Category Archives: Preservation

Throwback Thursday: A. C. Hull’s Photograph Gallery

Happy #ThrowbackThursday from Nebraska Memories!

Featured in this week’s #throwback is A. C. Hull’s Photograph Gallery. A. C. Hull opened his Fremont studio in 1870 and continued work as a photographer until 1893. He traveled with William Henry Jackson in 1869, capturing scenes of the building of the Union Pacific on photographic glass plates.

This image is owned by the Dodge County Historical Society and is published to Nebraska Memories by Keene Memorial Library in Fremont, Nebraska. Keene Memorial Library and the Dodge County Historical Society worked as partners to digitize and describe content owned by the historical society. The collection of photographs documents life in Fremont in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Local businesses, churches, schools, and private residences are all featured.

Check out the collection 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.

Posted in General, Nebraska Memories, Preservation | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Throwback Thursday: Mitchell’s Bicentennial Celebration

It’s another #ThrowbackThursday from Nebraska Memories!

This week, we have a 1 1/2″ x 1″ color acetate negative featuring a scene from Mitchell’s Bicentennial celebration hosted in 1976.

This image is published and owned by Mitchell Public Library. Local historian Jane Hills Bowman collected pictures and stories about Mitchell’s early years. Her collection includes street scenes from the early 1900s that are some of the earliest images of Mitchell’s business district. The collection also contains photographs of Mitchell’s first public school buildings.

Check it out 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.

Posted in General, Nebraska Memories, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Throwback Thursday: James Wareham Streeter and Mary Anderson Streeter

Happy #ThrowbackThursday from Nebraska Memories!

The families of Bess Streeter Aldrich’s parents, James and Mary Streeter, were the inspiration for the characters in several of her fictional works. Aldrich wrote: “When she was in her eighties, (mother) once related some pioneer experiences about the snow sifting through the chinks of the cabin and making grotesque figures on the bed quilts. In a moment of sympathy I remarked that we daughters were sorry her life had been hard in her pioneering days, that it seemed unfair that we now should live in an easier era with all its modern conveniences. She looked at me with an odd little expression and said: ‘Oh, save your pity. We had the best time in the world.'” Aldrich’s desire to capture the spirit of such a woman with historical accuracy was the inspiration for the novel “A Lantern in Her Hand.”

This portrait photograph is published and owned by the Bess Streeter Aldrich Foundation. The images in this collection have been selected to give the viewer a deeper understanding of the influences and inspirations that Bess Streeter Aldrich drew upon when writing the 1928 novel “A Lantern in Her Hand.”

Check out the full collection 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.

Posted in General, Nebraska Memories, Preservation | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Throwback Thursday: 1911 Basketball Team

Basketball season in Nebraska is underway and we’re celebrating with this week’s #ThrowbackThursday!

This week, we have a black and white photograph featuring the 1911 basketball team at Nebraska Normal College, now known as Wayne State College. Wayne State College is one of three state colleges in Nebraska and the institution held its first session on September 19, 1910.

This image is published and owned by Wayne State College. In a continuing effort to preserve and make accessible photographs depicting the history of Wayne State College and the region it serves, the Wayne State College Library has digitized selected photographs from its archives. Included in this collection are photographs from the early 1900s that show the buildings and grounds of the campus, athletic teams, the Student Army Training Corps, and others.

Find more sports-related materials 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.

Posted in General, Nebraska Memories, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Throwback Thursday: Stock Pens, South Omaha

Happy #ThrowbackThursday from Nebraska Memories!

Few industries say “Omaha” like the stockyards. The stockyards began in 1883 when Wyoming cattle baron, Alexander Swan, wanted a livestock market closer than Chicago. Together with six local businessmen, he formed the Union Stockyards on December 1, 1883. The livestock pens covered acres of land. Between 1907 and 1910, most of the old pens were rebuilt with elevated walkways. Buyers could then view the animals without threading their way through the pens. In the early 20th century, Union Stockyards was the world’s largest sheep market. The stock yards were dependent upon Union Pacific Railroad to bring livestock to market. On average, 20,000 animals per day arrived at the Union Stockyards.

