Gary C. Brooks Collection of News Clippings and Photographs from Russell, Kansas, 1921-1952 | Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections

By Sarah Gard and Marla Weaver

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Collection Overview

Title: Gary C. Brooks Collection of News Clippings and Photographs from Russell, Kansas, 1921-1952

ID: 03/036

Extent: 43.0 Items

Arrangement: Since no pre-existing arrangement was present, the collection has been arranged chronologically.

Date Acquired: 06/16/2009

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection contains photographs and news clippings about Russell, Kansas, primarily from 1938-1952. Located in north-central Kansas, Russell is the biggest city in and county seat of Russell County. Originally named Fossil Station and just a small railroad stop, Russell was officially founded and renamed in April 1871 by the Northwest Colony from Ripon, Wisconsin. It is also the hometown of Senator Bob Dole.

The majority of news clippings are from The Russell County News and The Russell Record, and are primarily about the first Prairiesta, which was held in 1941. A celebration of Russell County history, heritage, and culture, Prairiesta is held every ten years. The first theme was “Wagons West” and events included a longest beard competition, parade, and dressing up in period attire. Other clippings depict scenes and changes around Russell, like Christmas lights downtown, the Russell Mill Office, opening a new high school building, and paving Main Street.

The photographs are largely undated and all black and white. They show scenes of Russell, Kansas: 4-H fairs and parades, a momentous hail storm, buildings and stores around town, and the Dream Theater.

Administrative Information

Repository: Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections

Access Restrictions: No restrictions.

Use Restrictions: Copyright restrictions apply in different ways to different kinds of materials. Many of the documents and other historical materials in the Archive are in the public domain and may be reproduced and used in any way. There are other materials in the library carrying a copyright interest that must be used according to the provisions of Title 17 of the U.S. Code. The Archive issues a warning concerning copyright restrictions to every researcher who requests copies of documents. Although the copyright law is under constant redefinition in the courts, it is ultimately the responsibility of the researcher to properly use copyrighted materials.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid revised in May 2021.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: 1920s],
[Series 2: 1930s],
[Series 3: 1940s],
[Series 4: 1950s],
[Series 5: Undated],
[All]

Series 1: 1920s

Box 1

Folder 1: "The Pioneers Dream - Main Street in Russell Today", April 14, 1921: PDF available: c036_001_001_all.pdf

Series 2: 1930s

Box 1

Folder 4: "Old Timers 8 - Russell 2" Baseball Game, July 28, 1938: PDF available: c036_001_004_all.pdf
Folder 5: "About 40 Churches to be Represented", June 1, 1939: PDF available: c036_001_005_all.pdf
Folder 6: "Russell's Down Town Section in New Christmas Dress", December 18, 1939: PDF available: c036_001_006_all.pdf

Series 3: 1940s

Box 1

Folder 7: "The Russell Mill Office 30 Years Ago", March 4, 1940

PDF available: c036_001_007_all.pdf

Folder 8: Prairiesta Preparations, March - May 1941

Item 1: "Russell's 70th Anniversary" Cartoon, March 10, 1941: PDF available: c036_001_008_001.pdf
Item 2: "He Mastered It", May 12, 1941: PDF available: c036_001_008_001.pdf

Folder 9: Prairiesta, May 15, 1941

Item 1: "Huge Crowds Attend Three-Day Festivities", May 15, 1941: PDF available: c036_001_009_001.pdf
Item 2: News clipping of parade photos, May 15, 1941: PDF available: c036_001_009_002.pdf
Item 3: News clipping of the beard contest, May 15, 1941: PDF available: c036_001_009_003.pdf
Item 4: "Mob Rule - But No Violence in Russell Tuesday", May 15, 1941: PDF available: c036_001_009_004.pdf
Item 5: "The Photographer's Version of the Prairiesta", May 15, 1941: Foster May, donkey race, and women's quartet. PDF available: c036_001_009_005.pdf
Item 6: "The Photographer's Version of the Prairiesta", May 15, 1941: Beard contest and miniature cowgirl in front of miniature train. PDF available: c036_001_009_006.pdf
Item 7: "The Photographer's Version of the Prairiesta", May 15, 1941: Parade scenes. PDF available: c036_001_009_007.pdf
Item 8: "The Photographer's Version of the Prairiesta", May 15, 1941: Parade scenes. PDF available: c036_001_009_008.pdf
Item 9: "The Photographer's Version of the Prairiesta", May 15, 1941: Parade scenes. PDF available: c036_001_009_009.pdf

Folder 10: Prairiesta Revival, 1942

PDF available: c036_001_010_all.pdf

Folder 11: 4-H Fair Scenes, 1949

Item 1: Truck on parade route: Image available: c036_001_011_001.jpg
Item 2: Float on parade route: Image available: c036_001_011_002.jpg
Item 3: Dancing at night on downtown street: Image available: c036_001_011_003.jpg
Item 4: Men and cattle: Image available: c036_001_011_004.jpg
Item 5: Men look at cases: Image available: c036_001_011_005.jpg

Folder 12: Christmas Show, 1949

Image available: c036_001_012_all.jpg

Series 4: 1950s

Box 1

Folder 13: 4-H Fair, 1950

Item 1: Float on parade route: Image available: c036_001_013_001.jpg
Item 2: Float in front of Bankers: Image available: c036_001_013_002.jpg

Folder 14: Memorial Day Parade, 1950

Image available: c036_001_014_all.jpg

Folder 15: Cedar Bluff Dam, 1951

Image available: c036_001_015_all.jpg

Folder 16: Hail Storm Downtown, 1952

Image available: c036_001_016_all.jpg

Folder 17: Wheat Combines During Harvest, 1952

Image available: c036_001_017_all.jpg

Series 5: Undated

Box 1

Folder 18: Advertisements, undated

Item 1: Samuel Alexander and Charles Penrose bought merchandise, undated: PDF available: c036_001_018_001.pdf
Item 2: "The Four-Cylinder Reo", undated: PDF available: c036_001_018_002.pdf

Folder 19: Scenes of Russell, Kansas, undated

Item 1: Warehouse on corner: Image available: c036_001_019_001.jpg
Item 2: Church with snow: Image available: c036_001_019_002.jpg
Item 3: C.O. Mammel Food Store with grand opening signage: Image available: c036_001_019_003.jpg
Item 4: Garage and building with "Cafe" sign: Image available: c036_001_019_004.jpg
Item 5: Russell train station: Image available: c036_001_019_005.jpg
Item 6: Lay's Market: Image available: c036_001_019_006.jpg
Item 7: Mohl's Market: Image available: c036_001_019_007.jpg
Item 8: Dream Theater grand opening for "My Dream is Yours" with Jack Carson and Doris Day: Image available: c036_001_019_008.jpg
Item 9: Trucks lined up downtown: Image available: c036_001_019_009.jpg

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: 1920s],
[Series 2: 1930s],
[Series 3: 1940s],
[Series 4: 1950s],
[Series 5: Undated],
[All]