HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID
RG3248.AM: Oliver J. Burckhardt, 1868-1949
Papers:
Brownlee, Cherry County and Lincoln, Lancaster County, Neb.: Minister
Size: One envelope
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
The Reverend O. J. Burckhardt came to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1890 after having attended the Lincoln Institute [now Lincoln University] in Jefferson City, Missouri. In 1898 he married Anna Jones, who later became an influential artist and teacher of art in Lincoln. Burckhardt helped organize the African Methodist Church in Cherry County, Nebraska in 1908. He was the organizer and president of the Inter-racial and Interdenominational Christian Alliance of Lincoln. For twenty years he served as associate chaplain at the Nebraska State Penitentiary.
Reverend Burckhardt died in December of 1949.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
This collection contains various writings by O.J. Burckhardt mostly relating to African American settlers in Nebraska, and in particular, to their migration to Cherry County in 1908, and history in Lancaster County. The materials are arranged in three Series: 1) Correspondence; 2) Writings; and 3) Miscellaneous.
The photo component [RG3248.PH] consists of six photographic prints, including portraits of Reverend and Mrs. O.J. Burckhardt and photographs relating to the African American settlement at Brownlee, Cherry County, Nebraska.
INVENTORY
Series 1 – Correspondence
- Correspondence, n.d.
Series 2 – Writings
- “The History of the Negro Settlement in Cherry County Near Brownlee,” n.d. [2 copies]
“What is the Difference??????” n.d. [poem]
Series 3 – Miscellaneous
- Biographical materials
“Negro History of Lincoln, 1888-1938”
“Booker T. Washington”
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
See the Nebraska History index for various articles relating to Oliver and Anna Burckhardt.
For a brief history of the Brownlee area settlement, see The Nebraska Sand Hills: The Human Landscape, pp. 230-233; and A History of Cherry County, Nebraska, pp. 93-94.
A watercolor and an award won by Anna Burckhardt are housed in the Nebraska History Museum. Not all artifacts are on display; researchers must call for an appointment before scheduling a visit.
Subject headings:
African American churches — Nebraska
African Americans — Nebraska
Brownlee (Neb.) — History
Burckhardt, Oliver J., 1868-1949
Cherry County (Neb.) — History
Lincoln (Neb.) — History
Revised 04-15-2009 TMM
