As Kansas' population boomed at the turn of the last century so did the need for new school buildings. School districts across the state were hard pressed to keep up with the influx of students and the Kansas Department of Public Instruction published several books on school architecture, highlighting architectural achievements and offering plans and suggestions for the construction of practical yet beautiful schools.
One of these books, issued by the Kansas Department of Public Instruction in 1911, is now available at the State Library of Kansas' KGI Online Library. It includes a nice sampling of photographs of Kansas schools. Among the schools featured are buildings in Douglas County, Topeka (Central Park School), Seneca, Marshall County, Cherokee County High School in Columbus, Emporia, Ellsworth, Hutchinson, Rose Hill, Burns, Gaylord, Wellington, Courtland, Alma, Sabetha, Salina High School, Bonner Springs High School, Mankato High School, Pratt High School, Clay County High School, Winfield High School, Hutchinson High School, Wichita Manual Training High School, and Atchison High School. Photos are also provided showing cooking, manual training, drawing, blacksmithing, and physics classes as well as a high school chemical laboratory in Topeka,
The book is not limited to photos of buildings. Included are examples and advice on landscaping and playgrounds. as well as plans on model school buildings, proper heating/ventilation and school sanitation.
You can check out this 1911 book here:
SCHOOL BUILDINGS, SCHOOL GROUNDS AND THEIR IMPROVEMENT (1911)
Many thanks to the Kansas Historical Society for the loan of this book for digitization and inclusion in the KGI Online Library!