Kansas labor newspapers
This is a bibliography of labor union and labor-friendly newspapers published in Kansas. This document is by no means meant to be comprehensive or authoritative; it simply is a listing of all labor newspapers that are in the Kansas Historical Society collections. All papers listed herein have been microfilmed. In most cases the bibliographic information contained was taken directly from catalog cards created by the Society's librarians.
Limited research has been done on the history of labor and working class culture in Kansas, even though the state has produced several nationally recognized union activists such as Kate Richards O'Hare Cunningham, Ralph Chaplin and Earl Browder. Several pieces published in the Kansas Historical Quarterly or Kansas History are of interest:
- Clayton R. Koppes. The Industrial Workers of the World and County Jail Reform in Kansas, 1915-1920. (Spring 1975)
- Ann Schofield. The Women's March: Miners, Family and Community in Pittsburg, Kansas, 1921-1922. (Winter 1984/1985)
- James Ducker. Workers, Townsmen and the Governor: The Santa Fe Enginemen's Strike, 1878. (Spring 1982).
The Kansas State Historical Society's collections in this area are limited, especially in manuscripts and photographs. KSHS does have relevant library materials, particularly dissertations, and state archives (Governor's papers, state commissions on labor, etc.) that will be of use.
All papers listed are available at no charge through interlibrary loan.
For papers with more than one reel, or for other Kansas newspapers, please consult our newspaper database.
Papers are in alphabetical order by title. The format is as follows:
Title -- City of Publication: Publisher. Inclusive dates (completeness of our holdings). Continuation information New Title -- New city of publication if different from original. KSHS Reel Number.
Advocate and News -- Topeka: Geo. B. Harrison and Co. 11/24/1897 - 4/12/1899 (believed complete). Continued by Farmers Advocate -- Topeka. (Reel: T7) online
Alliance News -- Westmoreland: J.C. Stanley. 11/21/1890 - 9/24/1897 (some issues missing). Continued by Westmoreland Signal. (Reels: W504 & W505).
Alliance Times -- Jennings: John Sheilds and Co. 6/27/1890 - 9/8/1893 (some issues missing). Continued by Alliance Times -- Oberlin. (Reel: O920).
Alliance Tribune -- Topeka: G.K. Estes. 12/10/1899 - 3/17/1892 (believed complete). Continued by Topeka Tribune. (Reels: R228 & T2539).
Alliance Union -- Eureka: Holcomb and Sheilds. 3/11/1892 - 12/22/1893 (believed complete). Continued by Eureka Times. (Reels: E1051 & E1052).
Almena Advance -- Almena: J.E. Garner and Co. 3/3/1889 - 9/11/1890 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reel: A1341).
American Buyer and Seller -- Topeka: A.B. & S. Publishing Co. 11 & 12/1891 (two issues only). Not continued. (Reel: T2539).
Anti-Monopolist -- Topeka: Anti-Monopolist Co. 10/27/1883 - 1/5/1888 (some issues missing). Continued by Jeffersonian (Reels: T10 & T11).
Appeal and Tribune -- Leavenworth: P.B. Castle. 10/14/1879 - 11/7/1890 (believed complete). Continued by National Tribune. (Reel: L2865).
Arkansas City Leader -- Arkansas City: Harlan and Baldridge. 9/22/1932 - 10/27/1932 (believed complete). Not continued. (Reel: A1643).
Atchison Journal (2nd ) -- Atchison: W.J. Granger. 11/17/1905 - 11/24/1905 (two issues only). Not continued. (Reel: A1383).
Atchison Times -- Atchison: J.A. Sunderland. 7/28/1888 - 2/28/1891 (believed complete). Not continued. (Reel: A1393).
Brown County Star -- Horton: Fred Starr. 1/1/1889 - 4/23/1889 (believed complete). Not continued. (Reel: H574).
Central Advocate -- Marion: W.B. Cline. 2/13/1891 - 11/27/1891 (believed complete). Not continued. (Reel: L2782).
Champion -- Kansas City: S.I. Meseruall. 8/28/1897 - 4/14/1898 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reel: K728).
City and Farm Record -- Topeka: [publisher unknown]. 2/1886 - 12/19/1890 (some issues missing). Continued by Farm Record -- Burlington. (Reels: T2805 & T2806).
Coal World -- Weir City: World Publishing Co. 9/1896 - 7/1897 (believed complete). Not continued. (Reel: W3026).
Coldwater Voice -- Coldwater: M.S. & H.A. Boyce. 1/3/1891 - 2/7/1891 (missing one issue). Not continued. (Reel: C2102).
Comanche County Sun -- Coldwater: J. Parker Ball. 9/10/1888 - 9/29/1888 (two issues only). Not continued. (Reel: C2102).
Dodge City Times -- Dodge City: W.C. Shinn. 10/14/1876 - 12/18/1891 (some issues missing). Continued by Dodge City Times-Ensign. (Reels: D146-D150).
Echo -- Galena: Echo Publishing Co. 8/7/1913 - 6/3/1920 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reels: E1040 & G960).
El Dorado Eagle -- El Dorado: E.A. Davis. 2/23/1882 - 8/24/1882 and 11/9/1882 - 12/21/1882 (some issues missing). Continued by Davis' El Dorado Eagle. (Reel: E1128).
El Dorado Eagle and Free Politician -- El Dorado: E.A. Davis. 8/31/1882 - 11/2/1882 (some issues missing). Continued by El Dorado Eagle. (Reel: E1128).
Fair Play -- Arkansas City: A.D. Marble & J.R. Furlong. 6/14/1888 - 1/6/1893 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reels: A1636 & A1637).
Farmers Advocate -- Topeka: Geo. B. Harrison & Co. 4/19/1899 - 12/5/1908 (believed complete). Continued by Kansas Farmer. (Reels: T1097-T1103).
Farmers Aid -- Covert: Beeman Bros. 5/22/1890 - 10/2/1890 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reel: D236).
Fort Scott Evening Globe -- Fort Scott: Globe Publishing Co. 9/11/1888 - 10/16/1888 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reel: F670).
Fort Scott Weekly Globe -- Fort Scott: Globe Publishing Co. 9/27/1888 - 3/6/1889 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reel: F670).
Free Lance -- Burrton: Purcell & Brannine. 2/22/1890 - 3/17/1893 (believed complete). Continued by Burrton Graphic. (Reels: B682 & B683).
Free Press -- Hays: Harry Freese. 6/1/1889 - 12/31/1910 (some issues missing). Continued by Hays Free Press. (Reels: H130-H136).
Freedom's Banner -- Iola: Socialist Co-operative Publishing Co. 8/9/1913 - 11/21/1914 (some issues missing). Continued by Iola Co-operator. (Reel: I685).
Galena Miner -- Galena: J.F. McDowell. 5/26/1877 - 2/14/1889 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reels: G3 & G4).
Gazette -- Burlington: Dan K. Swearingen. 9/14/1888 - 1/26/1889 (some issues missing). Waverly Gazette -- Waverly. (Reels: G943 & B1059).
Iconoclast -- Kirwin: C.J. Lamb. 11/13/1879 - 14/4/1879 (believed complete). Continued by Rag Baby -- Kirwin. (Reel: K872).
Industrial Liberator -- McPherson: Sheldon & Hall. 2/9/1882 - 8/26/1882 (believed complete). Continued by McPherson Independant. (Reel: M1265).
Industrial Review -- Emporia: Harris and Roberts. 10/2/1886 - 11/27/1886 (believed complete). Not continued. (Reel: E1075).
Kansas Alliance-Union -- Eureka: W.B. Cline. 4/11/1890 - 3/4/1892 (believed complete). Continued by Alliance-Union. (Reels: E1050 & E1051).
Kansas Champion -- Topeka: Advocate Publishing Co. 5/11/1906 - 1/25/1907 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reel: T2652).
Kansas City Labor Bulletin -- Kansas City: George J. Harrison. 2/23/1940 - 8/15/1958 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reels: K534-K539 & K969).
Kansas Greenbacker -- Emporia: Spangler and Trask. 9/7/1878 - 5/9/1879 (believed complete). Continued by National Era. (Reel: E513).
