G.W. Frank Museum of History and Culture

In celebration of International Cat Day today, we have a pretty great cat story we'd like to share:

In 1888, visiting Rev. George Allen Beecher recalled a particularly memorable moment during a Sunday afternoon service at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Kearney. Members of the Frank family were there that day, as they belonged to St. Luke's when they lived in Kearney. During the service, a local cat decided to stroll into the church and surprise the congregation. When people tried to catch the cat it "jumped over the altar rail into the choir" and caused quite the commotion in true cat fashion. Anyone who knows cats can likely imagine the scene that unfolded. Our favorite line in the excerpt below has to be Rev. Beecher's lighthearted musings on the entire scene when he says, "Anything extreme is funny at a solemn service, and this was no exception." We can only imagine the the laughs that were shared, and we're grateful he wrote down the story for us to also enjoy over a century later. Overall, it goes to show you that cats will be cats no matter the time or place.

One week from today! Join us at noon at the Kearney Public Library for a special historical presentation.

We are delighted to announce an exciting upcoming presentation at the Kearney Public Library on Wednesday August 14th for a special presentation on one of our museum's most interesting historical figures: Eliza Galloway.

For decades, the G.W. Frank Museum of History and Culture told the story of Eliza Galloway, one of Kearney’s first Black residents and a domestic servant for the Frank family. But what if that story wasn’t entirely true? Based on the recent discoveries, this presentation reveals new understandings of her life, her relationship with Kearney, and Black history in central Nebraska. In turn, it will discuss the challenges of doing Black genealogy, especially after the Civil War, and the significant role that the preservation of individual voices can play in ensuring faithful historical interpretations. Presented by Associate Professor of History Dr. Will Stoutamire, this presentation promises to be a fascinating look into the life of a remarkable person.

Click on this link for more info on Kearney Public Library's recurring Brown Bag Presentation series: https://kearney.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=102302. Special thanks to the UNK History Department for organizing and partnering with the Frank Museum for this event.

We are delighted to announce an exciting upcoming presentation at the Kearney Public Library on Wednesday August 14th for a special presentation on one of our museum's most interesting historical figures: Eliza Galloway.

For decades, the G.W. Frank Museum of History and Culture told the story of Eliza Galloway, one of Kearney’s first Black residents and a domestic servant for the Frank family. But what if that story wasn’t entirely true? Based on the recent discoveries, this presentation reveals new understandings of her life, her relationship with Kearney, and Black history in central Nebraska. In turn, it will discuss the challenges of doing Black genealogy, especially after the Civil War, and the significant role that the preservation of individual voices can play in ensuring faithful historical interpretations. Presented by Associate Professor of History Dr. Will Stoutamire, this presentation promises to be a fascinating look into the life of a remarkable person.

Click on this link for more info on Kearney Public Library's recurring Brown Bag Presentation series: https://kearney.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=102302. Special thanks to the UNK History Department for organizing and partnering with the Frank Museum for this event.

We will be closed the 4th and the 5th so our employees can enjoy the holiday with their families.

We wish you all a safe, fun, and Happy 4th of July!

Way to go Dr. Nathan Tye! We can't think of anyone more deserving- a dedicated historian, professor, and Frank Museum Advisory Board member. Buffalo County Historical Society/Trails & Rails Museum definitely the right choice 😁

Buffalo County Historical Society/Trails & Rails Museum recently named Nathan Tye, assistant professor of history at UNK, as its recipient of this year’s Volunteer of the Year Award. Tye is an active member of the BCHS, serving on its board and in various capacities. His contributions range from engaging the community through popular presentations and programs to significant efforts in preserving local history. His dedication to researching and safeguarding archives has been vital in maintaining the rich heritage of Buffalo County. Tye also played a key role in organizing the BCHS Sesquicentennial downtown birthday party and was a driving force behind the vintage baseball game against Stuhr Museum.

Today is a remarkable day- our longest-serving tour guide has officially earned his B.A. from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. We could not be more proud or feel happier for Logan Osmera! Beyond giving tours, Logan has completed countless invaluable preservation and research tasks. While we're sad he'll no longer be a tour guide, we're thrilled to announce that he has officially been accepted into 's Public History Masters program and will be back this fall! Congratulations Logan, your hard work and dedication is something to be admired by all 🎉

A huge congratulations to Cassidy Olsen on graduating tomorrow! Cassidy has been done invaluable work at the museum, from doing novel research on some important Frank family artifacts, to completing several important conservation tasks. We know you're on to continue doing amazing things, and we're so grateful to know you as a student and friend!

Congratulations to Delaney Tracy on winning two awards at this Spring's undergraduate Student Research Day: The Wagner Family Writing Award for best undergraduate research paper and the Nikels Scholarship, for an excelling student who hopes to pursue a career in education.

Delaney earned these honors after doing extensive research using primary sources at the Frank Museum and then compiling that research into a creative poster presentation that offers keen insight into the rise and fall (the good, the bad, AND the ugly!) of the George Frank Improvement Co. and the Frank family business empire history. Truly a fascinating look into Frank's questionable business methods, how those decisions affected Kearney's development, and it presents another perspective on the family that built the Frank family mansion. We can't wait to see what she does next!

