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Interview with Rev. 0. J. Burkhardt.
At his home, 1236 Washington
Mrs. Burckhardt came to the door, one of the most charming,
cultured women I have ever seen, black or white, (Ihaven't been
many black women). he had a very pleasin well -modulated, refined
voice. The home was very neat. t first I thought it was quite
cluttered there were so many paintine on the walls and so many
painted vases on various stands and tables. 'here were several
setees and an old-fashioned davenport, all recovered with tapestry, etc.
When I talked with Rev. aurckhardt later I had known that was very
active in many organizatir,ns for securing better conditions for his
race I asked him if any Nebraska colored people were nationally
known, he said "My wife is." ihen I remembered that my sisten when
ohrrn of the race relations of the Federated Church women, bead told
of a visit to Irs. L'urkhardt when she was paintin7 a picture for the
city mission, what a fine artist she was.
Mr. Burckhardt could not tell me anythinr more than he had written
in the article. He had told me at the capitol he would like to have
me came to his home for he had some data there. 'hen he got it, it
Was 4ust the same as the hist. Society MS. he refer.ed me to a krs.
Williams from cherry Co. who had lived there until recently, who lives
just beyond the tracks on U. S. and he said she could tell stories but
he could not tell any. I think the colcred folk think that they will
be made fun of some way, and they steer clear of any stories. Le said
his race had no more sLperstitions tha any other. he told me of the
various chur hes throughout the stae and the various settlements.
He gave me his scrapbooks. He said the negroes were always highly
regarded and liked up there. They ran the ranches. He told me of
those whom he knew had moved away. I checked them on the MS. Be said
he had a Eist. of negroes in Custer Co, written by a nerro but he could
not find it. Dwight Griswold was ur there and thought much of negroes,
Mrs Murphy was a colored ranch lady.
Among the towns were there are negroes, and consequently churches,
he mentiGned beatrice (with a large settlement) Nebr. City (pioneer
negroes underground R.R.), Falls City (eAtrch established about 15
yrs ago), Fremont, Alliance, Grand Island, and hastin s. he said there
were several "old-timers" aroudd McCook, No. Ilatte (the latter old
pioneers at time of Buffalo Bill, cattleboys), Aearney, Crete and
Seward (the Bradleys cane from Seward)
Mr. Burckhardt has been chrmn. of the negro civic le rue in
Nebr. for the last 15 yrs. He has done much in advancing negro's cause.
He mentioned placing negro girls in elevators in Omaha, colored clerks
in Orkins. Le has worked much at the peniten iary and saved _negroes
from the electric chair (See scrapbook) lie mentioned the securing
a negro case worker here (Viola Walker?) Among the reople from Cherry
Co. he mentioned Urs. WM. WaLL.er and Mr. .tith on the Journal whose
sons have gone on, one a grad. of Loward Univ. (I think I had a Stith
boy speak at our church once.) He said he had a History of Negroes in
Custer Co. written by a negro but could not find it.