West:

Across the Sandhills: Words and Music
Speakers Bureau presentation, NHC
by Randall Snyder and Roy Scheele
“Across the Sandhills” is a song cycle of seven poems that draw their imagery from the artists’ personal responses to Nebraska. Poet and composer will comment on the interactive process of the art-song; they will also discuss both the feeling and structure of the poems and the complex musical style of the songs. Questions and reactions to the performance will follow. Whenever possible, musical examples from the songs will be performed by Margaret Kennedy, UNL Professor of Voice, and Nicole Narboni, UNL visiting Professor of Piano. Contact NHC.

African American Homesteaders and Cowboys of Nebraska
Speakers Bureau presentation, NHC
by Vicki Troxel
In the 1854 census of Nebraska, there were
14 Blacks listed as slaves. After the Civil War, African Americans came to Nebraska as cowhands, laborers, cavalrymen, and homesteaders. Troxel recounts many of the oral histories she has collected about cowboys, such as Jim Kelly and Amos Harris from the Lexington area, and Roy Hayes of Cherry County “who could catch anything with legs.” Contact NHC.

African American Pioneers and Entrepreneurs of Nebraska
Speakers Bureau presentation, NHC
by Vicki Troxel
African American doctors, barbers, music teachers, and innovative and prosperous orchard owners are some of the people who come to life in this presentation. Troxel collected many oral histories while researching African American settlements in Nebraska. Through her scholarship, Nebraska history has a fascinating new chapter. Contact NHC.

Back at the Ranch, Video
VHS videotape, 58 minutes
This program studies the history and future of the ranching industry in Nebraska and neighboring states. How are the current economic realities at odds with the mythical image of ranching handed down to us by movies, television, and popular literature? What is the plight of the contemporary rancher? Contact NHC.

The Black Hills: Who Owns the Land? NETCHE
2, 30 minute programs, 1986
Who really owns the Black Hills of western South Dakota? The arguments are as intertwined as the dark pines for which the area is named. To the Lakota Sioux, it is sacred ground lost; to the U.S. Government, it is land fairly claimed and settled. The roots of this dispute are examined in The Black Hills: Who Owns the Land?, a two part production ny NETCHE. These half-hour segments present facts and beliefs that have fueled over a century of debate. Historic photos and research are interwoven with sometimes conflicting opinions from contemporary experts, ranging from Russell Means of the American Indian Movement to Joe Assman, a white resident being sued for his land. Viewers also hear from Bill Welch, Black Hills hotel owner; Bill Elison, Mario Gonzales, and Ramon Robideaux, attorneys; Matthew King, spiritual leader; James Hansen, historian; and Roland Dewings, content consultant for this series.
1. The Treaty of 1868 NETCHE
This lesson focuses on the original treaties and the radically different philosophies of the signers, The U.S. Government brought to the table its concepts of hierarchy, boundaries and diplomatic agreements implemented by a strong military and complex legal system. The nomadic Lakota brought no tradition of elected leadership, fixed boundaries or even land ownership. Their world extended as far as the eye could see and the warriors could keep out enemies. The program explores the legal sophistication and political unity that the Lakota developed in the struggle of the last century.
2. Black Hills Claim NETCHE
This lesson highlights the physical and legal battles waged to gain and regain the Black Hills. Beginning with the Lakota’s somewhat late arrival in the area in the 1770’s. The program takes viewers through the treaties, violence, legislation, and litigation the 1800’s up through the AIM occupation of Wounded Knee in the 1970’s, and finally presents contemporary views of Lakota’s ongoing effort. Viewed independently or together, the programs are of general interest and can compliment coursework in history, anthropology, philosophy, and other culture related disciplines.

Crossing the Plains on the Oregon Trail
Speakers Bureau slide presentation, NHC
by Frederick Luebke
This presentation recounts the experiences of people crossing Nebraska in the 1840s and ‘50s on their way to Oregon and California. Topics include the routes followed by the emigrants, the timing of the journey, daily routines, Indian confrontations (or absence thereof), and health
problems. Slides include maps, contemporary drawings and photographs, and present appearances of sites along the trail. Contact NHC.

