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

By Sarah Gard and Marla Schleuder

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

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

Series 1: 1920sAdd to your cart.
Box 1Add to your cart.
Folder 1: "The Pioneers Dream - Main Street in Russell Today", April 14, 1921Add to your cart.
PDF available: c036_001_001_all.pdf
Series 2: 1930sAdd to your cart.
Box 1Add to your cart.
Folder 4: "Old Timers 8 - Russell 2" Baseball Game, July 28, 1938Add to your cart.
PDF available: c036_001_004_all.pdf
Folder 5: "About 40 Churches to be Represented", June 1, 1939Add to your cart.
PDF available: c036_001_005_all.pdf
Folder 6: "Russell's Down Town Section in New Christmas Dress", December 18, 1939Add to your cart.
PDF available: c036_001_006_all.pdf
Series 3: 1940sAdd to your cart.
Box 1Add to your cart.
Folder 7: "The Russell Mill Office 30 Years Ago", March 4, 1940Add to your cart.
PDF available: c036_001_007_all.pdf
Folder 8: Prairiesta Preparations, March - May 1941Add to your cart.
Item 1: "Russell's 70th Anniversary" Cartoon, March 10, 1941Add to your cart.
PDF available: c036_001_008_001.pdf
Item 2: "He Mastered It", May 12, 1941Add to your cart.
PDF available: c036_001_008_001.pdf
Folder 9: Prairiesta, May 15, 1941Add to your cart.
Item 1: "Huge Crowds Attend Three-Day Festivities", May 15, 1941Add to your cart.
PDF available: c036_001_009_001.pdf
Item 2: News clipping of parade photos, May 15, 1941Add to your cart.
PDF available: c036_001_009_002.pdf
Item 3: News clipping of the beard contest, May 15, 1941Add to your cart.
PDF available: c036_001_009_003.pdf
Item 4: "Mob Rule - But No Violence in Russell Tuesday", May 15, 1941Add to your cart.
PDF available: c036_001_009_004.pdf
Item 5: "The Photographer's Version of the Prairiesta", May 15, 1941Add to your cart.
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, 1941Add to your cart.
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, 1941Add to your cart.
Parade scenes. PDF available: c036_001_009_007.pdf
Item 8: "The Photographer's Version of the Prairiesta", May 15, 1941Add to your cart.
Parade scenes. PDF available: c036_001_009_008.pdf
Item 9: "The Photographer's Version of the Prairiesta", May 15, 1941Add to your cart.
Parade scenes. PDF available: c036_001_009_009.pdf
Folder 10: Prairiesta Revival, 1942Add to your cart.
PDF available: c036_001_010_all.pdf
Folder 11: 4-H Fair Scenes, 1949Add to your cart.
Item 1: Truck on parade routeAdd to your cart.
Image available: c036_001_011_001.jpg
Item 2: Float on parade routeAdd to your cart.
Image available: c036_001_011_002.jpg
Item 3: Dancing at night on downtown streetAdd to your cart.
Image available: c036_001_011_003.jpg
Item 4: Men and cattleAdd to your cart.
Image available: c036_001_011_004.jpg
Item 5: Men look at casesAdd to your cart.
Image available: c036_001_011_005.jpg
Folder 12: Christmas Show, 1949Add to your cart.
Image available: c036_001_012_all.jpg
Series 4: 1950sAdd to your cart.
Box 1Add to your cart.
Folder 13: 4-H Fair, 1950Add to your cart.
Item 1: Float on parade routeAdd to your cart.
Image available: c036_001_013_001.jpg
Item 2: Float in front of BankersAdd to your cart.
Image available: c036_001_013_002.jpg
Folder 14: Memorial Day Parade, 1950Add to your cart.
Image available: c036_001_014_all.jpg
Folder 15: Cedar Bluff Dam, 1951Add to your cart.
Image available: c036_001_015_all.jpg
Folder 16: Hail Storm Downtown, 1952Add to your cart.
Image available: c036_001_016_all.jpg
Folder 17: Wheat Combines During Harvest, 1952Add to your cart.
Image available: c036_001_017_all.jpg
Series 5: UndatedAdd to your cart.
Box 1Add to your cart.
Folder 18: Advertisements, undatedAdd to your cart.
Item 1: Samuel Alexander and Charles Penrose bought merchandise, undatedAdd to your cart.
PDF available: c036_001_018_001.pdf
Item 2: "The Four-Cylinder Reo", undatedAdd to your cart.
PDF available: c036_001_018_002.pdf
Folder 19: Scenes of Russell, Kansas, undatedAdd to your cart.
Item 1: Warehouse on cornerAdd to your cart.
Image available: c036_001_019_001.jpg
Item 2: Church with snowAdd to your cart.
Image available: c036_001_019_002.jpg
Item 3: C.O. Mammel Food Store with grand opening signageAdd to your cart.
Image available: c036_001_019_003.jpg
Item 4: Garage and building with "Cafe" signAdd to your cart.
Image available: c036_001_019_004.jpg
Item 5: Russell train stationAdd to your cart.
Image available: c036_001_019_005.jpg
Item 6: Lay's MarketAdd to your cart.
Image available: c036_001_019_006.jpg
Item 7: Mohl's MarketAdd to your cart.
Image available: c036_001_019_007.jpg
Item 8: Dream Theater grand opening for "My Dream is Yours" with Jack Carson and Doris DayAdd to your cart.
Image available: c036_001_019_008.jpg
Item 9: Trucks lined up downtownAdd to your cart.
Image available: c036_001_019_009.jpg