Contents: President's Message | From the Director | Awards | Administration | Volunteers | Library/Archives | Museum/Historic Sites | Museum of Nebraska History | Chimney Rock | Fort Robinson | Thomas P. Kennard House | Neligh Mill | Senator George W. Norris | Willa Cather | John G. Neihardt | Research & Publications | State Historic Preservation Office | Archeology | Conservation | Financial Report
President's Message
When Governor Nelson appointed me to the Board of Trustees in 1991, he was undoubtedly influenced by the ongoing turmoil in the Society over the disposition of Pawnee ancestral skeletal remains that were in the Society's possession. Although he did not express any specific expectations of me other than good service, I felt that, being a Native American, I had a responsibility to work toward resolution of the conflict with the Pawnees with justice to them in their religious beliefs and with honor to the Society. I must admit to also feeling a great deal of apprehension on how I would be perceived and accepted by board members and by Society staff.
What I found in the Society, in both the board and staff, were good people wanting to do the right thing. The conflict with the Pawnees was a classic struggle of scientific and historical research interests versus deeply held religious beliefs. The matter was resolved, albeit after much acrimony, and the Society suffered considerably in public relations and political repercussions. My role then, I felt, should be in promoting understanding and in healing-both internally in the organization and externally in the Society's relations with tribes and the general public.
Nebraska folklorist Roger Welsch, who resigned in protest from the Society board during the conflict, recently remarked that he had thought that healing between the Society and the tribes would not occur in his lifetime, but that he was pleasantly surprised to see it taking place before his eyes. Although I claim some part in that process, great credit must go to the entire Society board and especially to the Honorable Norman Krivosha, past chief justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court, who represented the board in working out an equitable and honorable settlement with the Pawnees. And, of course, much credit must go to the staff, who worked hard through a very difficult crisis to turn the organization in a new positive direction toward a great future.
Not out of atonement, but in a new spirit of awareness, great work is being done to celebrate the diversity in cultures that make up Nebraska's history. The past six years have been highlighted by programming that included sponsorship with the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs and the Lincoln Indian Center of an American Indian market day and art shows from the fine collection of the Red Cloud Indian Heritage Center. In 1996 the Society joined with the Mexican American Commission in putting together Un Tesoro de Nebraska, a celebration in art, photographs, artifacts, and oral presentations of the state's Latino history and culture. A major exhibit, Buffalo Soldiers West, along with a "Buffalo Soldiers Weekend," interpreted the role of African Americans in the frontier army, including service in Nebraska at Forts Robinson and Niobrara.
Now it is time for the Society to move ahead. Under the visionary leadership of Lawrence Sommer, ambitious but carefully constructed plans for growth in the immediate and long range future have been developed. Based on solid needs assessment, well-defined goals, and feasibility analyses of public and private funding potential, a realistic development program for Society projects across the state will begin over the coming year.
I feel great confidence that the Society leadership will carry the organization through the challenging times ahead. As I leave the Board of Trustees, I express deep gratitude and appreciation to those with whom I had the pleasure of serving, to Lawrence Sommer for his excellent leadership, and to the very capable staff for their trust, courtesy, and friendship.
Charles E. Trimble
President
From the Director
As in almost every other field of endeavor the one thing that seems to be a constant in the history business these days is change. New opportunities, new challenges, partnerships, doing more with less, and "thinking outside the box" to develop creative solutions to solving problems define much of how we approach the business of preserving Nebraska's heritage at the end of the twentieth century. During the past few years the Society has spent considerable time and effort developing a new strategic plan that includes facility master plans for every Society property. During the next several years the Society will spend considerable time and effort trying to implement these plans. Refocusing the Society mission to more effectively meet the fiscal, human resource, and programmatic challenges of the next century and undertaking much-needed renovation of aging Society facilities are key elements of these plans. During the past year the Society began studying the feasibility of conducting its first-ever, large-scale capital campaign. At the same time we began the process of trying to get certain Society building renovation projects included in the state's capital budget and building program.
We are already seeing how rapidly-developing technology is affecting and changing the ways in which we interact with our constituents and conduct much of our business. No, we will never stop collecting the physical evidence of Nebraska history and, no, we will never remove the books or photographs from our library/archives collections, but such new technology as digital imaging and interactive, online access to collections and research information will play increasingly more important roles in determining how we collect, preserve, and disseminate information about Nebraska history.
Every year I like to publicly thank the Nebraska State Historical Society Board of Trustees and the Society staff and volunteers for making my job so enjoyable and so easy. Without their strong support and consistently excellent work, we probably would not be able to accomplish half of what we do. We have a wonderful team, and I sincerely appreciate their efforts on behalf of the Society.
