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William E. Connelley Interviews

 Collection
Identifier: MS C4

Scope and Contents

Copies of William E. Connelley's interviews with five persons who knew William Quantrill or who survived his August 21, 1863 raid on Lawrence, Kansas. Each of the persons interviewed had a different perspective of Quantrill or of the raid; two also mention John Brown and his activities of 1856; none are cited in Quantrill and the Border Wars. The three 1909 reports, all in Connelley's handwriting, are accompanied by typed transcripts of the written documents; both versions are signed by Connelley. Those dated in 1906 are not signed, but are in the same hand as those of 1909.

Dates

  • Creation: 1906-1909

Creator

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Copyright

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Board of Governors for Truman State University, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.

Researchers further agree to indemnify and hold harmless Truman State University, Pickler Memorial Library, and their officers, employees, and agents from and against all suits, claims, actions, and expenses arising out of use of collections held by the library.

Biographical Note

William Elsey Connelley (1855-1930), avocational historian and author, was born in Kentucky but spent his adult life in Kansas as a teacher, county clerk, businessman (wholesale lumber) and banker. From 1914 until his death in 1930, he was Secretary of the Kansas State Historical Society.

Extent

0.2 linear feet

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

This collection is organized into a single series - William E. Connelley Interviews, 1906-1909.

Separated Materials

In the 1890s, Connelley began researching and writing histories and biographies. One of his biographies was "Quantrill and the Border Wars" (Cedar Rapids: The Torch Press, 1909). Results of his extensive research and correspondence for the book may be found in numerous manuscript collections around the country. Most of these are the collections of other historians who corresponded with Connelley, but some are documents from his own research.

The majority of William Elsey Connelley's papers are with the Kansas State Historical Society. The description of their collection is as follows:

William Elsey Connelley, Papers, 1878-1931. Collection No. 16. This collection contains the papers of Connelley, author and secretary of the Kansas State Historical Society from 1914 to 1930. The collection contains personal papers, manuscripts, and research materials collected and used by William Connelley in his published works. An unpublished guide is available.

Cultural context

Geographic

Title
William E. Connelley collection, 1863 August 21
Subtitle
Concerning William Quantrill's Raid on Lawrence, Kansas, 1863 August 21
Author
Finding aid prepared by Elaine Doak.
Date
[1993-2010]
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Truman State University, Pickler Memorial Library, Special Collections Manuscripts Repository

Contact:

660-785-4537