Browse Items · Digital Douglas County History

Francis Sporting Goods Sign

Neon sign for Francis Sporting Goods, a sports gear and equipment store that used to be on Massachusetts Street in the House Building. The sign now hangs in April Dwyer's office as a memento of the family business.

USS Vammen Ballcap

A USS Vammen hat worn by a neighbor of Anne Tangeman's. This neighbor always sat on the front porch with his wife and watched the Barker neighborhood Memorial Day parade, which included almost the entire neighborhood: kids with streamers and…

Photograph of the Prentiss residence

The home of Dr. S.B. Prentiss and his wife, Annie J. Soule, in Lawrence, Kansas. Mrs. Prentiss is in the picture with three of her four stepchildren (from left: Ella Prentiss Niell, Louisa Prentiss Simpson, Mrs. Prentiss, and Frank Prentiss). Rebecca…

Photograph of Richard and Theda Higgins in Front of Higgins Fish Market

Photograph of Richard and Theda Higgins standing in front of their fish market, Higgins Fish Market. Richard was a Riverking who caught fish on the Kaw, while Theda was responsible for cleaning, cutting, packaging, and selling the fish at the market.…

Photograph of Richard Higgins Making a Fishing Net

Photograph of Richard Higgins, the grandfather of Barbara Higgins-Dover, weaving a fishing net, which he used to catch fish in the Kaw River. Barbara remembers her grandfather weaving fishing nets in the living room when she was growing up.

Photograph of Richard Higgins Holding a Rare Burbot Fish

Newspaper clipping of Richard Higgins holding a Burbot, a rare fish to catch in the Kansas river. Richard Higgins was a Riverking and the grandfather of Barbara Higgins-Dover, who remembers fishing on the Kaw River with him as a young girl.

Photograph of Henry "Catfish" Oakes Holding a Recent Catch, 1949.

Newspaper clipping of Henry "Catfish" Oakes holding a large catfish. Oakes was a great uncle to Barbara Higgins-Dover. She remembers that he used to play the harmonica and sing, making up songs for her.

Photograph of Charles Pug Saunders and Phil Saunders Holding Recently Caught Fish

Charles (right) and Phil Saunders (left) were commercial fishermen on the Kaw River. In this photo, they are holding a line of recently caught fish.

Grapple hook and rope

A grapple hook would be thrown out to retrieve submerged fishing nets. This grapple hook was likely made in Lawrence by a Riverking, a fisherman who made a living fishing during the Kaw River fishing industry boom.

Net knitting needle

Net knitting needles were used with a spacer block to create hoop nets, along with other kinds of nets like dip nets and wide nets. This knitting needle has been passed down through the Higgins family to Barbara Higgins-Dover, the director of the…

Double-throated hoop net

Double-throated hoop nets were submerged in the river to catch large quantities of fish. This net has been passed down through the Higgins family to Barbara Higgins-Dover, the director of the Riverkings Museum. Barbara remembers her grandfather…

Grab hook

Hook made for snagging individual, large fish without bait required. Fishermen would make these by hand. These hooks were also used for dragging the Kaw River when someone drowned, which was a common occurrence in the early 1900's in Lawrence.

Zen Mother concert poster

A concert poster for Zen Mother, designed by Tanner Spreer, a graphic design artist, Lawrence local, and band member of Psychic Heat. This poster was printed on a risograph, an alternative to silk-screen printing that allows designers to create…

Two Ton Strap concert poster

A concert poster for Two Ton Strap, designed by Tanner Spreer, a graphic design artist, Lawrence local, and band member of Psychic Heat. This poster was printed on a risograph, an alternative to silk-screen printing that allows designers to create…

Toughies concert poster

A concert poster for Toughies, designed by Tanner Spreer, a graphic design artist, Lawrence local, and band member of Psychic Heat. This poster was printed on a risograph, an alternative to silk-screen printing that allows designers to create…

The Puscie Jones Revue concert poster

A concert poster for The Puscie Jones Revue, designed by Tanner Spreer, a graphic design artist, Lawrence local, and band member of Psychic Heat. This poster was printed on a risograph, an alternative to silk-screen printing that allows designers to…

The Ants concert poster

A concert poster for The Ants, designed by Tanner Spreer, a graphic design artist, Lawrence local, and band member of Psychic Heat. This poster was printed on a risograph, an alternative to silk-screen printing that allows designers to create…

Spring into Summer poster

A concert poster the Spring Into Summer event, featuring performances from The Phantastics, Hush Machine, Stitch81Classic, Approach, and the Boogaloo Odyssey. This poster was designed by Tanner Spreer, a graphic design artist, Lawrence local, and…

Sky Smeed geometric concert poster

A concert poster for Sky Smeed, designed by Tanner Spreer, a graphic design artist, Lawrence local, and band member of Psychic Heat. This poster was printed on a risograph, an alternative to silk-screen printing that allows designers to create…

Sky Smeed concert poster