UNK Archives

German POW Camps in Nebraska. February 20, 2026. 12pm. Kearney Public Library. During World War II, Nebraska was the site of several prisoner of war (POW) camps. Join our expert panelists for a discussion of German POWs in Nebraska, POW sites such as Camp Atlanta and Fort Robinson, and World War II in Nebraska. The Americans and the Holocaust exhibit asks “what did Americans know?”, a question learning about German POWs, and what they knew and shared with Nebraskans, can help us answer. In addition to talking about events of the 1940s, panelists will also discuss how historic sites interpret this fascinating history. Panelists include: Dr. Cole Kruger - Kilgore College, Melissa Amateis - University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Will Kessen - Ft. Robinson State Historical Park, and Micah Hueser - Nebraska Prairie Museum.

Today's the day - 12pm CT! Despite some weather/travel hiccups for our presenters, we're still on. While we recommend attending in person at the Kearney Public Library, we're also offering Zoom attendance: unk.zoom.us/meeting/regi... #archives #WWII #Nebraska #POWs #AATH

old newspaper article - 'Peace' - Can We Fight for It? "We want peace!" That cry is on the lips of nearly every American today. There are very few persons who stand up and say, "We want war!" If they do, they are classified by society as fifth-column spies when perhaps they are simply voicing what everyone else's actions imply. We couldn't want peace very badly. Peace is something warm and intelligent, like a fireplace and a good book on a winter night. It is something clear and sweet, like the crystal note of church bells cutting the frost-bitten air on a November morning. Peace is loving and assuring, like looking into someone's eyes and finding your love reflected there. Peace is powerful, inspiring, like a Tschaikowsky symphony, or a might mountain. I see no peace in marching feet. Walk into an army camp. No sense of the love and assurance of peace is there. There is no peace in the tearful goodbyes of boys who are training to be soldiers. I see no warmth and intelligence in false patriotism and flag-waving. Flag-wavers are usually trying to stir human hearts by displaying to them colors that they hold dear, and attaching new, warped meanings to those colors. I see no peace in hate and prejudice. "We love peace" and still we invent rude names for a nationality that is not supposed to be our enemy. We cannot hope to maintain peace by indirectly fighting a warring nation by giving aid to her enemy. "We want peace!" Perhaps a truer statement is "We want war to obtain our peace." No, fellow citizen! That's not the kind of peace we want. That is the kind of peace one finds on the face in a morgue.

The United States getting involved in Europe was a topic of major debate before Pearl Harbor. When we went through the 1930s and 1940s student newspapers, we found FAR more articles advocating for peace than the reverse.

Any guesses when this article dates to?
#archives #AATH #Nebraska #WWII

German POW Camps in Nebraska. February 20, 2026. 12pm. Kearney Public Library. During World War II, Nebraska was the site of several prisoner of war (POW) camps. Join our expert panelists for a discussion of German POWs in Nebraska, POW sites such as Camp Atlanta and Fort Robinson, and World War II in Nebraska. The Americans and the Holocaust exhibit asks “what did Americans know?”, a question learning about German POWs, and what they knew and shared with Nebraskans, can help us answer. In addition to talking about events of the 1940s, panelists will also discuss how historic sites interpret this fascinating history. Panelists include: Dr. Cole Kruger - Kilgore College, Melissa Amateis - University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Will Kessen - Ft. Robinson State Historical Park, and Micah Hueser - Nebraska Prairie Museum.

