UNL's History Harvest to focus on preserving Lincoln refugees' story

            With the public's help, University of Nebraska-Lincoln historians are hoping to better understand and preserve the story of Lincoln's refugee communities.

            UNL's Department of History has organized a two-day History Harvest event for Oct. 28 and Nov. 1. Historians are inviting refugees and community members who work with refugees to share their stories, the culture of their home country and their experiences as a refugee. They're asked to bring their photos, documents, letters, heirlooms, traditional clothing or any other item that helps tell their story. UNL historians won't keep any of the artifacts, but with permission will photograph items or scan documents and photos to add to a Web-based digital archive that will be opened to the public once completed.

            The success of the project depends on community participation, said project organizer Patrick Jones, associate professor of history and ethnic studies.

            The Oct. 28 event runs from noon to 4 p.m. and will be at Lincoln's College View Seventh-day Adventist Church, 4801 Prescott Ave. The Nov. 1 event will be from 4-7 p.m. at the Center for People in Need, 3901 N. 27th St. #1.

            History Harvest events have been held in communities across eastern Nebraska since 2010. The annual event has helped highlight Nebraska's diversity, complexity and rich history. Last year's event in North Omaha focused on African-American history.

Writer: Jean Ortiz Jones, University Communications, 402-472-8320