FAQ’s

Donations

  • What items do you accept for donations?
    • Please see Artifacts Donations.
  • How do I donate artifacts to you?
    • We kindly ask that all donations not be left at the museum's entrance. Instead, please bring your donation inside the museum during our operating hours, Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when staff is available to assist you. Prior to accepting your donation, we will require that you complete and sign the necessary paperwork to ensure legal compliance. If you are unable to deliver your donation in person, please do not hesitate to contact the museum at (620) 364-2653 to make alternative arrangements.
  • Do you appraise items?
    • No. We do not appraise items.

Visiting

  • Where are you located?
    • We are located at 1101 Neosho Street, Burlington, KS 66839.
  • What are your hours?
    • The museum is open for viewing Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., including during lunch hours. Please note that we are closed on most national holidays.
  • Are you wheelchair accessible?
    • Yes. Our main building is wheelchair accessible. A wheelchair is also available to borrow on a first come, first serve basis.
  • How much does it cost?
    • Admission is free but monetary donations are greatly appreciated.

Tours

  • Do you do guided tours?
    • Our museum is self-guided.
  • Do you do school tours?
    • Yes. We love to do school tours! Contact the museum to schedule your visit.
  • How long are the school tours?
    • School tours are normally one hour long.

Genealogy

  • Can I donate my aunt’s genealogy no one wants?
    • We would appreciate receiving a copy of your family’s genealogy. Due to storage constraints, we kindly request that the genealogy be organized and presented in a few binders. Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to accommodate multiple storage totes for this material. Thank you for your understanding.
  • I live out of state, can someone look something up for me?
    • We are pleased to assist you with your information requests, subject to staff availability. If staff members are unable to address your request immediately, it may be referred to a representative from the Coffey County Genealogical Society for further assistance. Please email your request to Erin at erin@coffeymuseum.org, ensuring you include as much relevant information as possible. Additionally, you may find it helpful to explore the resources available under the "Research" page on our website.
  • How much are copies?
    • We do not have a fee for copies but greatly appreciate monetary donations to help offset the cost.
  • Where is my ancestor buried?
    • Please see “Cemeteries” on the Research tab.
  • Where did my family live?
    • We do not have an easy way to look this up. We suggest to try:
      • Digital Newspapers
        You may find references to your family's location in various newspapers. Many newspapers have been digitized, making it easier to search for specific names. For more information on the digitized newspapers, please refer to the "Research" page.
      • Atlases
        You may also find their name in an old atlas that can be found on Kansas Memory. The years 1878, 1901, 1919 are available.  https://www.kansasmemory.org/locate.php?categories=3097-1277&
      • Phone Books or Rural Directories
        The Genealogy Library at the Coffey County Museum houses incomplete collections of phone books dating from the 1940s to the present, as well as rural directories from the 1970s to the present.
      • Register of Deeds
        The Register of Deeds office is situated within the Coffey County Courthouse and maintains records related to properties in Coffey County. For the most efficient search, it is advisable to have a description of the land in question. If the exact location is unknown but you have a general idea of the area, that information can still facilitate the property search. However, lacking any specific details may complicate the process, as it would necessitate searching through each index book by year to locate the relevant name and property description. To streamline your search, it is recommended to consult both the federal and Kansas state censuses to help identify the pertinent year of interest and location.
    • Why can’t I find an obit from 1871?
      • There is a gap in newspaper records from 1870 to 1872 due to a fire long ago. Both the Coffey County Museum and the Kansas State Historical Society do not possess issues from these years. Additionally, it is noteworthy that newspapers from neighboring counties occasionally reported on events occurring in Coffey County during that time.
    • How are your newspaper clippings organized?
      • Clippings are categorized into one of four groups: Obituaries, Marriages, Births, and Anniversaries. They are then organized in the appropriate letter binder according to the individual's last name and subsequently indexed. For example, an obituary for John Smith would be filed in the “S” obituary binder.
    • How far back do your newspapers go?
      • The newspapers start in 1859 and go to the present with a big gap in the years 1870-1872.

    Other

    • Can I have professional photos taken at the museum?
      • Certainly. You are welcome to take photographs at the museum during our viewing hours, which are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please note that we are open to visitors during these times and cannot restrict their movement in relation to your subject.
    • Why aren’t there signs/labels for all the artifacts displayed or who donated the item?
      • Due to the high number of items in the displays, it has been determined that most items will not be labeled to ensure that the artifacts remain unobstructed by signage.