Happening Friday (2/20) at 12pm CT: German POW Camps in Nebraska. While we recommend attending in person at the Kearney Public Library, we're also offering Zoom attendance: unk.zoom.us/meeting/regi... #archives #WWII #Nebraska #POWs #AATH

Race with Jesse Owens. Sunday, Feb. 1, 6pm. World Theatre. Race follows Jesse Owens' rise to greatness and his challenge to Nazi ideology at the 1936 Olympics. A post-film discussion with Dr. Rachel Silverman (UNK Kinesiology & Sport Science), Dr. Lina Homberger-Cordia (sports historian), and UNK students will explore key themes. SPonsored by UNK Modern Languages & International Studies, UNK Student Engagement & Leadership, UNK CTR Library, and Humanities Nebraska

If you're in Nebraska and looking for a fun activity this coming Sunday, February 1, join us at Kearney's World Theatre at 6pm. We're showing Race, followed by a discussion on some of its key themes. #archives #Events #Nebraska

A bird's-eye view of a former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp showing a wide dirt pathway flanked by parallel rows of barbed-wire fences. Groups of visitors walk along the path, surrounded by the remnants of brick structures and barracks, now reduced to foundations. Green grass contrasts with the somber history of the site, as the path leads toward a guard tower in the distance.

Auschwitz was at the end of a process. We must remember that it did not start from gas chambers.

This hatred gradually developed: from ideas, words, stereotypes & prejudice through legal exclusion, dehumanization & escalating violence... to systematic and industrial murder.

Auschwitz took time.

Black and white photo of a 3 story building and small trees, all covered in snow

We hear that a lot of our American followers got just a little bit of winter weather. Here's a 1910s shot of the Administration Building, sporting about as much snow as we currently have. #Archives #Snow

Song of the Great Blizzard : "Thirteen were saved" : or, Nebraska's fearless maid Song based on the story of Miss Minnie Freeman, a teacher who saved 13 children during the Schoolhouse Blizzard of 1888. From the introduction: Miss Minnie Freeman, the plucky little school teacher at...

138 years ago today, the Blizzard of 1888, also called the Schoolhouse Blizzard, hit #Nebraska. A fast-moving storm dropped temps from abt 30F to -40F, with high winds and powdery snow. It stranded many. Teacher Minnie Freeman's story was turned into song:
openspaces.unk.edu/spec-coll/10/ #archives

He seems to be resident for at least a bit - I need to look at the scrapbook again, but I think most of the entries across at least a year are from Kitchener (where we can tell - I highly suspect that the actual notes ans postmarks are on the side of the paper firmly pasted into the scrapbook).

She didn't marry Arthur White, the artist and author of the letters. He's been been a LOT harder to track down. There is one roughly the right age that was born in Nebraska listed in Oregon at the 1930 census. But, relatively common name and not a lot to go on. 2/2

Thanks for sharing and the info! Irma Higgins, the recipient of these letters, lived here in Kearney, Nebraska. We got the scrapbook from a dealer (don't remember where they were located). There's more research to be done, but Irma was in Nebraska from birth in 1914 to her marriage in 1950. 1/2

Pencil sketch. Elaborate lettering reads Dear Irma, Kitchener, B.C., Canada. Sketch of bells, flowers, and feathers

Bells are ringing. We're not sure whether the bells are supposed to be Christmas bells or wedding bells - this page is from the Arthur White/Irma Higgins album, and Arthur drew a loooooot of kissing pictures, so we're leaning towards wedding but same difference. #ArchiveAdventCalendar #Bells

Smiling woman standing outside wearing a cloche hat and a dark-colored coat with a fur collar that wraps around to the sides

Woman standing outside in a light-colored brimmed hat and a dark, full-length black coat and dress shoes. She's wearing a large fur collar.

Sepia-toned photo of a little girl in a black wide-brimmed hat, dressy coat, and black tigths. She has a large fur collar and muff

On the Great Plains, festive clothes need to be warm. We love these pics of people in their fancy, warm best. They're from a primarily-1920s photo album from a Nebraska teacher who worked in Wyoming and western Nebraska. #FestiveClothes #ArchiveAdventCalendar #fashion #archives

Newspaper clipping "It was Christmas this week on the Kearney campus. Activities varied but included traditional Nativity presentations, dance, dinners and parties. Even the campus was decorated for the celebration. Photos of a Nativity set with actors, a dance, kids, and a dinner.