I also wish to thank Society Trustees Michael Schuyler of Kearney and Charles Trimble of Omaha and acknowledge their work. Their second terms on the Society board are ending, and they are not eligible for reelection. Schuyler's and Trimble's terms have been marked by both difficult and exciting times for the Society. Their commitment to the Society, their leadership, and their good counsel will be missed.
This report highlights the activities and accomplishments of the past year. As you read it, please feel free to call or write if you have questions or need additional information about the Nebraska State Historical Society.
Lawrence J. Sommer
Director
Nebraska State Historical Society Awards
Each year the Society recognizes achievements in various categories relating to the preservation or interpretation of Nebraska history. Four awards were presented at the 1996 annual meeting and history conference.
The James L. Sellers Memorial Award for the article judged best in the 1995 volume of Nebraska History went to Beverly M. Russell of Chappell, Nebraska. Her article, "World War II Boomtown: Hastings and the Naval Ammunition Depot," appeared in the fall 1995 issue. The Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation provides a prize of $400 to the award-winning author.
The Nebraska Preservation Award was presented to two organizations in 1996. One award went to the Lincoln Housing Authority for the preservation of a World War II-era chapel, melding its continued use into that organization's primary mission of improving the lives of tenants, strengthening the stability of neighborhoods, and responding to diverse cultural and social needs. Under a preservation plan prepared for the chapel, the Housing Authority will support its future restoration and maintenance.
The Hall County Historical Society received a preservation award for its efforts to acquire and enhance the Murdock site. Intact trail ruts, still visible at the site, and the site's association to overland travel make it significant to regional history. In March 1996 the Hall County Historical Society began a fundraising drive to acquire the site and began plans to sponsor native prairie restoration, interpretive markers, and further research and archeological testing in cooperation with the Nebraska State Historical Society.
Thomas Creigh, Jr., of Hastings received the 1996 Robert W. Furnas Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to the Nebraska State Historical Society. A former Society board member, Creigh provided funds to support publication of Nebraska Trailblazer for Nebraska fourth grade students. He recently made a substantial gift to benefit cooperative projects to be developed by the Society and the Nebraska Educational Television Network.
The Addison E. Sheldon Memorial Award for significant contributions to the preservation and interpretation of Nebraska history went to Dr. Frederick C. Luebke of Lincoln, Charles J. Mach professor emeritus at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, who was cited for his research, publication, and teaching in the field of Nebraska and Great Plains history.
The Society's Award for Achievement in Nebraska History is announced at the State History Day contest and presented at the History Day celebration at the capitol. The 1997 award went to Kristina E. Haynie, a senior at Benson High School in Omaha. Her individual project was entitled, "Brownville, Nebraska: Tales of Triumph and Tragedy." Kristina used her prize money toward her trip to the National History Day competition in Washington, D.C.
Administration
"The mission of the Nebraska State Historical Society is to safeguard and interpret Nebraska's past for the people."
The director, as chief executive officer of the Society, implements board policy, administers the budget, and represents the institution to the public and to a variety of funding sources. The director and administrative staff work to provide the personnel and financial resources the Society needs to fulfill its mission. In addition to administration, the Nebraska State Historical Society operates with six major divisions: Museum and Historic Sites, Historic Preservation, Library\Archives, Research and Publications, Archeology, and Conservation. Each division is managed by an associate director, who reports to the Society director.
- Oversaw completion of facility master plans for all Society historic sites.
- Led and coordinated Society initiatives during the 1997 session of the Nebraska Legislature.
- Completed an architectural program statement for proposed renovation of the Society headquarters building and the Museum of Nebraska History.
- Supported initial planning and development of the Society's World Wide Website and home page.
Historical Society Volunteers
Highlights
- Contributed a total of 10,552 hours to the Society.
- Greeted 30,505 visitors at Heritage Village, Nebraska Sate Fair.
- Provided tours to 709 groups at the Museum of Nebraska History.
- Generated more than $189,053 in gross sales at Society museum stores across the state.
- Implemented bimonthly volunteer programming.
- Assisted with testing at the Murdock archeological site.
- Collaborated with Nebraska Educational Television on a multi-media exploration on the history of Nebraska.
- Participated in a volunteer bus trip to historic sites in northeast Nebraska, including the John G. Neihardt State Historic Site.
- Assisted in the evaluation of a new hands-on exhibit at the Museum of Nebraska History, The History Adventure Center.
Library/Archives
"The mission of the Library/Archives Division is to safeguard the documentary heritage of Nebraska for the use of all."
