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Nebraska State Historical Society

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Who We Are

The Nebraska State Historical Society 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, the Nebraska State Historical Society 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.

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Which Baby is the Best?

  The photograph above, from the Solomon D. Butcher Collection, depicts a group of babies and young children in Broken Bow in 1903. Although the event at which ...
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White Buffalo Girl

A stone in the Laurel Hill Cemetery at Neligh, Nebraska, reads: "White Buffalo Girl, Daughter of Black Elk and Moon Hawk of Ponca Tribe, Died May 23, 1877, enroute from ...
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Whitmore, Howard J.

Howard J. Whitmore, whose legal career in Nebraska began in the early 1880s, was in 1937 president of the Lancaster County Bar Association. On May 29 of that year his ...
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Why Opera Houses Were More Popular than Opera

Opera houses provided entertainment and culture in small towns throughout Nebraska between 1880 and 1920.Was opera really that popular?It’s true that opera and classical ...
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Wildcat Banks

The wildcat notes issued by some Nebraska territorial banks caused considerable financial instability. The bills had insufficient backing and in some instances, no ...
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Will M. Maupin’s Nebraska Tall Tale

This "Exaggeration" postcard boasted of Nebraska cabbages The career of Nebraska newspaperman Will M. Maupin (1863-1948) lasted for more than sixty years and included ...
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Will Pigs Help Win the War?

After the United States entered World War I in April of 1917, President Woodrow Wilson appointed Herbert Hoover head of the U.S. Food Administration. Hoover believed ...
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Will the Governor Run?

While many candidates have announced their intentions to stand for election in 1990, Nebraska's governor has remained mum on the subject. Governor Kay Orr's insistence ...
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Willa Cather

Willa Cather is sometimes remembered by biographers as cantankerous and reclusive. While acknowledged to be accessible to close friends and family members, she was ...
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William C. Holden, Nebraska Newspaperman

William C. Holden (1842-1901), remembered as one of Nebraska's most aggressive and colorful newspapermen, was associated with papers in Harlan County and in Kearney and ...
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William H. Ashby

Relatively few ex-Confederates chose to locate in Nebraska Territory following the close of the Civil War. One who did was William H. Ashby, a lawyer, civil servant, ...
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William N. Byers

William Newton Byers played a distinguished role in the histories of both Nebraska and Colorado. Born in Ohio in 1831, he accompanied his parents to Iowa in 1850 and a ...
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Contact Us

David Bristow | Publications
Nebraska State Historical Society
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.

News and Events:
Looking for research help? Contact Follow the Nebraska State Historical Society on Facebook for event news, cool historical photos, and fascinating stories from the Nebraska State Historical Society blog. Members receive Nebraska History News.

About NSHS

The Nebraska State Historical Society was founded in 1878 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 NSHS from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director Cindy Drake. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for NSHS.

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Explore Nebraska

Discover the real places and people of our past at these NSHS sites.

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Chimney Rock
Fort Robinson
John Neihardt
Nebraska History Museum

Explore Nebraska

 

Neligh Mill
Senator Norris House
Thomas Kennard House
Historical Markers
Gift Shops

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

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

NSHS Education

Learn more about the educational programs provided at our museums, sites, and online.

Education Digital Learning Resources

Find games, lists, and more to enhance your history education curriculum.

Museum Field Trips
Virtual Field Trips
Summer Workshops
Scout Merit Badge Workshops

NSHS Programs

Learn more about the programs associated with NSHS.

Historical Markers
Historical Marker Equity Program
National Register of Historic Places
Nebraska Hall of Fame
Semiquincentennial Commission

 

 

Nebraska Statewide Cemetery Registry
Willa Cather National Statuary Hall
Heritage Hero Award Recipients
Nebraska SHRAB

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

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

Research, Reference, & Genealogy
About Collections
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Government Records

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Library Search
Manuscript Finding Aids
Moving Images Inventories
Photo Collection List
Sound Recordings Inventories

Our YouTube Video Collection

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

Additional Research Resources

NSHS's Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

NSHS Services

Digital Resources

Find all of our digital resources, files, videos, and more, all in one easy-to-search page!

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Archeology
Collections
Conservation Center
Digital Curation
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Support The Historical Society

Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to the Nebraska State Historical Society help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of NSHS.

Volunteers are the heroes of NSHS. 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.

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