Frequently Asked Questions

Which web browsers provide the best views of this site?
How do I cite material from this web site for my research paper?
How can I know the source of a specific item?
I know there are more (for example) Charles Robinson letters than are on this web site. How can I find and use them?
How do I print a legible copy of materials on this site?
Can I include images taken from Territorial Kansas Online in my research paper or lecture?
Why does it take such a long time for an image to appear?
What is the color grid that appears alongside the document images?
Why are the images too big for my screen and is there anything I can do about it?
Why do the results from the Google searches look different from other displays of results?
How do I evaluate primary sources?

Which web browsers provide the best views of this site?

A variety of browsers support good screen views of Territorial Kansas Online. However, the quality of the web site format and images are best in Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher, Netscape 6.2 or higher, or Mozilla 1.0 or higher. The speed of access to images on the site depends upon the type of Internet connection available. High-speed access is desirable because some of the image files are large (200KB to 1MB). These large files will load slowly on a dial-up telephone line connection.

How do I cite material from Territorial Kansas Online for my research paper?

When quoting or citing material from Territorial Kansas Online, follow the format appropriate to the type of item (book, newspaper, periodical, unpublished letter, etc.) from an approved style manual and include the full name of the web site and the creators as the University of Kansas and the Kansas State Historical Society.

Additional information – the title of the item and the date of the item -- is generally needed for unpublished materials like letters, diaries, and account books. On the main document information (tan box) screen, the first item is always the title, either from the item itself or supplied by project staff.

Bibliography entry for the entire web site:
Kansas State Historical Society and University of Kansas. Territorial Kansas Online. http://www.territorialkansasonline.org.

Footnote/endnote:
Samuel Lyle Adair, Kansas City, Mo. to S. S. Jocelyn, November 16, 1854, Kansas State Historical Society and University of Kansas, Territorial Kansas Online, http://www.territorialkansasonline.org.

How can I know the source of a specific item?

Below the description of the item is a heading for location of the original. If the holder of the original is KU, the item is from the Kansas Collection, Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas, Lawrence. If the heading for location of the original is KSHS, the original is in the Library and Archives Division, Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka. If the heading is KSHS/Kansas Museum of History, then the original is from Kansas Museum of History, Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka.

The main document information screen also has a heading for call number. For unpublished items, the call number is generally a collection of papers of a particular person or organization. You can use this call number to view the specific item if you visit one of the partner organizations. It also would allow you to find additional items that were not selected for inclusion in this project.

I know there are more (for example) Charles Robinson letters than are on this web site. How can I find and use them?

Nearly all of the documents included in Territorial Kansas Online are from the collections of the Kansas State Historical Society or the Kansas Collection, Spencer Research Library at the University of Kansas. The holder of the original is shown on the main document information (tan box) screen under location of original. Only selected items from numerous collections were used on this web site and one or both of the partner institutions may hold many additional items.

For example, both institutions hold additional materials by or about Charles Robinson. In most cases, researchers will need to visit the appropriate institution to use the additional materials. For Charles Robinson, the Kansas State Historical Society has microfilmed its Robinson Collection and it is available through Interlibrary Loan.

The call number can often provide clues about the extent of the holdings at a specific institution. If the call number indicates that a particular item is from box 3 of a collection that means there are at least three boxes of materials. If the box is a standard 5 inch flip top storage box, it could contain as many as 750 pages. The collections of the Historical Society and the Kansas Collection, Spencer Research Library are open to the public. Contact the appropriate institution for information about additional holdings and hours.

Kansas Collection, Spencer Research Library, 785-864-4334

Kansas State Historical Society, 785-272-8681

How do I print a legible copy of materials on this site?

Near the top right side of each Territorial Kansas Online page is a link labeled "Printer friendly version on/off". By clicking on this link you will access a page view that removes the Territorial Kansas Online search and navigation toolbars from the top and left sides of the screen, providing an image that will fit on a standard 8½” x 11” sheet of paper. In order to return to the toolbar view, click the "Printer friendly version on/off” link again.

Obviously, the quality of any copies will depend on the quality of the original image. If the viewing image is faded and somewhat difficult to read, copies will reproduce those problems.

The quality of the printer also impacts copies. A photo quality printer produces the best results though other printers provide acceptable copies.

Can I include images taken from Territorial Kansas Online in my research paper or lecture?

Territorial Kansas Online document and object images can be freely used for educational purposes. They can be incorporated into a lecture by printing a reproduction, incorporating images into an electronic presentation, or projecting images from the web site in an educational setting. Images also may be used as a supplement to a research paper.

Any commercial use of images/items from this site is prohibited. Contact the institution holding the original concerning any other use of these materials.

Why does it take such a long time for an image to appear?

Many of the images of documents included in Territorial Kansas Online are large data files (200KB to 1MB), which can cause delays in loading the image. It is recommended that you access Territorial Kansas Online using at least a 56k modem and preferably a DSL connection or a cable modem.

What is the color grid that appears alongside the document images?

The color blocks that are often seen in the document image on Territorial Kansas Online are a calibration tool used during the digitization process. By providing a consistent color reference, the use of color blocks ensures that the scanned digital images accurately reproduce the appearance of the original documents. They are not a part of the original document.

Why are the images too big for my screen and is there anything I can do about it?

Territorial Kansas Online is best viewed on a computer with a screen resolution of 1024x768. You can change this by configuring the display properties for your monitor. If you use the Windows operating system, this can be done by finding the Control Panel options on the specific computer, clicking on Display and then Settings. The Settings screen allows you to increase the number of pixels displayed on the screen. The more pixels displayed, the smaller the images. However, changing this setting will effect how everything is displayed on your computer and you may want to return to the original settings when you are finished using Territorial Kansas Online.

Clicking on the "Printer friendly version on/off" link may also help resize the images.

Why do the results from the Google searches look different from other displays of results?

The Google search provides a more comprehensive search of the web site content than the specific searches (author, topic, keyword, map) offered on Territorial Kansas Online. The site based Google also searches the title, description and the text version of the documents. However, Google technology cannot distinguish where the search term is found or preserve the presentation format applied in the specific Territorial Kansas Online searches. Consequently, the Google results are displayed differently.

How do I evaluate primary sources?

The documents and objects included in Territorial Kansas Online are all primary sources (unlike “secondary sources,” such as historical articles and textbooks). Primary sources can take many different forms. They are accounts by an eyewitness or the first recorder of an event (such as diaries, letters, newspaper articles, speeches), data obtained through original research, statistical compilations or legal requirements (such as U.S. census records and public records), creative works (such as poetry, music, art), or artifacts (objects used or present at a certain event).

When evaluating sources such as these, it is important to ask questions of the material. For example, it is important to realize that just because an author claims to compose an “eyewitness account” does not mean the account is “true.” Consider what opinions and values the author displays, think about what his or her motives might be for writing what they did, how he or she communicates the message, and compare and contrast that message with the information in other primary sources. Extensive research of this type--incorporating critical analysis of primary sources such as those found on Territorial Kansas Online--serves as the foundation for what you read in history books.

The following web sites provide help in learning how to use primary sources.

National Archives and Records Administration
http://www.archives.gov/digital_classroom/history_in_the_raw.html
http://www.archives.gov/digital_classroom/introductory_activity.html
http://www.archives.gov/digital_classroom/lessons/analysis_worksheets/worksheets.html

Library of Congress
http://memory.loc.gov/learn/lessons/psources/pshome.html

University of California, Berkeley Library
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/PrimarySources.html