Material Culture Culture is printed two times a year for members of PAS:APAL. It is abstracted and indexed in: JSTOR, ProQuest, History and Life, Historical Abstracts, GeoAbstracts, and the MLA International Bibliography. You may download a PDF of the table of contents of the current issue here. The Spring 2026 issue of Material Culture includes:
Persistence of Stone Fenceposts across North Central Kansas
John A. Cross, Professor Emeritus of Geography, University of Wisconsin
Abstract: This paper updates an article that appeared a half-century ago in Pioneer America discussing the prevalence of stone fenceposts within north central Kansas. Barbed wire fences strung upon cut limestone fenceposts remain common in the area, yet their utilization is far less extensive than when most were placed near the end of the nineteenth century, when populations were much greater. Examples are provided of stone fenceposts extending along today’s highways for over a mile, although it is far more common to see short discontinuous placement of such fenceposts, often lacking functional wire fencing. The presence of these fenceposts is used to attract visitors to the area, a Post Rock Scenic Byway has been designated, examples have been placed along sidewalks in several cities, and a preservation society has been established. Landscaping companies sell repurposed fenceposts.
Post stone fence located across U.S. Highway 183 from St. Joseph Kirche in Liebenthal, Kansas. The Catholic church was erected between 1902 and 1905 using the same type of limestone. Photo by author (2024).
Collectible Western Stoneware Rolling Pins — The Ultimate Premium Item
H. Jason Combs, Adjunct Instructor, South Dakota State Univeristy, and Paul R. Burger, Professor, University of Nebraska-Kearney
Abstract: Promotional items have been part of the marketing landscape for decades and continue in that arena today. “Giveaway” items, then and now, create awareness and brand loyalty. This study provides a history of Western Stoneware Company (founded in 1906) and their use of stoneware rolling pins, one of their most popular pieces, as premium items. By placing a business name and location front and center on a common, frequently used kitchen utensil, many small-town enterprises had an opportunity to promote their products. Primary data for the project came from Bette Cooper, a long-time secretary employed by Western, who made a list of businesses that placed rolling pin orders from 1915 to 1953. Cooper’s handwritten list labeled, “Stenciled Rolling Pins as Shown in Following Factory Shop Order Books,” provides data for this study, including order dates, firms involved, the number of pins, and locations — over 100,000 specialty pins were produced and shipped to at least 17 different states. Analysis reveals several interesting spatial patterns and provides a measure of rarity that is reflected in selling prices for antique pins currently on the market, with low production pins typically bringing higher prices.