By legislative acts of 1905 and 1969 the Nebraska State Historical Society was assigned responsibility for preservation of all public records having permanent value. The manuscripts division of the archives collects and preserves business, political, organizational, religious, and personal records of Nebraska reflecting the state's social, economic, and political development. The Society's library contains approximately 80,000 volumes including state publications and periodicals, and 3,000 maps and atlases. The division also holds more than 250,000 historical photographs. Emphasis is given to material relating to the history of Nebraska and the Great Plains.
- Installed an online patron access catalog (Athena) in the reference room for accessing library materials.
- With the Writer's Workshop and the Lincoln-Lancaster County Genealogical Society, sponsored two genealogy workshops, "Family History, A to Z."
- Added manuscript materials to the collections including records of Cotner College, business records of H. J. Amen & Company and papers of the Amen family, additions to the American Volga Relief Society collection, which helped with famine relief of Germans in Russia after World War I, and a scrapbook commemorating "Operation Cue," an atomic bomb test in which Nebraska Civil Defense representatives participated.
- In partnership with the Genealogical Society of Utah, completed microfilming marriage records from fifty-two Nebraska counties and began filming naturalization and deed records.
- Completed processing 488 new titles and 547 duplicate titles from the Senator Arthur Carmody Western History Library.
- Continued work with the Mexican American Commission on a project to document and preserve Mexican traditions in four Nebraska communities and produce an exhibit, Un Tesoro de Nebraska (A Nebraska Treasure): Discovering Our Mexican Legacy, which is touring the state.
- Received and microfilmed a burial register of soldiers, sailors, and widows at Mound Cemetery at Milford, a volume presumed lost by researchers and records keepers.
- Completed the cataloging phase of the Nebraska Newspaper Project with University Libraries at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and produced a video publicizing the project, which will be shown throughout the state.
- Served more than 8,900 patrons in the reference room and some 5,000 correspondents, including 472 interlibrary loan requests.
- Coordinated the Society's annual film series, "More Than a Game: Baseball in the Movies."
- Raised in excess of $5,500 for Library/Archives acquisitions through a sale of duplicate publications.
- Received several home movie collections, films documenting the activities of Bankers Life Nebraska and a copy of The Kidnappers' Foil, a 1938 film starring the children of Grand Island.
- Produced "Insuring Nebraska's Documentary Heritage: A Strategic Plan" as coordinator of the State Historical Records Advisory Board.
- Provided training for the new archivist of the Ponca Tribe.
- Began planning for an online encyclopedia of Nebraska history and for curricular materials to complement a public television documentary on state history being developed by the Society and Nebraska Educational Television.
- Produced a hallway exhibit commemorating the centennial of Nebraska author Mari Sandoz's birth.
- Received an appropriation from the legislature to move into a new records storage facility, the former Lincoln K Street power plant.
Museum/Historic Sites
"The mission of the Museum/Historic Sites Division is to educate people about Nebraska's past through historic artifacts and historic places."
The division gathers, preserves, researches, and interprets artifacts and sites representing Nebraska's rich and diverse human experience, and provides the broadest possible public access to these resources. The museum is Nebraska's official and preeminent artifact repository. Its collections serve as the basis for exhibitions, programs, publications, and educational outreach. Through a variety of media, the division gives people firsthand experience with the physical remnants of past life and the places where Nebraska history was made.
The division administers the Museum of Nebraska History in Lincoln and seven historic sites statewide. The education and statewide services, exhibition, museum collections, and historic sites departments form partnerships with individuals and organizations around the state and across the country to enrich people's lives by increasing their understanding and enjoyment of Nebraska's past.
Museum of Nebraska History
Highlights
- Welcomed 159,511 visitors at facilities statewide.
- Received reaccreditation from the American Association of Museums.
- Installed Buffalo Soldiers West, on loan from the Colorado Historical Society. Special settings for a schoolroom, barracks, and quartermaster's office were constructed. The exhibits team also created and installed a companion exhibit, Buffalo Soldiers in Nebraska. Related programing included the "Buffalo Soldiers Weekend," in celebration of Black History Month, with lectures and a panel presentation by Buffalo Soldiers scholars.
- Fabricated and installed several temporary exhibits, including:
- "Believe It or Not!" The Lives and Times of Vada and Col. Barney Oldfield. Staff reinstalled the Oldfield exhibit in Tecumseh under the sponsorship of the Tecumseh Chamber of Commerce and the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation;
- Recent Acquisitions, featuring new additions to the museum collections, ranging from fine furniture made by a Swedish immigrant to Nebraska, to Mordy Mouse, the puppet star of the KOLN/KGIN television show, For Children Only;
- Holidays Past, featuring a selection of dollhouses and warm winter wear;
- Recording Our Past, displaying drawings and photographs in the headquarters rotunda from the State Historic Preservation Office.