Kansas Labor Weekly/Kansas Labor Weekly and Circle -- Topeka: [publisher unknown]. 4/16/1925 - 12/25/1930 (some issues missing). Continuation information incomplete. (Reels: T2612-T2614).
Kansas Lever -- Ottawa: Ottawa Printing Co. 4/2/1887 - 2/6/1895 (believed complete). Continued by Ottawa Lever. (Reels: O1090-O1091 & O1094).
Kansas Patron and Farmer -- Olathe: Johnson County Publishing Association. 3/10/1881 - 8/18/1881. Continued by The Kansas Patron. (Reel: O1065).
Kansas Plebeian -- Lyndon: E. D. Hunt. 7/13/1882 - 12/28/1882 (believed complete). Not continued. (Reel: L2790).
Kansas State Alliance -- Parsons: State Alliance Printing Co. 5/14/1891 - 12/17/1891 (believed complete). Not continued. (Reel: E1055).
Kansas State Tribune -- Topeka: [publisher unknown]. 10/6/1881 (single issue only). Continued by Topeka Tribune. (Reel: T2754).
Kansas Sun and Globe -- Kansas City: Sun & Globe Publishing Co. 10/2/1884 - 1/7/1886. Not continued. (Reel: K966).
Kansas Trade Unionist -- Topeka: Frank B. Brown. 10/29/1915 - 10/31/1924 (believed complete). Continued by Kansas State News -- Topeka. (Reels: T2633-T2635).
Labor Bulletin -- Kansas City: [publisher unknown]. 8/11/1920 - 1/19/1940 (some issues missing). Continued by Kansas City Labor Bulletin. (Reels: K967-K969).
Labor Champion -- Topeka: [publisher unknown]. 3/28/1902 - 5/4/1906 (believed complete). Not continued. (Reels: T2650-T2652).
Labor Chieftain -- Topeka: Kansas Knights of Labor. 12/17/1886 - 12/30/1887 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reel: T2652).
Labor Chronicle (1st) -- Leavenworth: [publisher unknown]. 1/12/1895 - 12/22/1900 (some issues missing) . Not continued. (Reels: L2892 & L2893).
Labor Chronicle (2nd) -- Leavenworth: H.T. Madison. 2/12/1909 - 6/15/1923 (some issues missing). Continued by Worker's Chronicle. (Reels: L2893-L2896).
Labor Chronicle and Resubmissionist -- Leavenworth: Jas. F. O'Conner. 6/30/1911 - 2/5/1915 (believed complete). Continued by Labor Chronicle. (Reels: L2893 & L2894).
Labor Gazette -- Wichita: Gazette Publishing Co. 6/6/1913 - 9/28/1914 (believed complete). Not continued. (Reel: W3425).
Labor Herald -- Pittsburg: Sears & Leftwich. 3/3/1911 - 11/28/1913 (some issues missing). Continued by Worker's Chronicle. (Reel: P1254).
Labor Journal -- Scammon: [unknown publisher]. 4/25/1885 - 6/6/1885 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reel: S1684).
Labor Record -- Kansas City: Hart & Arbogast. 7/20/1894 - 10/13/1911 (some issues missing). Continued by Kansas Progressive and Labor Record. (Reels: K969-K975).
Labor Review -- Hutchinson: F.B. Van Gundy. 6/30/1926 - 12/6/1957 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reels: H876-H882).
Labor Review -- Leavenworth: R.V. O'Conner. 5/14/1904 - 2/26/1910 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reel: L2897).
Labor Review -- McCune: R.D. Oliver. 1/24/1895 - 3/28/1895 (believed complete). Not continued. (Reel: M1390).
Labor Review -- Salina: Roy Balling. 12/27/1929 - 4/24/1931 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reel: L2797).
Laboring Man -- Topeka: Pearl Printing Co. 8/18/1894 & 8/25/1894 (two issues only). Not continued. (Reel: T2652).
Labor's Tribune -- Weir: J.F. McDowell. 8/14/1884 - 4/4/1887 (believed complete). Continued by Weir City Tribune. (Reels: W3016 & W3017).