This 14 x 9 cm color postcard is published and owned by Omaha Public Library. The items in this collection include early Omaha-related maps dating from 1922 back to 1825, as well as over 1,000 postcards and photographs of the Omaha area.

See this collection and 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.

Posted in General, Nebraska Memories, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Throwback Thursday: Outdoor Picnic

It’s a Thanksgiving themed #throwback from Nebraska Memories!

This week, we have a black and white postcard from the early 1900s featuring a group of men, women, and children having a picnic.

This image was captured by John Nelson and is published by History Nebraska.

History Nebraska digitized content from the John Nelson collection. John Nelson was born in Sweden and came to Nebraska at 17 years old alongside his parents. His photos show small town life in Nebraska during the early 20th century. He shot photographs of local businesses, community activities, and automobiles.

Check out 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.

Posted in General, Nebraska Memories, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Throwback Thursday: Fairmont, Nebraska

It’s another #ThrowbackThursday from Nebraska Memories!

This week, we have an early 1879 drawing of Fairmont, Nebraska by J.J. Stoner. It is published and owned by Fairmont Public Library. Together in partnership with the Fillmore County Historical Society, the Fairmont Public Library digitized photographs from their collections depicting the history of Fillmore County. The photographs in this collection include images of local businesses, schools, and churches, as well as the Fairmont Army Airfield, which was used during World War II.

Check it out 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.

Posted in General, Nebraska Memories, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Throwback Thursday: Ernie Nozicka

Happy #ThrowbackThursday from Nebraska Memories!

This week, we have a 3″ x 5″ on-site photograph of Ernie Nozicka at his home near Bruno, Nebraska. Ernie was born near Bruno on June 11, 1898, the son of Matej and Frances Smejkla Nozicka. He married Rose Krepcik and after she died in 1972, married Julia Strudl. He farmed northeast of Bruno for 60 years and his place was known as the “Wagon Wheel Farm”. He had over 300 white wagon wheels with fencing lining both sides of the lane to his home and along the main road north of his farm. He started farming with six head of horses and never owned a tractor. In the 1930’s and 1940’s he broke horses for riding and farm work. He supplemented his income by working as the township overseer of Skull Creek. He was also a real estate broker and served on the Bruno School Board. He entertained people with his accordion music for over 75 years and often drove a team of horses or mules with a decorated buggy in local parades.

This 1950’s image is published as part of the Boston Studio Project and is owned by the Thorpe Opera House Foundation. The Boston Studio Collection consists of over 68,000 negatives that record life in and around David City, Nebraska from 1893 to 1979.

If you like history, check out 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.

Posted in General, Nebraska Memories, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Throwback Thursday: Apex Cleaning & Dyeing Company

Happy #ThrowbackThursday from Nebraska Memories!

This week, we have a 6 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ black and white photograph from 1928, showing the one-story brick building that housed Apex Cleaning & Dyeing Co.

Apex Cleaning built its main office and plant at 123 S. 23rd Street, Lincoln, in 1923. P. M. Plamondon was president of the Apex Cleaning & Dyeing Co. In addition to its main office building, the company had an “Uptown Office” At at 326 S. 13th, a south office at 1520 S. 17th and a north office at 1427 N. 33rd.

This week’s #throwback is published and owned by the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors. The collection of the Heritage Room at Lincoln City Libraries includes digitized items from the Rudolph Umland Papers and images that were scanned from an album titled “Lincoln, Nebraska: A Photograph Album of Business Buildings.”

Check out the full collection 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.

Posted in General, Nebraska Memories, Preservation | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Throwback Thursday: “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat”

This #ThrowbackThursday is taking center stage!

This week’s #throwback features a color photograph of six actors in costume of the 1994 Omaha Community Playhouse production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat.” This production was directed by Charles Jones and was produced by The Nebraska Theater Caravan, which is the professional touring wing of the Omaha Community Playhouse.

