 | Alphabetical Listing |
| Nebraska State Historical Society |
| Nebraska State Genealogical Society |
| Alphabetical Listing |
| Nebraska State Historical Society |
| Nebraska State Genealogical Society |
(The original source of this information is the NSHS leaflet, A Guide to Sources in the Library/Archives at the Nebraska State Historical Society, which grants permission to duplicate it.)
| Location | |
Hours of Operation |
|
Staff Research Services | |
Collection |
NSHS LocationSOCIETY HEADQUARTERS
1500 R STREET
P.O. BOX 82554
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA 68501
(402) 471-3270
NSHS HoursThe headquarters building is closed on legal state holidays even when the Museum at 15th & R Streets is open. The headquarters is also closed some holiday weekends. To be sure of our hours, contact the Library/Archives at (402) 471-4771
NSHS Staff Research ServicesResearchers are invited to visit our facility to use the resources listed in this guide. Reference staff will be happy to assist you to locate appropriate materials and to answer questions concerning your research topic. (Noted in this Guide is the information that free parking is avail- able, Friday noon through Sunday, in the parking lot of Security Mutual Life Insurance Co.)
The staff of the Archives/Library will answer mail requests for information when the requests are specific, clearly stated, and limited in scope. A $5.00 minimum fee is required before research is started. Requests should be limited to three searches per letter and only one letter at a time should be sent requesting searches. When you receive a response to one letter, you may send another request for three searches. We can search a source only when a name, place, and date are indicated as specified throughout this guide. Examples that would constitute one search are: a search for one surname in indexed county histories for one county; a search for one family in a census; a search for one family in land tract records; or a search for one obituary. Letters received which do not indicate specifically what information is requested cannot be answered and will be returned. Because of the volume of correspondence we receive, we may require up to thirty days to reply to a request. For more comprehensive genealogical research, we encourage you to contact local genealogical societies to see if their members might help check records at the Society or in their area. A list of local genealogical societies in Nebraska is available. While we do not loan our books or original documents, some material on microfilm is available through interlibrary loan. Contact the Archives/Library for information.
NSHS CollectionsNebraska federal census enumerations of population are available on microfilm for 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; an 1885 state census of population and the 1890 federal census of Civil War Veterans and Widows are also on microfilm. The 1890 federal census for Nebraska and most of the United States was destroyed by a fire in Washington in 1921. The 1890 federal census of Civil War Veterans and Widows does not give the names of all family members - only the veteran (or widow) is listed. Mortality, agriculture, and industrial schedules are also included in the censuses of 1860, 1870, 1880, and 1885.
We have copies of the 1860 Census Index, 1870 Census Index, and 1890 Census Index of Civil War Veterans and Widows. The 1880 Soundex indexes all families with children under 10 years of age. The 1900 and 1920 Soundex indexes are comprehensive indexes. The 1886 Nebraska Gazetteer and Business Directory Index is an alphabetical index listing farmers and businessmen in Nebraska and is used as a partial index to the 1885 census. There is also an 1890 Nebraska Gazetteer and Business Directory which lists farmers and businessmen by towns and counties only. Both gazetters give only the name, occupation, post office address, and county of residence. The Society has Nebraska gazetteers for other years which list businessmen, but not farmers, by towns and counties only. They were published irregularly between 1879- 1917. Microfilm copies of the gazetteers are available through interlibrary loan.
Nebraska Territorial Census Enumerations for fifteen counties in eastern Nebraska exist for the years of 1854-1856. They were published in the NEBRASKA AND MIDWEST GENEALOGICAL RECORD (1932-1942).
The staff will check census records for mail requests only when the exact name of head of household) is given along with the location of residence if known (county and either precinct or nearby town). Census records are not available through interlibrary loan from the Society.
The U.S. General Land Office Tract Books for Nebraska are available on microfilm. They describe the acquisition of land from the federal government, the date, legal description, type of acquisition, and the final certificate number. This information is needed before the National Archives will search for Homestead, Timber Claims, Kinkaid and Pre-Emption files. The National Archives (Washington, D.C. 20408) files include the application and verification that the individual applying for the land was or intended to become a U.S. Citizen, was of proper age, etc. A card index is available at the Society which indexes applications for selected counties in the western part of Nebraska. Because a complete index is not available, locating an individual in these records requires an approximate legal description of property, although in some cases the post office address may be sufficient. These land records do not show owners of land after the initial purchase from the federal government. The Register of Deeds in the individual counties must be contacted for this information.
The Index to Naturalizations in Nebraska and some Iowa counties, 1906 and Prior on microfilm covers pre-September 1906 naturalization records of Nebraska as well as some counties in western Iowa. The Society has the naturalization records for some counties, but for others the clerk of the particular District Court must be contacted. Mail requests must give the name of the individual naturalized and the county where the person was naturalized if known.
G.A.R. Membership Rosters (the Nebraska Department of the Grand Army of the Republic Membership Files) give the name of each member, dates of military service, the unit and state from which he served, G.A.R. post number, and Nebraska post office address for Union Civil War Veterans. It should be noted that not every Union veteran living in Nebraska became a member of the G.A.R.
G.A.R. burial records is an alphabetical file of Civil War veterans buried in Nebraska which lists the military unit in which the veteran served, date of death, place of burial, and often lists the place and date of birth.
Rosters of Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines, 1887-1925 were printed and published by the Secretary of State from information furnished by county clerks or assessors. These rosters were issued irregularly with the early ones listing veterans of the Mexican and Civil Wars. Later rosters also included Spanish-American and World War I veterans. These rosters only give name, unit designation and post office address.
