The original item was published from May 24, 2018 9:30 AM to May 24, 2018 9:32 AM
It's getting hot and humid... Obviously a sign that soon it'll be time to visit a local fair near you and/or make the trek to Hutchinson for the Kansas State Fair. With this in mind let's jump in the State Library of Kansas' time machine and travel back to 1903 via a booklet published by the Kansas State Horticultural Society, " Agricultural, Horticultural and Mechanical Fairs, History of Their Development, Valuable Features and Objectionable Features, How They Should Be Run, Valuable Hints to Agricultural, Horticultural and Fair Associations."
This publication has it all in 26 pages... a history of fairs, a look at fairs worldwide, suggestions on how to run a fair and how not to run a fair. The writers give thoughts on how to start an agricultural fair covering topics like organization, grand divisions, signage, horse racing (an evil that has "probably started many boys on a gambling career"), merchants' displays, livestock premiums, sweepstakes, judging, horticulture shows, etc.
So put on your straw hat or your best bonnet and meet us at the fair in the State Library of Kansas' KGI Online Library!
"AGRICULTURAL, HORTICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL FAIRS..." [1903]
http://cdm16884.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16884coll113/id/29
For the State Fair enthusiasts the KGI Online Library has these publications available:
Kansas State Fair publications in KGI
The Kansas Historical Society offers up some wonderful visuals/reads on fairs in Kansas:
Kansas Memory items on fairs in Kansas
Publications at KGI on Kansas' participation in different "world's fair" events
(1877, 1893, 1894, 1898, 1904)
And don't forget to get off the computer this summer and visit fairs nearby you!
VISIT THE KANSAS STATE FAIR IN 2018!
KANSAS EVENTS CALENDAR
provided by the Division of Tourism, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism