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Omaha

What We Found

Dan Desdunes: New Orleans Civil Rights Activist and “The Father of Negro Musicians of Omaha”

Dan Desdunes | Jazz | music | Omaha
  Jazz critic and historian George Lipsitz has observed that "established histories of jazz tend to focus on a select group of individual geniuses in only a ...
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A Midsummer Christmas Eve

1889 | Christmas | Omaha | Weather
This Christmas card from 1880 depicted a warm-weather scene similar to one actually experienced by Omahans on December 24 in 1889. Freakish weather is not unique ...
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“Sane Thanksgiving” Advised by Omaha Mayor

James C. Dahlman | Omaha | Thanksgiving
More than a month before the official Thanksgiving holiday in 1909, the Omaha Daily News on October 24 published the plea of mayor James C. Dahlman for what he called a ...
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Ann Lowe and the Intriguing Couture Tradition of Ak-Sar-Ben

African American | Ak-Sar-Ben | Fashion | Omaha
  How could such a prominent fashion designer remain so unknown to the public? Ann Lowe’s fairytale-like gowns appeared in magazines, at the Academy ...
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Nebraska Corn Helps Win the War

agriculture | ethanol | Omaha | World War II
Farm Crop Processing Corporation's alcohol plant, Fourth & Jones streets, Omaha. NSHS RG1963-14 In a blog post a few years ago we showcased the gas station operated ...
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Lest We Forget: The Lynching of Will Brown, Omaha’s 1919 Race Riot

Black History | Lynchings | Omaha | Will Brown
A riot-crazed mob stormed the burning Douglas County Courthouse on September 28, 1919, and lynched an African American, Will Brown. The victim, accused of raping a white ...
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Did Claude Nethaway murder his wife and frame an innocent man?

Black History | Nethaway | Omaha
By David L. Bristow, Editor Content Warning: This post quotes offensive, racist language and includes a detailed depiction of a murder scene. His business card ...
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Omaha’s Lillie Williams became a professional bicycle racer in 1889

bicycling | Omaha | Sports | women
Starting in the high-wheel bicycle era, Lillie Williams of Omaha became a multi-sport professional athlete at a time when women’s sports were widely regarded as improper ...
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A Farm Boy Comes to Omaha, 1888

Omaha
"I guess there ain’t any end to Omaha,” wrote sixteen-year-old Frisby Rasp in a letter to his parents in 1888. “You can walk till you are tired out in any direction you ...
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1976: Omaha’s Court-Ordered Integration (Part Two)

African Americans | Omaha
In an earlier post we looked at how a 1975 court order addressed Omaha Public Schools’ racial imbalance by requiring the reassignment of students to new schools and bus ...
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1976: Omaha’s Court-Ordered Integration (Part One)

African Americans | Omaha
The Omaha Public School District was forced to face its racial imbalance and produced an integration plan that would reassign students to new schools and bus routes. ...
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Nebraska’s First Jewish Newspaper

Hebrew | Jewish | Newspaper | Omaha
By Breanna Fanta, Editorial Assistant (2021) “Newspapers are said to be the first draft of history.” A short-lived twentieth-century newspaper now provides ...
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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.
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Discover the real places and people of our past at these History Nebraska sites.
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The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of History Nebraska members.
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The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

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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.

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