University Presidents- Rudolph B. Welch Papers Descriptive Summary Creator: Rudolph B. Welch Title: Rudolph B.

Welch Papers Dates: 1879-1881. Abstract: Recommendations, applications, receipts, and other financial documents from the tenure of Rudolph B. Welch as fourth president of the State Normal School of Kansas. Also included are bids, bonds, estimates and other documents pertaining to the reconstruction of the buildings damaged from a tornado and fire. Identification Number: ESU001.004 (formerly Nao:1pr) Quantity: .75 linear feet Language: English Repository: Emporia State University Archives, Emporia State University. Biographical Information Rudolph B. Welch succeeded C. R. Pomeroy as fourth president of the State Normal School of Kansas. He was elected on August 20, 1879, fourteen days after Pomeroys resignation. Welch was a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington. Prior to his time in Kansas, he was an educator in Abingdon, Washington and Pontiac, Illinois. His work began immediately with the reconstruction of the buildings damaged by fire and a tornado from the previous administration. At the start of his tenure, the school was temporarily housed in the Normal Boarding House buildings. The model school, today known as the Butcher Childrens School, was created in 1880. Welch traveled the state on lecture tours in the summers of 1880 and 1881 to promote the school. In 1881, Welch reorganized the school year to allow for all courses to be taught in every term. Under Welchs management, the school saw a significant increase in attendance. By the end of his administration, the school was on a sound financial basis and was set for further growth. Welch resigned on March 6, 1882 to enter private law practice. Welch also became president of the board of education of the city of Topeka after leaving KSN. Welch was married to Maggie Hamand and had four children. Scope and Contents Note The collection documented here contains what is most likely is the only extant documents from the era, save for the Board of Regents minutes which are in bound volumes at the archives. Many of these documents were most likely housed somewhere off campus, perhaps in the office of J. J. Wright, KSN Regent. From there, the trail of the location of these papers becomes more circumstantial. The documents were likely housed in the basement storage areas of Plumb Hall. From there, they were placed in the basement vault of the William Allen White Library sometime after 1950 when the library opened its new building. In the fall of 2001, the documents were removed from the vault and were originally organized and processed. In 2013, the collection was reprocessed and what used to be the combined collection of the Pomeroy/Welch Era were split by administrative provenance. Some of the correspondence pertaining to the land fraud scandal of E. P. Bancroft can be found in the Pomeroy Papers, Record Group ESU001.003. All documents pertaining to the resolution of those matters are housed in this collection. Because of this and because of some overlap in administration,

University Presidents- Rudolph B. Welch Papers

researchers are encouraged to examine both collections. A group of appropriation vouchers were mentioned in the initial finding aid and could not be found when reprocessed. Blank appropriations vouchers were found and are included in Subseries 1, Sub-subseries 2, Folder 11. Through the documents found in this collection researchers may gain perspective on the administration of the school, from the most mundane tasks required of the administrative officers to the more public scandals and events that affected the school during the era. These documents show how a small normal school was run in this time period. For the researcher interested in Emporia State University history, the collection is wide in scope, especially since there is so little extant from this era. For this reason and because of the nature of the documents contained within the collection, it provides a valuable and fairly comprehensive insight into the history of the university. Arrangement The collection is arranged by the subject matter of the documents. Within that, documents are arranged by type and then arranged chronologically. Undated materials appear first. Restrictions None. Index Terms Subjects topical Alkali lands Kansas. College presidents Kansas Emporia. Education, Higher Kansas. Embezzlement. Kansas. Board of Regents. Kansas Legal affairs. Kansas State Normal School History. Kansas State Normal School Presidents. State universities and colleges Kansas Emporia Administration. Teachers colleges Kansas Emporia. Teachers colleges United States History. Universities and colleges Kansas. Subjects name Bonebrake, P. J. Buchanan, Rebeccirca Crichton, J. H. Hammond, John. Pomeroy, Charles R., 1829-1916. Tucker, Edwin. Welch, Rudolph B., Wright, J. J.

University Presidents- Rudolph B. Welch Papers Administrative Information Recommended citation: Rudolph B. Welch Papers, Emporia State University Archives, Emporia State University. Processed by: Kira Riddle, September-November 2013. Previously processed by Chris Childers, February 2002.