- Developed and evaluated prototypes for the new History Adventure Center, an experiential learning environment for children slated to open late in 1997. Funds for this new program were provided by the Institute of Museum Services, a federal agency.
- Produced an exhibit on Mexican American heritage, which traveled to the Hispanic Community Center in Lincoln and El Museo Latino in Omaha, and which will later be shown in Grand Island and Scottsbluff. A publication documenting the project is in production.
- Installed a special exhibit of artwork from the Red Cloud Indian School, first at the Lincoln Indian Center, then at the Gerald R. Ford Conservation Center in Omaha.
- Organized eight workshops across the state on "Emergency preparedness for Museums," and "Introduction to Historic Preservation."
- Assisted local historical organizations through site visits and evaluations at museums and historical societies, as well as through videotape and book lending libraries.
- Greeted 30,505 visitors during the Nebraska State Fair at Heritage Village and at the Society's informational tent.
- Provided judges for the annual "National History Day: Nebraska" district and state contests, and for the Society's History Day special award.
- Organized and sponsored the first "Nebraska History Day Celebration," at the state capitol to recognize the work of the award-winning students from the statewide competition. Capitol events were followed by tours, food, and activities at the Museum of Nebraska History.
- Organized new bimonthly programs for training and continuing education for museum docents and other Society volunteers.
- Provided a Czech educational trunk to Educational Service Units in Neligh, Beatrice, Columbus, Wakefield, Trenton, Scottsbluff, Hastings, and Alliance for use by public schools and provided the trunk to nonpublic schools in David City, Omaha, Wayne, and Madison.
- Coordinated the state awards program for the American Association for State and Local History.
- Provided museum tours for 16,336 students and adults.
- Printed 127,845 copies of Nebraska Trailblazer for free distribution to fourth graders across Nebraska.
- Assisted in planning and represented the society at the Colloquy on Social Science Education in Nebraska, organized by the Nebraska State Department of Education.
- Coordinated Society participation as a partner in the Challenge Grant for Technology in Education, organized by the Kansas City, Missouri School District.
- With Nebraska Educational Television, acquired funds from the Nebraska Humanities Council for the scriptwriting and production planning phases of the Nebraska History Project, a multimedia effort to produce five one-hour television programs and educational resources in CD-ROM and online formats.
- Designed and fabricated furnishings for laboratories at the Gerald R. Ford Conser- vation Center and remodeled the museum office to utilize space more effectively.
- Provided the design, layout, and production of camera-ready copy for major Society publications, including A Frontier Army Christmas, From Fort Laramie to Wounded Knee: In the West That Was, A Good Walk Around the Boundary, and Nebraska Hall of Fame.
- Televised the monthly "Brown Bag Lecture" series over the government access cable channel, and cooperated with the Preservation Association of Lincoln to broadcast its monthly lectures, which are presented at the museum.
- Accessioned 114 collections of museum artifacts from which 684 items were cataloged.
- Added more than 4,000 items to the computerized inventory of museum collections, bringing the total to 156,218.
- Assisted 258 researchers in the museum collections.
- Continued working with tribal groups in compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
- Loaned museum collections artifacts to other institutions, including:
- a revolver, diary, and document relating to Frank North and the Pawnee Scouts to the Colorado Historical Society for the exhibition, Cheyenne Dog Soldiers;
- a Gordon "Alligator" printing press of 1851 to the International Printing Museum, Buena Vista, California;
- Cowboy boots and moccasins to the Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney for its exhibit on plains footwear, Steps in Time.
- Taught classes on museum exhibition, collections management, and museum administration in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's graduate program in museum studies.
Museum/Historic Sites Division
Historic Sites
The Nebraska State Historical Society's seven historic sites offer diverse opportunities for the public to visit Nebraska history in any part of the state. The breadth of coverage, both geographically and historically, is impressive.
Chimney Rock National Historic Site
"The mission of the Chimney Rock National Historic Site is to interpret the historical significance of Chimney Rock, the most famous landmark on the Oregon-California Trail, as it relates to the westward overland migration and its influences on Nebraska history."
Highlights
- Hosted thousands of visitors with special interest in the Mormon Trail, including the Mormon Trail Sesquicentennial Wagon Train.
- Entered the winning float in the Chimney Rock Pioneer Days parade in Bayard.
- Inaugurated a winter program series, "Sunday Afternoon At The Rock," which drew almost 400 people.