The museum received some much-needed TLC thanks to the amazing volunteers. We can't thank these students enough for helping clean the museum today!! UNK students are just the best 😁

It's a "Whodunit" night at the museum.....
Thank you to the UNK Intercultural Engagement & Leadership and PRISM for hosting your murder mystery event at the Frank Museum this evening! We love engaging with students, and can't think of a more fun way to bond than trying to solve a murder at the museum 🔎

The Frank Museum will be closed Thursday 4/18 for a special event. Our apologies for any inconvenience.

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The Frank Museum will be closing early today at 4:00pm for a much-deserved staff appreciation party 😁

Truly stunning photographs thanks to Infinite Productions! We are always available for photos on your special day, graduation, or for any occasion. Reach out any time to schedule your appointment!

On this Day in History: We remember David Fremont Smith, who died March 18, 1909 at Kearney's Elmwood Sanitarium (better known today as the Frank Museum). To this day, David is the only person we know for sure who died within the walls of the Frank Museum building.

David Fremont Smith (born January 3, 1857) of Wisconsin was passing through Kearney on his way to Missouri, when he suddenly felt ill. He decided to stop at the Elmwood Sanitarium (formerly the home of George and Phoebe Frank, now the G.W. Frank Museum) to rest and convalesce. After having a "jolly talk" with Dr. Ole Grothan and one of the Sanitarium nurses, David Smith fell asleep and never woke up. He died on March 18, 1909 and his cause of death was likely due to heart failure complications.

To this day- David Fremont Smith is the ONLY PERSON that we know for sure died within the walls of the Frank Museum. While it is likely that others may have passed away at what is now the Frank Museum (either at the Elmwood Sanitarium or the TB Hospital), Mr. Smith is the only person who we have verified documentation that he passed away at what is now the Frank Museum. We have yet to hear his spirit or feel his presence- maybe he did make it to Missouri, or back to Wisconsin after all.

Thank you Dan Reese (a relative of David Fremont Smith) for providing much of this information! We always appreciate members of the community reaching out with their family stories that are tied to the Frank Museum's History.

Due to the ongoing winter weather, the Frank Museum will be closed today, Friday 3/8.
Stay safe friends!

An awesome presentation today from senior museum staff member Logan Osmera. Such an interesting and weird subject! Who knew central Nebraska was once home to a popular zoo/cabinet of curiosities/amusement park? Well done Logan, we can't wait to hear your next one!

Thank you so much to the Holdrege, NE Holdrege Rotary Club 1488 - District 5630 for hosting Director April White as a guest speaker today. We love sharing our story with people who appreciate culture and history as much as we do ❤️

And thank you Micah Huyser for inviting us- we love any chance to collaborate with our fellow museum peeps!

We're here at the UNK Calvin T. Ryan Library checking out the Black Nebraska History project presented by UNK Archives and Special Collections. Some incredible information that we'll bet you didn't know is part of Nebraska's history! Display will be up until 7:00pm tonight, stop by and check it out if you can.

Stop into the Calvin T. Ryan library, second floor, for a special Black Nebraska history artifact showcase. 5pm-7pm, Free and open to the public.

Join us on the second floor of the UNK Calvin T. Ryan Library tomorrow (Feb. 28th) between 5 and 7 for an open house showcasing historic photographs, documents, and books illuminating Nebraska’s Black history.

Thanks to the G.W. Frank Museum of History and Culture for the loan of Eliza Galloway materials. We're happy to be able to share her history as one of the earliest Black residents of Kearney.

Due to unforseen circumstances, the Frank Museum will be closed today (Sunday 2/11). Our apologies for any inconvenience.

Registration for the 2024 NMA Conference is now OPEN! Join us at Stuhr Museum in Grand Island, Nebraska on April 8-9 for informative workshops, inspiring speakers, and intriguing sessions.

http://www.nebraskamuseums.org/conference-and-annual-meeting/

Rainy days are perfect museum visit days. Plus, you can check out our newest exhibit installation- back on display after some lengthy preservation efforts, our collection of 1950s medicines and equipment that belonged to Dr. Burton Bancroft who periodically worked at the Nebraska State Hospital for Tuberculosis. These items provide a tangible look into medical supplies that used to be standard in the U.S. Take some time to consider how they differ from what is standard nowadays. Some items will look familiar, some will make your laugh or cringe, but overall they're definitely interesting!

A huge thank you to our dedicated staff member Logan Osmera for his extensive, comprehensive, and thorough preservation work and research on this project to preserve and fully accession these items into our permanent collection.

It is with a very heavy heart that we announce the passing of our dear friend Virginia "Virgy" Lund. Virgy served as curator of the Frank House from 1990 until her retirement in 2004. She helped lead the Frank House during the transition from Kearney State College into University of Nebraska at Kearney, in 2010 she created and published the first and only full book dedicated to the history of the Frank Museum, "George Washington Frank’s Stone House on the Nebraska Prairie," and she elevated the Frank House into a thriving event space and increased the museum's historical collection. We will always cherish her elegance, grace, intelligence, and depth. Her contributions during her lifetime are as important to the museum's history as any historical photograph, artifact, or archive in our collection. Thank you for everything Virgy, you will be dearly missed.

Virgy passed away on January 26, 2024 at Kearney's Mother Hull Home. Her obituary and service information is available here: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/kearneyhub/name/virginia-lund-obituary?id=54220888