On November 20, 2025, I completed my first year as the director of the Nebraska State Historical Society (NSHS). I walked through the door a year ago, knowing I didn’t know much beyond where the Nebraska History Museum is located and that the original museum was located on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Boy, did I have a lot to learn!
One thing that became quickly apparent was that NSHS has a team of dedicated and passionate professionals committed to our mission to collect, preserve, and open to all, the histories we share. Two of my priorities in the first year were to have NSHS be a place where people enjoy coming to work and a place where they would encourage others to join our team. One measure of success is filling vacancies. When I arrived, we did not have a finance director, an accountant had left prior to my arrival, and our procurement and grants manager left for another job shortly after I started, leaving only one senior accountant still on board. I am pleased to report that we have filled the finance director and accountant positions while we are still recruiting for a procurement and grants manager. We have hired a human resources generalist to serve the team, filled all vacancies in the historic preservation and archeology offices, and hired a retail operations manager and staff for the State Capitol Gift Shop. We are in the process of hiring an exhibits technician for the Nebraska History Museum and are recruiting a painting conservator for the Gerald R. Ford Conservation Center. All to say we have made progress, but there is still work to be done.
Another focus area was to develop a better understanding of the role of the Board of Trustees as they evolved from a governing body to an advisory board beginning in July 2024. The Board is another group of committed individuals who are invested in the success of NSHS. They bring a wealth of expertise and passion for history and our mission. There are several new board members who were appointed to fill elected vacancies on the board, one new gubernatorial appointment to fill a vacancy in the first congressional district, one newly elected member, and several more ‘seasoned’ members finishing second terms at the end of 2026. I also had a lot to learn about the election process and your NSHS staff made sure it all happened smoothly. Please consider stepping forward to serve when we have vacancies.
I also have continued the work of my predecessor in re-building the relationship with the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation (NSHSF). I regularly meet with NSHSF Executive Director, Leslie Fattig, and have attended, either in person or virtually, the NSHSF Board Meetings. In turn, Leslie and elected officers of the Foundation Board are invited to attend our Board of Trustees meetings and provide updates. NSHSF has been generous in its support of NSHS activities, providing financial underwriting for the Gerald R. Ford Conservation Center 30th Anniversary celebration, food and beverage for the Board of Trustee meetings, our all-staff retreat, and other support from their operating budget. In addition, the Foundation has provided support to the Nebraska History Museum Lunchbox Lecture Series, Homeschool Days, and other community outreach programs. They also supported the purchase of new microfilm reader/scanner machines for the James E. Potter Research Room and paid for the purchase of a 3-D printer and CNC machine to support exhibits. NSHSF financial support is critical to our long-term success as a state agency steeped in strong fiscal stewardship of the taxpayer resources we receive and in the context of the Governor’s goal to reduce general fund expenditures to address property tax relief. Regular communication from both sides has been key to our improved relationship and is leading to a strong fund-raising commitment by NSHSF to support the design and installation of five core exhibits exploring Nebraska’s history from its territorial days to the post-World War II era. We simply cannot do it without them.
I also learned about the many boards and commissions we support and I actively participate in. Of course we provide all administrative support for the Board of Trustees. In addition, I serve as the secretary of the Hall of Fame Commission for which we provide administrative support, I am a member of the Nebraska Capitol Commission, and a trustee with the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement. These are all enduring roles which the director and staff support. In addition, when the Nebraska Semiquincentennial Commission was formed by the Nebraska Legislature, the director of NSHS was named the chair. This commission’s focus is on the celebration of America’s 250th Birthday in 2026. Watch for a press conference with Governor Pillen and the Commission in early January during which we will roll out several announcements and partnerships regarding plans and activities here in Nebraska.
I often get asked how I like being the Nebraska State Historical Society director. My answer is inevitably along the lines of “I like it, I like it a lot. I like learning and I am learning a lot.” Part of the way I learn is to listen. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with your questions or comments. I can be reached at NSHS.Director@nebraska.gov. I look forward to hearing from you.
Daryl Bohac
Director
Nebraska State Historical Society
