While you patiently await your visit to our archives, here are some (free) links you may find useful:

Kansas State Library Online Databases, particularly in the History and Genealogy category. This portal provides free access to Heritage Quest, Genealogy Connect, KS Genweb, and History reference sites, as long as you have a Kansas IP address. If any of the resources require a Kansas Library Card, please visit your local library to get one for free.
 

Kansas Memory, provided by the Kansas State Historical Society, is a site dedicated to digitally archiving historic materials from across Kansas. See what they have from your hometown!
 

Hays Public Library has a great collection of research materials concerning Ellis County in their Kansas Room. We highly recommend visiting!
 

FHSU Special Collections, located in Forsyth Library on the FHSU campus, holds collections particular to the University, as well as those of local interest. Their Center for Ethnic Studies contains resources donated by the Volga German Society of Rush and Ellis Counties and the Bukovina Society of the Americas, as well as publications from the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia.
 

Chronicling America allows you to search historic newspapers from the United States, 1789-1922.

Family Search gives free access to genealogy records kept by the Church of Latter Day Saints. Their collection is well-known and revered by researchers.
 

The Bureau of Land Management has General Land Office Records online that are searchable. Find when and where your ancestors homesteaded!