History Nebraska

Publications

Who We Are

History Nebraska publishes works that explore Nebraska history and culture. Our readers range from professional historians to history buffs to curious people who simply find that learning about the past helps them better enjoy living and traveling here. We all share a passion for well-crafted historical writing.

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"Nebraska Timeline" Columns

From 1992 – 2019, History Nebraska wrote a series of articles for newspapers titled “Nebraska Timeline.” Below you can browse or search through those articles and discover interesting stories from Nebraska’s History. 

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates

This fall, U.S. Senate candidates David Karnes and Bob Kerrey will engage in a series ofdebates, some of which are patterned after the famous 1858 contests between ...

The Nebraska Farmer’s First Issue

The first issue of Robert W. Furnas's Nebraska Farmer was published in Brownville in October of 1859, eight years before Nebraska Territory became a state. Furnas (who ...

The Need for Daycare, 1915

This year, the day care problem is a red hot issue. Both state and national senators arewrestling with the question of how to adequately care for the children of working ...

The Not-So-Gay Nineties

The last decade of the last century is often referred to as "the Gay Nineties." But for farmersin Nebraska, the nineties were not so gay. Ample rainfall had produced ...

The Old Settlers Picnic

Summertime is picnic time. Family get-togethers, high school reunions, and townhomecomings dot the summer calendars of many Nebraskans. At the turn of the century,many ...

The People’s Party

Like this year, 1890 was an election year. And like this year, there was plenty of drama on the political scene. Drought in 1890 killed the crops, and Nebraska's ...

The Pie Lover’s Delight

Rhubarb, a plant well known to pie and dessert lovers in Nebraska, has a long history in this state. Its use as a substitute for fruit in a newly settled country where ...

The Preacher Took a Drink

Preachers didn't have an easy lot in Nebraska's early days. A goodly portion of our citizenswere what we now call "the unchurched"--at best they were apathetic to the ...

The Prohibition Amendment

Every election has its hot issues. Deficits and radioactive waste may confront us now, buthere's what voters in 1890 faced: "The greatest question ever before the ...

The Pure Food Question

"Gypsum in cayenne pepper and ginger, canned meats containing borax or sulfites or both,glucose in preservatives, starch and phosphates in cream of tartar and strawberry ...

The Rescue of Oscar Phelps

"Quite an exciting scene was witnessed last evening, on the river bank just opposite Boyd's packing house," said the Omaha Daily Bee on January 23, 1882, "which came ...

The Rhyming Recipe

There once was a time when a homemaker's reputation depended, in good measure, on herability to produce a good loaf of bread. Here's a rhyming 1903 recipe designed to ...

Contact Us

David Bristow | Publications
History Nebraska
1500 R St
Lincoln, NE 68508
402-471-4748
[email protected]
Information Services:
Looking for research help? Contact Library/Archives, the Museum, or Education. The Publications division is an editorial office; we don’t have archival collections or reference staff here.
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About History Nebraska
History Nebraska was founded in 1878 as the Nebraska State Historical Society 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 History Nebraska from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director and CEO Jill Dolberg. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for History Nebraska.
Explore Nebraska
Discover the real places and people of our past at these History Nebraska sites.

Upcoming Events

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The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of History Nebraska members.

History Nebraska Programs

Learn more about the programs associated with History Nebraska.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Listen to our Podcast

Listen to the articles and authors published in the Nebraska History Magazine with our new Nebraska History Podcast!

Nebraska Collections

History Nebraska's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

History Nebraska Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

Support History Nebraska
Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to History Nebraska help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of History Nebraska by donating to the History Nebraska Foundation today.

Volunteers are the heroes of History Nebraska. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraska’s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.