A beautiful printed invitation to Washington's Birthday Ball by the Kansas Rifles No. One. This embossed invitation is for an event to be held at the Free State Hotel (where the Eldridge Hotel now stands)in February of 1856, shortly before Sam Jones' raid on Lawrence.
The organizing committee included several prominent citizens of the day: J. W. Colburn, James H. Lane, A. Cutler, A.D. Searl, W. S. Brigdon, Chas. Robinson, John G. Crocker, James R. White, E. Emmerson, and B. F. Swift.
This item is available for viewing at the Spencer Research Library at The University of Kansas.