Museum Property Act

What happens when someone leaves something at a museum? What about when museum staff find something undocumented within the collection? Without legally owning these materials, museums cannot share them with the public. Storing and caring for them also drains limited resources. These are among the issues museums face in managing historical or cultural materials.

Like many other historical and cultural organizations, the Nebraska State Historical Society (NSHS) holds objects and archival items that we do not yet own. Nebraska, like most states, has statutes regarding abandoned property. A law specific to libraries, archives, and museums describes how those institutions may assert legal title in order to properly care for that material.

The Nebraska Museum Property Act (Nebraska Revised Statutes § 51-701 to 51-712) requires that institutions give notice of their intent to assert legal title. This is done by 1) publishing a statement in a newspaper that circulates in the county where the museum is located for one week, and 2) posting a list of the materials online for a minimum of three consecutive weeks. Per the Museum Property Act, NSHS will periodically assert legal title to undocumented property. These are items for which the NSHS cannot determine the owner through existing records and has been in NSHS possession for at least 7 years. Simultaneous to the required publication in a newspaper, a list of items will be posted on this page for three consecutive weeks.

If there is a current notice, a button will appear below for a full listing of the items avaliable for download. Anyone who wishes to claim any of the listed items must contact NSHS within one year of the newspaper notice.

Advertised 4/21/2025; contact the Nebraska State Historical Society by 4/21/2026.

To make a claim or submit a question regarding the list or the procedure, please contact NSHS via email at [email protected] or by phone at 402-471-4751.