- Dedicated a bronze sculpture, "The Road West," by North Platte artist Ted Long, for which funding was donated by Tom J. Plummer Jr., of Ogalalla and his sister Kay C. Plummer Kimberly of Big Springs as a memorial to their mother, Ellen Ora Whitney Plummer.
- Dedicated an interpretive marker commemorating the 1932 discovery of the fossilized remains of two sabertooth predators locked in mortal combat, and poet/scientist Loren Eiseley's resulting literary work, The Innocent Assassins.
- Hosted a workshop on emergency preparedness, presented by the Society's education and statewide services department and the Conservation Division.
- Judged student projects at History Day district competition.
- Decorated a holiday tree donated by the Bayard Jack and Jill store.
- Completed stonework on the sign at the entry of the parking lot.
- Published a new interpretive guide to the Chimney Rock National Historic Site.
Chimney Rock National Historic Site
Fort Robinson Museum
"The mission of the Fort Robinson Museum is to preserve and interpret the historic resources associated with Fort Robinson for the benefit of the public and to add to those resources through research."
Highlights
- Organized and hosted the Second Fort Robinson History Conference on April 23- 26, 1997, with the theme, "The Everyday Life of the Frontier Army Soldier."
- Erected and dedicated a historical marker commemorating the Buffalo Soldiers at Fort Robinson.
- Assisted the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission during the annual Fort Robinson Christmas Dinner, and the Fourth of July art show.
- Installed new displays, including an Afrika Korps uniform worn and donated by Dietrich Kohl, a former PW at Fort Robinson in 1943-44, and a World War II K-9 Corps dog kennel.
Fort Robinson Museum
Thomas P. Kennard House
"The mission of the Thomas P. Kennard House, Nebraska Statehood Memorial, is to preserve the home of Nebraska's first secretary of state, and interpret domestic and political life in the era when Nebraska became a state."
Highlights
- Interpreted Victorian holidays past, November 29-December 31.
- Began repair of wooden house elements, abated lead paint, and repainted the cupola, roof, and wooden features with funding from the LB 309 Deferred Maintenance Task Force.
- Assisted a crew from Nebraska Educational Television in shooting footage to be used in a new interpretive video.
- Shared "Pastimes and Playthings" historic toys with other organizations for festivals and events, including the communities of Red Cloud, Hastings, and Blair.
Thomas P. Kennard House Nebraska Statehood Memorial
Neligh Mill State Historic Site
"The mission of the Neligh Mill State Historic Site is to preserve the state's only nineteenth-century flour mill with original equipment in order to interpret the importance of the milling industry to the history of Nebraska."
Highlights
- Welcomed visitors from forty-nine states, Washington D.C., and sixteen foreign countries.
- Rebuilt steps leading to the 1886 addition, replaced windows, and landscaped the river stabilization project.
- Revised and reprinted The Neligh Mills Self-Guided Tour Book.
- Assisted a crew from Nebraska Educational Television in shooting footage to be used in a new interpretive video.
- Featured in Destination Magazine as one of the recommended locations for "Off the Beaten Path" tours in Nebraska.
Neligh Mill State Historic Site
Senator George W. Norris State Historic Site
"The mission of the Senator George Norris State Historic Site is to relate the story of a nationally-significant Nebraska politician through preservation and interpretation of his home and its furnishings."
Highlights
- Mounted three temporary exhibitions: a post-World War II quilt display; a spinning, weaving, and needlework display; and a pre-World War II quilt display.
- Offered early summer and fall garden tours in cooperation with the Good Earth Gardeners of McCook.
- Hosted Red Willow County high school juniors participating in the Forty-ninth Annual Cornhusker Boys' and Girls' County Government Day.
- Hosted a workship on historic preservation presented by the Society's education and statewide services department and the State Historic Preservation Office.
- Hosted a special recognition luncheon and provided media recognition for Norris House volunteers.
- Assisted a crew from Nebraska Educational Television in shooting footage to be used in a new interpretive video.
Senator George W. Norris State Historic Site
Willa Cather State Historic Site
"The mission of the Willa Cather State Historic Site is to preserve and interpret sites significant in the life and work of one of Nebraska's greatest authors and to make Cather-related materials available to researchers."
Highlights
- Helped underwrite NETV's production of Love and Loneliness on the Plains, a dramatization of two Cather stories.
- Sponsored conferences, including Willa Cather in Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; the Eighth Annual Willa Cather Seminar, Winchester, Virginia; the Third Annual Prairie Institute with the University of Nebraska at Kearney; and the Willa Cather Spring Conference, Red Cloud.
