UNO Criss Library

ASC’s Book of the Month for June is Seasons: Seven Poems a collaborative work between poet Kenneth A. Loft, book artist Claire Van Vliet, printer Nancy Reid, and paper artist Catherine Hall. The book has an orange-red cover that has a rough paper texture. The center illustration in the book appears to be a sunset over water, composed of reds, purples, and black. By running your finger over the text, you can feel the impression the text made on the page during the printing process. This book was published in 1981.

The “Book of the Month” series focuses on department holdings and new acquisitions to our Fine Arts Press Collection. This includes books that are handmade with innovative methods, limited edition runs of a book, or books that are themselves works of art. Examples of Fine Arts Press books include handmade paper, woodcut text or illustrations, and types of digital design and printing.

As with all our materials in Archives and Special Collections, books in this series are available for research in the department reading room; no appointment necessary.

Hi, my name is Britta (she/her), and I am an intern in UNO’s Archives and Special Collections this summer! I am from northwest Wisconsin and graduated with my Bachelor’s in History from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2021. Now I am nearing the end of my online graduate program through the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where I’ll graduate with my Master’s in Public History this fall!

I have loved living in Omaha for the past four years and am excited to learn not only what it takes to preserve and maintain university archives, but also to learn more about the diverse people in my community through these collections. When I’m not busy with school, I like taking walks along the riverfront, going to symphony and rock concerts, and trying new coffee and thrift shops.

Due to the roof project happening over the summer, there will be limited access to the third floor, including limiting the number of people who can access the stacks. If you need a book from the third floor, please inquire at the service desk, send in a request through Ask-A-Librarian (https://hubs.ly/Q04jXF3g0), or call us at 402.554.3206 and we will be happy to get the book for you. All of the study spaces and seating will remain available through the project.

June update from ASC Project Archivist Jessica!

The term Boys Town is well-known to those even outside of Omaha, in no small part because of the movie starring Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney.

Fewer know about the Oak View Home for Negro Boys.

In the 1930s, Gaines and Anna Partridge began taking in Black boys in North Omaha who had nowhere else to go. By 1948, they had turned that effort into a 65-acre farm in north Douglas County, Oak View Home, the only facility of its kind for African American boys in Omaha at the time.

The boys were not just housed. They worked on the land, cared for animals, went to school, and built a daily routine. Each had responsibilities and structure. For many, it was the first steady environment they had known.

The home would close in the late 1950s due to a lack of funding.

Today, there is no marker or plaque to show where it once stood, and the story of Oakview has largely slipped from Omaha’s public memory.

This project is a collaboration between UNO Criss Library Archives and Special Collections and the Great Plains Black History Museum and is funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Diaries share evidence about daily life and provide a personal angle to events. Like all primary sources, diaries reflect the opinions, customs, and bias of the author. These are influenced by the time period, culture, economics, and politics of the time in which they are writing. You may see language about individuals, communities, and events that is historically accurate but no longer appropriate by today’s understanding. The entries of this project were chosen by ASC intern Megan, who also transcribed the pages.

June 22, 1942
The big day. Mrs. Simmons and Vivian met me at the station. I was pretty excited, mostly nervous. Vivian took me to work, to be sure I’d make it.

We heard lectures practically all day. In the P.M. they took us on a tour of the F.B.I. We were supposed to get to shake hands with Mr. Hoover, or the “Director” as they call him, but he had to pick that moment to be out of the building. Worst luck!

We are hiring for a University Librarian and Chief Knowledge Officer! This leadership role will help shape the future of Criss Library by advancing digital scholarship, strengthening the library’s role as a catalyst for collaboration and community engagement, and fuel student success across the university. Learn more about the qualifications, view the leadership profile, and apply by July 31st: https://hubs.ly/Q04hVY4J0

Final update from ASC Student worker Ava: Throughout my time working as an archival student worker, I have learned a myriad of valuable skills. While I had done research for much of my previous schoolwork, working in the archives has taught me how to interpret history through everyday materials such as newspapers, journals, and posters—all of which can provide vivid pictures of the past; along with interpretation, archival work has taught me how to efficiently parse through large swaths of material to find relevant information- a vital skill to have as an anthropology major!

Lastly, the archives have shown me how vital preserving history is. No matter how mundane a piece of archival material might seem, it can provide an illustrative glimpse into the past and inform our decisions for the future.

We'll be closed Saturday, May 23 through Monday, May 25 in observation of Memorial Day. Plan your library trip accordingly and we'll see you before or after! 👋📚 Find the full schedule: https://hubs.ly/Q04hlJHG0