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October 29, 2022 | Last updated May 26, 2023
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Throwback Thursday Photo, Good Old Man

Good Old Man recording the Corn Song, 1905 [RG2039-84]

Today’s Throwback Thursday photo features Ta-ou-ka-han or Good Old Man, a member of the Omaha Tribe, singing the Corn Song into a wax cylinder recording device in 1905. Good Old Man sang his favorite songs in the Omaha language for Nebraska State Historical Society employee Addison E. Sheldon. Good Old Man was estimated to be about 81 years old when Sheldon made the recordings. He died on the reservation near Walthill on January 12, 1923.

In the 1890s, Alice C. Fletcher and Francis La Flesche created similar recordings of Omaha music. The Library of Congress has digitized the 44 wax cylinders made by Fletcher and La Flesche. Those recordings are available on the Library of Congress website. 

Unfortunately, it is unknown what happened to Good Old Man’s recordings.

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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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