Despite the U.S.'s looming entry into World War II, on campus, Christmas 1941 was filled with various activities. They held a Nativity play, parties, dances, and more. If this newspaper article looks a little different, you're right! It was printed with blue ink. #ArchiveAdventCalendar #Nativity

International Tea. Drawing of snow people with fancy hats, printed in red on white paper

Cooky Recipes from Other Lands. Class in Foreign Customs and Cookery assisted by freshman class in Meal Planning. Department of Home Economics, Vocational Arts Building, State Teachers College, Kearney, Nebraska 1955

Sand Tarts (England) 2 eggs (reserving 1 white), 2 cups sugar, 1 cup softened butter, 3 cups flour. Mix in the order given. Roll thing and cut in rounds. Brush with unbeaten egg white; sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Press a nut or raisin on the top of each tart, and bake in hot oven 10 minutes.

Norwegian Anise Cookies. Short and rich. 2 and 3/4 cups sifted flour, 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup shortening, 1 teaspoon anise seed, 1 egg, 1/3 cup milk, Sesame or poppy seed. 1. Sift flour, baking powder, salt, sugar. 2. Cut in shortening with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. 3. Add anise seed. 4. Add beaten egg to milk. 5. Make a well in the fry ingredients and add egg mixture. Stir until stiff. 6. Pinch off balls of dough about 3 in. in diameter. Roll into strips about 1/4 inch in diameter. Cut in lengths about 6 inches long. 7. Twist into various shapes, such as S, etc. 8. Press gently into sesame or poppy seeds and place on cooky sheet. 9. Bake in preheated oven 375F. 15 min.

Cookies are a perpetual favorite #FestiveFood. When we had home ec, the students hosted a Christmas Tea, complete with booklets of international cookie recipes. These are a few of the entries from the 1955 tea. If you make any of these, let us know how they turn out! #ArchiveAdventCalendar

Three panel pencil drawing. The first says "How happy I will be when a-dancing we will go" and shows a man and a woman in formal wear dancing. The second reads "and a-skating we will go" and shows a couple in winter outdoor clothing sitting close together. The third has a ? and is a couple inside almost touching.

One of our favorite items in Archives is a scrapbook with drawings Arthur White, working in British Columbia, sent to Irma Higgins here in Kearney in the 1930s. This drawing shows the imagined couple doing various activities, including ice skating. #WinterSports #ArchiveAdventCalendar #drawing #art

Semi-realistic drawing of a Christmas tree with a star at the top and ornaments in warm colors

Scrapbook page with a Christmas tree. All the ornaments are names. Text in alternating red and green reads: Merry Christmas from all of us!

Handmade card. On a red background, a green triangle represents a tree. It is decorated with a few dots/ornaments and topped with a star

One of the many symbols of the season is a tree. We love these various versions of Christmas trees, from the printed card to the handmade renditions. All are included in scrapbooks kept by unkearney.bsky.social Greek organizations and donated to Archives. #ArchiveAdventCalendar #Tree #ChristmasTree

Sheet music for Jolly Old Santa and Our Christmas Song, by Edna Graham

Are YOU sick of hearing the same Christmas songs over and over? I have a solution for you: Christmas songs composed by UNK Music students in the 1920s. Are they good? Um. Well... If you record them, feel free to tag us - we'd love to hear your rendition. #ArchiveAdventCalendar #ChristmasCarol #music

Official written documents relating to HIV/AIDS from the 1980s and 1990s

The first mention of #HIV/AIDS in RCP minutes is 6 years after the first AIDS-related death in Britain. The RCPs silence helped the state take advantage of the epidemic to spread fear, introduce queerphobic policies, and cut services such as healthcare

