Student to present history research

Foresman will be speaking in the conference’s Great Plains session focusing on the women of the Great Plains. He will be presenting his paper “Frances Maria Brainard O’Linn: A Crucible of Pioneer Feminism in the West.” 

Foresman said the conference could have upwards to 200-300 people at each session. Among those at the conference will be professors and head of departments from multiple states. 

Frances “Fannie” Maria Brainard O’Linn was credited with the founding of O'Linn, a frontier town which was decimated when its residents were later lured to Chadron by the railroad, Foresman said.

"She was critical in the cultural formation of Chadron and its early development, but quite disappointed about the town moving from O'Linn to Chadron and it almost broke her spirit," he said. "Instead of giving up and being disappointed, Fannie eventually moved to Chadron after most, if not all of the residents had relocated to Chadron and decided to be a pillar of cultural strength and help to develop schools, the library, the Methodist-Episcopal Church and other key organizations. She was involved in a long, drawn out battle with the Fremont & Missouri Valley Railroad to keep the town site at O'Linn, which she ultimately lost."

Foresman said O'Linn's impact on Chadron can still be seen today.

“She really helped keep Chadron on the map,” Foresman said. “She did so many things here for women and the suffrage movement and is still present all over Chadron."

He looks forward to the event in North Dakota.

“By going to this conference I’m bringing the college, throwing it on my back and representing us. It’s pretty amazing. This is part of the reason that I chose Chadron State College because I have more of an opportunity for historical study than in larger institutions.” 

Foresman said he first became interested in O’Linn through the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center on campus.

Foresman worked with the National Genealogical Society, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Iowa, Library of Congress, and others while he researched O’Linn during the summer. 

“I found her very interesting,” Foresman said. “After being in the military and coming from a family of 16 kids I have had strong female influences. I think women have been subdued and there are only a few central figures in our history.” 

Foresman said he hopes to shed light upon parts of our history that are lost because there are not a lot spoken about women. If more were spoken about, he says, maybe more women would be interested in history.