“Domesticating a Wilderness,” Video,
About the transcontinental railroad, westward expansion, homesteading, clash of cultures. Please contact NHC.

Drilling for oil in Richardson County, 1941, Film Clip,
From NSHS’s “Film Clips of Nebraska’s Past”

Farming in Western Nebraska: 1938-1945, Video
VHS Videotape, 60 minutes
The Glenn and Leo Kellett family moved to the Lake Alice community north of Scottsbluff in 1918, where they produced primarily alfalfa, sugar beets, corn and field beans. In 1938 they purchased an 8mm movie camera and made movies of a number of the farm's operations. Western Nebraska Farm and Ranch Museum saw these films as a valuable historical resource and produced this documentary using the family’s footage. Contact NHC.

The Fighting Liberal: A Profile of Senator George Norris, Video
VHS videotape, 60 minutes
This dramatic documentary recounts the life of Senator George W. Norris. Norris was a leader in the U.S. House and Senate for over 40 years. He championed causes for the common man, always wary of big business. “During all my years in Congress, my conscience has been my only master.” Norris is portrayed by David Landis who also offers the Speakers Bureau program, “Norris: A Nebraska Colossus.” Contact NHC.

The flood of 1935, McCook, Film Clip,
From NSHS’s “Film Clips of Nebraska’s Past”

Fort Robinson Museum
Experience seventy-five years of military history! From Crazy Horse to the cavalry to the K-9 Corps, Fort Robinson played host to them all. The museum at Fort Robinson is located in the 1905 post headquarters building. Exhibits trace the history of this outpost on the Plains from its role guarding the Red Cloud Agency (1874–77) through the housing of World War II German POWs (1943–46). Among the many fascinating objects your students will see in the museum’s exhibits are a rare dog kennel from the K-9 Corps of World War II, marksmanship medals earned by Caleb Benson, a Buffalo Soldier at Fort Robinson between 1902 and 1909, and nineteenth-century Sioux objects related to the Red Cloud Agency. To learn more about Fort Robinson’s history, your students can visit over a dozen historic structures and sites such as the 1904 blacksmith shop, the 1908 veterinary hospital, the 1887 officers’ quarters, the 1875 guardhouse and adjutant’s office, and the old post cemetery. A library featuring materials on Fort Robinson, military, and western history is available to researchers for use in-house. A self-guided tour book and many books on military and western history are available for purchase. Tours are available year round; please call ahead to make reservations.
308/665-2919
Mailing address:
Fort Robinson Museum
P. O. Box 304
Crawford, NE 69339-0304
Street address:
Fort Robinson State Park

“The Huddled Masses,” Video
19th-century immigration, the Statue of Liberty, sweat shops, 20th-century waves of immigration and their causes. Contact the NHC.

Jubilee Parade, McCook, 1932, Film Clip,
From NSHS’s “Film Clips of Nebraska’s Past”

Lakota Art and Music
NHC Speakers Bureau slide presentation
by Kenton Bales
This program shows historic and contemporary developments in Lakota art and music found on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations. Bales focuses on beadwork, hide painting, porcupine quill embroidery and music. He explores and compares traditional Lakota art forms to explain common philosophical and conceptual themes; he also discusses how white culture has affected Lakota art. Bales further explains the revival of old designs and songs among contemporary
people. Local program sponsors may request a monograph of the presentation. Contact NHC.

Lakota Flute Music
NHC Speakers Bureau presentation/
demonstration by Steve Stacy
The presenter intertwines Lakota stories and flute music as he explains the tradi-tional method in which Lakota flutes are made, from the first flute's origin to flute music shared by other Native American people. All audiences will appreciate the skills of this storyteller, musician and craftsman, while gaining insight into an important Native American form of expression. Contact NHC.

