It is easy to forget that Creighton’s campus sits on a very important part of America’s history. On March 13, Sara Crook, professor of political science and history at Peru State College held a performance on campus called “Nebraska’s Winding Road to Statehood”.

Students were invited to watch as Crook morphed into Barbara Ann Kagey Mayhew Bradway, a woman living in 1880s Nebraska. Crook told the story of early Nebraska’s history through her character. Stories included her own role as a woman, as well as about the politics of the Nebraska territory.

Debra Sturges, Head of Access Services at Reinert-Alumni Library said having a woman’s point of view from that time period is refreshing.

“I think it was interesting because women weren’t consulted or informed about a lot of what was happening then, yet they were left with great responsibilities,” Sturges said.

Bradway’s stories included her first thoughts of early Nebraska life, particularly her recounting of the rivalry between Nebraska City and Omaha City over the location of the territorial capital. The other key information that

Bradway shared was her family’s involvement in the Underground Railroad and how different Nebraskans felt about this controversial issue of that day.

Crook decided that teaching about this time period would be more interesting if she actually became a character.

“I wanted a different delivery than just a plain presentation and felt that if I could find a woman of the past to tell the story it would have more impact,” Crook said. “It is difficult to find ‘notable women’ from the mid 1800s as their role was generally wife and mother.”

Crook said three factors helped her take on the character of Bradway. First, Bradway’s life was fairly well documented through the actions of her brother. Secondly, her home in Nebraska City allowed for a great discussion of the politics involved in selecting the territorial and state capital cities. Thirdly, Crook said she realized that Bradway died less than a mile from her own home.

“It seemed foreordained that she was the character that was best to tell the stories of early Nebraska history,” Crook said.

Crook performs at schools and campuses statewide. She said she hopes the performances help students in Nebraska realize how historically important the shaping of their state was and how it made the state the way it is today. “I hope students and adults were made more aware how past events shape who we are, collectively and individually, even today,” Crook said. “History has some great lessons to teach and obviously provides the backdrop for the old adage from experience comes wisdom.”