Related Material Additional information pertaining to the saline lands embezzlement scandal may be found in the Charles R. Pomeroy Papers, record group ESU001.003 at the Emporia State University Archives. The Board of Regents collection, record group ESU000, may provide additional information on the time period. Separated Material 3 oversize folders can be found in Oversize drawer 21. Sources Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia, Wilkinson, H. N., Spencer, M. P., Price, V. V., Bailey, M. A., & Hill, J. H. A history of the State Normal School of Kansas: For the first twenty-five years. Topeka, KS: Kansas Publishing House. Retrieved from https://archive.org/details/historyofstateno00kans Overview of the Collection Sub-Series 1: University Fiscal Records Sub-Subseries 1: Receipts Sub-Subseries 2: Appropriation Vouchers Sub-Subseries 3: Auditor Correspondence Subseries 2: Personnel Records Sub-Subseries 1: Recommendations Sub-Subseries 2: Applications Sub-Subseries 3: Resignations Sub-Subseries 4: General Employment Records Subseries 3: Land Records Sub-Subseries 1: Resolutions Sub-Subseries 2: Notes Subseries 4: Constructions Records Sub-Subseries 1: Bids Sub-Subseries 2: Bonds Sub-Subseries 3: Estimates Sub-Subseries 4: Expense Reports Sub-Subseries 5: Correspondence

University Presidents- Rudolph B. Welch Papers Subseries 5: Miscellaneous correspondence Subseries 6: Miscellaneous envelopes Container List Subseries 1: Fiscal Records Box 1:

Sub-subseries 1: Receipts Folder 1: Receipts, undated. Six receipts. Folder 2: Receipts, December 1879. Five receipts. Folder 3: Receipts, January 1880. Thirteen receipts. Folder 4: Receipts, February 1880. Five receipts. Envelope included. Folder 5: Receipts, March 1880. Fourteen receipts. The last is dated March 27, 1880 from Samuel I. Pope and Company citing receipt of steam heating and ventilating apparatus. Folder 6: Receipts, April 1880. Eleven receipts. Envelope included. Folder 7: Receipts, May 1880. Eleven receipts. Folder 8: Receipts, June 1880. Twenty-two receipts. Receipts found in this folder primarily concern contractors for construction of the new KSN building. Folder 9: Receipt, July 25, 1880. Duplicate copy of receipt from Samuel I. Pope and Co. for steam heating apparatus. Folder 10: Receipt, December 1, 1880. Receipt from Samuel I. Pope and Co. for steam heating apparatus. Sub-subseries 2: Appropriation Vouchers Folder 11: Blank appropriation vouchers, undated. For internal audit purposes, the state of Kansas required an appropriation voucher to be submitted for each bill received by the Normal School. These vouchers were then checked with the appropriations from the Legislature by the State Auditor to verify for payment (see Sub-subseries 3: Auditor Correspondence). The original finding aid mentioned a collection of 54 extant vouchers that were not found during reprocessing. The blank vouchers are included here. Sub-subseries 3: Auditor Correspondence Folder 12: Letter, July 1, 1879. Letter from Edwin Tucker and J. J. Wright to P. J. Bonebrake, State Auditor. This letter requests the drawing of a warrant payable to J. J. Wright for interest on the sale of Normal School lands. Folder 13: Letter, July 9, 1879. Letter from P. J. Bonebrake to J. J. Wright. This letter informs Wright that the law to enable the auditor to disburse interest monies did not pass. The previous document, in folder 12, was returned with this letter.

University Presidents- Rudolph B. Welch Papers Folder 14: Letter, October 11, 1879. Letter from P. J. Bonebrake to J. J. Wright. This letter was sent in regards to a warrant to be sent to Houghton, Osgood, and Co. that was not sent according to procedure. Folder 15: Letter, February 9, 1880. Letter from P. J. Bonebrake to J. J. Wright. This letter was sent to inform Wright that the appropriation for fiscal year 1880 is exhausted, therefore a bill sent by Wright cannot be paid. Subseries 2: Personnel Records Sub-subseries 1: Recommendations Folder 16: Letter, July 30, 1879. Recommendation for employment of R. B. Welch as president. Written by M. Tombaugh [?], County Superintendent of Livingston County, Illinois. Sub-subseries 2: Resignations Folder 17: Letter, June 10, 1880. Resignation of Rebecca Buchanan as KSN secretary and instructor of drawing, geography and penmanship.

