Charles L. Herman was born in 1922 in Alma, Kansas, the son of Alma shoemaker, Fred Herrmann and his wife Mary Schubert Herrmann. Charles graduated from Alma High School and was a longtime resident of Alma. Charles married Charlotte Finley in 1963, and the couple was married for thirty years before her passing in 1993. He later married Carol Herrmann.

This Charles Herman photo of the Holy Family Catholic Church, St John Lutheran Church and St. John Lutheran School in Alma features Herman’s trademark blue skies and puffy white clouds.

Charles worked many years for the U. S. Soil Conservation Service as a Technician, and his job allowed him to travel the countryside in Wabaunsee County, meeting with landowners. His travel at work also allowed Charles to pursue an avid hobby, photography. From the 1950s through the 1990s, Charles photographed Wabaunsee County as he worked and in his spare time. He had a great eye for composition and Herman photographed exclusively with color slide film in a 35-millimeter camera.

Gorden Bute operated a French restaurant in the Alma Hotel when this photo was taken by Charles Herman in the 1970s.

Charles lived in a small house located at 222 W. 1^st Street in Alma, in a house that had belonged to his parents and earlier, his maternal grandparents. He was a lifelong member of the Holy Family Church in Alma, and his house was located next door to the west to the church.

Charles Herman photographed this view of the Clements Bridge in Chase County. At one time, there were literally hundreds of stone arched bridges in Wabaunsee County.

Charles Herman passed away on December 19, 2010 at the age of 88.

Charles Herman’s photos captured Alma, Wabaunsee County, and Kansas in vivid color, and his photos are a window into Herman’s life and times. Click on any photo below to view Charles Herman’s photos in a gallery format and as a full-screen image.

This Charles Herman photo of the Holy Family Catholic Church, St John Lutheran Church and St. John Lutheran School in Alma features Herman’s trademark blue skies and puffy white clouds.

Alma, Kansas hosts the annual 4-H parade during the County Fair. in this view from the 1950s a band is seen marching through the intersection of 3rd and Missouri Streets. Ahead of the parade is a lady on horseback with a banner on the horse’s flank that says Eskridge Rodeo Queen.

The Rock Island depot, left, and the Alma grain elevator are viewed from the west in this Charles Herman photo. In the distance one can see the Mill Creek bridge over Kansas Highway 99.

The Alma Hotel, formerly the Brandt Hotel, is seen in this 1970s view by Charles Herman. At the right foreground is the Limerick Building which now houses Alma City Hall.

Gorden Bute operated a French restaurant in the Alma Hotel when this photo was taken in the 1970s.

The Wabaunsee County Historical Society Museum opened in the Meyer Building in 1968.

Charles Herman photographed downtown Alma after a heavy snowfall in the 1970s. Notably on the left one can see the Harvey House Café, the HyKlas Grocery, and Rubottom’s Pharmacy.

This Charles Herman view of snow removal from Alma’s downtown business district looks to the south from the Alma Hotel.

Charles Herman photographed this view of the Clements Bridge in Chase County. At one time, there were literally hundreds of stone arched bridges in Wabaunsee County.

This view of the J. L. Schepp barn, located on Illinois Creek Road, was taken by Charles Herman in the 1970s.

The Henry Sump barn was photographed several times by Charles Herman. Sump had this barn built on his Alma farm in 1913. This winter view dates from the 1970s.

This barn was located on the Franz Schmidt farm at Alma. It was destroyed by fire in April of 2016.

Charles Herman photographed several Wabaunsee County towns from the air in the 1960s. In this view of Alma, one can notice several differences from today. At the bottom of the photo, notice that Flint Hills Foods/Hormel had yet to be constructed. At the top left of the image notice that there was neither a city shop nor a water town on the hilltop. Notice that the Co-op grain elevators and the Hafenstine Construction building had yet to be built. The residential subdivision in the 400 block of West 8th Street was a field when this view was taken.

The Drinkwater Mill, located at Cedar Point, Kansas was photographed by Charles Herman in this view from the 1970s.

Charles Herman photographed Molasses Days events at the Thierer farm at Volland, Kansas in this view from the 1970s.

Charles Herman photographed Alta Vista from the air in this view from the 1960s.

Charles Herman photographed this parade in the 600 block of Kansas Avenue in Topeka, looking north. One can see the prominent Capital Federal Savings building, located at 534 Kansas Avenue.

Charles Herman traveled to Topeka to photograph tornado damage from the famed 1966 storm which tore through the city. In this view one sees extensive damage to buildings on the campus of Washburn University.

The 1966 tornado which ripped through Topeka destroyed the Central Park School beyond repair. Fortunately, school was not in session when the building was demolished by the tornado.

Houses in the Central Park neighborhood of Topeka were demolished by the winds from the 1966 Topeka tornado.