This image is published and owned by Omaha Community Playhouse. The Omaha Community Playhouse collection includes digitized images of the Playhouse and some of its performances. Some of the actors included in these images are Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda, and Dorothy McGuire.

Check out 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.

Posted in General, Nebraska Memories, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Throwback Thursday: Silence Required

Shhhh…it’s #ThrowbackThursday!

This week, we have a 5″ x 3″ card explaining Whitin Library’s policy regarding noise in its reading rooms and corridors. Doane College built Whitin Library in 1894. It served as the campus library until 1970, when the college constructed a new library. John N. Bennett served as president of Doane College from 1919-1925, while Nora Hjelm term as librarian lasted from 1918 to 1925.

This image is published and owned by Doane University Library. Doane University Library is home to a vast archival collection containing a variety of items related to the history of Doane University. Founded by Thomas Doane in 1872, Doane College became Doane University in May 2016 and is the oldest private liberal arts and sciences college/university in Nebraska. Featured in this collection are historical images of buildings, people and activities dating back to the founding of the school.

Check out the collection 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.

Posted in General, Nebraska Memories, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Throwback Thursday: Greenhouse at the Immanuel Deaconess Institute

Happy #ThrowbackThursday from Nebraska Memories!

This week, we have a black and white photograph, from 1937, showing the interior of the greenhouse at the Immanuel Deaconess Institute, which was located near 34th & Meredith in Omaha, Nebraska.

This image is published and owned by Alegent Health Immanuel Medical Center. This collection shows the rich and well documented history of the buildings, people, and artifacts of the Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. An archive of thousands of photo, papers, and items has been maintained for over 120 years and carefully stored and housed on the campus of Alegent Health Immanuel Medical Center.

See this full collection and 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.

Posted in General, Nebraska Memories, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Throwback Thursday: Wayne State Homecoming 1965

Celebrate Homecoming with #ThrowbackThursday!

This week, we have a black and white photograph featuring John Neihardt at Wayne State College’s homecoming in 1965.

This image is published and owned by Wayne State College. One of three state colleges in Nebraska, Wayne State College, originally the State Normal College at Wayne, held its first session in September of 1910. Photographs included in this collection feature the buildings and grounds of the campus, athletic teams, the Student Army Training Corps, and other groups.

Check out 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.

Posted in General, Nebraska Memories, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Throwback Thursday: A.O. Thomas Residence

Happy #ThrowbackThursday from Nebraska Memories!

This week, we have a 5″ x 3-1/2″ black and white photograph showing a large, two story house that belonged to  Augustus Orloff Thomas. He served as the first President of Nebraska State Normal School at Kearney. This home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and has been remodeled several times. Now, it serves as the Alumni House.

This photograph from 1908 is published and owned by the Calvin T. Ryan Library at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. UNK was founded in 1905 as the Nebraska State Normal School at Kearney. It joined the Nebraska University system in 1991. Images in this collection show faculty, students, buildings and activities from the first dozen years of the school’s existence.

See the full collection 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.

Posted in General, Nebraska Memories, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Throwback Thursday: Allen Valish Orchestra

Happy #ThrowbackThursday from Nebraska Memories!

This week, we have a 2″ x 3″ color negative, portrait photograph of the Allen Valish Orchestra. Its members include Mike Palensky, Bill Andel, Bob Palensky, Milo Palensky, Allen Moravec, and Allen Valish.

This image is part of the Boston Studio Project and is owned by the Thorpe Opera House Foundation. The Boston Studio Project consists of over 68,000 negatives that record life in and around David City, Nebraska from 1893 to 1979. Harvey Boston, a professional photographer in David City, owned a portrait studio business from 1893 until his death in 1927. Negatives and ledgers describing each photograph are stored at the Hruska Memorial Public Library in David City.

If you or someone you know likes history, especially Nebraska History, check out the Nebraska Memories archive! It’s a cooperative project to digitize Nebraska-related historical and cultural materials and make them available to researchers of all ages.

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.

