First LPS Learning Lunch of season: Stories from LPS library archives

Stories and photographs that share the story of our community and our schools are among the remarkable finds in the LPS archives discovered by Ed Zimmer – Historic Preservation Planner for Lincoln – who shared a few of those stories at the first LPS Learning Lunch of the school year Tuesday at LPS District Office.

Zimmer noted that he frequently uses the LPS archive collection to help him piece together stories and find appropriate old photographs for his various presentations.  He explained that the archives are funded by LPS – along with support from donations through the Foundation for LPS – capped recently by a generous donation in honor of Ruth Stough, an LPS teacher who retired in 1963 after teaching at schools throughout the district. 

Thanking the Foundation and LPS Library Media Services for this great resource, Zimmer spent his Learning Lunch relating “Stories from the LPS Archives” –sharing a wide variety of aging black and white photographs and documents found in the archives.

Something like puzzling out pieces of a puzzle, or even a mystery, Zimmer uses those old photographs and documents to pull together stories of the past.  OnTuesday he shared:

  • Photos and stories of past schools – many now gone – such as the old Hayward and Longfellow schools, the original Everett school, and more.
  • Fascinating photos of LPS students from times past.
  • Photos that illustrate the rich and changing demographics of LPS students and staff over the past centuries.

The LPS archives can also be a place you can expand and learn about the history of the community – not just schools, Zimmer stressed.

“Thank you LPS for this resource,” he said.

LPS Learning Lunches, open to the Lincoln community are generally held on the last Tuesday of the month in the Board Room at LPS District Office, 5905 O St.  Doors to the Board Room open at noon, the program begins at 12:15 p.m., questions-and-answers happen at 12:45 p.m. Please bring your own lunch – we’ll provide dessert. 

The rest of the 2017-18 season:

  • Tuesday, Sept. 26: “Seeds of Hope,” video from Nebraska Loves Public Schools featuring LPS staff members, special guest Oscar Pohirieth, LPS Cultural Specialist and Coordinator for the Bilingual Liaison Program.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 24: School Meals: So much more than Chili and Cinnamon Rolls, Edith Zumwalt, director of Nutritional Services at LPS.  * Serving chili and cinnamon rolls!
  • Wednesday, Nov. 29: Social Emotional Learning: What is it and what does it look like at LPS, Carrie Erks, LPS School Social Worker.  
  • Tuesday, Dec. 19:  Restoring Calm: LPS Response to Crisis, Brenda Leggiadro, LPS supervisor for Counselors and Social Workers; and Ursula Vernon-Hansen, facilitator, LPS Crisis Response Team.
  • Tuesday, Jan. 23: Success with our Scholars, featuring LPS students and Pete Ferguson, coordinator, LPS Youth Development Team.
  • Tuesday, Feb. 27: Kids vs. adults in LPS Spelling Bee, LPS Spelling Bee champions compete with LPS employees, Mindy Murphy, curriculum specialist,Secondary English Language Arts.
  • Tuesday, March 27: Developing Young Men and Women, featuring Huntington Elementary School children and Rik Devney, Huntington principal.  
  • Tuesday, April 24: Great Year of Achievement, highlighting LPS special education programs at Sherrill, Nuernberger and Yankee Hill Education Centers – Jane Stavem, associate superintendent of Instruction at LPS.
  • Tuesday, May 15: Making Music, UKE can do it!  Come try your musical talents with ukuleles, Lance Nielsen, curriculum specialist for Music at LPS.


Published: August 30, 2017, Updated: August 30, 2017

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