- Hosted Western Literature Association/Western History Association tours of Catherland in conjunction with those national meetings.
- Welcomed visitors to a Victorian Christmas Tea at the Cather Childhood Home.
- Offered "Pastimes and Playthings" reproduction toys and games to area school children.
- Assisted a crew from Nebraska Educational Television in shooting footage to be used in a new interpretive video.
- Established a Web site address: www.willacather.org
Willa Cather State Historic Site
John G. Neihardt State Historic Site
"The mission of the John G. Neihardt State Historic Site is to interpret the legacy of Nebraska's poet laureate through exhibits and the preservation of the historic study in which he worked."
Highlights
- Welcomed Dr. John Schneider, appointed by the Neihardt Foundation as director, and Ms. Nancy Crump as assistant director.
- Featured Hilda and Robin Neihardt reciting from John Neihardt's works at the annual Neihardt Day.
- Welcomed 200 participants at the Spring Conference featuring Rev. Don Doll, Jr., S.J., Charles Trimble, Duane Hollow Horn Bear, Stan Smith, Joe Green, and Hilda Neihardt.
- Hosted Western Literature Association/Western History Association tours of the Neihardt Center in conjunction with those national meetings.
- Assisted a CBS crew filming of "A Postcard from Nebraska" with Roger Welsch.
- Assisted a crew from Nebraska Educational Television in shooting footage to be used in a new interpretive video.
- Launched a 2.5 million dollar Neihardt Foundation campaign to establish a John G. Neihardt Institute of Vision and Learning in cooperation with Dana College. Wayne State College, and other regional institutions.
John G. Neihardt State Historic Site
Research & Publications
"The mission of the Research and Publica-tions Division is to promote research leading to a better understanding of the history and culture of Nebraska and its people, and to disseminate the results."
The Research and Publications Division publishes Nebraska History and conducts research leading to the publication of books and historical documents. The division also provides research and editorial services to other Society divisions, including preparation of exhibit monographs, and text and illustrations for county namesake portraits. The division helps edit Central Plains Archaeology, a joint publication of the Society and the Nebraska Association of Professional Archeologists. The state historical marker program is coordinated through the division and the division edits the monthly Historical Newsletter and the "Nebraska Timeline" newspaper column.
Highlights
- Produced a special double issue of Nebraska History, "William Jennings Bryan and His America," Fall/Winter 1996.
- Completed editing the recollections of Charles W. Allen, to be published in August 1997 by the University of Nebraska Press as From Fort Laramie to Wounded Knee: In the West That Was.
- Published Nebraska Hall of Fame, an eighty-six-page booklet with short biographies of each of the twenty-two inductees, funded by the NebraskaLand Founda- tion and the Nebraska Hall of Fame Commission.
- Published an interpretive booklet for the Gerald R. Ford Conservation Center including a reprint of the Nebraska History article, "Gerald R. Ford's Roots in Omaha," by Edward L. and Frederick H. Schapsmeier, and an essay, "President Gerald R. Ford, Nebraska's Native Son," by Senator Carl T. Curtis.
- Published A Frontier Army Christmas, compiled by outside researchers Lori Cox- Paul and Dr. James W. Wengert.
- Copublished with the Nebraska Association of Professional Archeologists, A Good Walk Around the Boundary by Douglas D. Scott and Peter Bleed, an archeological inventory of properties adjacent to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.
- Collaborated with the Fort Robinson Museum staff and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to organize the Second Fort Robinson History Conference with the theme, "The Everyday Life of the Frontier Army Soldier." The conference was funded by the Nebraska Humanities Council and portions were broadcast by Nebraska Public Radio.
- Coordinated production of eleven historical markers.
- Continued research, assisting with research, or editing of publications and exhibit scripts including: The Omaha World-Herald William Quesenbury sketchbook of Oregon-California Trail landmarks, the Rolf Johnson Phelps County diaries, vol. 1 of a history of Fort Robinson, a report on archeological excavations at the Fontenelle and Cabanne trading post sites, an anthology of Indian Wars articles from Nebraska History to be published by the University of Nebraska Press, the Luther Abbott Philippine War diary, 1898-99, a study of the use of sod for building on the Great Plains, and a script outline for The Nebraska Experiment permanent exhibit for the Museum of Nebraska History.
Research and Publications Division
State Historic Preservation Office
"The mission of the State Historic Preserva-tion Office is to promote the preservation and enhancement of the cultural resources of the state of Nebraska."