Posted in General, Nebraska Memories, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Throwback Thursday: Beet Sugar Factory

It’s time for another #ThrowbackThursday from Nebraska Memories!

This week, we have an early 1900’s black and white postcard featuring the Beat Sugar Factory in Grand Island, NE. The factory, built in 1889-1890 by local investors, was one of the first commercially successful beet sugar factories in the United States. It became known as the Oxnard Beet Sugar Company for Henry F. Oxnard. He was the first general manager and oversaw its building and then its operations. The company was bought in 1934 by the American Crystal Sugar Company which continued its operations until it closed in 1964.

This postcard is published and owned by the Nebraska Library Commission. See more Nebraska related materials 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.

Posted in General, Nebraska Memories, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Call for Speakers: Big Talk From Small Libraries 2024

The Call for Speakers for Big Talk From Small Libraries 2024 is now open!

Submit your proposal by Friday, December 15, 2023.

This free one-day online conference is tailored for staff from small libraries; the smaller the better!

Small libraries of all types – public, academic, school, museum, special, etc. – are encouraged to submit a proposal. We’re looking for seven 50-minute presentations and four 10-minute “lightning round” presentations.

Do you offer a service or program at your small library that other librarians might like to hear about? Have you implemented a new (or old) technology, hosted an event, partnered with others in your community, or just done something really cool? The Big Talk From Small Libraries online conference gives you the opportunity to share what you’ve done, while learning what your colleagues in other small libraries are doing.

Here are some possible topics to get you thinking:

  • Unique Libraries
  • Special Collections
  • New buildings
  • Fundraising
  • Improved Workflows
  • Staff Development
  • Advocacy Efforts
  • Community Partnerships
  • That great thing you’re doing at your library!

Speakers from libraries serving fewer than 10,000 people will be preferred, but presentations from libraries with larger service populations will be considered. Speakers must be from small libraries or directly partnered with a small library and submitting a proposal to co-present with the library.

Big Talk From Small Libraries 2024 will be held on Friday, February 23, 2024 between 8:45 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (CT) via the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Speakers will present their programs from their own desktops. The schedule will accommodate speakers’ time-zones.

This conference is sponsored by the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) and the Nebraska Library Commission.

Photo by Patrick Fore on Unsplash

Posted in Books & Reading, Education & Training, Grants, Information Resources, Library Management, Preservation, Programming, Public Relations, Technology, Youth Services | Tagged | Leave a comment

Throwback Thursday: Arlington Hotel

Happy #ThrowbackThursday from Nebraska Memories!

This week, we have a 5″ x 3 1/” black and white photograph featuring the Arlington Hotel in Rising City, Nebraska. This hotel stood at the northwest corner of Main Street, north of the railroad tracks. It was razed in 1918. The Morgan Garage was built in its place.

This week’s image is published and owned by Rising City Community Library. Images in this collection include photographs of businesses on Main Street, the depot, church , post office, and portraits of the Rising family.

Check out this collection and 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.

Posted in General, Nebraska Memories, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Throwback Thursday: Candy Window Display

This week’s #ThrowbackThursday is too sweet!

This week, we have a 8″ x 10″ black and white acetate negative of a store window display featuring various types of candy. This image was taken for the SS Kresge Company.

This image is published and owned by The Durham Museum. Check out this collection and many more on the Nebraska Memories archive! It’s a cooperative project to digitize Nebraska-related historical and cultural materials and make them available to researchers of all ages.

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.

Posted in General, Nebraska Memories, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Throwback Thursday: Classroom from Brandenburg Hall

This week’s #ThrowbackThursday is going back to school!

This week’s image features an early 1900s classroom in Brandenburg Hall at Wayne State College. It is published and owned by Wayne State College. The Wayne State College Library digitized selected photographs from its archives in a continuing effort to preserve and make accessible photographs depicting the history of Wayne State College and the region it serves. Photographs included in this archive show the buildings and grounds of the campus, athletic teams, the Student Army Training Corps, and other groups while slightly later images show famous visitors to the campus.

See the full collection 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

Posted in General, Nebraska Memories, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment