Chadron’s First Kindergarten

First kindergarten at Chadron, 1893-94. NSHS RG3340-3-25

When Chadron’s first kindergarten was opened in the fall of 1893, the teacher, Miss Elizabeth “Bess” O’Linn, was hardly more than a student herself. The young children she taught, pictured above, included two of Addison E. Sheldon’s children, Philip L. (left) and Esther (right). Sheldon, who later served as secretary and superintendent of the Nebraska State Historical Society from 1917 until his death in 1943, lived in Chadron and published the Chadron Signal when this photo was taken.

Miss O’Linn was the daughter of early Dawes County settler Fannie O’Linn, a pioneering female attorney admitted to the Nebraska bar in 1885. The older O’Linn had also been a teacher and school principal at Blair and Tekamah before taking up the legal profession and was one of the organizers of the Northwest Nebraska Teachers’ Association. Her daughter taught kindergarten classes in Chadron and Whitman. After her marriage in 1900 to Clarence C. Smith, Elizabeth became active in civic organizations and served as Chadron’s first librarian after the Chadron Public Library was opened in 1917. – Patricia C. Gaster, Assistant Editor / Publications

 

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

You May Also Enjoy

The Massacre Canyon Oral History and Archeology Project

The Massacre Canyon Oral History and Archeology Project

Lest We Forget:  The Lynching of Will Brown, Omaha’s 1919 Race Riot

Lest We Forget: The Lynching of Will Brown, Omaha’s 1919 Race Riot

Portraits of Omaha’s 1898 Indian Congress

Portraits of Omaha’s 1898 Indian Congress

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.

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.
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.