Our Mission:
Studying Rural Kansas; Charting A Vital Future
The Chapman Center for Rural Studies was founded in 2008 with a gift from Kansas State University alum, Mark Chapman. Mr. Chapman’s family farm was located in Broughton Kansas, which was condemned by the Army Corps of Engineers in the 1960s. The Chapman Center works to reclaim the histories of lost towns, rural peoples and places before it is too late.
Rural Telegraph is written by staff and student contributors and edited by Laura Perez, our Social Media Coordinator, and Professor Mary Kohn, Executive Director of the Chapman Center for Rural Studies.
For more information, reach out to us by email at chapmancenter@ksu.edu, or give us a call at (785) 532-0380.
The Rural Telegraph 
Has anyone researched Bedford Kansas in Stafford County? It once was in the running for the county seat. Supposedly a tornado blew the ballot box away.
Gayle, We are so glad you connected with us. You may have already found the Seward (Stafford County) profile on our Lost Kansas Communties site, http://lostkscommunities.omeka.net/. As for a specific profile of the Bedford community, none exist in our archives yet. If you have the time, check out some of the research resources on our website at http://www.k-state.edu/history/chapman/links.html. Also, a useful resource on our site (and a little hard to find) is the Quick Reference Guide to Kansas which lists many entries which reference Big Stranger Creek, etc. The password is (2010QRK!) Another good resource is http://www.kansasmemory.org/. These are good places to continue your research. Keep us posted!
Would be happy to share the information I have collected on the small towns inundated by Tuttle Creek cyannris@gmail.com
Thank you! The best way to reach us is by emailing chapmancenter@k-state.edu!