Central Plains Region, Kansas City

Highlights from Documents of the Season Display

In the main lobby of the Central Plains Region from November 21 – December 31, 2005

Our Documents of the Season display, showing the wide array of holiday-related records found in the National Archives.

Just in time for the holidays, the Central Plains Region of the National Archives has created a small exhibit showcasing some of the more festive items in its holdings. Highlights of the exhibit include:

  • a court case against fruit cake (really!)
  • a colorful collection of holiday telegrams sent to prisoners at the Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary
  • charming thank you letters written by children of the Wahpeton Indian School in North Dakota, thanking the Butternut Coffee Company for Christmas presents sent to them
  • the World War II draft registration card for Santa Claus
  • "Saint Nicholas" listed in the 1880 census

"While you don’t necessarily expect to find holiday items in federal records, they certainly do exist," said Archives Specialist Lori Cox-Paul. "We have an amazing array of documents in our holdings here."

Also see our press release on this exhibit.

It may surprise you to see the wide array of holiday-related records found in the National Archives.
Here is a sampling of seasonal items from the holdings of the Central Plains Region.

Holiday telegram sent to a prisoner at the Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary.
From RG 129, Records of the Bureau of Prisons, Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary, Leavenworth, Kansas, Inmate Case Files, 1895-1952.

Even Santa Claus had to register for the draft during World War II.
From RG 147, Records of the Selective Service System, Fourth Draft Registration Cards for men born between April 28, 1877, and February 16, 1897.

Photographs of winter sports are found in our National Park Service Records. This view is from Rocky Mountain National Park. Children lacing up ice skates. RG 79, Records of the National Park Service, General Files, 1952-1960. (79-MR-GF-340)

Photographs of winter sports are found in our National Park Service Records. This view is from Rocky Mountain National Park. Skiers lining up for the ski tow. RG 79, Records of the National Park Service, General Files, 1952-1960. (79-MR-GF-329)

Photographs of winter sports are found in our National Park Service Records. This view is from Rocky Mountain National Park. Children sledding. RG 79, Records of the National Park Service, General Files, 1952-1960. (79-MR-GF-337)

Many Indian agencies had Boy Scout troops. This advertisement for Christmas cards for Boy Scouts made its way into the records of the Pine Ridge Indian Agency.
RG 75, Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pine Ridge Indian Agency, South Dakota, Main Decimal File (1900-1965)

Many Indian agencies had Boy Scout troops. This Boy Scout newsletter made its way into the records of the Pine Ridge Indian Agency.
RG 75, Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pine Ridge Indian Agency, South Dakota, Main Decimal File (1900-1965)

The Donnelly Garment Company of Kansas City, Missouri, celebrated the holidays with an annual Christmas party for the children of Kansas City.
This photograph was introduced into evidence in a court case as proof of the company's good deeds in the community.
RG 21, Records of the District Courts of the United States, USDC, Western District of Missouri, Western Division, Kansas City, MO. Equity of Law (1913-1938), Case No. 2924.

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The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
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