We’re looking back on some Nebraska Library Commission history this #ThrowbackThursday!
In celebration of the Nebraska Library Commission’s upcoming 125th birthday, this week’s highlight is a 5-1/2″ x 4-3/4″ black and white photograph of Nebraska Library Commission employees in 1973 dressed up as gangsters. This PR photograph of Nebraska Library Commission employees was taken when the Commission moved from the Capitol building to 1420 P Street in Lincoln. Rod Wagner, holding a violin case, sits on the running board of a car with a 1929 license plate; Robert Kemper, holding a shotgun, and Dorothy Lessenhop lean against the passenger side; Mary Fran Harvey stands on the other side of the hood, and Nancy Wiederspan stands with one foot on the front fender.
At the time the photograph was taken, Mary Fran Harvey was the Assistant Director for Library Development); Rod Wagner was Planning, Evaluation and Research Coordinator, (Wagner became the Commission’s Director in 1988); Robert Kemper was the Director; Dorothy Lessenhop was NLC Assistant Director of Library Operations; and Nancy Wiederspan was NLC Community Information Specialist for the Elderly. The Commission was located in the basement of the building at 1420 P Street and titled their news publication as “Overtones from the Underground” hence the gangster outfits. The Commission Offices moved again in 1993 to 1200 N Street.
This image is published and owned by the Nebraska Library Commission. The collections include material on the history of libraries in the state of Nebraska, items from the 1930s related to the Nebraska Public Library Commission bookmobile, as well as items showcasing the history of Nebraska’s state institutions.
See this collection and many more on the Nebraska Memories archive!
The Nebraska Memories archive is brought to you by the Nebraska Library Commission. If your institution is interested in participating in Nebraska Memories, see http://nlc.nebraska.gov/nebraskamemories/participation.aspx for more information.
