Kearney Public Library and UNK-History Department welcome you to the history brown bag lunch series Wednesday, April 6 from noon-1:00 pm. Dr. Catherine Biba will present Atomic Spinsters: Single Americans During Mid-Century Marriage Mania.
After years of Depression and war, Americans responded to post-war peace and prosperity with a full embrace of domesticity. Memorialized in popular culture standards like Leave it to Beaver, and leaving a legacy of swaths of 2-3 bedroom single family homes in nearly every American city, "togetherness" and family life sought to warm Americans against the chill of the Cold War. However, while this lifestyle represented some measure of lived reality for millions of Americans, 9% of Americans (whether by choice or circumstance) never lived this particular version of the American Dream--because they never married. This lecture seeks to recover some of the history of this often-marginalized group, and explore what life was like for some of those living outside the societal norm.
Bio: Dr. Catherine Biba is an Assistant Professor of History at Hastings College. There, she teaches all manner of courses in US history ranging from the American West to College Sports in America, and from Natural Disasters in the United States to the History of the American Family. A native of Geneva, Nebraska, she earned her BA in English and History from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln before earning her MA and PhD in History from Cornell University. In addition to teaching in the classroom, Dr. Biba loves having the opportunity to speak to the public about American history, and has spoken at the Nebraska Chautauqua, First Presbyterian Church (Hastings), and Hastings Museum's "Spirits and Interesting People" event. When not doing history, she enjoys stories that didn't actually happen (ie: reading fiction), sewing quilts and clothing, traveling extensively, and watching The Great British Bake-Off on pretty much a permanent loop.
Mark your calendars for this ongoing series on May 4 with a presentation by Dr. Will Stoutamire from University of Nebraska - Kearney.
This program is free and open to the public so bring your lunch and learn! This collaborative program is presented by UNK-History Department and the Kearney Public Library.