History   

Have you ever wondered about Sheldon Museum of Art building or how the art is selected for exhibitions? Has it been a while since you have visited the Sheldon? Learn the history of the museum from staff, including a fascinating description of the architecture and the construction of the building, the roles of curators, docents and the Sheldon Art Association. Then enjoy a tour of the spring semester exhibitions led by Sheldon staff and UNL student docents. We will focus on and view the exhibitions “Sheldon Treasures: Before Sheldon,” featuring some the earliest art acquisitions, as well as “X: A Decade of Collecting 2012–2022,” showing more recent acquisitions. Sheldon is a fully accessible building.

View a selection of objects from the University of Nebraska State Museum anthropology collection. The collection holds 40,000 objects from all over the world, representing 153 countries and hundreds of cultures. The archaeology collection features artifacts from thousands of years of history in Nebraska and other parts of the globe. The collections feature textiles, baskets, ceramics, weapons and much more.

Each session will offer a facility tour of Duncan Aviation, the largest family-owned maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility in the world, providing complete acquisition, sales, and nose-to-tail support services for business aircraft. Owned and operated by the Duncan family since their founding in 1956, Duncan Aviation is well known and respected by operators, manufacturers, and other service providers worldwide for their quality, work ethic and expertise. Join us for a walking tour and a peek into the many different services Duncan provides, including airframe inspections, engine maintenance, major retrofits for cabin and cockpit systems, and full paint and interior services.

Each session will offer a facility tour of Duncan Aviation, the largest family-owned maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility in the world, providing complete acquisition, sales, and nose-to-tail support services for business aircraft. Owned and operated by the Duncan family since their founding in 1956, Duncan Aviation is well known and respected by operators, manufacturers, and other service providers worldwide for their quality, work ethic and expertise. Join us for a walking tour and a peek into the many different services Duncan provides, including airframe inspections, engine maintenance, major retrofits for cabin and cockpit systems, and full paint and interior services.

Each session will offer a facility tour of Duncan Aviation, the largest family-owned maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility in the world, providing complete acquisition, sales, and nose-to-tail support services for business aircraft. Owned and operated by the Duncan family since their founding in 1956, Duncan Aviation is well known and respected by operators, manufacturers, and other service providers worldwide for their quality, work ethic and expertise. Join us for a walking tour and a peek into the many different services Duncan provides, including airframe inspections, engine maintenance, major retrofits for cabin and cockpit systems, and full paint and interior services.

Imagine the moment in history when the greatest baseball player in the world was from Omaha, Nebraska; so was the world’s best football player; so was one of the NBA’s top 10 players; one of pro basketball’s top rookies; and football’s best rookie quarterback. On Oct 6, 1968, in a span of three hours, Omaha experienced the most extraordinary day in sports history. Bob Gibson dominated the Detroit Tigers in Game 4 of the World Series; Gale Sayers rushed for 100 yards against the Baltimore Colts; Marlin Briscoe became the first black man in America to start a pro football game as quarterback. The greatest generation of Nebraska athletes experienced triumph and pain, fame and fury, glory and heartbreak. Hear more stories of the greatest athletes in Nebraska sports history from the leaders of this amazing museum of sports history. Explore ALL the greats who have been elected to the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame.

Learn about the exhibitions “Beyond Eve and Mary: Premodern Representations of Gender, Power and Religion” and “Reigning Queens: Modern and Contemporary Representations of Women, Power and Religion” at the Sheldon Museum of Art. We will begin with a discussion the first exhibition which examines Eve and Mary through thematic groupings of works and encourages viewers to consider how multifaceted gender was in the premodern period. The adjoining exhibition “Reigning Queens” examines twentieth-and twenty-first century representations of women in art. From temptresses and monarchs to advocates and activists, this exhibition invites viewers to consider the ways artists have explored and challenged gender stereotypes.

Do you forecast moisture in 90 days by tracking the fog? Learn the who, why and what around the history of weather reporting and forecasting. When did weather broadcasting begin and how has it evolved? What has been and is the role of technology over the decades?

Do you forecast moisture in 90 days by tracking the fog? Learn the who, why and what around the history of weather reporting and forecasting. When did weather broadcasting begin and how has it evolved? What has been and is the role of technology over the decades?

