Nebraska State Historical Society Rights, Reproductions, and Use Policy

Welcome to the NSHS Rights and Use Information

The Nebraska State Historical Society (NSHS) provides access to its collections so people can learn, teach, research, and explore Nebraska’s history. Many images, documents, and recordings are available for personal research, study, and teaching—free of charge and without needing permission.

If you plan to use NSHS materials in publications, films, websites, exhibits, or any public or commercial project, written permission is required. This page explains when permission is needed, how to request it, and what rules apply.

If you’re unsure whether your project requires permission or have questions about copyright, consult our FAQ or contact our reference staff for assistance.

This page brings together guidance on:

• Using images, documents, audiovisual materials, and other collection items
• What uses are allowed without permission
• When written permission from NSHS is required
• How to request permission for publication or commercial use

1. What You Can Do Without Permission (Personal, Educational, and Fair Use)

NSHS encourages the use of its online materials for:

• Personal research and enjoyment
• Teaching and classroom assignments
• Student work and academic projects
• Other uses that qualify as fair use under U.S. copyright law

Free Downloads

You may freely download low-resolution images from the NSHS website for personal or educational purposes.

Credit Requirements for Personal and Educational Use

When using NSHS materials in school papers, presentations, or research projects, please include a credit line with the Object ID (and/or Collection name) and Nebraska State Historical Society. See Credit Requirements for Publication and Public Use below for examples.

When Free Use Ends

If you plan to:

• Distribute a work publicly
• Publish online or in print
• Use materials in a documentary
• Use materials for marketing, exhibitions, or commercial products
  …then you must request written permission and may be subject to use fees (see Section 3).

2. When You Need Written Permission

You must obtain written permission from NSHS to use any materials beyond fair use—including, but not limited to:

• Publications (books, journals, websites, blogs)
• Commercial or non-profit marketing materials
• Documentaries or broadcast media
• Exhibitions
• Corporate use
• Any public distribution or redistribution of images or recordings from NSHS collections
• Any use of images/audio/video of NSHS facilities, staff, spaces, or programs

Permission may also be required for materials involving copyright, privacy, or publicity rights, even when the physical item is owned by NSHS.

3. Nebraska State Historical Society Use Policy

Effective March 1, 2026
Still or moving image reproductions of photographs, documents, published materials, artifacts and other materials from the collections of the Nebraska State Historical Society (NSHS), reproductions of sound recordings from the collections of NSHS, or still images, moving images or audio recordings of spaces or activities at NSHS may be used by individuals and corporate entities in various ways. This policy codifies the conditions under which such uses are allowed.

Conditions of Use:

