One of the highest ways we can honor those who have contributed greatly to the cause of Nebraska history is through the naming of buildings, rooms, and programs.

Three recent namings include the Oldfather Family Auditorium, the Harl and Kay Dalstrom Research and Publications Suite and the Dr. Don Gerlach Capitol View Room.

THE DR. DON R. GERLACH CAPITOL VIEW ROOM

On September 25, 2017, the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation dedicated Nebraska History’s Capitol View Room in their Lincoln Headquarters as “The Dr. Don R. Gerlach Capitol View Room.”

 

Dr. Gerlach has a history of long-time advocacy for the teaching of American History in higher education. His philanthropic support of History Nebraska, formerly the Nebraska State Historical Society, and the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation helps to make Nebraska’s history accessible to future generations to come.

 

Dr. Don Gerlach Capitol View Room
From left: Cindy Drake, Library Curator, Nebraska State Historical Society, Dr. Don Gerlach, Harl Dalstrom, Kay Dalstrom
HARL AND KAY DALSTROM RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS SUITE

On December 16, 2016, the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation dedicated the Research and Publications Suite at History Nebraska’s Lincoln headquarters as the “Harl and Kay Dalstrom Research and Publications Suite.”

 

This suite houses the History Nebraska editorial offices, where publications are created for scholarly and wider audiences. The society’s quarterly journal “Nebraska History,” the quarterly newsletter, “Nebraska History News,” as well as History Nebraska books, blogs and other social media communications are produced in the suite.

 

The Dalstroms have made many contributions to the preservation of Nebraska History. Harl Dalstrom authored an article in a popular issue of “Nebraska History,” devoted to the notorious Nebraskan winter of 1948-1949.

 

Harl and Kay Dalstrom Research and Publications Suite
Special Guests Harl and Kay Dalstrom at the 2017 NSHSF annual meeting, Omaha
OLDFATHER FAMILY AUDITORIUM

The Charles (1927 – 1998) and Diane Oldfather family of Lincoln is responsible for our Foundation’s ability to do much of what we do today in support of the NSHS, and toward the overall cause of preserving Nebraska history. The Oldfather family’s long-standing love of Nebraska history inspired the establishment of the Oldfather Endowment Fund in 1997. This fund provides a key source of long-term, stable financial support for our operational needs. Operational funds are often the hardest for a charity to raise, and the Charles and Dianne Oldfather Fund has grown over the years through many additional gifts from the family, their many friends, former professional colleagues, and fellow supporters of our grand cause.

 

In 2016, the David and Roxanne Oldfather family established an additional endowment fund at the Foundation, the income of which is currently being used to support the presentation of Nebraska history at the Archway Monument in Kearney, Nebraska. Funds from the Oldfather Family Fund for Nebraska History Fund were recently allocated to purchase a museum-grade case at the Archway which will be used to display Nebraska history items for public viewing and education.

 

In 2018, the NSHS, in recognition of the long-standing support the Oldfather Family has provided to the work of both the Foundation and the Society, named the Oldfather Family Auditorium at the Nebraska History Museum. The Oldfather Auditorium is used for myriad Nebraska history related functions, seminars, and events throughout the year, including the Foundation’s popular “Brown Bag Lecture Series,” which is open to the public and takes place at noon on the third Thursday of every month.

 

Oldfather Family Auditorium
Oldfather Family Auditorium