The Howells Public Library has survived several floods that have, over the past three decades, destroyed many of their materials.
| Howells Public Library 128 3rd Rd Howells, NE 68641 (402) 986-1210 |
Monday (2:00pm-6:30pm) Wednesday (9:00am-2:00pm & 4:00pm-9:00pm) Friday (2:00pm-5:30pm) Saturday (9:00am-12:00pm) |
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The library catalogue may be accessed through the library’s online computer catalogue. The computer is available for use in the library. The library is divided into sections of fiction, nonfiction, biography, young adult, reference materials, Nebraska Topics, and children’s literature. An additional section is set aside for current magazines and newspapers.
Scope of Archive Collection
Topics of Interest for American History Education include:
The library has a large selection of topics related to Nebraska authors and Nebraska historical figures, such as Willa Cather, Mari Sandoz, J. Sterling Morton, John Niehardt. A large selection of books devoted to Husker football and the University of Nebraska is also available. The section on Nebraska topics is also expanded by books on the history of the American West and Frontier.
Primary Sources Available
Current national and state newspapers are available for use in the library.
Accessibility of Artifacts and Displays
A display of the history of the establishment and events of the Howells Women’s Club is on permanent display at the library. It has a scrapbook of newspaper clippings and photographs that relate to the organization, and also holds a directory of the members who have been involved.
Leigh Public Library
The Leigh Public Library is located on Main Street and has a computer with internet service open to the public.
| Leigh Public Library 156 Main Street P.O. Box 158 Leigh, NE 68643 (402) 487-2507 |
Tuesday (9:00am-11:00am & 2:00pm-5:00pm) Wednesday (2:00pm-6:00pm) Thursday (5:00pm-8:00pm) Saturday (2:00pm-5:00pm) |
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The library catalogue may be accessed through the library’s online computer catalogue. A computer is available for use in the library. The library is divided into sections of fiction, nonfiction, young adult reading, children’s literature, and an area of current magazines and newspapers. The back room of the library holds materials specifically connected to the history of Nebraska, its communities, and its people.
Scope of Archive Collection
Topics of Interest for American History Education include:
Materials on the history of Nebraska and the Great Plains are held in the back of the library. These materials specifically include books by and about Willa Cather, Mari Sandoz, Roger Welsch, Wright Morris, and John Niehardt.
Primary Sources Available
Historical materials on the community of Leigh are found in a few albums containing newspaper clippings and photographs about the town’s early settlers and founders.
Obituaries from nearby Colfax County communities date to the early 1900s and are available for genealogical and research projects.
Current national and state newspapers are available for use in the library.
Accessibility of Artifacts and Displays
The materials related to Leigh in the albums are available for use in the library.
Schuyler Public Library
The Schuyler Public Library is a large facility with a wide selection of reading materials and a computer lab open to the community.
| Schuyler Public Library 1123 A Street Schuyler, NE 68661 (402) 352-2221 |
Monday-Thursday (10:00am-8:00pm) Friday (10:00am-5:00pm) Saturday (10:00am-1:00pm) |
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The library catalogue may be accessed through the library’s online computer catalogue. The computers are available for use in the library. The library is divided into sections of fiction, nonfiction, biography, young adult, juvenile literature, reference materials, and Nebraska topics. An additional section is set aside for current magazines and newspapers.
Scope of Archive Collection
Topics of Interest for American History Education include:
The library has a large selection of topics related to Nebraska authors and Nebraska historical figures and events, such as Willa Cather, Mari Sandoz, J. Sterling Morton, John Niehardt, and Charles Starkweather. A large selection of books devoted to Husker football and the University of Nebraska is also available.
The section on Nebraska topics is also expanded by books on the history and folklore of the Great Plains and the American West.
Primary Sources Available
Current national, state, and local newspapers are available at the library.