1. PERMISSION. Permission for use is granted at the discretion of NSHS for a single and one-time use for the life of the project. Any reuse, reprinting, new edition, new format, or expanded distribution—whether identical or modified—requires new written permission from NSHS. Reproductions from NSHS collections cannot be sub-leased or sold by the user, nor may the user permit others to reproduce the materials or any facsimiles of them by any means for any purpose. They also may not be transferred, donated or sold to another person or organization. NSHS does not issue permission in perpetuity.
2. USE AGREEMENT. Permission and the specifics of a particular use are documented in an agreement between NSHS and the user, in which the user agrees to the parameters of this policy. NSHS does not sign release forms developed by others.
3. COPYRIGHT. The Nebraska State Historical Society (NSHS) does not claim exclusive ownership of copyright for many materials in its collections. In most cases, NSHS owns only the physical item and may or may not hold copyright or have a written transfer of rights from the creator or their heirs.
   NSHS does not determine the copyright status of collection materials and does not secure copyright permission on behalf of users. Possession of a reproduction from NSHS collections does not grant permission to use the material beyond fair use as defined under United States copyright law (Title 17, United States Code).
   Users are solely responsible for determining copyright status, obtaining any required permissions from copyright holders, and complying with all applicable laws. NSHS may provide available information about creators or rights holders as a courtesy, but the legal determination and responsibility for use rests entirely with the user.
4. USE FEES. NSHS charges use fees to support the preservation and maintenance of its collections. No fees are charged for reference copies, for use by individuals for personal enjoyment or private study, scholarship or research, by teachers or students for class instruction or assignments, Nebraska government agencies (state, local, or tribal), or by Nebraska local news media. Other uses are subject to use fees; see NSHS Use Fee Schedule for details. Use fees must be paid in advance of receiving use permissions and are non-refundable and subject to change without notice.
5. DIRECT PROMOTION. Any still or moving image or sound recording used in a product may also be used in the direct promotion of the work without requiring additional permissions or incurring additional use fees from NSHS, but wider use or use in subsequent editions will require renegotiation. NSHS may request that a copy of the finished product be provided for institutional reference or archival purposes.
6. CREDIT LINE. Use of any still or moving image or sound recording from NSHS must be properly credited. The exact content and style of the credit line may conform to that used throughout the rest of the product, but must at least include the words “Nebraska State Historical Society” and the NSHS identification number for the item used. For online uses, credit must appear in a clearly visible caption or credit section; hover-only or metadata-only credits are not sufficient. The credit line must also include an explanatory statement regarding any manipulation of the item (see MANIPULATION below).
7. MANIPULATION. NSHS is committed to protection of the historical integrity of the materials in its collections. It will not allow the inversion of the reproduction or the removal or addition of content. NSHS will allow cropping of a still or moving image, selection of a detail within a still or moving image, excerpting of a moving image or sound recording, and adjustments to contrast, sharpness and other enhancements for the sake of clarity. An explanatory statement must be added to the credit line describing any such changes. Any manipulation beyond those already stated must be approved by NSHS and described in the credit line.
8. WEBSITE AND DIGITAL DISPLAY. To reduce unauthorized reuse, NSHS places limits on the resolution and quality of images, video, and audio used on publicly accessible websites. Higher-resolution files or exceptions must be approved in advance and may be subject to additional use fees. Resolution and technical specifications are subject to periodic review and may be updated as technology and best practices change.
9. ENDORSEMENT. Use of reproductions of materials from NSHS collections does not imply that NSHS endorses any product, enterprise, expressed opinions, or confirms the accuracy of any content in any publication, production, broadcast, website or any other product in which such reproductions are used.
10. INDEMNIFICATION. The user will defend, indemnify, save, and hold harmless NSHS, its employees, officers or designees, from any and all costs, expense, damage and liability arising because of any claim whatsoever which may be presented by anyone for loss or damage or other relief occasioned or caused by the release of a reproduction of an item from NSHS collections or their use in any manner, including their inspection, publication, reproduction, broadcast, duplication or printing by anyone for any purpose whatsoever. The user is solely responsible for all issues of invasion of privacy, libel and/or slander that may result from use of these materials.
11. RETENTION AND REUSE OF ELECTRONIC FILES. Digital files provided by NSHS may be retained by the user for recordkeeping purposes; however, they may not be reused, redistributed, sublicensed, published, or otherwise used for any purpose beyond the specific, one-time use approved by NSHS without obtaining new written permission. Any reuse beyond the approved project requires a new permission request and may be subject to additional fees.
12. NONCOMPLIANCE. NSHS reserves the right to refuse to grant use permission and/or provide reproductions to anyone who has not complied with our policies.
13. CHANGE IN POLICY. NSHS use policies are subject to change without notice. In case of a discrepancy, policies in effect at the time payment is made will apply.

4. How to Request Permission

To request permission to publish, reproduce, broadcast, or otherwise use NSHS materials beyond fair use, please contact:

Email: reference@hn.libanswers.com
Mail:
Nebraska State Historical Society
1500 R Street
Lincoln, NE 68508

Your request should include:

• Item description and Object ID(s)
• Type of use (publication, film, website, exhibit, etc.)
•  Distribution format and reach (print run, territory, digital use)
• Whether the item will be modified (cropping, detail selection, etc.)
• Your contact and billing information (name, organization if applicable, email address, and billing address)

NSHS staff will determine:

• Whether permission can be granted
• Applicable use fees
• Any restrictions or conditions

5. Credit Requirements for Publication and Public Use

For all published, broadcast, or publicly distributed uses:

Credit Line: Object ID and/or Collection name, Nebraska State Historical Society*

You may also include the title or description of the item, date, and format if helpful.

*Include a statement identifying any manipulation permitted by NSHS (as required by the Use Policy).

Examples:

Quilt; Flower Basket Petit Point, 1942, 7828-8, Nebraska State Historical Society

The Chrisman sisters near Goheen settlement on Lieban Creek, 1887, RG2608.PH0-001053, Solomon D. Butcher collection, Nebraska State Historical Society

For more information about NSHS Rights and Use and other frequently asked questions, click here to visit our Rights and Use FAQ page.