#ExploreArchives #EYASilence

Illustration of two candles with mistletoe and pinecones, done in red on green paper. Text: Let us light candles for Christmas; Let us set them in the windows; Let us place them on our tables; Let them shine through the tinsel; Let them burn on all our altars; Let their light fill our hearts; Let us light candles for Christmas

One of our favorite sources of festive light is candles. Bernice Halbert's poem, "Candles for Christmas", contains some lovely illustrations of candles, along with the text of the poem. Plus, it's on festive green paper!
openspaces.unk.edu/spec-coll/41/
#ArchiveAdventCalendar #FestiveLights #poetry

“Have Yourself A Merriam Little Christmas”

Merriam, a career-oriented lexicographer from the city, returns to her small town for the holidays and meets Webster, a ruggedly handsome librarian, who shows her the true DEFINITION of Christmas.

Part of a letter to Myron Swenk. We are going to have a big Canada goose, flanked by four Mallards tomorrow and if it doesn't wreck me you will hear from me again some time. Very Sincerely, Cyrus Black

What was on the Thanksgiving menu 100 years ago? For Cyrus Black, it was Canada goose and mallard ducks. Cyrus writes, "if it doesn't wreck me, you will hear from me again some time." Spoiler: he survives and corresponds regularly w the recipient.
#Archives #NebraskaOrnithologistsUnion
#Thanksgiving

Just a little humor for your Thursday!

#southwestcollection #archives #history #specialcollections

A page from a book featuring a black-and-white illustration titled "Bell Rock Lighthouse." The illustration shows a lighthouse partially obscured by tall waves, with the light shining brightly. Below the illustration is a handwritten poem titled "Pharos Loquitor" that reads: "Far in the bosom of the deep / O'er these wild shelves my watch I keep / A Ruddy gem of changeful light / Bound on the dusky brow of Night / The Seaman bids my lustre hail / And scorns to strike his timorous sail."

A group of three black-and-white illustrations titled "Progress of the Bell Rock Works." Each illustration shows a partially constructed lighthouse with workers and pulley systems on it. The last illustration is a cross-section of the nearly completed lighthouse.

The end of a handwritten letter with the signature "Yours very truly, Robert Louis Stevenson."

An illustration of the island from "Treasure Island."

Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson was born on this day in 1850. His best-known works include Treasure Island (1883) and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886), both of which introduced themes and tropes that persist in popular culture today.

Shut your mouth and save your life : Catlin, George, 1796-1872 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive 110 p. : 21 cm

Shut your mouth and save your life, book title or something you were thinking in That One Meeting? As the Medical Heritage Library demonstrates, definitely book title, though we're going to have to go with, why not both?

#HistMed
archive.org/details/shut...

Person in a black costume and witchy mask/makeup depositing something at the bank

Even creatures of darkness need to do their banking (undated, from "Old Photos" binder). #archives #Halloween #ArchivesCreepy

This is from our Special Collections copy: unk.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01...

It's the first British edition of Lewis & Clark expedition findings.

A Canadian, who had been much with the Indians to the westward, speaks of a wool-bearing animal, larger than a sheep, the wool much mixed with hair, which he had seen in large flocks. He pretends also to have seen a unicorn, the single horn of which, he says, rises out of the forehead and curls back, conveying the idea of the fossil cornu ammonis

Can't trust those Canadians; they say they see unicorns, with horns like ammonites.

...love you, northern neighbours!

From Travels in the Interior Parts of America : Communicating Discoveries Made in Exploring the Missouri, Red River, and Washita (1807)
#HistSci #Archives #Ammonites

Hey Archivists - do you have patrons interested in Western US politics and public service? We’re accepting applications for non-Nevadans to win a $5000 award to come do research in our collections!! Applications close in TWO WEEKS. Please share widely! #AskAnArchivist #PoliticalScience

While we (pretend to) love all our collections equally, we'd love to see someone dig into the Harding family collection: archives.nebraska.edu/repositories... The letters between Callie and her friends are particularly fun. #archives #AskAnArchivist