Rosters of Nebraska Soldiers in the Civil War, 1861-1865, were published in Andreas's 1882 HISTORY OF NEBRASKA. Andreas includes rosters of those persons serving in Nebraska uits during the Civil War and Indian Campaigns on the Plains, 1861-1869. These rosters list names, dates of service, Nebraska residence, and remarks about their service.
Besides the 1890 federal census of Civil War Veterans and Widows, we also have Spanish-American War Service cards which provide name, birth- place, age or birth date, residence, dates of service and assigned unit of Nebraskans.
By entering information from any of these records on a printed form provided by the National Archives, copies of federal military service and pensions files can be requested from the National Archives.
World War I Service Cards are also available and provide name, serial number, residence, age or birth date, and dates of service of Nebraskans.
For assistance in locating service records for veterans who served during World War I and after, contact the Nebraska Veterans Administration Office, 5631 South 48th Street, Lincoln, NE 68516. 1-800-827-1000.
The Society has over 27,000 rolls of Nebraska newspapers on micro- film dating from the territorial period to the present. Most of these papers have not been indexed. Specific incidents such as deaths, marriages, births, etc. will be checked by mail if the exact names (both first and last names) of the individuals are given as well as the exact date and place of event.
Researchers who know the place of an event and only an approximate date may wish to obtain relevant newspapers on film and do their own research. The Society will loan up to two reels of microfilm at a time for a loan period of two weeks. Requests must be received on ILL forms from a library and be accompanied by a $5.00 fee.
The NEBRASKA NEWSPAPER INDEX, a card file available at the Society, includes the LINCOLN JOURNAL, LINCOLN STAR, and the Sunday edition of the OMAHA-WORLD HERALD for the years 1950-1980. It covers state government news, local news, and obituaries. Numerous facts about Nebraska's history and people found in Nebraska newspapers from various time periods, as incidentally located by staff, have also been filed in this index. Staff can check this limited index with just a name.
All newspapers microfilmed by the Society may be purchased at reasonable rates, and information on ordering microfilm copies of a specific newspaper will be provided upon request.
State and Local Public Records and Manuscripts
In addition to the publications and records mentioned, there are numerous Nebraska state and local public records and manuscripts. Examples include tax lists, church and school records, cemetery records, letters and diaries and records of businesses and organizations. These materials are seldom indexed and the name, date and record needed must be specified before staff will check them for mail requests. Inventories for specific public records and manuscript collections are available upon request.
The Historical Society does not have official records of births and deaths on file. Nebraska did not keep official and consistent records of births and deaths before 1904 at either the state or county level. Some earlier birth and death records exist for Lincoln and Omaha and have been filed with the Bureau of Vital Statistics. A few vital records for early eastern Nebraska can be found in THE NEBRASKA AND MIDWEST GENEALOGICAL RECORD. Marriage records have been filed with each county court since the organization of that county. Some counties have given their early marriage records to the Historical Society. Patrons may contact us regarding the marriage records available here. The names of the parties involved, approximate date(s) within one year, and the county must be given in mail requests. Since 1909, copies of marriage licenses have also been filed with the Bureau of Vital Statistics. The Historical Society has records from some District Courts which may contain divorce records. The Bureau of Vital Statistics and the office of the Clerk of the District Court where the divorce was granted have divorce records not available at the Society. For available records of births and deaths after 1904 and marriages and divorces after 1909, contact the Bureau of Vital Statistics, 301 Centennial Mall South, Lincoln, NE 68509-5007 to obtain prices and procedures.
The Society publishes NEBRASKA HISTORY, a quarterly magazine which contains articles about Nebraska's past. Many back issues are still in print and are available for $3.00/issue plus $1.00 postage. A subscription is included with the annual membership fee of $15.00. The complete series of NEBRASKA HISTORY may be purchased from University Microfilm International, 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106. An INDEX-GUIDE TO THE PUBLICATIONS 1885-1956 AND THE MAGAZINE 1919-1958 OF THE NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY is available for $7.00 plus $2.00 postage and any applicable sales tax. The staff will check these indexes upon written request. A specific topic or person must be indicated. Fees will be charged accordingly.
Nebraska Local and Family Histories
The Society has an extensive collection of Nebraska state and local histories, transcriptions of tombstones and cemetery records, family histories, and biographical accounts. Staff will check indexed county histories, cemeteries, biographies, Nebraska Family Notebooks, etc., upon written request when name and county are given. Fees run accordingly. Patrons are encouraged to contribute their family sheets on 8 1/2" x 11" paper to the Society so that they may be added to our Nebraska Family Notebooks.
Nebraska Photograph Collection
The Society has copied over 50,000 of its most used photographs on a high quality, tonal microfiche which can be interlibrary loaned. This allows the researcher to look at the pictures without visiting the Society's head- quarters in Lincoln. For information regarding these collections and their use, please contact us at [the "R" Street] address.
The Society houses an extensive collection of audio recordings and moving images. Included are numerous oral history interviews and motion picture film footage relating to Nebraska. This collection is not yet indexed.
Nebraska maps, atlases, and directories of many types are available. Mail requests regarding these sources will be answered and copies made when possible.
The Archives/Library no longer circulates the same 15 reference leaflets as it did in the past. Some are no longer relevant, and the information from others is incorporated in the list below. These reference information guides are available from the Society free of charge:
Complete Alphabetical Listing | County Listing | NEGenWeb Main Page