History: In 2021 and 2023, SFTHS and Baldwin City Public Library (BCPL) raised funds through the DCCF (Douglas County Community Foundation) Giving For Good Campaign to digitize (scan) over 350 real estate abstracts stored in the Kansas Room (history room) of the BCPL. Some of these abstracts were written on very old paper – some on onion skin – and many were fragile and tearing. They needed to be preserved.
This project was completed in late summer 2025 with all of the abstracts being scanned and correctly archived at the library with consultation and assistance from the Baker University Archivist. The records are available on the Kansas Room computer with assistance from the Coordinator of the Kansas Room.
2025 Summary: The Kansas Room contains many documents and photos that need preservation, but also should be shared with the public. BCPL and SFTHS are working together to scan and index the collection and to create a website so these historical records can easily be shared with the public. The 2025 DCCF Giving For Good Campaign focuses on raising funds to address this need.
Below is the description of the 2025 Giving For Good Campaign “Help Increase Accessibility to Important Local History” and the 2023 “Help Preserve and Share Our Important Local History” Campaign for reference.
2025 DCCF Giving For Good Campaign
Help Increase Accessibility to Important Local History
Baldwin City Public Library (BCPL) and the Santa Fe Trail Historical Society of Douglas County (SFTHS) have been collecting, preserving, and sharing Southern Douglas County history – including the Santa Fe Trail – for decades. This information is housed in The Kansas Room at the BCPL and frequently used by the public.
Currently, the public must come to the library to access this information. Our historic records contain thousands of treasures from the local area including photographs, diaries and journals, letters, early records of fraternal organizations and clubs, articles about businesses, people, and events, and much more of interest to many people. The Kansas Room has created a website to open in 2026, sponsored by BCPL and SFTHS, so this information can be accessed by the public from any location.
Funds raised will make local history available to anyone in the country on The Kansas Room website by providing for the scanning, indexing, and uploading of these historic records. Your support for this project builds our capacity to share Douglas County history with current and future generations.
2023 DCCF Giving For Good Campaign
Help Preserve and Share Our Important Local History
Baldwin City Public Library (BCPL) and the Santa Fe Trail Historical Society of Douglas County (SFTHS) have been collecting, preserving, and sharing Southern Douglas County history – including the Santa Fe Trail – for decades. This information is housed in The Kansas Room at the BCPL and frequently used by the public.
Some of the records are very fragile and all are only available to be viewed in person.
Our collections include 275+ house and business histories (real estate abstracts) which tell the stories of families and land use over 160 years and are not preserved anywhere else, as well as slides of past local events and people (Maple Leaf Festivals, etc.).
Funds raised provide for the digital preservation (scanning) of these collections and will allow them to be made accessible online, where they will be available to anyone in the country. Your support for this project builds our capacity to share Douglas County history with current and future generations.
