Welcome to the online archive of the history of Derby, Kansas. Here you will find photos, newspaper articles, videos, etc.


After the end of the Civil War, the area of land now known as Derby was opened up for settlement. In spring of 1869, Alexander and Margaret Garrett became the first of many settlers to put down roots in the area of Spring Creek.  The town of El Paso was established in July 1871 when John Hufbauer and J. Hout Minnich each decided to give close to 40 acres of land for the creation of a town. A majority of the settlers were farmers but early businesses in the area included a grain dealer, hotel, feed stable, post office, blacksmith, dry goods and grocer, and a doctor.

The name of the train depot was changed by the Santa Fe railroad from El Paso to Derby in the 1880s when the mail for El Paso, Kansas and El Paso, Texas kept getting mixed up. This was an unofficial change as the town was still listed as El Paso in the county records. When the town was incorporated as a third class city in June 1903, the petition had to be filed under El Paso and not Derby. The name was not officially changed until August 1956 after a petition of 978 legal voters was submitted to the county.

Recently Added Items

Derby High School Diploma for Ella Pittman
May 18, 1927

4936 diploma page without ribbon of 4933 1927 Derby High School Diploma Ella Pittman 18 May 1927 Inv. 23-050106 Peggy Sargeant Roseberry through Mildred Gasaway _ museum.jpg

Diploma Certificate:

Derby High School

This Certifies That

Ella Pittman

has completed the Course of Study prescribed by the Board of…

Ella Jane Pittman
Senior Picture
Class of 1927

4931 Senior Picture of Ella Pittman Class of 1927 Inv. 23-050105 Peggy Sargeant Roseberry through Mildred Gasaway _ museum.jpg

Ella Pittman graduated from Derby High School in 1927.

Eighth Grade Diploma Envelope for Ella Pittman
1923

4929 Envelope for Eighth Grade Diploma Ella Pittman 1923 Inv. 23-05104 Peggy Sargeant Roseberry through Mildred Gasaway _ museum.jpg

This is the envelope Ella Pittman's eighth grade diploma came in from County Superintendent R. M. Crum's office. She wrote all the names of the Derby…