Book about designer of Nebraska State Capitol tile work hits LPS library shelves

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A book that was published in 2020 is finally gracing the shelves in Lincoln Public Schools libraries.

“Immigrant Architect: Rafael Guastavino and the American Dream” tells the story of an immigrant family that created works of art in architecture — including at the Nebraska State Capitol.

Russ Dantzler, a former Nebraskan turned New Yorker, grew up around the Capitol and always marveled at its interior design.

It wasn’t until the COVID-19 shutdown that he found a book detailing the history of the family that created the tile work on the domes inside the capitol.

The book tells the story of the Guastavino family and their emigration from Spain.

Thanks to a donation of $729.80 from the Lincoln Center Kiwanis Club, the book is in every LPS elementary school.

“The part I think that I love the most is how it represents our students who come to our schools speaking very little English,” said Chris Haeffner, director of library services. “And in some cases, just like the character in this book, they may be the ones in their family who speak the best English of all, and so they become the ones who are helping their parents.”

Haeffner hopes the book will be used in the curriculum when students learn about immigrants and the Capitol.