War Letters

Since the Civil War, Kansas military men and women have shared their wartime experiences by writing letters home. These revealing accounts, often by youthful writers, offer insights into the horrors these soldiers experienced, the sacrifice they made for their country, and the history they made.

Several war letters from the collection of the Kansas Historical Society have been included as part of the Kansas War Letters project. The selected materials were written primarily by Kansas soldiers to their relatives in Kansas and reveal battle conditions or military camp conditions. Personal information has been edited with the use of ellipses. Censorship requirements during World War II made the availability of graphic, front line-or even non-combatant activities-difficult to find.

Kansas War Letters Online

• "Bleeding Kansas"
• Civil War
• Indian Campaigns
• Spanish American War
• World War I
• World War II
• Korean War
• Vietnam Conflict
• Gulf War
• Photo Gallery



• Bainbridge, Roy - Misc. Bainbridge, Roy
• Brinsmaid, George B. - Brinsmaid Coll.
• Feighny, Robert E. - Coll. 179
• Griffing, James Sayre - Indians history collection (no. 590)
• Hamilton, T. Hist. Ness County - Depredations
• Haynes, William Casper - Misc. Haynes, Wm.
• Hutchinson and Davis - Misc. Hutchinson
• "Jack" - Military History Coll.
• Martin, John A. - Coll. 54
• Miller, James M. - Misc. Miller, James
• Ochse, Corp. Edward J. - Misc. Ochse
• Stephens, Harry T. - Coll. 103
• Swift, Francis B. - Misc. Swift
• Yunker, I.T. - Misc. Yunker

Find Out How to Donate Items

Find Out About the Kansas War Letters Project

Share your thoughts and reactions to Iraqi Freedom with the Kansas War Letters Project by emailing Nancy Sherbert,nsherbert@kshs.org

For more information concerning Kansas history and the resources at the Kansas Historical Society, contact the Library Reference Desk, 785-272-8681, ext.117. People interested in donating letters, memoirs, manuscripts, or photographs should contact Nancy Sherbert, 785-272-8681, ext.303. People interested in donating museum objects should contact Blair Tarr, ext. 427.