Clarkson Memorial Library
The Clarkson Memorial Library was relocated in a brand new facility in the 1990s.
| Clarkson Memorial Library 316 Pine Street Clarkson, NE 68629 (402) 892-3235 Website: http://www.ci.clarkson.ne.us/ commun.htm |
Monday & Friday (3:00pm-5:00pm) Tuesday & Thursday (3:00pm-7:00pm) Wednesday (9:00am-11:00am & 7:00pm-9:00pm) Saturday (9:00am-12:00pm) |
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The library catalogue may be accessed through the library’s online computer catalogue. The computers are available for use in the library. The library is organized into the sections of fiction, nonfiction, history, young adult, and children’s literature. It also holds a section for current newspapers and magazines, and books on tape and CD-ROM.
In the back of the library is a room that holds materials available for genealogical research, such as obituaries and local newspapers that have been formatted into microfilm. A microfilm machine is also available for the use of a researcher.
Scope of Archive Collection
Topics of Interest for American History Education include:
An entire section of the library is devoted to materials on “History,” or more specifically, American History. It holds books on the Civil War, World War II, the Gulf War, and the Revolutionary War. It also has many books on the history of American Sports and Popular Culture.
A smaller part of the History section contains books on the history of the Clarkson community as well as Colfax and Wayne Counties.
Primary Sources Available
A book written during the Clarkson Centennial is available.
Current newspapers are available in paper format, and county newspapers dating back to the early 1900s are available on microfilm.
Tours / Activities
A librarian is always available for assistance with materials and equipment in the Genealogy Room.
Clarkson Historical Museum
The Clarkson Museum reveals the community’s pride in its Czech heritage.
| Clarkson Historical Museum 211 Pine Street Clarkson, NE 68629 (402) 892-3641 (Workplace of Ruth Waters, Current Director of Society) |
Hours: The Clarkson Historical Museum is open to private and group tours. Please make an appointment with the Museum Director. |
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The museum is organized thematically in its displays. It includes displays on early Czech settlers, community Czech Parades, and memorabilia from Clarkson’s Czech Princesses and Queens that have been recognized on both the state and national levels.
Scope of Archive Collection
Topics of Interest for American History Education include:
The museum has medals, pictures, and uniforms from community World War II veterans, and shows the activities of Clarkson citizens during this era.
Tours / Activities
Available upon appointment.
Howells Historical Society
The Howells Museum was organized by the Howells Historical Society in the 1940s. At that time it was located at 4th and Center, currently the location of the Howells Historical Church Museum. In 1988 it moved downtown and has since expanded to fill the space of two buildings.
| Howells Historical Society 2nd & Center Streets Howells, NE 68641 (402) 986-1788, Joanne Mastrick (402) 986-1419, Grace Bodeski |
Hours: The Howells Historical Museum is open for private and group tours. Please call one of the Society Volunteers to schedule an appointment. |
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The Howells Museum is organized thematically. In the first building (the entrance building), displays of artifacts from early homes in Howells include a parlor, a bedroom, and a kitchen. Quilts, school athletic and band uniforms, hats, and wedding dresses made and worn by Howells citizens are found throughout the museum. Pictures from early schools and a photographic timeline (complete with pictures) are hung along the walls of the first building.
Displayed in the back of the first building are photographs and newspaper clippings about celebrated Howells historical figures, such as politicians, doctors, entrepreneurs, and the first settlers.
The second building holds numerous uniforms from World Wars I & II and the Korean War. A few materials from nearby churches are on display, but most of those materials are held at the Historical Church Museum.
Equipment and structures from the old post office and the old doctor’s office are on display. The doctor’s display shows the materials used by Dr. Meyer, who practiced in Howells for over 40 years. On his old desk is a book where he recorded every baby that he delivered throughout his career. On the back cover of this book is a sealed envelope that contains the names of children who had been born out of wedlock!
Scope of Archive Collection
Topics of Interest for American History Education include:
The timeline of events held at the Howells Ballroom during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s include an appearance by Lawrence Welk, the local Hot Shots Orchestra, and other traveling entertainers.
Newspaper clippings and photographs from the floods of 1984 and 1991 show how these events destroyed many business of Howells. They also show how the citizens worked together to rebuild their community.
