On this day in 1848, Wisconsin became the 30th U.S. State. To celebrate this anniversary, here are some facts about the Badger State: — The name “Wisconsin” comes from a Ojibwa word meaning “red rocks” or “gathering of waters.” The name was originally used to describe the Wisconsin River. — Wisconsin claims to be the home of more country music festivals than any other state. — America’s Dairyland is actually only the second highest producer of dairy products in the United States – California is first. — Architect Frank Lloyd Wright was a Wisconsin Native, and a summer home and … Continue reading This day in history, Wisconsin trivia, and a reminder about BEA

It is a most unusual Donner Party narrative, for rather than writing a narrative of the Donner’s cross-country journey, Gabrielle Burton takes her husband and five daughters on a road trip, visiting spots that Tamsen Donner lived in along the way. The catch? The road trip was in 1977, when Burton was trying to write a novel that touched, but did not focus, on Tamsen Donner. … The result is part memoir, part historical recreation, part travelogue. This is from the blog Ghost Word, which today features a post on University of Nebraska Press author Gabrielle Burton and her newest … Continue reading University of Nebraska Press in (cyber)space

Happy Friday, UNP blog readers! This weekend is the Lincoln Marathon, and a number of University of Nebraska Press employees are running either the full or the half. Most years I’d be out there, too, but alas, I’ll be out of town this weekend, so instead I’ll have to settle for checking my friends’ and co-workers’ times online. Another good substitute for running the actual race, though, is Rachel Toor’s book, Personal Record, which the UNP published last year. Rachel captures the moments of euphoria, despair, crippling pain and relief that come with running a race that long. She also … Continue reading Marathons and sustainable agriculture in this extra-long Friday post

Happy Friday! If you live in Nebraska, I hope you’re enjoying the beautiful day as much as I am. And if you’re in the Boston area next week, you can attend one of two lectures by Nobel Prize winner and University of Nebraska Press author J. M. G. Le Clézio for free. On Tuesday, April 28th, he’ll give a talk and reading in English at MIT, 32 Vassar Street, in Cambridge. The talk begins at 6 p.m. Or, if you’d prefer to hear him speak in his native language, you can attend a lecture in French on Wednesday, April 29th, … Continue reading Need for the Bike

Attention book lovers and bargain hunters: Our hurt book sale is tomorrow! Visit our warehouse (in the Haymarket) for lots and lots of cheap books — $4 for hardcovers, $2 for paperbacks, or fill a bag for a mere $12. There’s lots of good stuff, including Kooser titles, sports history books, and, naturally, lots and lots of stuff about the American West. Exciting stuff! In other event news, Hilda Raz will read from her recent work tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Great Plains Art Gallery, 12th and Q streets. Among Raz’s recent work is What Happens, a poetry collection … Continue reading Book bargains galore!

Grace Snyder grew up in a sod home in the Nebraska Sandhills, wishing she could grow up to marry a cowboy and make beautiful quilts (she got an early start on quilting, making her first while as a girl when she was keeping an eye on her family’s cattle). She did both, and became such an influential quilter that her creations were featured in exhibitions across the country. Her best-known design, “Flower Basket Petit Point,” modeled after a china pattern, was named one of the top 100 quilts of the 20th century. In 1963, Snyder, with the help of her … Continue reading Two quilt exhibits and two quilt books