This one-stop reference work is a governors’ hall of fame—a compendium of information about the 51 men who have held the chief executive post since the opening of the Kansas Territory in 1854.

Using both primary and secondary sources, historian Homer Socolofsky sketches a concise biography of each governor and compares their roles in Kansas history. He also provides comparative election and demographic data, as well as suggestions for additional reading.

“Kansas governors have had impact on their state and on all of the American West. Kansas Governors is a long-needed reference tool that should be emulated by all Western States. It belongs in every library—academic, public, school, or special—which has a Kansas or Western Americana collection.”

—Journal of the West

“Socolofsky provides readers with an excellent introduction to Kansas politics and a model for works of this type.”

—Great Plains Quarterly

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“Socolofsky has achieved his aim of providing a sound standard reference on the governors of Kansas. It will be useful to students of Kansas history and to those seeking a quick introduction to a particular governor of the Sunflower State.”

—Journal of American History

“Socolofsky is to be congratulated for his tenacity and the resulting quality of this work on Kansas history.”

—Annals of Iowa

“The author has done a commendable job in providing equal coverage of ten territorial and 41 state governors. This work is a valuable research tool.”

—Great Plains Newsletter

“This authoritative reference is a significant contribution to Kansas history and political history as well. It's a book I will use again and again.”

—Thomas D. Isern, professor of history at Emporia State University

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Supplementing the text are 93 historic photographs, including each chief executive’s portrait and autograph. Twelve maps and tables depict and compare aspects of the governors’ lives, showing occupational background, birthplace, and residence.

Kansas Governors brings together in a single volume a far more complete treatment of both territorial and state governors—as well as acting governors—than can be found in other biographical dictionaries. It will be a useful tool for Kansas history buffs, and an essential reference for school and public libraries.