Traveling Exhibits / Materials
A temporary display of the Loup River Power Project is currently on display at the museum. The historical society allows for other organizations to set up temporary displays at the museum throughout the year.
Schuyler Historical Museum
The Schuyler/Colfax Historical Museum holds a numerous artifacts that have been donated and collected since the organization of the Historical Society in 1976.
| Schuyler Historical Museum 309 E. 11th Street Schuyler, NE 68661 (402) 352-3327, (Maurice, Society Volunteer) (402) 352-3025, (Society Volunteer) |
Tuesday (8:00am-12:00pm) Sunday (2:00pm-4:00pm, except January-March) The Schuyler/Colfax Historical Museum will open for private and group tours upon appointment. |
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The museum has attempted to organize its displays chronologically. However, it has run out of room and is now organizing the displays into topical sections. It begins with the Native Americans who had once lived throughout Colfax County, and then shows displays on the first settlers and buildings of Colfax County and more specifically the town of Schuyler. Displays on the Civil War, the art of quilt-making, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and artifacts from local homes, businessmen (doctors and lawyers), churches, and schools also fill the museum.
Scope of Archive Collection
Topics of Interest for American History Education include:
A collection of various World War II Medals from Schuyler.
There is a particular amount of information on the Svec Brothers (Adolph and Robert), who were Purple Heart recipients and were both killed during World War II. Robert Svec’s body was never found. Their medals, uniforms, letters written during the war, American flags from funerals, photographs, and death certificates are on display.
A display made of artifacts from the building of the Union Pacific Railroad.
100 Life Magazines from the World War II era.
Scrapbooks and photo albums of the activities of Schuyler citizens during World War I.
Poster board displays tracing the history Schuyler’s 1870 Old Courthouse and the Oak Ballroom, and the “mystery” of the Hanging Tree. A poster board also shows that Schuyler was the location of the filming of an episode that aired on the television series “Unsolved Mysteries” in 1988. It was on the 1978 disappearance of the siblings of Walter “Curly” Green, resident of Schuyler who left his estate to them.
An original sod house block, glass negatives from photographs taken in the late 19th century.
Native American artifacts from around Schuyler, including arrowheads and tools.
Original postcards from Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.
Mementos of Civil War Veterans, Sons of Union Veterans and Women’s Auxiliary. Donated as a tribute to the Grand Army of the Republic by members of Phil Sheridan Post #34, Sons of Union Veterans, and Women’s Auxiliary.
Rural School Districts memorabilia (school desks, yearbooks, band instruments, text books, writing utensils, hymnals, dictionaries, and photographs).
Accessibility of Artifacts and Displays
All of the displays are accessible for research purposes. A museum volunteer is available for assistance. A flier that shows drawings of historical Nebraska Indian Artifacts and a timeline of Nebraska’s Indigenous Past is available for teachers and students who attend the museum.
Tours / Activities
Tours are available upon appointment.
House of Yesteryear
Built in 1875, the House of Yesteryear was the 1st Dry Goods Store and for a short time, the local Post Office of Leigh, Nebraska.
| House of Yesteryear P.O. Box 341 Leigh, NE 68643 (402) 487-2283, Facility Contact Phone Number |
Memorial Day-Labor Day Facility may be toured year-round by appointment. (It is cleaned every April for Visiting Season) |
Organization of Archives
Part of the House of Yesteryear is set up to replicate an early twentieth-century dried goods store, while the other part of it is set up as a post office. Artifacts pertaining these themes decorate the walls and furniture that have been included in the displays.
The House of Yesteryear is the only museum that can be found in Leigh, Nebraska. Its collections reflect those of a town historical society, and continue to grow with more community involvement.
Primary Sources Available
Community member scrapbooks that hold newspaper clippings and local/county centennial celebration artifacts are available for viewing.
Photographs of the early settlement of Leigh are framed throughout the museum.
Accessibility of Artifacts and Displays
All of the displays are accessible for research purposes. A museum volunteer is available for assistance.
Tours / Activities
Tours of the House of Yesteryear are available by appointment between Memorial Day and Labor Day.