Lifestyles of Lakota (Sioux) Women
NHC Speakers Bureau presentation for young audiences
by Phyllis Stone
As a descendant of Chief Iron Shell, a Peace Chief of the Rosebud Sioux, the speaker shares her expertise on the lifestyle of a Lakota (Sioux) woman from birth to death. She describes changes that have come about in modern times, contrasting the contemporary lifestyles of Lakota women with past traditions. The degree to which Lakota women lead lives separately and distinctly from men in their tribe is discussed, and variations of practices that can be found among women in the tribe are described. The speaker intimate knowledge of her Rosebud Sioux people and their ceremonies, her attire in native regalia and the artifacts she shares make this a rich and unique experience for young people who want to learn more about their world. Contact NHC.

Republican Valley Reconstruction Celebration, Film Clip,
McCook, October 23, 24, and 25, 1935, From NSHS’s “Film Clips of Nebraska’s Past”

Sandhills Album, Video
VHS videotape, 60 minutes
An award-winning exploration of the life and lifestyles of Northwestern Nebraska residents from frontier times to the 1980s. Images by Solomon Butcher, Depression-era FSA photographers, and modern photographers and cinematographers give historical perspective to the subject. Contact NHC.

Sandhills Song
NHC Speakers Bureau presentation/
demonstration by Otto Rosfeld
This program combines songs, stories, chants and poems to describe prairie life before ìeasy energyî such as electric power and hydraulic pumps entered the lives of settlers on the Great Plains. Beginning with the ìlast frontierî in the 1870s and extending to the 1950s, this program transports audiences back in time through the eyes of a prairie boy. The original songs that are a part of the program are presented with acoustic instruments, some of them antiques. A collection of old-time hand-powered equipment is used as visual background for the stories and poems. Contact NHC.

The Sandhills Story, Video
VHS videotape, 60 minutes
Although the Sandhills cover one-fourth of the surface area of the state, they remain a mystery in many ways. Early explorers saw the region as an inhospitable desert. In the 1880s the bison were removed and the Native Americans who depended upon them lost their lifestyle. Now the unique Sandhills family ranch culture, one connected to the needs of the cattle and to the fragility of the soil, grass and water, is facing pressure to adapt and survive. Contact NHC.

Mari Sandoz: Retrospection
NHC Speakers Bureau living history
presentation by Margaret Sherburne
Sherburne portrays Mari Sandoz giving a speech in 1964-one of the last years of her life. Although the author was not in the habit of dwelling on past mistakes or occurrences, this time of her life was one of reluctant retrospection brought on by the knowledge that she had cancer. Sandoz was determined to use what time she had left to complete writing commitments and goals, and in this presentation she addresses the audience with enthusiasm. Sherburne as Sandoz gives groups insight into her life, her complex father, her unique friendships and her writing style and subjects. Contact NHC.

Sandoz Video Programs, Video
VHS videotape, 58 minutes (3 parts)
“Along the Old Jules Trail,” “Conversation with Flora Sandoz,” and “Conversation with Caroline Sandoz Phiefer,” are the segments of this program that will enhance any discussion or program about Sandoz. Contact NHC.Sandoz Video Programs, Video

Song of the Plains: The Story of Mari Sandoz, Video
VHS videotape, 60 minutes
This video program features film clips of the Nebraska author as she discusses how she developed her 21 books and her characteristic style of combining historical facts with a fictionalized story. Nebraska native Dick Cavett talks with the authorís family and friends about their personal memories of Sandoz. Contact NHC.

Mexican American Celebrations
NHC Speakers Bureau slide presentation
for young audiences by Jan Wahl
The Mexican American community in Scottsbluff, Nebraska has a rich cultural heritage. Yearly fiestas celebrating Mexican independence from Spain and France; the quinceaÒera, celebrating a young woman's 15th birthday; the festival of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12; and other celebrations are described in this presentation. The program focuses on the importance of celebrations and how they have changed over time to reach their present expression. Contact NHC.

