The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries’ Archives and Special Collections will hold a special presentation on March 30 at 2 p.m. in the Peterson Room 221, Love Library South, 13th & R Streets, Lincoln Nebraska. The presentation focuses on the Czech Heritage Collections that will be on display outside the Archives’ Reading Room in the Love Library South Lower Level through the first week of April.
The exhibit will feature items related to Charter 77 – a powerful human rights declaration signed by Czechoslovakian dissidents, notably led by Vaclav Havel and Jan Patocka. This document created a platform of civil dissent, advocating for human rights observations in Czechoslovakia, uniting intellectuals, writers, artists and the general public.
This exhibition commemorates the 40th anniversary of Charter 77. It is composed of archival and library materials (including the Czech Heritage Special Collection) from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The exhibition also displays excerpts from the Charter, as well as lists of signatories and news coverage from that time. It recognizes the writer Vaclav Havel and his works, since Havel was a leader of Czech dissent and the first Czechoslovak president after the fall of the Iron Curtain. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Love Library also hosts a large collection of Havel’s works.