The Society administers Nebraska's historic preservation program under the National Historic Preservation Act. The program includes the Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey, archeological surveys, the National Register of Historic Places for Nebraska, review of federal undertakings, and assistance to developers of historic rehabilitation projects qualifying for federal tax incentives. The Nebraska State Historic Preservation Board serves in an advisory capacity to the state historic preservation program, including the review and recommendation of properties to the National Register of Historic Places. The National Park Service issues certification to participate in federally sponsored programs of historic preservation and supports the preservation program with grant funding for office operations, local government preservation programs, and survey projects.
- Cosponsored the Nebraska Lied Main Street Program in cooperation with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Architecture, Nebraska Department of Economic Development, and Nebraska Department of Roads. Participating communities are Fremont, Red Cloud, Alliance, Ogallala, Gothenburg, Minden, McCook, Bassett, Scottsbluff, and Beatrice.
- Participated in community development conferences of the Nebraska Lied Main Street Program, American Institute of Architects, School at the Center/Annenberg Rural Challenge, and American Association of Museums/Mountain-Plains Cultural Tourism Forum.
- Announced the listing of seventeen properties to the National Register of Historic Places in Omaha, rural Polk County, Fairbury, Lincoln, Scottsbluff, rural Lancaster County, Columbus, rural Pawnee County, Holdrege, and Humphrey.
- Funded the listing of commercial historic districts in Columbus and Fairbury and two archeological properties for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
- Opened an exhibit of architectural and engineering documents, Recording Our Past, at the Society's headquarters building.
- Cosponsored four regional preservation workshops with the Society's education and statewide services department in Rushville, Auburn, McCook, and Wayne.
- Funded Certified Local Government (CLG) historic preservation programs in Lincoln and Omaha. Three major historic districts were underwritten by CLG funding including a thirty-block area of Omaha's Gold Coast neighborhood, an industrial/rail district representing Omaha's trade industry, and the Greek Row district of Lincoln's city campus area.
- Participated in interagency programs and planning including the Department of Roads' Transportation Enhancement Program and Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission National Recreational Trails Program, and Partnership for Rural Nebraska.
- Developed a geographic information system overlay of historic trail systems and sites recorded in General Land Office surveys dating from 1855 to 1919.
- Cosponsored the first annual Panhandle Landmarks Conference in Scottsbluff, attracting participants from an eleven-county membership region and statewide.
- Sponsored or assisted twelve projects honored as Nebraska's 1996 "Outstanding 100 Rural Development Initiatives," a recognition program of the Nebraska Rural Development Commission.
- Hosted National Preservation Week on the theme "Preservation Begins At Home," with an open house, "Brown Bag" lecture, and exhibit opening.
- Commented on 1,300 federal undertakings for potential effects on historic and culturally significant properties, some of which have resulted in architectural/ engineering recordation projects, including the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant in Grand Island, Douglas Building and former Federal Reserve Building in Omaha, and numerous bridges.
- Conducted or participated in at least fifty-two informational public meetings in eighteen counties. Audiences included city councils, county boards, local histori- cal societies, preservation groups, Nebraska Main Street communities, and local businesses.
- Consulted with private developers of historic properties and processed applications for federal rehabilitation tax credits, resulting in proposed and completed projects in Omaha, Lincoln, Red Cloud, Holdrege, Tecumseh, McCook and Plattsmouth. Private investment in new and proposed projects range from $20,000 to $8 million, involving twenty-four historic buildings slated for commercial rehabilitation and redevelopment numbering 215 housing units.
- Funded a 6,000-acre archeological survey of the Keya Paha River and Ponca Creek drainage in Keya Paha and Boyd counties.
- Initiated an archeological survey for the lower Beaver Creek and Big Blue River drainages in Red Willow, Furnas, Gage, and Pawnee counties.
- Added approximately 720 properties to the Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey with completion of a survey for Jefferson County, including evaluation of the downtown area of Fairbury for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
- Completed a Phase II project for the development of a preservation plan for Alliance, in cooperation with the community's participation in the Nebraska Lied Main Street program.
- Provided preservation planning services for Red Cloud and Fremont in coopera- tion with the communities' participation in the Nebraska Lied Main Street program and comprehensive planning now underway.
- Began preparation for a Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey in Sheridan County, and a rural Lancaster County survey in cooperation with the Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Department and the Certified Local Government historic preser- vation program for Lincoln.
State Historic Preservation Office
Archeology
"The mission of the Archeology Division is to preserve, enhance, explore, and interpret Nebraska's archeological resources for the benefit of the public and the advancement of science."
