Harry E. Chrisman, former Liberal author and historian, donated a large collection of his writings, photographs, and other items to Liberal Memorial Library for the purpose of research. This database searches the contents of the Chrisman Collection.  
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CallNo: P11-B1b1  
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Descriptive Title: Rock Island Train and workers   Type: Print
Date of Origin:    Provenance:
Size: 5 1/8 x 7 1/16   Condition: good
Text: [front] Jim Miller Ed Campbell (in cab) Mexican laborers O.B. Wimmer on tender [back] Jim Miller lived at Liberal, Kansas when he won this Carnegie medal for trying to rescue man and boy buried in cesspool. HEC 6 [6 is circled] Harry E. Chrisman 10245 W. 14th Ave. Denver Colo. 80125 [back note] Harry: I wrote Geo. Miller asking if he wanted this old picture of his father, and he didn't mention it in his reply, so guess he didn't. It would be worthy preserving in museum, because he's (Jim Miller) the one who got the Carnegie Medal for trying to rescue those w men buried in cave-in. I had the complete acct. in Times not too long ago. -- Maurine
Misc Info: Four men in front of engine No. 1442. Attached car 1442 (both of Rock Island Railroad) sits in front of elevator. Car has load of rock or some other material (tender?)
Subject: Rock Island Railroad train
Jim Miller
Ed Campbed
O.B. Wimmer
Mexican laborers
elevator train track tender Carnegie Medal
railroad cars railroad engine No. 1442
Liberal Kansas George Miller
Southwest Daily Times 		  Related to: 
Other: Note says the photo is from Maurine, possible Maurine Tate? Photo is in a mat/frame. Frame is 7 7/8 x 9 15/16"    
CallNo: P72-C2c  
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Descriptive Title: train wreck   Type: Print
Date of Origin: July 1919   Provenance:
Size: 5 x 6 7/8   Condition: good
Text: [front] [62 is on a Pole] [back] 15 [15 is circled] ; [there is another circle with scribbles in it] ; Harry E. Chrisman 10245 W. 14th Ave. Denver, Colo. 80215 [note] 15 [15 is circled] 24 [24 is circled] In July of 1919, Engine No. 921, Bob Ford and Rex Mathews in the cab, Left the track on the north side as the train they were pulling [following written first and then scribbled out]went over on the south side, killing both men. --- Photos courtesy O.B. Wimmer. 62%
Misc Info: Train on it's side off of track. Track missing in one section. Another train on track behind wreck. 7 men looking at missing tracks. Fence on side. House in background.
Subject: Train wreck
train track
men
train
fence
house
Engine No. 921
Bob Ford
Rex Mathews
O.B. Wimmer photo 		  Related to:  P73-C2c
Other: Photo is stained on back. Corners were bent.    
CallNo: PC1-C2c  
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Descriptive Title: Two train engines wreck   Type: Postcard
Date of Origin: April 19, 1922   Provenance:private collection - O.B. Wimmer
Size: 3 1/2 x 5 1/2   Condition: fair
Text: [back] Correspondence Place Stamp Here Harry E. Chrisman 10245 W. 14th Ave. Denver, Colo. 80215; Harry E. Chrisman 10245 W. 14th Ave. Denver, Colo. 80215 [back note 1] These are the engines that were in the wreck between Kismet and Plains, Kans., killing both engineers, Phillip Frick and Charles Wideman. In the year April 19 - 1922 out of the two crews of 5 men. Each their is only one man still alive he is Tom Shook who lives in Pratt, Ks. now retired. [back note 2] On the reverse of this photo, my friend, O.B. Wimmer wrote: "These are the two engines in the wreck between Kismet and Plains, Kansas. Both engineers, Phillip Frick and Charles Weideman were killed. Date was April 19, 1922. Of the two crews, only Tom Shook is still living - now at Pratt, Kansas." - Photo courtesy O.B. Wimmer. (sentence underlined) 10 (circled) 24 (circled) 77%
Misc Info: Two train engines collided - note one engine is No. 1230 T18
Subject: two train engines
Kismet, Kansas
Plains, Kansas
Phillip Frick
Charles Weideman
engine number 1230 T18
O.B. Wimmer
train wreck
Tom Shook
Pratt, Kansas 		  Related to: 
Other:    
CallNo: PC37-C1c  
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Descriptive Title: Blizzard of February 1912   Type: Postcard
Date of Origin: February 1912   Provenance:
Size: 3 1/2 x 5 1/2   Condition: good
Text: [front] Snow plow stuck near Liberal 2-28-12 [back] Post Card; Place Stamp Here; Correspondence Here; Name and Address Here; Return Photo to Harry E. Chrisman 10245 W. 14th Ave. Denver, Colo. 80215 [back note 1] Taken in the cut west of Liberal not too far from the point of entry. [back note 2] The February storm of 1912 buried the entire southwest in snow that was three feet deep on the level and filled all the railroad cuts to the top. Trains failed to run for several days and there was great loss of livestock. Photo courtesy O.B. Wimmer, Liberal. (sentence underlined) Don't mark photo!
Misc Info: 
Subject: snow plow
snow bank
people
highline poles
Liberal, Kansas
O.B. Wimmer 		  Related to: 
Other:    
CallNo: PC44-C2c  
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Descriptive Title: Engine 5036   Type: Postcard
Date of Origin:    Provenance:
Size: 3 1/2 x 5 1/2   Condition: 
Text: [back] Post Card; Correspondence; [Tartto] Studio; Kodak finishing and Gift Shoppe Liberal, Kans 14 S. Kans Ave; AZO; Place Stamp Here; Harry E. Chrisman 10245 W. 14th Ave. Denver, Colo. 80215 [two stamps] 35 (circled in red ink). [note - handwritten] Walter Walker engineer (smeared) ..... Brakeman Holder that went down in this wreck still live in Pratt Walker is [?] Holder is still working Fireman Powell died several years ago, I do not know about the rest of the crew [note - typed, put in seperate sleeve] Back at the yards, she had the appearance of a male Peacock that had shed its tail, when Engine 5036 was resurrected from her watery grave. ---- Photos courtesy O.B. Wimmer. (sentence underlined) 35 (circled in red ink) 24 75% [front of post card] Engine 5036 Raised from Cimmeron river after R.I.R.R. Freight wreck. 8-18-38. Weight 733200 Power 67000. Draw Bar booster 70000 LBS. Cost 115,000.00 Yurile Stv ---
Misc Info: Picture of a train engine that is beat up. Building behind it and man standing in front of it.
Subject: Train wreck
Cimarron River
RI RR freight train
O.B. Wimmer
Walter Walker
engineer
brakeman holder
Pratt, Kansas
fireman Powell 		  Related to: 
Other: Typed note in seperate sleeve same #.