Mexican American Christmas Traditions
NHC Speakers Bureau presentation
for young audiences by Olga Olivares
Learn about the Christmas traditions of the Mexican American community of Scottsbluff in this hands-on program that gives insight into a culture with roots in Mexico. The presenter brings many Mexican American Christmas items for children to see and touch, explaining the significance of each in the nine-day holiday celebration. Contact NHC.

Our Plains Indian Heritage
NHC Speakers Bureau presentation for
young audiences by Phyllis Stone
The presenter, who is an elder of the Rosebud Sioux tribe and a Sun Dancer, explains the uses of many handmade items that she brings for this presentation-items from both past and present Indian cultures. Dressed in a traditional Sioux woman’s buckskin dress, she speaks about the life of the Rosebud Sioux as she shares artifacts, telling about the uses and traditions of each item, and whether or not each one is still being used today. She describes life on the Rosebud reservation and how her family combines their Indian heritage with their other interests. Also included in the talk are artifacts and legends of the Mountain Man and the relationship of that culture to the Indians of the plains. Contact NHC.

The Platte River Road, Video
VHS videotape, 60 minutes
The wide Platte valley witnessed many of the major developments and characters in the western American frontier during the struggle for dominance between Native American and Euro-American cultures. In addition, the program explores more recent issues affecting the region: water use and rights, shifting populations and economic development. Contact NHC.

Photographing the American Dream
NHC Speakers Bureau slide presentation
by John Carter
The last half of the 19th century saw an incredible migration to America’s Great Plains. Thousands of people left ancestral homelands to answer the siren call of free land. This illustrated presentation explores the social and cultural forces that pushed people onto the plains, and the life that they found when they got here. Images by pioneer photographer Solomon D. Butcher bring us face to face with those who broke the sod and settled the plains in this presentation by the author of an acclaimed study of Butcher’s work and times. Contact NHC.

Reminiscences of an Oregon Trail Pioneer
NHC Speakers Bureau living history
presentation by Maurine Roller
The Oregon (Overland) Trail linked the East with the West via the “Great American Desert.” Thousands of men and women chronicled their journeys from all that was familiar to their Promised Land. Roller researched over 400 women’s diaries and created a composite pioneer woman, Cora Garvey, who left Missouri in 1853 to find a new life in Oregon. Cora, now at journey’s end, looks back over the past six months. She reminisces over the incidents she experienced or witnessed: cholera, interactions with Indians, accidents, humorous happenings, and the everyday toil. Cora breaks through many of the myths and stereotypes surrounding the women who traveled the Overland Trail. Contact NHC.

Scene in city park, Alliance, 1940, Film Clip,
From NSHS’s “Film Clips of Nebraska’s Past”

Printed Western Materials:

Contact The Nebraska State Historical Society, Research and Publications Division
James E. Potter, Associate Director for Research and Publications
1-800-833-6747, Research and Publications
471-4747 in Lincoln

Bartlett Richards, Nebraska Sandhills Cattleman, by Bartlett Richards, Jr., with Ruth Van Ackeren, 1980, 289 pp., $5.00 NSHS
A biography of a pioneer cattleman of the Nebraska Sandhills during the formative years of the range cattle industry, based on his letters. Index, photographs, and appendices are included.

The Crazy Horse Surrender Ledger, ed. Thomas R. Buecker and R. Eli Paul, 1994, 186 pp., $44.95 NSHS
Reproduces a ledger containing an 1877 census of Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Indians at Red Cloud Agency, including Crazy Horse’s band. Introduction, appendix, and illustrations are included.

“Fort Atkinson.”, From NSHS’s Nebraska Trailblazers Series
From 1820 to 1827 Fort Atkinson was the largest and strongest military post beyond Saint Louis. A map shows the fort’s location, Long’s expedition, and the early Santa Fe Trail. Pictures include Colonel Henry Atkinson and Major Stephen Long. Illustrations show steamboats on the Missouri, an Indian peace council, and fur trappers. The coloring page features the well-dressed soldier; drawings show a teacher and pupils, and laundresses at work. The activity is a word scramble about everyday life at the fort.