Sub-subseries 3: General Employment Records Folder 18: Business card, undated. Business card with the name Rebecca Buchanan on the back. Folder 19: Letter, September 10, 1879. Inquiry written to Dr. J. J. Wright by Mrs. J. D. Lee about a recommendation for the music teaching position. Envelope included. Folder 20: Letter, December 30, 1879. Proposal for training submitted by Buel T. Davis, principal of the training department. Outlines a plan for training and course of study at the Normal School. Folder 21: Letter, June 7, 1880. Letter declining employment by J. M. Abbott. The letter mentions that Abbott had been recommended to Wright for employment and Abbott declines. Folder 22: Letter, July 5, 1880. A plea to J. J. Wright from M.R. Cook, instructor of natural sciences. Cook begs for reappointment. Folder 23: Letter, July 5, 1880. Inquiry to teach elocution from Fred Chapman. Envelope included. Folder 24: Advertisements, circa July 5, 1880. Two circular advertisements for Fred Chapman. Chapman was a classical and dramatic reader. Envelope included. Subseries 3: Land Records Sub-subseries 1: Resolutions Folder 25: Resolution, April 25, 1881. Mitchell County Court resolution regarding ownership of land. Folder 26: Resolutions, September 4, 1881. Two Mitchell County Court resolutions regarding ownership of land.

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Sub-subseries 2: Notes Folder 27: Scratch paper, undated. Two pieces of scratch paper with financial figures on front and back. Written on Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Company Stationary. Triplicate stamped on the front. Folder 28: Scratch paper, circa 1879. Scratch paper drawing of sections of land on KSN stationary. Folder 29: Scratch paper, circa 1879. Pieces of scratch paper with figures on principal and interest for lands. Folder 30: Scratch paper, circa 1880. Paper with notations of land plots and appraisals for land in Mitchell and Lincoln Counties. Folder 31: List, circa 1881. List of unsold Normal School lands for a county unnamed. Subseries 4: Construction Records Sub-subseries 1: Bids Folder 32: Notice, circa 1879. Notice to builders soliciting bids for the rebuilding of the KSN building. Handwritten by architect E. T. Carr. A letter to J. J. Wright is also with the notice. Folder 33: Bid, May 26, 1879. Bid for KSN building work from P. J. McDonald. The bid is for plastering the KSN Building. Folder 34:Bid, May 26, 1879. Bid for KSN building work from Thomas Jones. The bid is for the mason work for the building. Folder 35: Bid, May 27, 1879. Bid for KSN building work from John Emsly and Ruttiger Co. The bid is for the mason work for the building. Folder 36: Bid, May 28, 1879. Bid for KSN building work from Henry Bennett. The bid is for constructing the building. Folder 37: Bid, May 28, 1879. Bid for KSN building work from W. C. Fethiam [?]. The bid is for painting the building. Envelope included. Folder 38: Bid, May 28, 1879. Bid for KSN building work from James H. Russell. The bid is for constructing the building. Folder 39: Bid, May 28, 1879. Bid for KSN building work from Smith and Ashton. The bid is for constructing the building. Folder 40: Bid, May 28, 1879. Bid for KSN building work from E. F. Sprague. The bid is for constructing the building. Folder 41: Bid, May 28, 1879. Bid for KSN building work from Werner and Shinnick. The bid is for constructing the building. Folder 42: Bid, May 28, 1879. Bid for KSN building work from D. C. Wilcox and Son. The bid is for constructing the building. There is a separate bid written for mason work on the same page. Folder 43: Bid, July 2, 1879. Bid for KSN building work from John Hammond. The bid is for constructing the smokestack for the building. Hammond was appointed superintendent of the building construction. Folder 44: Bid, August 2, 1879. Bid for KSN building work from Milwaukee School Furniture Company. The bid is for furnishing desks for the building. Two envelopes included.

