Cather Foundation Raises Money for Property, Education Improvement

Jan. 28, 2020, 11:43 a.m. ·

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The Pavelka Farmstead located near Bladen, Nebraska. (Photo Courtesy the National Willa Cather Center)

The Willa Cather Foundation has raised $4.7 million to restore eight historic properties in and near Red Cloud, Nebraska, the town where the author spent part of her childhood.


The foundation announced Tuesday it has a $6.5 million fundraising goal for its "Campaign for the Future." Some of the money will also be used improve education and basic visitor amenities in Red Cloud.

“Our current campaign is an integrated effort aimed at preserving sites and elevating our capacity to serve a growing number of constituents,” said Ashley Olson, executive director of the National Willa Cather Center, in a video announcement.

Cather’s childhood home and the Pavelka farmstead, which was the home to woman who was the inspiration for Cather's "My Antonia," will be the first properties restored.

The Willa Cather Foundation hopes to reach its $6.5 million goal by June in time for its 65th annual conference. The fundraising announcement comes one year after the Willa Cather Foundation acquired six properties and 8,000 other artifacts from History Nebraska, the foundation said in a release.