By SARA GIBONEY
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – Community members can help document history by bringing artifacts to Kearney’s History Harvest June 20.
The public is encouraged to bring photographs, letters, postcards, newspaper clippings, memorabilia, heirlooms and artifacts to the Frank House on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus between 1-6 p.m. The items will be categorized and digitized to help preserve local history. Items are then returned to the owners.
History Harvest is part of Nebraska Chautauqua events, which take place June 17-21.
“It’s really fun and educational. It provides people with the opportunity to research family and local history in a way that we’ve never had access to before,” said Jinny Turman, assistant professor of history at UNK.
“More and more information is available through the internet. The History Harvest provides a great resource and tool for researching local history, and it’s a way for UNK to work with the community.”
Kearney’s first History Harvest took place in April 2014. Between 10-15 people brought more than 300 artifacts to the event.
“People can really bring in anything portable. Scanners and video equipment will be available to record and digitize history. It can be anything that is meaningful and important,” Turman said.
History Harvest is a learning initiative developed by the history department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The harvesting of local artifacts is intended to reveal important new historical materials that are buried in attics, basements and archives.
The project also allows students an opportunity to work with a faculty member, and organize each harvest and process and analyze the artifacts.
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Source: Jinny Turman, 308.865.8900, turmanja@unk.edu
Writer: Sara Giboney, 308.865.8529, giboneys2@unk.edu
