https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/22875/archive/files/c55331bcd1530f03e4985d9d39525ba1.jpg?Expires=1787788800&Signature=c6NMrpNR0Dw-NJ0SnITQjEmI9Ur9idFl%7EOFe2OPYqgD9ipJvMnwa4OROY20hjtQ9UmTZxonISbVzRk7Q1LAbC1Ep7kKoy810kbH0DeAQg34a6u5Vd%7E%7EqCaK0Wo5CF42Zfi8fP9mucmhzs8jsePqvTou9LTrNlLeW-DwuDf0CUCvWIrb3Jtrf18NIzz3aKIGJWJqPhALD0A9mP7iHzmhLB0njbekpsBtIo4zir6yzJ08o6bkJZRdrmstcFlC1gqPnKmcWIJaHXIoflrLpmBIZtPSn34QCjcb0nveJbJ09kn-RNV-Id6qhNMpaORzxIO9hf8PfjoujhdnEv6VCN%7EouQA__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM d0eeaf0804a4f6552d75c6236c0bf860 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource LGBTQ+ Oral History Collection Description An account of the resource The LGBTQ+ Oral History Collection is the home for oral history interviews conducted with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, nonbinary, and asexual individuals from various communities with a focus on those with a connection to Omaha, Nebraska. The interviews were consciously collected to be part of UNO’s Queer Omaha Archives. Interviews to date are all audio recordings and include community members and UNO faculty; interviewees are described individually. Interviews to date have been conducted by UNO professor Jay Irwin, UNO archivist Amy Schindler, UNO students in Prof. Jay Irwin’s Fall 2016 Introduction to LGBT Studies course, and UNO Libraries oral history associate for the Queer Omaha Archives Luke Wegener. Contact UNO Libraries' Archives and Special Collections about access to interviews not yet available online. Oral history is one of many sources available to consult as part of your research. It reflects the experience of an individual and shares personal opinions offered by the interviewee in response to questioning. Additional sources can verify and provide additional information to the narrative of events presented in oral histories. Contact UNO Libraries’ Archives & Special Collections to continue your research, find additional sources, or learn more. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2016-2018 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Irwin, Jay (Interviewer, Person) Wegener, Lukas (Interviewer, Person) University of Nebraska at Omaha. University Library Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available University of Nebraska at Omaha Libraries Relation A related resource LGBTQ+ Oral History Collection finding aid available at <a href="https://archives.nebraska.edu/repositories/4/resources/604">https://archives.nebraska.edu/repositories/4/resources/604</a> Language A language of the resource English Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context UNO-0240 Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Luke Wegener Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 03:32:33 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with George Wolf Subject The topic of the resource Queer Omaha Archives Sexual minorities -- Nebraska -- Omaha interviews oral histories (document genres) Description An account of the resource Click here to access the interview, <a href="https://library.unomaha.edu/_audio/UNO-0240_George-Wolf.html">LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with George Wolf</a> Dr. George Wolf, retired UNL Associate English Professor and LGBTQ+ activist, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on December 1, 2017 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Wolf shared information about his childhood in New York, his father's mental illness, knowing he was gay as a young boy, his first marriage to a woman, his decades-long career teaching English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, his unorthodox teaching style, and his long-term relationship with partner, John G. Taylor. Biographical Sketch Dr. George Wolf, born in Brooklyn, New York, is an Associate Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a long-time LGBTQ+ activist. Wolf, who is white, earned a BA in English from Brooklyn College in 1961, and a PhD in English from the University of Connecticut in 1971. Wolf moved to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1966, where he would teach English and inspire students at UNL for more than three decades. The winner of numerous awards, such as the University of Nebraska Foundation Medal for Distinguished Teaching (1973), James A. Lake Academic Freedom Award (2002), and the UNL Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Contributions to the GLBT Community (2003), Wolf was known for his "unorthodox methods" - as described by a 2001 Daily Nebraskan article - and creative, imaginative teaching style that invigorated students. Since retiring in 2003, Wolf spends his time working for the Center for Great Plains Studies and is involved with organizations such as the ACLU of Nebraska, American Association of University Professors, National LGBTQ Task Force and Lancaster County Democratic Party. Wolf's late partner of 40 years, John G. Taylor (1952-2014), was also a prominent voice in Lincoln's activist community for several decades. Interview Summary Dr. George Wolf, retired UNL Associate English Professor and LGBTQ+ activist, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on December 1, 2017 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Wolf was born in Brooklyn, New York to George and Frances Wolf and grew up in a working-class, Presbyterian family. As a child, Wolf struggled with his father's mental illness, angry outbursts, and frequent psychiatric hospitalizations. Intellectually gifted and more mature than his peers, Wolf enjoyed sharing his knowledge with classmates, reading about world events and politics. Growing up in the 1940's, Wolf was aware of his same-sex attraction and had physical relationships with other boys, but knew his desires were considered immoral. With no role models or guidance to help him process his sexuality, he felt alone and lost. Longing to escape Brooklyn after graduating with his BA in English from Brooklyn College in 1961, Wolf went on to earn his PhD in English from the University of Connecticut in 1971. Before graduate school, Wolf sought out psychotherapy to "cure" himself of homosexuality, but his attempts proved unsuccessful. After marrying Nancy Connors in 1962 and moving to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1966, Wolf began his decades-long career at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s English department (1966-2003). In 1973, Wolf's marriage to Nancy ended and he began to come to terms with his sexuality with the aid and mentorship of gay colleagues, including author and queer scholar, Dr. Louis Crompton. In 1973, Wolf met his partner, John G. Taylor at a dance in a church basement. Sensing he was gentle and kind, Wolf and Taylor began a relationship that would span four decades until John's death in 2014. Taylor, like Wolf, was a community activist and passionate about social justice. Early on in his career at UNL, Wolf discovered the book "Freedom to Learn" by Carl Rogers, which spoke against the conventions of traditional teaching methods and encouraged a more collaborative, less hierarchical approach. This drastically changed Wolf's perspective on teaching and he began using more innovative teaching methods in his classroom. These methods had a positive impact on his students for decades, and taught them to connect and engage with literature in new and exciting ways. Even after retirement, Wolf still runs into former students who share with him the impact he had on their lives. Dr. Wolf has won numerous awards for his teaching and advocacy work, including the University of Nebraska Foundation Medal for Distinguished Teaching (1973), James A. Lake Academic Freedom Award (2002), and the UNL Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Contributions to the GLBT Community (2003). Since retiring in 2003, Wolf spends his time working for the Center for Great Plains Studies and is involved with organizations such as the ACLU of Nebraska, American Association of University Professors, National LGBTQ Task Force and Lancaster County Democratic Party. Interview Notes A heater, at times, can be heard in the background of the recording. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017 December 8 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available University of Nebraska at Omaha Libraries Relation A related resource LGBTQ+ Oral History Collection finding aid available at <a href="https://archives.nebraska.edu/repositories/4/resources/604">https://archives.nebraska.edu/repositories/4/resources/604</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource mp3 Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource audio Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context UNO-0240_George-Wolf audio LGBTQ Oral History