The James E. Potter Research Room is where NSHS members and the public can access items from the Nebraska State Historical Society collections, including books, maps, newspapers, unpublished manuscripts, photographs, and government records. During the pandemic, the Research Room was closed to public access, and when it reopened, hours were very limited. Agency leadership saw a need for expanded access, and today the Research Room is open to walk-in researchers three days a week, with Mondays offered by appointment. This schedule allows staff to balance on-site access with the growing demand for online research assistance. Usage data continues to show strong and increasing engagement, particularly through online services. Below is a comparison of Research Room activity for January 2025 and January 2026.
Overall requests increased by more than 20 percent year over year, with online research continuing to represent most of the public use. This trend reflects how patrons are discovering and relying on NSHS collections regardless of location.
Research Room staff prioritize timely service and currently provide an initial response to research requests in an average of 3.9 days, well ahead of the seven-day target. The best way to get started with your request for assistance is to email us at reference@hn.libanswers.com.
We’re also pleased to share that the James E. Potter Research Room has recently installed two new digital microfilm scanners, made possible through generous support from the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation. These new ScanPro machines replace aging equipment that would soon have become obsolete and ensure continued access to NSHS’s microfilmed newspapers, records, and other heavily used collections. The investment reflects a shared commitment by NSHS and the Foundation to maintaining reliable, user-friendly research tools for members, researchers, and the public.
The James E. Potter Research Room is located at 1500 R Street, Lincoln, Nebraska, on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus. You can learn more about the resources available to you at Research, Reference, & Genealogy – Nebraska State Historical Society.
– Daryl Bohac, Nebraska State Historical Society Director, March 2026
