Resources

You can explore several newspaper databases, including Newspapers.com – World Collection for Newspapers from the late 1800s through the 1920s, and NewsBank for Topeka - area newspapers from 1948 to today. The Topeka Room also has an extensive collection of local newspapers on microfilm. We will be happy to help you locate and use these materials.

In addition, we offer an Obituary Index with more than 17,000 entries from Topeka newspapers. If you can’t find the obituary you need, fill out our obituary request form, and we will search our Topeka and Shawnee County collections for you.

For  wedding announcements you can access our Kansas Marriage License Indexes in person through the Topeka Room collection.

How can I find out more about an event that happened in Topeka?

Search our subject index to see if we have a vertical file on the event. These files include newspaper clippings, photographs and ephemera on a variety of events, natural disasters and festivals that have taken place in Topeka over the years.

Our complete collection of the Shawnee County Historical Society Bulletins is also a great source for information on a variety of topics. You can view them in person in the Topeka Room or digitized on our Digital Collections webpage. 

You can also search our library catalog to see if there is a particular book covering the topic of interest.

How can I find a person who lived in Topeka?

In the Topeka Room there are several resources you can use to find details about a person who lived in Topeka and Shawnee County.

To see if the library has a vertical file with information on an individual or family, search our biography index. These files may contain newspaper clippings or photographs related to the person.

City directories can be a wonderful resource to find where a person lived and for how long. You can view these either in person in the Topeka Room or on HeritageQuest Online.

Our complete collection of the Shawnee County Historical Society Bulletins is also a great source for information on the lives of notable Topekans. You can view them in person in the Topeka Room or digitized on our Digital Collections webpage. 

You can search our newspaper databases to find any newspaper articles that mention an individual. For papers from the late 1800s through the 1920s use Newspapers.com-World Collection. For Topeka papers from 1948 to today use NewsBank. Our newspapers on microfilm have the most comprehensive collection of Topeka news. We are happy to show you how to use our microfilm readers.

How can I find a place in Topeka?

The Topeka Room has many resources to learn more about local homes and businesses. To see if the library has a vertical file with information on a home, search our index under the subject heading “HOUSES” and look for the street address. With these files, you can often find newspaper clippings or photographs related to your topic.

Our collection of Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps is accessible in person or online (color versions can be found here). Use these to find buildings by street blocks and building numbers.

With our city directories, you can search for local properties and find information about previous owners. These records are also available online on HeritageQuest Online.

Our Sherwood Smith collection shows the blueprint plans for many Topeka homes and businesses from the 19th and 20th centuries. Search for a property on our Digital Collections webpage.  

To research historic homes and properties in Kansas, search the Kansas Historic Resources Inventory database and interactive map for more information.

The Shawnee County Appraisers Office and Shawnee County Register of Deeds can also help you learn more about local properties.

Oral history is a method of collecting, preserving and interpreting first-hand accounts of past events through recorded spoken interviews. Questions you ask can cover a person's life, family, and community including their childhood memories, education and work history. It's helpful to start with basic biographical information, then move to specific life events, personal relationships, and reflections on how major historical events have affected them. Other topics can include family traditions, heirlooms and hopes for the future. 

Oral History Kits 
You can check out an oral history kit that contains a guide with recommended questions, a recorder, and other materials to help you conduct and record an interview. To use the kits you need a plan for what to do with the interview and understand the legalities involved, such as getting permission to use the recording. Once you've completed the interview you can use the recordings to create a written story, a digital project or donate them to the library's collection for preservation. 

 
Details

• The kits are located at the Topeka Room desk.
• It is best to check the online catalog for availability and reserve a kit, but a reservation isn't required.
• The kit includes a guide with questions to help you get started and advice on preparing for the interview, including doing preliminary research on your topic and the interviewee.
• Learn more about the library's oral history kits and how to use them.

Interview Preparation

The key to a good interview is asking open-ended questions (e.g., "Tell me about..." or "What was it like...") to encourage detailed narratives rather than simple yes/no answers.

Example interview questions

• What is your earliest memory?
• What was it like growing up in Topeka? (or wherever they are from)
• What are some of the biggest changes you've seen in our community over the years?
• What are some of your proudest moments?

Interview Themes
Themes for oral history questions can range from individual life experiences to significant historical events, allowing for a rich and personalized narrative. Here are some examples.

Personal & Family History

• Childhood memories: Early recollections, favorite toys, games and friends
• Family background: Stories about ancestors, immigration experiences, family traditions and heirlooms
• Significant relationships: Stories about meeting a spouse, raising children or mentors
• Personal milestones: Major life decisions, proudest achievements, greatest challenges or lessons learned

Community & Neighborhood

• Local environment: Descriptions of the neighborhood, community changes over time, favorite local spots and community events or traditions
• Community figures: Stories about notable local people or leaders 

Education & Career

• School experiences: Memories of teachers, favorite subjects and extracurricular activities
• Work life: First jobs, career paths and the impact of work on their life 

Historical & Societal Events

• Major life events: How large-scale events like wars, natural disasters or pandemics affected their lives
• Social change: Experiences with civil rights movements, gender roles or other societal shifts
• Technology changes: Memories of the first time seeing a radio, television or computer and how technology has changed their life
• Local history (e.g., Topeka specific): Experiences with significant local history, such as the Brown v. Board of Education 

General Reflection

• Wisdom and legacy: Advice for future generations or how they would like to be remembered
• Hopes and dreams: What they wanted to be when they grew up versus how their life turned out 

What can I do with my interview?

• You can use your interview to create written stories, audio projects or digital content.
• You can also donate your completed interview to the library's collection for long-term preservation and access (once this option becomes available).

What legalities are involved in collecting and using oral histories?

• Before you start recording, make sure you get permission from the interviewee to record their story.
• You will also need to sign a release form, which is included in the kit.  All forms are available in the Oral History Kit Forms section of Popular Tools.

Can I get writing and publishing help?

• The library offers a variety of resources that will help with writing and publishing your story.
• This includes workshops, one-on-one consultations and online resources.
• Contact the Topeka Room directly for more information on how to get started.