The primary responsibility of the division is operation of the Nebraska Highway Archeology Program. Division staff evaluate all proposed highway and federal-aid county road improvements in the state for potential impact to significant archeological and historic sites. If such sites cannot be avoided, staff carries out excavation programs. The Archeology Division conducts similar work for other agencies such as the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The archeological collection includes 3,000 boxes of artifacts managed and curated by division staff. The division is the primary repository for reports and archival material involving Nebraska archeological investigations. Staff members are actively engaged in Great Plains archeological research and publishing.
- Evaluated 210 Nebraska Department of Roads projects for potential impact to National Register-eligible sites. Nearly seventy-five new archeological sites were discovered.
- Inspected four Natural Resources Conservation Service proposed reservoirs and identified five new sites.
- Conducted test excavations and evaluations on highway construction projects in Custer, Valley, Keith, Howard, Cass, Saunders, Colfax, and Sioux counties.
- Excavated portions of an 800-year-old Native American village near Ord.
- Conducted the annual volunteer archeological dig, this year at the Murdock site in Hall County, a former Mormon/California Trail stage station.
- Conducted a parkwide archeological survey of Fort Atkinson State Historical Park that identified more than forty previously undiscovered building locations associated with this 1820s military post.
- Sponsored a bus trip to western Nebraska archeological sites, featuring properties in the Wildcat Hills and Pine Ridge areas of Scottsbluff, Sioux, and Dawes counties.
- Developed an Archeology Division brochure and a State Fair display.
- Recorded more than 150 previously undocumented archeological sites identified by archeologists from the Society and other offices.
- Introduced LB778, the Nebraska Archeological Resources Preservation Act, sponsored by Sen. Don Wesely. The bill was advanced to the full legislature by a unanimous committee vote for consideration next year.
- Ugraded computer graphics, mapping, and drawing cababilities with assistance from the Nebraska Department of Roads.
- Participated in twelve investigations at the State Patrol crime lab or at the scenes of uncovered human skeletal remains.
"The mission of the Conservation Division is to conserve the historical, cultural, and educational collections of the state of Nebraska and surrounding areas through preservation activities and conservation treatment of objects, paper and archive materials, and textiles."
The Conservation Division provides conservation and preservation services for the cultural, historical, and educational collections of Nebraska and the region. Services include consultation, assessment of collection and artifact condition, assessment of conservation needs, education and training for residents of the state and region, and the specialized conservation treatment of collection materials.
- Held a cornerstone-laying ceremony, officiated by the Masonic Grand Lodge of Nebraska, honoring James Paxson and Gerald R. Ford.
- Filled the positions of objects conservator and paper conservator. Deborah L. Long was hired to head the objects laboratory, and Ronna Rivers was hired to head the paper laboratory.
- Accepted more than one hundred new objects for conservation treatment including: a rare portrait miniature of a local military figure, several dolls, a pair of beaded moccasins, a rare Nebraska family tree, a poster, an etching, and several sculptures. Several pieces were prepared for the Col. Barney Oldfield exhibit at the Museum of Nebraska History, treatments continued on coins in the Byron Reed Collection, and Ford Center staff assisted Joslyn Art Museum in the examination of the Edouard Degas sculpture, Petit Danseuse, in preparation for an upcoming exhibition.
- Delivered twenty-six public and staff lectures and workshops on emergency preparedness and response, archeological conservation, preservation of paper objects, and other topics. The workshop on paper preservation was sponsored by the State Historical Records Advisory Board.
- Completed furnishing the three conservation laboratories with specialized scientific equipment.
- Hosted twenty events in Paxson Hall, including a reception for the Masonic cornerstone ceremony, an art show, a book signing, and various business meetings, receptions, and dinners.
- Hosted 3,365 visitors to the Gerald R. Ford exhibit, including schoolchildren and senior citizens.
- Distributed more than 5,000 brochures describing the Ford Center and its services.
- Received an AIC Cultural Diversity summer internship funded by the Cumings Foundation and American Express.
Financial Report, Nebraska State Historical Society
Fiscal Year 1996-97 Operations
(Based on preliminary year-end information, excluding fiscal year accruals.)
Revenues % Dollar Amounts State Appropriations 61.5 $3,164,289 NSHS Foundation Support 13.8 710,201 Earned Income 14.1 725,314 Federal Grants/Contracts 9.1 468,763 Donations/Grants/Spec. Events 1.5 75,030 Total Revenues $5,143,597 Expenditures Personnel/Administrative 24.9 $1,280,987 Museum/Historic Sites 23.9 1,230,998 Library/Archives 13.9 715,035 Historic Preservation 12.1 621,480 Conservation 11.8 606,978 Archeology 7.1 365,377 Research & Publications 6.3 322,742 Total Expenditures $5,143,597
Respectfully Submitted
Tony A. Schmitz