Leader -- Wichita: [publisher unknown]. 2/2/1888 - 8/2/1888 (believed complete). Not continued. (Reel: W3487).
Leavenworth Appeal -- Leavenworth: Wm. W. Embry. 8/4/1876 - 9/22/1879 (some issues missing). Continued as Appeal and Tribune. (Reels: NP 113 & L2865).
Leavenworth Labor News -- Leavenworth: Labor News Co. 5/20/1892 - 3/29/1895 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reel: L2691).
Living Age -- Independence: Castle & Beattie. 3/3/1881 - 9/29/1881 (believed complete). Not continued. (Reels: I776 & I777).
McPherson County Advocate -- Galva: J.H. Baker. 3/4/1892 (one issue only). Continued by People's Advocate. (Reel: M1268).
Miner's Echo -- Pittsburg: T.B. McGregor. 3/4/1892 - 11/10/1893 (some issues missing). Not Continued. (Reel: P1296).
Miners' Journal -- Scammon: [publisher unknown]. 3/21/1885 - 4/18/1885 (believed complete). Continued by Labor Journal. (Reel: S1648).
Modern Light -- Columbus: Albin & Clawson. 3/19/1891 - 12/31/1974 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reels: C1291-C1335).
National ERA -- Emporia: S.N. Wood. 5/16/1879 - 12/26/1879 (believed complete). Not continued. (Reel: E1081).
National Field and Salina Weekly Union -- Salina: W.C. Lansdon. 12/14/1915 - 9/27/1917 (believed complete). Continued by National Field. (Reels: S1550 & S1551).
National Greenback Monitor -- Wichita: Jennings & Co. 5/3/1879 - 10/23/1879 (believed complete). Continued by Arkansas Valley Sunshine. (Reel: W3490).
Neosho Valley Enterprise -- Osage Mission: F.W. Ward. 10/7/1880 - 10/26/1882 (believed complete). Continued by Press. (Reels: E1044 & O1138).
New Age -- Topeka: People's Cooperative Publication Association. 2/13/1892 (one issue only). Not continued. (Reel: T2700).
New Era ( 2nd ) -- Topeka: Eva. L. Corning. 1/27/1894 - 2/3/1895 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reel: T2255).
New Republic -- Wichita: Jennings & Co. 2/24/1883 - 12/24/1887 (believed complete). Continued by Wichita Republic. (Reels: C2568, W3107 & W3108).
Observer -- Stockton: L.B. Powell. 9/2/1890 - 11/4/1890 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reel: S1273).
Olathe Leader (1st) -- Olathe: Johnson County Publishing Association. 1/9/1879 - 3/3/1881 (believed complete). Continued by Kansas Farmer. (Reel: O1065).
People's Advocate -- Galva: Baker & Mason. 4/21/1893 - 8/25/1893 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reel: M1268).
People's Advocate -- Marysville: Clark & Runneals. 8/21/1890 - 1/28/1898 (some issues missing). Continued by Advocate and Democrat. (Reels: M657, M753 & M754).
People's Defender -- St. Francis: W.A. Pyne. 4/7/1892 - 11/15/1894 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reel: S1198).
People's Press -- Argonia: Mervin O. Cissel. 1/22/1891 - 7/30/1891 (believed complete). Continued by Milan Press -- Milan. (Reel: A1597).
People's Vindicator -- Girard: Crisp & Lindsey. 8/18/1877 (single issue only). Not continued. (Reel: C2926).
People's Vindicator -- Erie: Vindicator Printing Co. 3/20/1888 - 5/8/1889 (believed complete). Continued by Erie Sentinel. (Reel: E992).
Plaindealer -- Wichita: Wichita Trade and Labor Assembly. 10/15/1920 - 12/26/30 (believed complete). Not continued. (Reels: W3502-W3504).
Public Ledger -- Atchison: Wm. J. Granger. 8/19/1880 - 10/30/1880 (believed complete). Not continued. (Reel: A1388).
Rag Baby -- Kirwin: F.I. Snodgrass. 10/7/1879 - 11/6/1879 (believed complete). Continued by Iconoclast. (Reel: K872).