Nebraska Public Media (NPM) has been connecting Nebraskans for nearly 70 years. Learn about its founding years and the enormous growth of the following decades as digitization enabled the state’s television and radio network to reach farther and deeper. Hear from on-air personalities from some of NPM’s best-known shows like “Backyard Farmer” and “Big Red Wrap-Up” and the people working on the news side. Find out how NPM played a role in bringing OLLI to UNL. We will close with an update from today’s leadership and a tour of the facility on N. 33rd St.

Nebraska Public Media (NPM) has been connecting Nebraskans for nearly 70 years. Learn about its founding years and the enormous growth of the following decades as digitization enabled the state’s television and radio network to reach farther and deeper. Hear from on-air personalities from some of NPM’s best-known shows like “Backyard Farmer” and “Big Red Wrap-Up” and the people working on the news side. Find out how NPM played a role in bringing OLLI to UNL. We will close with an update from today’s leadership and a tour of the facility on N. 33rd St.

The University of Nebraska started as one infamous building on 11 acres of land north of downtown Lincoln. Join Kay Logan-Peters, retired UNL librarian and author of “University of Nebraska,” for a walking tour of the early buildings at the city campus. We will discuss the physical growth of the campus during the University’s first century and learn about some of the faculty and administrators who were instrumental in shaping the prairie university.

The University of Nebraska Farm started as a demonstration and test farm on the outskirts of Lincoln shortly after the founding of the university. Join Kay Logan-Peters, retired UNL librarian and author of “University of Nebraska,” for a walking tour of the early buildings on the East Campus, formerly known as the Farm. We will discuss the physical growth of the campus during the University farm’s early years and learn about some of the faculty and others who were instrumental in shaping the University’s agricultural campus.

Grace Snyder has been called the “Queen of Nebraska Quilters.” She was born in 1882, moved to Nebraska at age 3, married a cowboy and lived to be 100 years old. Her quilts are known across the nation for their technical complexity and quality. Many have been on display at the Nebraska State Fair and at UNL’s International Quilt Museum. Learn about Snyder’s interesting life and her contributions to the art and history of quilting.

Grace Snyder has been called the “Queen of Nebraska Quilters.” She was born in 1882, moved to Nebraska at age 3, married a cowboy and lived to be 100 years old. Her quilts are known across the nation for their technical complexity and quality. Many have been on display at the Nebraska State Fair and at UNL’s International Quilt Museum. Learn about Snyder’s interesting life and her contributions to the art and history of quilting.

The following video programs are on demand on the online platform CANVAS. Learn at your own pace, on your own time and at your convenience. All of these programs are available for a single cost of $30. On the first day of the term or after registration, you will receive an email with a “Join Code” and instructions for how to access programming.

All programming originates from OLLI at UNL.

Why Grandpa Kept His Hounds: A Tale of Neighborhood and Region

In 1913, Sam Rader faced a painful choice. As a recent widower residing deep in the hollows of the Ozarks with his seven children, he needed help. He met a widow and proposed marriage to her. She responded favorably to his entreaty, but, alas, insisted that, as a precondition to their marriage, he would have to get rid of his hounds. Grandpa chose to keep his hounds. Ben Rader, professor emeritus of History at UNL, and grandson of Sam, says understanding Grandpa’s decision requires an examination of the folkways of the Ozarks. Was his response simply that of a “hillbilly?” That Grandpa also loved to listen to the famed Italian tenor, Enrico Caruso, on the family’s Victrola suggests otherwise. Rader proposes a far more complex portrait of the ways of the peoples in the Ozarks and the Upland South than that offered by the hillbilly stereotype.

The Orphan Train: The Largest Migration of Children in U.S. History

Between 1854 and 1929, nearly 250,000 orphaned or abandoned children were relocated from the East Coast to the Midwest and West. This migration is known as the orphan train. The goal of this relocation effort was to find homes where children could learn practical skills, gain an education, and live in a family setting. Mickey Creager, descendant of an orphan train rider; and Kaily Carson, curator at the National Orphan Train Complex, discuss how this fascinating movement began, how it worked, and what happened to the children involved.

Sport in American Culture

Sport has been an important part of the American cultural landscape since before the founding of the Republic, from the very popular blood sports of the 18th century through the development of the boxing and horse racing industries in the 19th century and the explosion of baseball, football, and basketball in the 20th century. Our society seldom sees the confluence of income, class, race, gender, identity, and celebrity the way we do in sports. UNL associate professor of broadcasting, John Shrader, examines the role of sport in our society and how the media have been both partners and observers. He takes a deep dive into sport and how it fits into American life, discussing complicated and sensitive issues; it’s not just about slam dunks, big contracts, SportsCenter and social media.

