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Archives Month: 5 Tips for Locating Early District Court Cases

October is American Archives Month. 5 tips to help you locate early District Court Cases to help you with your research and genealogy.

[ Lancaster County District Court records at History Nebraska Government Records Archives

 

  • Every county in Nebraska has a District Court
  • Early cases, including divorces, are located in District Court records
  • Early cases were recorded in oversize bound volumes that are double-sided, totaling  500 pages per volume
  • Consult the General District Court Index (plaintiff and defendant) for the citation &  page numbers from the Appearance Docket, Journal,  and Complete Record
  • Check county finding aids to determine if History Nebraska has the indexes or if the index is still maintained by the district court in the county.

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The Nebraska State Historical Society was founded in 1878 by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed NSHS from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director Cindy Drake. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for NSHS.

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