Celebrating the Homestead Act

This year is the 150th Anniversary of the Homestead Act and the Homestead National Monument is right here in Nebraska! Visit the National Park Service site to see events celebrating this landmark in American History. And forthcoming this September is Nancy Plain's Light on the Prairie which features 62 of Solomon D. Butcher's photographs taken of this monumentous event which granted 160 acres of free land to anyone with the grit to farm it. Continue reading Celebrating the Homestead Act

Slaying the Dragon opening night

Tonight is the opening of Center City Opera Theater's Slaying the Dragon, a new opera by composer Michael Ching and librettist Ellen Frankel. Slaying the Dragon is based on the upcoming UNP book Not by the Sword by Kathryn Watterson, in which she tells the inspiring true story of how a Jewish cantor and his family changed the life of a virulent white supremacist leader.  The opening performance is at the Prince Music Theater in Philadelphia at 8:00 p.m. with five performances through June 17. Click here for more information about the opera and performances.  Philly.com previewed the opera earlier this week.     Continue reading Slaying the Dragon opening night

Native American lawyer symposium

In Coyote Warrior, Paul VanDevelder tells the epic story of the three tribes that saved Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery from starvation, their century-long battle to forge a new nation, and the extraordinary journey of one man to redeem a father's dream–and the dignity of his people. VanDevelder was contacted by a group of Albuquerque lawyers to start a scholarship fund for Native-American students called the “Coyote Warrior Fund.” The first two students to receive the money are graduating this year. And this Friday is The First Thirteen – Personal Reflections of the Argument, which is a symposium comprised … Continue reading Native American lawyer symposium

Poetry Out Loud championship

Tomorrow the NEA "Poetry Out Loud" state championship is from 1:00-3:30 p.m. at the Sheldon Museum of Art.  The Nebraksa champion recieves $200 and an all-expense paid trip to the national contest in Washington D.C. where winners from around the nation compete for a $20,000 college scholarship.  UNP is a proud sponsor of the event and it is free and open to the public.  So go show your support to the young Nebraska poets! Continue reading Poetry Out Loud championship

Book signing

Tonight at 7 p.m. in the UNL bookstore you can meet Jeff Kurrus, author of the new children's book Have You Seen Mary? and editor of NEBRASKAland Magazine! Kurrus will read from and sign copies of Have Your Seen Mary? in the University Bookstore, in the lower level of the Nebraska Union at 14 and R streets in Lincoln. Have You Seen Mary? is a fictional account of one sandhill crane’s faithful search during spring migration for his lost mate. The book includes photographs by Nebraska wildlife photographer Michael Forsberg. So come out to the book store to meet a … Continue reading Book signing