<DIV>Positioned in the geographic center of the contiguous 48 states Kansas has played a vital role in the nation's development. From its Native American roots&#151;the state is named for the Kansa tribe&#151;Kansas has been both eyewitness and participant to history. No state literally or figuratively has been more in the middle of America&#8217;s fascinating story than the Sunflower State. Culled from Library of Congress and Kansas Historical Society collections the nearly 200 striking black-and-white images in Historic Photos of Kansas trace a progression from &#147;Bleeding Kansas a period of violent struggle between free-state abolitionists and pro-slavery sympathizers to the state&#8217;s many contributions to westward expansion railroads agriculture and America at war. Although these photos speak for themselves when combined with captions and chapter introductions they will transport curious readers to a close-up view of Kansans helping to write history.</div>