A Kansas Memory Podcast

Episode 4: You and your lady are invited: Social Life in Kansas Territory

The documents used in the Social Life podcast are available on Earlier Kansas Memory podcasts used documents from Territorial Kansas Online: A Virtual Repository for Territorial Kansas History, 1854-1861.

• Independence Grand Pic Nic Party
  July 5, 1858
  This invitation was to a party to be held at McAllister's Hall in Osawatomie, Kansas Territory, on July 5, 1858. Music was to be provided by Smith's Band. Supper was provided and tickets cost $2.50. The back of the invitation listed 27 dances that would be performed. This party was sponsored by several individuals from Osawatomie, Indianapolis, Paola, Stanton, Lane City, Lawrence, and several other communities.
  
• Anniversary Ball
  May 20, 1859
  The citizens of Lawrence, Kansas Territory, were giving this ball to benefit the fire department but the event was to be held on the anniversary of the destruction of the Free State Hotel on May 20, 1856. The event was to be held at the Eldridge House and music was provided by the Lawrence Quadrille Band.
  
• Letter, Ke Kahn Joseph N. Bourassa] to Mr. Thos. N. Stinson
  December 29, 1856
  Joseph N. Bourassa, a Pottawatomie Indian who signed this letter with his Indian name of Ke Kahn, wrote to Thomas N. Stinson, a Tecumseh resident and Indian trader. Bourassa, writing from Council Grove, Kansas Territory, described his efforts to recruit musicians and dancers for a New Year's Eve ball.
  
• Cotillon Party
  December 30, 1858
  This invitation was for a party to be held at William Chestnut's house in Osawatomie, Kansas Territory on December 30, 1858
  
• Announcement, Grand Opening Ball at the Eldridge House, New Year's Eve
  December 31, 1858
  This announcement advertises a Grand Opening Ball held at the Eldridge House in Lawrence, Kansas on December 31, 1858. It lists committee of arrangement and floor managers.
  
• Grand New Year's Ball
  December 30, 1859
  This invitation was to a ball to be held at the Osage Valley House in Osawatomie, Kansas Territory. Tickets were $2.50 and a supper was to be served at ten o'clock. The proprietors of the Osage Valley House were Fisher and Crouch. The invitation was issues by several men from Osawatomie and surrounding communities.
  
• New Years Hop
  January 1, 1858
  This invitation was for a dance to be held at "Mr. Chestnut's New Building" on the evening of New Year's Day in 1858 in Osawatomie, Lykins County, Kansas Territory. The cost to attend was $2.50 and the invitation indicated the "good music engaged for the occasion."
  
• The Prairie Star: A paper edited by the ladies of the Philomathic Literary Society, Volume 1st, Number 1st
  January 24, 1857
  A weekly handwritten literary publication produced from January through April 1857 by the Topeka-based Kansas Philomathic Institute (also known as the Philomathic Literary Society). The literary club, which included male and female members, met weekly to read aloud essays and poems, which then were collected, recopied, and published as The Prairie Star. Maria M. Martin, wife of Dr. Samuel E. Martin, edited the paper.