“Fort Kearny.” Educational Leaflet NSHS
Eight pages, printed booklet, illustrations, bibliography. History of the
important army post on Oregon Trail and Pony Express routes. . . . . . . . $.50

“Fort Robinson.” Educational Leaflet NSHS
Five pages, photocopied, bibliography. History of this important
Indian wars army post. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $.20

Fort Robinson: A Self-Guided Tour, by Thomas R. Buecker, 1997, 32 pp., $2.50 NSHS
A self-guided tour with detailed description of the fort’s many functions over the years. The guide opens with a map numbered with “stops” for the tour. A description of each stop follows with photographs and background on the use and history of the buildings and sites. The guide also features a map of the larger area surrounding Fort Robinson, a map noting buildings and sites on the grounds from 1874 to 1878, and a glossary of terms.

A Frontier Army Christmas, ed. Lori A. Cox-Paul and Dr. James W. Wengert, 1996, 136 pp., $12.95 NSHS
For residents of frontier army posts, the celebration of Christmas was an exercise in imagination. An important break in the routine of army life, the rich traditions of this holiday came alive in the Old West. Divided into ten chapters, it offers a series of contrasting images of this favorite holiday: war and peace, officers and enlisted soldiers, men and women, adults and children.

“Oregon Trail.”, From NSHS’s Nebraska Trailblazers Series
Illustrations of Nebraska City, Mormon handcarts, Fort Kearny, Rock Creek Station, O’Fallon’s Bluff, Chimney Rock, Courthouse Rock, Ash Hollow, Scotts Bluff, and Fort Laramie. A detailed drawing of campsite along the Platte River is the coloring page. Activity is an “Oregon Trail” maze.

“Ranching.”, From NSHS’s Nebraska Trailblazers Series
The coming of the railroad enabled cattle ranching to begin in Nebraska. A map shows the four main trails on which cattle were driven to railroads in Nebraska. Pictures include ranches, cowboys, longhorn cattle and Herefords, rustlers, a chuck wagon, range wars, and rodeos. A drawing of a cowboy, his horse, clothes, and equipment are shown on the coloring page. How to read a brand is the featured activity in this issue.

“Recipes from a Sod House Kitchen.” Educational Leaflet NSHS
Four pages, photocopied. Pioneer recipes from settlers migrating from
the eastern United States and Europe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $.10

“Red Cloud And The Sioux Nation.”, From NSHS’s Nebraska Trailblazers Series
Red Cloud and the Oglala band of Sioux are featured in this issue. Maps show the location of the numerous Sioux bands. Pictures show various phases of Sioux life. Red Cloud’s leadership, at the peak of the Lakotas’ power, is described. A story from Red Cloud’s life is told in pictures. The activity is a timeline quiz.

“The Sod House.” Educational Leaflet NSHS
Eight pages, photocopied, bibliography. Description of soddy
construction, other early Nebraska homes, and America’s first
homestead. Brief biography of first homesteader Daniel Freeman. . . . . $.20

“Spain on the Plains.”, From NSHS’s Nebraska Trailblazers Series
Spain expanded out of Mexico into the Plains beginning with Coronado’s expedition in 1541. The Pueblo revolt was followed by the Spanish acquisition of the territory west of the Mississippi River in 1763. Other topics covered are the American purchase of the area, the fur traders who changed citizenship after the purchase, the Mexican Revolution, the Santa Fe trails, and the Mexican-American war.

“The Teton Dakota (Sioux) Indians.” Educational Leaflet NSHS
Seven pages, photocopied, bibliography. The history and culture of
this tribe includes a brief biography of Crazy Horse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $.20

“Victory 95,” $10.00 NSHS
Fiftieth anniversary of World War II issue of Nebraska History 76 (Summer/Fall 1995). This issue tells the stories of various Nebraskans involved in the war: Nebraska nurses, one of the Doolittle Raiders, workers at the Hastings Naval Ammunition Depot, a war correspondent for the Omaha World-Herald, and a heroic army officer from West Point, Nebraska.