Nebraska State Historical Society
Research, Reference, & Genealogy
Research Services
The James E. Potter Research Room is where the public can access items from the Nebraska History Library, including books, maps, and newspapers, as well as the Nebraska State Archives, which includes unpublished manuscripts, photographs, film/audio, and government records.
Hours:
- Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays – 9:00 am – 4:30 pm.
Please note: Paper copies are only available from the microfilm digital readers. Patron computers do not have printing capability.
The Research Room is located at 1500 R Street, Lincoln, Nebraska, on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus.
Online Resources
The James E. Potter Research Room has a large number of resources available online.
Databases
- Atlases/Plat Books – County atlases or plat books dating from 1885 to the present.
- Civil War Veterans
- Gazetteer Index, 1890 and 1911 – Includes communities, businesses, and farmer directories.
- Prison Records, 1870 – 1990
- U.S. General Land Office Tract Books – Homestead applications, proofs, final certificates, and supplemental information.
- World War I Draft Registration Cards (Nebraska) 1917 – 1918
NSHS Resources
- Artifacts and Objects
- Manuscript Finding Aids
- Government Records
- Library Catalog
- Newspapers
- Photographs
- Digital Collections
- Moving Images
- Sound Recordings
- Maps
- Nebraska Church Records
- Architect and Architectural Firms of Nebraska
- Nebraska History Magazine
- Hastings Regional Center Cemetery Records Index
- Norfolk Regional Center Cemetery Records Index
Additional Online Resources
- FamilySearch – various records, including Nebraska marriage index
- National Archives and Records Administration – federal records
- Nebraska Public Documents – digitized historic annual reports of state agencies
- Newspapers.com (subscription needed) – digitized Nebraska newspapers from 1855 to present
- Chronicling America – free access to historic newspapers
- Wyuka Cemetery Grave Locator
- Ancestry.com (subscription needed) – various genealogical and historical records
- Reclaim the Records – Nebraska death index (1904-1968)
- Nebraska State Surveyor – original state surveys, field notes, and railroad maps
- Findagrave.com – browse gravesites worldwide
- Vital Records – birth and death certificates
- Nebraska Newspaper Project – select digitized Nebraska newspapers, including the Daily Nebraskan
Research Guides
- A Guide to Genealogical Research at the Nebraska State Historical Society
- Nebraska Population Census Records
- Library Books on General Nebraska History
- Historical and Genealogical Societies in Nebraska
- Nebraska Church Records
- Probate Records Research
- Czech Sources
- Black and African American Resources
- German Sources
- Court Records
- U.S. Government Land Laws in Nebraska
- Wyuka Cemetery Interments, 1877 – Feb 1881
- Civil War Manuscript Collections
Frequently Asked Questions
Please see our Research and Reference FAQ for answers to some common questions we receive.
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