The History of Reproductive Rights

UNL Associate Professor of History, Katrina Jagodinsky, examines Nebraska’s historical regulation of abortion and reproductive rights in the context of national historic and modern trends. Based in historic state statutes and court cases, this legal history will encourage audiences to consider the distinctions between historical practice and perception to better understand the reproductive rights landscape.

The Supreme Court and National Power

Perhaps the most notable project of the current Supreme Court is its efforts to curtail federal authority. The Court often decides these cases not as a matter of constitutional law but rather administrative law and statutory interpretation. The Court purports to be issuing narrow rulings about the specific statutes at issue. Make no mistake, though, says Eric Berger, professor at the UNL College of Law. These cases are about the Constitution. Significantly, these decisions deny the federal government authority to address pressing national crises including climate change, voting rights, and the Covid pandemic. Recent Supreme Court decisions about national power are examined as are the consequences of those decisions in a variety of areas.

From Battlefield to Boardroom: Logistics, the Key to Victory

Every military battlefield victory includes stories about how the organization and movement of supplies and personnel (logistics) saved the day. Today, we order something online for delivery tomorrow without an afterthought. Retired Major General Roger Lempke explores the role of logistics in military operations and business through stories that highlight the vital need for reliable logistics. The course will also examine how the global “supply chain” has become so very efficient but also vulnerable to new threats.

Nebraska Ecology

From the Pine Ridge in the west, the central Sandhills, to the prairies and woodland corridors in the east, Nebraska is home to many unique habitats and ecosystems supporting a rich biological diversity across the state. Program specialists from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission provide a broad understanding of Nebraska’s ecology, and the diversity found in the birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and fish that call our state home.

How to Identify and Protect Yourself Against Fraud

Angela Nielsen shares the tools you need to identify potential fraud and scams. Learn about several common financial scams and ways fraudsters try to take advantage of you and your loved ones and take your hard-earned cash. Nielsen dissects what to watch out for, what you can do to protect your money, and how you can approach emails, phone calls, messages and texts to identify what is important and what to be aware of.

Global Food Security: Political, Economic, and Climate Challenges

Achieving global food security in the face of current political, economic, and climatic challenges is at the forefront of our conversations today and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Food shortages driven by the war in Ukraine, rising energy prices, supply chain issues, the increasing frequency of climate extremes on food production and numerous other factors contribute to this crisis. Joe Glauber, of the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington, D.C., and David Beckmann, president emeritus of Bread for the World, discuss opportunities available to enhance and improve agricultural food systems locally and globally.

In fifteen short years, the world witnessed an unprecedented explosion of political optimism, starting with the American people breaking from the British Empire in 1776 via the Declaration of Independence. Though our Revolutionary War started without a national government, in 1781 we crafted our short-lived Articles of Confederation, which lasted only seven years. To solve the Article’s shortcomings, the American people welcomed the Constitution in 1788. In 1791, to secure an individual’s political liberties, we ratified ten amendments to the Constitution, commonly called the Bill of Rights. Each document addressed increasingly more difficult issues, and success for each became increasingly more complex, and much less guaranteed. Only through the collective will of the American people could the issues find resolution. Emulating our Founding Fathers, we continuously debate the definitions of “success” and “resolution.”

In fifteen short years, the world witnessed an unprecedented explosion of political optimism, starting with the American people breaking from the British Empire in 1776 via the Declaration of Independence. Though our Revolutionary War started without a national government, in 1781 we crafted our short-lived Articles of Confederation, which lasted only seven years. To solve the Article’s shortcomings, the American people welcomed the Constitution in 1788. In 1791, to secure an individual’s political liberties, we ratified ten amendments to the Constitution, commonly called the Bill of Rights. Each document addressed increasingly more difficult issues, and success for each became increasingly more complex, and much less guaranteed. Only through the collective will of the American people could the issues find resolution. Emulating our Founding Fathers, we continuously debate the definitions of “success” and “resolution.”

Learn about the economic development efforts of the Winnebago Nation. Ho-Chunk, Inc., the economic development corporation owned by the Winnebago Nation, is a major driver of the success over the last three decades. Build your understanding of the impact that casinos in Iowa and Nebraska have had on this success. Get an overview of the various entities making up Ho-Chunk. Impressive accomplishments include contracts with the federal government, housing development for tribal members, farming initiatives and the new broadband project. Shop at the Harvest House Friday Market selling food and locally made crafts, view the sculpture garden, and potentially see bison at a newly built paddock near the village. If time permits, we will visit the Angel DeCora Museum at Little Priest Tribal College and get an overview of the Tribal college and its impact on the community.

