Q. Could you please tell me more about the Institute for Icarian Investigations housed at the University of Nebraska--Omaha.

Here is our description of the Icarian Collection, as posted to our research guide, Primary Sources for Historical Research:

"The Icarian Collection contains several hundred books formerly owned by a 19th Century utopian community based near Corning, Iowa.  The collection encompasses books published from the early 1700's to the late 1800's, most of them in French.  The collection is of historical and sociological value to scholars of utopian and also includes documents, books, and articles relating to the history of the Icarian community.  These materials are house in Univerisity Archives/Special Collections."

UNO does not currently sponsor an Institute for Icarian Investigations.  The faculty most interested in the community retired years ago, but the library continues to house the collection.  Should you be interested in visiting, please contact Mr. Les Valentine, University Archivist, to alert him and schedule an appointment.  He will be happy to help can be reached at 402-554-2362 or at lvalentine@unomaha.edu. 

Regards,

James Shaw, Director of Collections, Criss Library, UNO; jshaw@unomaha.edu