records of the Kansas Secretary of State’s Office (Record Group 622).
John Pierce St. John's personal papers are in the mss. collection, Kansas State Historical Society (Topeka) (ms. collection no. 494); description at http://www.kshs.org/research/collections/documents/personalpapers/findingaids/st_john.htm

Finding Aid Bibliography:

Drury, James W. The Government of Kansas, 3d ed. Lawrence: Regents Press of Kansas, ©1980. Available in the Kansas Historical Society (KsHS) State Archives & Library: call no. K 350.7 D845 1980.

Harder, Marvin A. The Governor of Kansas: An Analysis of Decision-Making Opportunities, Constraints, and Resources. Topeka, Kans.: Capitol Complex Center, University of Kansas, 1981, ©1982. Available in the KsHS State Archives & Library: call no. SP 378 Z C172 pam.v.1 no. 1.

Kansas, Governor, 1879-1883 (St. John). Biennial Message of John P. St. John, Governor, to the Legislature of Kansas, 1881. Topeka, Kans.: Kansas Publishing House, 1881. Available in the KsHS State Archives & Library: call no. SP 353.03 K13.

Ross, Edith Connelley. “John Pierce St. John,” in William Elsey Connelley, A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans. Chicago: Lewis, 1918, v. 2, chapter 53, pt. 1. Viewed 8 Nov. 2006 on the Internet: http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/1918ks/v2/ch53p1.html. Also available in the Kansas Historical Society (KsHS) State Archives & Library: call no.: Ref. K 978.1 C76 1918.

Socolofsky, Homer E. Kansas Governors. Lawrence, Kans.: University Press of Kansas, ©1990. Available in the KsHS State Archives & Library: call no. K BB So13.

The Topeka Daily Capital, obituary of John P. St. John, Sept. 1, 1916. KsHS microfilm roll T193.

Legions of America. Nicodemus Kansas, A Black Pioneer Town. Nov. 8, 2006.

Restrictions: None

Use and reproduction:

Notice: This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code). The user is cautioned that the publication of the contents of this microfilm may be construed as constituting a violation of literary property rights. These rights derive from the principle of common law, affirmed in the copyright law of 1976 as amended, that the writer of an unpublished letter or other manuscript has the sole right to publish the contents thereof unless he or she affirmatively parts with that right; the right descends to his or her legal heirs regardless of the ownership of the physical manuscript itself. It is the responsibility of a user or his or her publisher to secure the permission of the owner of literary property rights in unpublished writing.

Most documents created by governmental entities, including the State of Kansas, are considered in the public domain, although copyright to documents found in public records that were written by individuals or organizations and sent to government agencies may be owned by the writers or their heirs.

Add'l physical form: Selected items: Also available via Kansas Memory, Electronic resource. Topeka, Kan. : Kansas State Historical Society, 2007; http://www.kansasmemory.org/locate.php?categories=4894-4796-5085&

Cite as:

Note: [document, folder, subseries, or series description], St. John administration (1879 - 1883), records of the Kansas Governor’s Office, State archives record group 252, State Archives & Library, Kansas Historical Society, Topeka.

Bibliography: Kansas, Governor’s Office, St. John administration (1879 - 1883). Records, 1874- 1883. State archives record group 252, State Archives & Library, Kansas Historical Society, Topeka.

Action note: Inventory written by David Manning, volunteer, 2007.

Accumulation/Freq. Of Use: No additional records are expected.

Holder of originals: Kansas Historical Society (Topeka).