University Presidents- Rudolph B. Welch Papers

Folder 45: Bid, August 20, 1879. Bid for KSN building work from Smith and Ashton. The bid is for constructing the smokestack for the building. Folder 46: Bid, August 30, 1879. Bid for KSN building work from Joseph C. Jones, the Emporia Foundry and Machine Shop. Envelope included. Folder 47: Bid, September 13, 1879. Bid for KSN building work from Aetna Iron Works Co. The bid is for constructing the steam heating apparatus for the building. Folder 48: Bid, September 13, 1879. Bid for KSN building work from Austin and Co. The bid is for constructing the steam heating apparatus for the building. Folder 49: Bid, September 13, 1879. Bid for KSN building work from John Davis and Co. The bid is for constructing the steam heating apparatus for the building. Folder 50: Bid, September 13, 1879. Bid for KSN building work from Woodman and Warner. The bid is for constructing the steam heating apparatus for the building. Folder 51: Bid, September 15, 1879. Bid for KSN building work from Kimball Brothers Co. The bid is for constructing the steam heating apparatus for the building. Three copies are included. Folder 52: Bid, September 16, 1879. Bid for KSN building work from John Goodin for John S. Christy of the Eagle Steam Pipe Works. The bid is for constructing the steam heating apparatus for the building. Folder 53: Bid, September 16, 1879. Bid for KSN building work from John Shaw. The bid is for constructing the steam heating apparatus for the building. Folder 54: Bid, January 12, 1880. Bid for KSN building work from I. D. Fox and Co. The bid is for furnishing desks for the building. Envelope included. Folder 55: Bid, February 2, 1880. Bid for KSN building work from A. Parks. The bid is for furnishing the building. Folder 56: Bid, April 13, 1880. Bid for KSN building work from Goulds and Ostrander Co. The bid is for providing hoses and couplings. Envelope included. Folder 57: Bid, April 15, 1880. Bid for KSN building work from H. W. Austin and Co. The bid is for providing hoses and pipe for the building. Folder 58: Bid, April 16, 1880. Bid for KSN building work from D. C. McMurtrie. The bid is for providing hoses and couplings. Folder 59: Bid, April 17, 1880. Bid for KSN building work from Bruner and Hogan Co. The bid is for delivering lead pipe. Folder 60: Bid, May 20, 1880. Bid for KSN building work from Bruner and Hogan Co. The bid is for furnishing work and lights. Sub-subseries 2: Bonds Folder 61: Bond, circa 1879. Construction surety bond for Aetna Iron Works Co. Folder 62: Bond, circa 1879. Furniture surety bond for A. H. Andrews and Co. Envelope included. Folder 63: Bond, June 2, 1879. Construction surety bond for Smith and Ashton. Folder 64: Bond, September 13, 1879. Construction surety bond for John Davis & Co. Folder 65: Bond, September 13, 1879. Construction surety bond for Woodman and Warner. Folder 66: Bond, September 17, 1879. Construction surety bond for Samuel I. Pope and Co.

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Sub-subseries 3: Estimates Folder 67: Estimate, circa 1879. Estimate of costs for heating the building. Folder 68: Estimate, circa 1879. Estimate of costs to clear debris from the destroyed building. Folder 69: Estimate, circa 1879. Estimate for roof work to be done by John Hammond. Envelope included. Folder 70: Estimate, August 1879. Estimate for the cost of work to be done on the KSN building for that month. Folder 71: Estimate, September 1879. Estimate for the cost of work to be done on the KSN building for that month. Folder 72: Estimate, October 1879. Estimate for the cost of work to be done on the KSN building for that month. Folder 73: Estimate, November 1879. Estimate for the cost of work to be done on the KSN building for that month. Folder 74: Estimate, December 1879. Estimate for the cost of work to be done on the KSN building for that month. Folder 75: Estimate, December 31, 1879. Estimate for steam heating apparatus for the KSN building. Prepared by Samuel I. Pope and Company. Folder 76: Estimate, circa 1880. Estimate for cost of work to done on the KSN building. Folder 77: Estimate, circa 1880. Estimate for work done by John Hammond. Folder 78: Estimate, January 1880. Estimate for the cost of work to be done on the KSN building for that month. Folder 79: Letter, January 2, 1880. Letter from Samuel I. Pope and Co. to E. T. Carr discussing estimates for the heating apparatus. Folder 80: Statement, circa May 31, 1880. Statement of assets and expenditure for the Normal School Building fund. Xerox copy. Original located in Oversize Drawer 21. Sub-subseries 4: Expense Reports Folder 81: Reports, March 16, 1880. Two reports of the Incidental Fund for KSN for winter term closing. Xerox copies. Originals located in Oversize Drawer 21. Sub-subseries 5: Correspondence Folder 82: Letter, May 1, 1879. Letter to J. J. Wright from State Treasurer John Francis informing Wright of problems regarding payment of bills for the rebuilding of the KSN building as related to the law. Folder 83: Letter, circa August 1, 1879. Letter from architect E. T. Carr reporting the work being done on the building. Folder 84: Letter, September 4, 1879. Letter to J. J. Wright from Edwin Tucker discussing the estimates due to Smith and Ashton and John Hammond for work on the KSN building. Folder 85: Letter, circa 1880. Letter outlining costs sublet from building the KSN building as well as a list of subcontracts from Smith and Ashton.

