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State Library's LIS Collection

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If you would like to request this or other materials from the State Library of Kansas, please use your library’s established interlibrary loan process. This collection is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the State Library of Kansas.

May 25

[ARCHIVED] "To The Stars" magazine, 1945-1951

The original item was published from May 25, 2021 1:34 PM to May 25, 2021 1:42 PM

"To The Stars" is a cool magazine for anyone interested in the history covering the period right after World War II.  It was published by the Kansas Industrial Development Commission, which was succeeded by the Kansas Department of Economic Development and later, the Kansas Department of Commerce.  This magazine was a promotional tool which highlighted industrial development, agriculture, social events, tourism, cool places and people... it's successor was in part, "Kansas!" magazine.

The article below is a "rerun" of an article written for the KGI Blog by Jason Ackermann back in October, 2015. Definitely worth a revival.

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At the Close of WWII Kansas Goes "To the Stars"
Posted on October 20, 2015 at 2:10 PM by Jason Ackermann


Just as World War II was ending, the Kansas government began a new, concerted effort to attract business and industrialists to the state. To the Stars was a magazine meant to highlight Kansas, its natural resources, and its people to investors. Filled with pictures, news, and short stories about the state, To the Stars was part informational circular, part advertisement tool, and part tourist guide.

To the stars

This collection gives us a unique and detailed look at life in the state during the late 1940s and early 1950s, capturing the optimism and growth of a country finally emerging from economic depression and global war.

View the collection at KGI here: