George Francis “Frank” Nye [RG4529.AM]

HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG4529.AM:  George Francis “Frank” Nye, 1882-1959

Petitions:  1939

Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska:  Salesman

Size:  0.3 cu.ft.; 1 box

BACKGROUND NOTE

George Francis “Frank” Nye was born at Creston, Iowa, on May 10, 1882.  In 1900 he was living with his parents in Kearney, Nebraska.  By 1917 he was married to Irene Atchison and working as a traveling salesman.  The 1930 census shows him still living in Kearney and working for a candy company.  By 1940 the Nye’s were living in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Frank was still working as a candy salesman for Gillen & Boney Candy Factory.  George Francis “Frank” Nye died on July 9, 1959.  He is buried in the Kearney Cemetery at Kearney, Nebraska.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This collection consists of three folders containing about 100 sheets of signatures in support of the “Nye Stop the Drouth Plan.”  During Frank Nye’s travels around the state as a candy salesman, he became concerned about the drought conditions happening in the 1930s.  In 1939 he circulated petitions around the state for presentation to Governor Roy E. Cochran.  The text of the petition consisted of:

“We, the undersigned citizens of Nebraska, direct your attention to the fact that the drouth conditions are becoming progressively worse, year after year, and do hereby declare that an emergency exists, and demand that the Special Session of the State Legislature consider the enactment of laws enabling the adoption of the “NYE STOP THE DROUTH PLAN” in Nebraska.

To Wit:

1. 1. Change the highway construction from a rapid drainage to a water retarding system, so all road fills and ditches form lakes and ponds.

1. 1. Use the highway equipment and personnel to build check dams in the draws and canyons.

1. 1. Plant fast growing trees in low places, in all road ditches and around the potential lakes and ponds.

1. 1. Create a Nebraska State Commission for promoting and supervising water, vegetation and soil conservation, and for providing factual engineering and financing data, and to otherwise assist the land owners in the development of irrigation projects in Nebraska.”

INVENTORY

Box 1

Folder

1. 1. “Nye Stop the Drouth Plan” petitions, 1939

1. 1. “Nye Stop the Drouth Plan” petitions, 1939

1. 1. “Nye Stop the Drouth Plan” petitions, 1939

Subject headings:

Cochran, Robert Leroy, 1886-1963

Drought relief — Nebraska

Nye, George Francis, 1882-1959

HEK/js                   09-15-1965

Revised TMM        02-12-2019