University Presidents- Rudolph B. Welch Papers Folder 86: Letter, January 17, 1880. Letter from C. R. Pomeroy discussing money owed for the boarding halls. The City of Emporia helped provide boarding halls for KSN students. These halls were used after the KSN building burned. Box 2

Folder 1: Letter, March 25, 1880. Letter to J. E. Marcy from Samuel I. Pope and Company discussing tools and fittings needed for the heating apparatus. Folder 2: Letter, April 6, 1880. Letter to J. J. Wright from Charles Fletcher, Emporia Justice of the Peace. The letter discusses a settlement for money due regarding Smith and Ashton. Folder 3: Letter, April 14, 1880. Letter from Samuel I. Pope Company discussing fittings and coils for the heating apparatus. Folder 4: Letter, May 7, 1880. Letter to J. J. Wright from J. H. Crichton of the Board of Regents. The letter discusses the purchase of a bell and piano for the new building. Folder 5: Letters, May 27, 1880- May29, 1880. Letters from the Jones and Company Troy Bell Foundry. The letters discuss business regarding the purchase of the bell for the building. Envelope included. Folder 6: Letter, June 14, 1880. Letter to J.E. Marcy from the Goulds and Ostrander Company discussing a defective hose supplied by the company. Envelope included. Folder 7: Letter, June 23, 1880. Letter to J. J. Wright from Samuel I. Pope and Company discussing money due to the Pope Company for services on the building. Folder 8: Letter, June 23, 1880. Letter to M. M. Murdock of the Executive Committee from J. J. Wright discussing estimates for work to be discussed by the Board of Regents. Folder 9: Letter, June 24, 1880. Letter from Jones and Company Troy Bell Foundry discussing business regarding the purchase of the bell for the building. Folder 10: Letter, June 24, 1880. Typeset copy of the specifications for the steam heating apparatus. Prepared by architect E. T. Carr. Folder 11: Letter, June 26, 1880. Letter from architect E. T. Carr outlining remaining work to be completed on the building. Folder 12: Letter, July 6, 1880. Letter to J. J. Wright from State Treasurer John Francis informing Wright of the balance of the Normal School Building Fund. Folder 13: Letter, December 4, 1880. Letter to J. J. Wright from Samuel I. Pope and Company asking for payment of a statement due to the company. Folder 14: Letter, December 16, 1880. Letter to J. J. Wright from Samuel I. Pope and Company. The letter is a response to problems with the heating apparatus. Folder 15: Letter, circa 1881. Letter to J. J. Wright from J. C. Gordon. Page(s) missing. Folder 16: Letter, February 25, 1881. Letter to J. J. Wright from Samuel I. Pope and Company asking for settlement of the account. The letter also discusses problems with the heating apparatus. Folder 17: Letter, March 4, 1881. Letter from W.H. Mathews discussing the condition and work needed regarding the steam heating apparatus.

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Folder 18: Letter, March 13, 1881. Letter to J. J. Wright from Samuel I. Pope and Company discussing money due to the Pope Company for services on the building. Folder 19: Letter, November 16, 1881. Letter to Kansas Secretary of State from R. B. Welch asking if free coal for KSN can be obtained from the state. The letter is a copy of one that is housed at the Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, KS. Subseries 5: Miscellaneous Correspondence Folder 20: Card, undated. Card addressed to J. J. Wright notifying him of the death of J. Green on April 7, 1880. Dated June 4. Torn edge missing year. Subseries 6: Miscellaneous Envelopes Folder 21: Envelopes, undated. Seven miscellaneous envelopes of unknown origin. Subseries 7: Photograph Oversize Drawer 21: Photograph, undated. Photograph of Rudolph B. Welch. Writing on the back gives the dates of tenure as president.