Collections FAQ

All potential donations must go through a review process that is overseen by experts who are qualified to assess the relevance and suitability of items in relation to the overall collecting policies and current holdings of the Nebraska State Historical Society. Because it is expensive to care for and provide access to collection items, not all potential donations are accepted.

The Nebraska State Historical Society collects a wide variety of historical materials, including:

• Artifacts with strong Nebraska ties
• Art
• Books and periodicals
• Historical Objects
• Manuscripts
• Government Records
• Maps and architectural drawings
• Film
• Photographs
• Audiovisual material

The Nebraska State Historical Society Collections Management Policy gives further information about collecting practices. See also our Collecting Plan for more detailed information about what we will collect, what we won’t and why.

The type of items not usually accepted into our collections include:

• Artifacts with little or no ties to Nebraska
• Unidentified photographs
• Encyclopedias, National Geographic, and other general interest magazines
• Homestead and other general certificates (marriage, baptism, confirmation, membership)
• Spanish-American, WWI, and WWII uniforms
• Pre-1970 baby clothes
• War souvenirs from the Philippines, Japan, and Germany
• Organs and pianos

The Nebraska State Historical Society Photograph & Artifact Collections Database is a great place to start. Our database is a work in progress and is constantly growing. Please check back frequently as new items are added often. If you do not find what you are looking for, please contact [email protected].

The Gerald Ford Conservation Center, a division the Nebraska State Historical Society, has created helpful Conservation Resources for tips about preserving these items.

Yes, the Nebraska State Historical Society loans objects from the collections to qualified institutions for exhibit, research, or other interpretive purposes. Loans are reviewed by the Collections Committee. Considerations of rarity, intrinsic and historical value, conservation needs, and display status determine what may be available for loan. For additional information and requirements, please read the Outgoing Loan Procedures.

The staff of the Nebraska State Historical Society Collections Department cannot appraise or authenticate artifacts.

Our policy regarding appraisals is outlined in the Nebraska State Historical Society’s Institutional Values and Code of Ethics.

For additional information, please download the Gerald R. Ford Conservation Center Appraiser Information resource.

Internships, work-study positions, and volunteer opportunities are often available in the Collections Department and Archives. Please visit our Volunteer and Internship Opportunities page for a list of opportunities currently available along with their job description. For additional information about sharing your time with the Nebraska State Historical Society, please visit our Get Involved page.

Our Research and Reference Services will help you connect to the material we collect and preserve. You can contact us by email if you have questions.

The Nebraska State Historical Society holds a wide variety of resources to help you in your genealogy research. Our Research and Reference Services would be happy to assist you. Or submit your question with the Online Reference Request Form.