Sellers Award Winner for 2015 Announced

The Lincoln Star, August 17, 1955

 

The winner of the Sellers Award, which recognizes the best article published in Nebraska History Journal in the course of the previous year, has been announced. Brian Sarnacki’s article “‘In the Biting Stage’: The 1955 Nebraska State Penitentiary Riots and Violent Prison Activism” from the Spring 2015 issue is the winner. Sarnacki is a PhD candidate in the history department at UNL. This year’s judges were John Calvert, Britta McEwen, and Adam Sundberg of Creighton University. Dr. Calvert writes: “We found the article to be a compelling and well-written account of the violent disturbances, born out of prisoners’ grievances, that led to changes in the state’s correctional services.” On the evening of August 16, 1955, Lincoln residents were startled to see smoke rising from the Nebraska State Penitentiary. Rioting inmates had set fire to their workplaces, and police and national guardsmen gathered to take back the prison by force if necessary. The event culminated a series of violent protests meant to draw attention to inhumane conditions and abuse by guards. The article was published just a few months before the May 10, 2015 riot at Tecumseh State Prison, which resulted in the death of two inmates. You can read a teaser of the article in a 2015 NSHS blog “Nebraska Prisoners ‘in the biting stage’” here. Or, you can read the article in its entirety on the NSHS web site by following the link here.

Shown here many years before the 1955 riots, the “jail” housed prisoners in solitary confinement. The lower level was known as “the hole.” NSHS RG2418-5-05

 

The James L. Sellers Memorial Award was created in 1967. The award consists of a plaque, a lifetime membership with the Nebraska State Historical Society, and $1,000 from the NSHS Foundation, through the support of Catherine Sellers Angle. Judges (usually three) are provided by a Nebraska college or university history department that is not represented by an article in the judging pool. The judges are solicited by the editor of Nebraska History. Articles are evaluated on use of primary sources, quality of research and writing, and reader interest. The Society staff and members of the executive board are eligible to receive the Sellers Award and have received it in the past. The award will be given to Sarnacki at the NSHS annual meeting on October 14.

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

You May Also Enjoy

The Story of Omaha Police Fingerprint Expert Emily Byram

The Story of Omaha Police Fingerprint Expert Emily Byram

Marker Monday: Cather Childhood Home

Marker Monday: Cather Childhood Home

Yutan Tornado – March 23, 1913

Yutan Tornado – March 23, 1913

About History Nebraska
History Nebraska was founded in 1878 as the Nebraska State Historical Society by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed History Nebraska from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director and CEO Jill Dolberg. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for History Nebraska.
Explore Nebraska
Discover the real places and people of our past at these History Nebraska sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of History Nebraska members.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Listen to our Podcast

Listen to the articles and authors published in the Nebraska History Magazine with our new Nebraska History Podcast.

Nebraska Collections

History Nebraska's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

History Nebraska Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

Support History Nebraska
Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to History Nebraska help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of History Nebraska by donating to the History Nebraska Foundation today.

Volunteers are the heroes of History Nebraska. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraska’s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.