Here is the current public records law. You may have to talk to the Clerk of Court to ensure you've reached someone who is empowered to say "yes." Perhaps in a gentle way, you can mention the "records over 70 years" provision.

5-221
Chapter 45.--PUBLIC RECORDS, DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION
Article 2.--RECORDS OPEN TO PUBLIC

(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), any public record which has been in existence more than 70 years shall be open for inspection by any person unless disclosure of the record is specifically prohibited or restricted by federal law, state statute or rule of the Kansas supreme court or by a policy adopted pursuant to K.S.A. 72-6214, and amendments thereto.

The entire statute is here:
http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-statutes/getStatuteFile....

If you feel you have not been allowed to see a public record, I'd suggest you attempt to resolve the issue through the Kansas Attorney General's office. In a way, you could consider it a consumer issue, and so you can file an online complaint here: http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-statutes/getStatuteFile..... The local folks usually do what the attorney general's office says.

Hope this is helpful.
Laura in a balmy NC