By Shevonne Travers
Editor’s Note: This is the third part of a series of articles about local native Sarah Joslyn’s legacy in Omaha and in the Mad River Valley where she was co-founder of the Joslin Memorial Library.
In 1916, three years after Omaha’s horrific tornado, the reconstruction of Joslyn Castle and Violet’s wedding, Sarah Joslyn lost her husband George Joslyn. Yet, Sarah had little time for mourning. The United States entered World War I in the spring of 1917 and Sarah jumped on board to lend a hand to the soldiers and to her community. She donated a portion of the Joslyn Castle and the gardens to women for cultivating potatoes. She, and suffragists from multiple states, believed if the government leaders witnessed women farming (while the men were away), they would recognize how capable and fit women were, and thus support them in their right to vote.
Sarah volunteered with the Red Cross, provided transportation to soldiers, opened the Castle’s game rooms to the soldiers, oversaw the Liberty Loan Drive and the relief campaign for Armenia. When the war ended, she donated funds to disabled veterans and assisted in hunger relief efforts for Austrian and German children.
Sarah did not, however, let go of her desire to create a memorial to honor George; one that would represent his values and provide a permanent home for the arts for the people of Omaha. Because the Joslyn’s wealth had come from Omaha, she wanted their wealth to be returned to the city for the benefit of citizens and to be enjoyed by as many people as possible.
To finance the memorial, she established the Society of the Liberal Arts, housed on the grounds of the Castle, and sold her controlling interest in Western Newspaper Union for five million dollars. She hired John McDonald, the architect who had designed the Castle and the Joslin Memorial Library, to design and oversee the construction of the art museum.
On November 29, 1931, the Joslyn Memorial Museum opened. Twenty-five thousand people attended the ceremony, and Sarah was quoted as saying “If there is any good in it, let it go on and on.” While remembrances of her husband cover the outside of the building, the inside of the museum houses a diverse collection of American and European art, Western art, and contemporary art. The auditorium hosts musicians and lecturers of every kind. It was Sarah’s desire that people who visit be inquisitive and excited. It is the largest museum in Nebraska and has since its opening undergone several expansions, the most recent one, a 42,000-square-foot pavilion, completed in 2024.
Throughout the 1930s Sarah often visited the museum, spending much of her time in the room with the stained-glass windows. During this time, Sarah received thousands of requests for financial assistance, helping many, as she wished to make the world a better place for all living creatures.
Sarah passed away in March of 1940, having lived a very full 89 years. She left an estate valued at $3.2 million and large sums to several charities in Omaha and to her daughter Violet. She gave funds and many of her treasured books to the Joslin Memorial Library.
While many of the families who built Omaha are now largely forgotten, Sarah Joslyn’s commitment to the people of the city keeps her vision fully alive. And that is the story of how a small-town farm girl from Fayston, born in the 1850s, put down roots in Nebraska, making a name for herself and for George. And, because of their generosity, the Mad River Valley community benefits each and every day within and beyond the walls of the Joslin Memorial Library.
The celebration honoring Sarah Joslyn will take place Saturday evening, June 7, from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Joslin Memorial Library. All are welcome to hear from a variety of Sarahs as they bring her back to life and to enjoy the music from this time period, performed by Linda Ratke.