Learn the definition of the word “fossils,” discover the various kinds of invertebrate fossils and see examples from the collection at the University of Nebraska State Museum.

Have you ever wondered about Sheldon Museum of Art building or how the art is selected for exhibitions? Has it been a while since you have visited the Sheldon? Learn the history of the museum from staff, including a fascinating description of the architecture and the construction of the building, the roles of curators, docents and the Sheldon Art Association. Then enjoy a tour of the spring semester exhibitions led by Sheldon staff and UNL student docents. We will focus on and view the exhibitions “Sheldon Treasures: Before Sheldon,” featuring some the earliest art acquisitions, as well as “X: A Decade of Collecting 2012–2022,” showing more recent acquisitions. Sheldon is a fully accessible building.

View collections from Holocaust survivors who settled in Nebraska and from WWII vets who hailed from Nebraska and liberated Nazi camps. Archival materials are preserved in a digital humanities web portal at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Digital Research in the Humanities, https://nestoriesofhumanity.unl.edu/. In addition to transnational open access on the internet for all visitors, the website is a teaching tool that interfaces with digital storytelling to accompany state educational standards in secondary classrooms and higher education research. We will look at how digital methods elevate these stories and at two individuals whose personal archives have provided unexpected historical discoveries and networking within our community. You will be invited to participate in a group inquiry and discussion using the web portal.

View collections from Holocaust survivors who settled in Nebraska and from WWII vets who hailed from Nebraska and liberated Nazi camps. Archival materials are preserved in a digital humanities web portal at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Digital Research in the Humanities, https://nestoriesofhumanity.unl.edu/. In addition to transnational open access on the internet for all visitors, the website is a teaching tool that interfaces with digital storytelling to accompany state educational standards in secondary classrooms and higher education research. We will look at how digital methods elevate these stories and at two individuals whose personal archives have provided unexpected historical discoveries and networking within our community. You will be invited to participate in a group inquiry and discussion using the web portal.

Do you know about the great work being done at Boys Town? Discover how Boys Town programs developed and how they continue their mission to change the way America cares for children and families with tours of the Boys Town Hall of History Museum and the Father Flanagan House Museum, which is the former residence of Boys Town’s founder, Father Edward Flanagan. We will enjoy lunch at the Boys Town Overlook Café. Learn what staff is currently doing and their plans to continue the mission of saving children, healing families, and strengthening communities long into the future.

Watch a series of videos and discuss the archeology and history surrounding prehistoric Europe and the origins of the Celts. Videos include “The Celts – How the Barbarians Tamed Europe, “ by International Masters Publishing, as well as the PBS films “Secrets of Stonehenge” and “After Stonehenge,” taught by academics who summarize life in the Bronze Age. Also included is the PBS film, “In Search of Ancient Ireland” to learn about the beginnings of Celtic and Bronze Age of the Emerald Isle. Each video will begin with a brief lecture by the course instructor.

We will pick up where we left off in Term 3, reviewing the second half of the lectures from this “Great Courses” DVD collection. Although this is part two, you can enjoy these lectures without having heard the first half. Professor Mark Stoler focuses on elements of American history that are often misunderstood, where myths abound or where important elements have simply been forgotten or ignored. These 12 lectures deal with myths of American anti-imperialism, the true nature of the early “progressive” movements, an assessment of Wilson’s presidency, the culture clashes of the 1920’s, positive aspects of the Hoover presidency, the effectiveness of the “new deal,” myths associated with World War II, the subsequent “cold” war, the Vietnam war, and about American wars in general. The series ends with an examination of important figures often ignored (e.g., John Quincy Adams and George Marshall) and modern trends assumed to be new that are not.

This course is back by popular demand as previously offered in Term 1, 2022. The residential development surrounding Sheridan Boulevard was conceived by the Woods Brothers in response to the area’s topography, rather than strictly extending the grid plan of the original portion of Lincoln. The boulevard was initiated in 1909; subsequent developments in 1916 were carried out by the Woods Brothers and Harvey Rathbone. We will begin with a classroom session, followed by a pair of walking tours encompassing the area from South St. to Penny Bridge at S. 33rd St. and will consider land use and landscaping, architectural history and the stories of some early residents.