This is an image of a collage of "Family of the Week" articles from the Omaha Star newspaper. Each of the features included a picture of the family along with a short caption. For interviews and oral histories of this and other items please visit the History Harvest YouTube Channel.
Native Omaha Days, North Omaha History Harvest, 2011
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This is an image of an advertisement for the Carnation Lounge in North Omaha. The advertisement is for a floor show and dance. The show featured two dancers known as Henrienne (Congo) Bowler a "sensational dancer" and Katherine (The Great) Montgomery, "Queen of the Sombi." The shows started at 10 p.m.
A Treat For Those Who Like Good Entertainment
This is an image of an Omaha Star write-up on an upcoming music performance at the Carnation Ballroom. The caption reads, "James Brown, with the Famous Flames, will be the featured entertainer at the Carnation Ballroom, February 16, 1957. Also with James Brown and the Flames, will be Fats Gonder and his orchestra. James Brown is known for his popular rendition of 'Please, Please, Please,' 'I Won't Plead No More,' and 'Chonnie-on-Chon'." At the time of this performance, James Brown had some national notoriety, with "Please, Please, Please" making the charts in 1956, and would go on to gain wide commercial success in the following years. For interviews and oral histories of this and other items please visit the History Harvest YouTube Channel.
This is image focuses on a few of the music advertisements in the Omaha Star. The acts include Earl Bostic, Roland Cook & His Orchestra, and Shirley & Lee. For interviews and oral histories of this and other items please visit the History Harvest YouTube Channel.
This is an Omaha Star advertisement for the Carnation Ballroom in North Omaha. The event was entitled, "A Night in Harlem" and featured musicians Cliff Dudley and Richetta. The MC for the event was Leon Oden. The event also featured Sami Jett who was noted as a "sophisticated contortionist dancer." For interviews and oral histories of this and other items please visit the History Harvest YouTube Channel.
This is an image of a "Man of the Week" article that was published in the Omaha Star. The caption reads, "Mr. Jessie F. Shields, popular South Omahan, of 5307 South 28 Street, is our "man of the Week." He is a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church. He has several hobbies, a few of which are: dancing, boxing, and other sports. His ambition is to be a deluxe entertainer (ala Astaire)." For interviews and oral histories of this and other items please visit the History Harvest YouTube Channel.
Samuel L. Roberts' Letter from the Civil War Battlefield near Chattahoochee River, Georgia, July 12th, 1864
This letter sent from the Civil War battlefield in Georgia is the only one left with the granddaughters of Samuel L. Roberts and is a vivid source on the life in the Union Army towards the end of the war. Born in Ohio, but living in Indianola, Iowa in 1861, Roberts was only 18 when he enlisted. The 15th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment where he served was mustered in 1862, and was engaged in the Battle of Shiloh, and the Second Battle of Corinth, where the Confederate army captured Roberts and later exchanged him in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Despite the pledge upon parole "not to take arms again" he probably never quit the service and in 1864 participated in the Atlanta Campaign with the 15th Iowa. Roberts probably wrote a letter in three sittings using black ink, pencil, and blue ink near the sight of the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. Roberts started the letter with excuses for not writing for "several days for we have been fighting nearly every day," and the news of his health ("have escaped so far the shot and shell") and other "boys" wounded. He followed with the detailed description of the battle and the Confederate army running away ("the cowardly cusses couldent stand our bayonets so they showd us their heels") and ended with a description of the drunken commander's suicidal order luckily averted by other commanders. Among other things one can see how important the 4th of July celebration was for the Iowan (he mentioned the date twice), what Union soldiers ate (Sowbelly – salted pork) and drank (coffee), and the everyday expressions they used to call the Confederate soldiers (the rebs, the butternut devils). For interviews and oral histories of this and other items please visit the History Harvest YouTube Channel.
Grace Emmett and Mary Ann Hessenflow, Nebraska City History Harvest, 2010
These are two advertisements for musical acts in Omaha. The first is for Eddie Boyd and his Orchestra at the Carnation Ballroom in North Omaha. The second is for of an advertisement for Roy Hamilton and his All-Star Orchestra at the new Omaha City Auditorium in downtown Omaha. For interviews and oral histories of this and other items please visit the History Harvest YouTube Channel.
This image features several advertisements for music events at Carnation Ballroom and the Off-Beat Supper Club in North Omaha. The musicians and bands include James Brown, Lloyd Price, and The Clovers. For interviews and oral histories of this and other items please visit the History Harvest YouTube Channel.
This image focuses on a few advertisements for music events at the Dreamland Ballroom in North Omaha. The musicians and bands pictured are The Ravens, Earl Hines, Louis Jordan, and Terry Gordon. For interviews and oral histories of this and other items please visit the History Harvest YouTube Channel.