Resources
Access the essential tools to help with your genealogy or local history research.
Local History & Genealogy
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Explore our books, pamphlets, clippings and other written sources that tell the story of Topeka’s unique history. You will also find photographs, prints, posters, scrapbooks and audio-visual materials that help bring this history to life. The Topeka Room houses the library’s local history collection. Our digital collection includes historical photographs and the Sherwood Smith blueprints.
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Genealogy & Local History Articles
October 27, 2026 ·
Asylum to Institution: 120 Years of the Topeka State Hospital
Opening its doors in 1879 just outside the city limits, the Topeka State Hospital housed thousands of patients across its century-long operation. Though the facility has closed, its rich history lives on.
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