Harry W. “Pete” Peterson, 1923-2006 [RG1300.AM]

HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG1300.AM:  Harry W. “Pete” Peterson, 1923-2006

Scrapbook:  1969
Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska:  City council member; police officer
Size:  One volume

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Born on May 13, 1923, at Chanute, Kansas, Harry W. “Pete” Peterson graduated from Chanute High School.  After serving in the military during World War II, Peterson moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he served on the police force for eleven years.  In 1966 he joined the Lincoln-based firm of King’s Food Host in the capacity of public relations and training officer.

Peterson was active in the civic affairs of Lincoln, serving as past president of the Human Rights Commission, director of the YMCA, and as a member of the Lincoln Health and Hospital Commission.  He also served on the advisory committee of the Head Start Program, the advisory committee of the Potentiality Program, and the Lincoln-Lancaster Youth Council.  Harry Peterson was elected to the Lincoln City Council on May 6, 1969, becoming the first African American to hold city office in Lincoln.  He died in Denver, Colorado, on October 14, 2006.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The collection consists of one item, a scrapbook of city council campaign materials including letters, buttons, clippings, news releases, position statements, and petitions.  The materials date from Peterson’s campaign in 1969.

INVENTORY

Scrapbook, 1969


Subject headings:

African Americans — Nebraska
Elections
Lincoln, Nebraska
Peterson, Harry W. “Pete,” 1923-2006
Politicians — Nebraska
Politics — Nebraska


JEP                     08-29-1969
Revised TMM      03-29-2018

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