Salina Labor Review -- Salina: Frank B. Van Gundy. 6/21/1929 - 12/20/1929 (some issues missing). Continued by Salina Sun. (Reel: L2797).
Sherman County Farmer -- Goodland: Chas. A. Fitch. 1/29/1891 - 4/28/1892 (believed complete). Continued by Goodland Republic. (Reel: G552).
Southwest News -- Dodge City: I.C. Rosa. 1/25/1924 - 2/3/1927 (some issues missing). Continued by Dodge City Journal. (Reels: D399 & D400).
State Labor Journal -- Columbus: C.E. Bramlette. 7/15/1910 - 7/22/1910 (2 issues only). Not continued. (Reel: C2597).
Topeka Labor -- Topeka: Topeka Labor Publishing Co. 11/4/1911 - 11/18/1911 (three issues only). Not continued. (Reel: T2650).
Topeka Register -- Topeka: [publisher unknown]. 12/22/1894 - 2/23/1895 (some issues missing). Continued by Shawnee Drum-Beat. (Reel: T2741).
Topeka Tribune (5th) -- Topeka: Topeka Tribune Publishing Co. 3/24/1892 - 7/21/1892 (believed complete). Continued by Advocate and Topeka Tribune. (Reel: T2539).
Trackman-- Fort Scott: National Union of Railway Trackman. 7/1/1903 - 8/20/1909 (believed complete). Not continued. (Reels: F641 & F642).
Trades-Union -- Atchison: Hall, Tompkins & Kelly. 9/12/1885 - 11/6/1886 (believed complete). Continued by Labor Chieftain. (Reel: A1047).
Tradesman -- Atchison: Tradesman Publishing Co. 11/16/1891 (single issue only). Not continued. (Reel: A1394).
True Citizen -- Lawrence: C.E. Gray & Co. 8/13/1886 - 2/26/1887 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reel: L2979).
Union -- Leavenworth: [publisher unknown] 1/25/1902 - 3/12/1904 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reel: L2912).
Union Advocate -- Coffeyville: Union Publishing Co. 7/1/1917 - 7/25/1920 (believed complete). Not continued. (Reels: C2716 & C2717).
Union Advocate -- Wichita: Wisdom & Francis. 3/9/1895 - 6/1/1895 (believed complete). Continued by the Mirror. (Reel: W3521).
Union Labor Banner -- Abilene: E.B. Harrington & Co. 10/5/1888 - 12/4/1888 (believed complete). Not continued. (Reel: A1508).
Unionist -- Fort Scott: James Burton. 12/11/1903 - 5/27/1904 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reel: F677).
Vox Populi -- Lawrence: Farmers. 4/18/1873 - 8/30/1873 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reel: L2979).
Weekly News -- Columbus: J.F. McDowell. 1/11/1883 - 5/3/1883 (believed complete). Continued by Frank's News. (Reel: C2579).
Weekly Peoples' Forum -- Lawrence: [publisher unknown]. 3/6/1919 - 5/1/1919 (some issues missing). Not continued. (Reel: L2995).
Welch's Weekly-- Wichita: Co-operative Publishing Co. 2/10/1911 - 9/9/1911 (believed complete). Not continued. (Reel: W3527).
Wichita American -- Wichita: American Publishing Co. 12/27/1912 - 5/16/1913 (believed complete). Continued by Labor Gazette. (Reel: W3425).
Wichita Citizen -- Wichita: Greene and Baker. 6/24/1886 - 9/9/1886 (believed complete). Not continued. (Reel: W3461).
Worker's Chronicle -- Pittsburg: George D. Brewer and W.T. Sears. 2/6/1914 - 8/31/1923 (some issues missing). Continued by Independant -- Mulberry. (Reels: P1254-P1258).
Workingman's Courier -- Independence: Frank C. Scott. 11/1/1877 - 11/19/1879 (believed complete). (Reel: I769).
Workingman's Journal -- Columbus: Neutral Land Printing Co. 10/29/1869 - 6/15/1872 (several issues missing). (Reel: C1336).
