Nebraska Archives, Societies & Publications

It is a good idea to familiarize personally with just about any repository in Nebraska that you simply might travel to by communicating with to the best suited archive or library in advance.

Most, if not all, Nebraska repositories have written and published content that present its collections as well as research policy.

Nebraska archives and historical organizations usually have On-line sites that provide equivalent details. Several also contain down loadable data for some or parts of their collections.

List of Nebraska Archives

List of Nebraska Libraries & Museums

  • Nebraska DAR Library, Lue R. Spencer Genealogical Library, Edith Abbott Memorial Library, 2nd and Washington Streets, Grand Island, NE 68801; Holdings include DAR cemetery records of Nebraska and originals of Nebraska DAR Ancestors Registry.
  • NESGS Book Library, Beatrice Public Library, 100 North 16th St. , Beatrice, NE 68310 ; (402) 223-3584

List of Nebraska Historical & Genealogical Societies

For almost every state there is a state genealogical society, a state genealogical council, or both.

In addition to their own work, Nebraska groups many times help coordinate the efforts of local societies throughout the Nebraska.

Their unique publications, newsletters and quarterlies, supplement those created through the area societies.

Regional and State Societies

  • Nebraska State Genealogical Society, Box 5608, Lincoln, NE 68505; County record source guides are published by the society along with its quarterly Nebraska Ancestree and newsletter. The society’s library is housed in the Beatrice
    Public Library.
  • Nebraska State Historical Society, P.O. Box 82554, 1500 R St., Lincoln, NE 68501-2554; phone: 402-471-3270; Resources of the society consist of the library, public records, manuscripts, moving images/sound, photographs, and reference. The holdings are described in various sections of this chapter. Many published and unpublished family histories and biographical accounts of Nebraskans in various formats are included. The website has extensive links to resources for the state.
  • Nebraska History Network, 1997 280th, Seward 68434-7823
  • Nebraska Military Historical Society, Hastings 68901
  • North Central Nebraska Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 362, O’Neill NE 68763
  • Northeastern Nebraska Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 169, Lyons NE 68038
  • Northern Nebraska Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 362, O’Neill NE 68763
  • Northwest Nebraska Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 6, Alliance, Nebraska 69301
  • West Nebraska Family Research & History Center, 1602 Ave. A, Scottsbluff, NE 69361; 308-635-2400

County, Township and City Societies

  • Adams County Historical Society, 1330 N Burlington Ave, Hastings, NE 68901; Phone:(402) 463-5838
  • Adams County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 424, Hastings, NE 68902-0424; PH: 402-463-5838
  • Antelope County Historical Society, 509 L St., Neligh NE 68756
  • Arthur County Historical Society, P.O. Box 134, Arthur NE 69121-0134
  • Atkinson Historical Society, P.O. Box 145, Atkinson NE 68713-0145
  • Banner County Historical Society, P.O. Box 74, 200 N. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, Nebraska 69345
  • Bayard Chimney Rock Historical Society, P.O. Box 369, Bayard NE 69334-0369; PH: (308) 586-1005
  • Benson Historical Society, 4002 Hamilton Street, Omaha, NE, 68104; PH (402) 558-9551
  • Blaine County Historical Society,  43007 Schipporeit Rd, Brewster, NE 68821; 308-547-2474
  • Boone County Historical Society, 1025 West Fairview, P.O. Box 414, Albion, NE 68620; PH 402-395-2971 or 402-395-2901
  • Boone-Nance County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 231, Belgrade, NE 68623
  • Boyd County Historical Society, P.O. Box 317, Lynch 68746-0317
  • Boys Town Hall Of History, 14057 Flanagan Blvd., Boys Town 68010
  • Brown County Historical Society, Hc 65, Box 158, Ainsworth 69210
  • Brownville Historical Society, P.O. Box 1, Brownville 68321
  • Buffalo County Historical Society, Trails & Rails Museum, PO Box 523, 710 W. 11th St., Kearney, NE 68848
  • Burt County Historical Society, P.O. Box 125, Tekamah 68061-0125
  • Butler County Historical Society, 200 D Street, David City 68632
  • Butte Historical Society, 410 Thayerst., Butte 68722
  • Cass County Historical Society, 646 Main St., Plattsmouth 68048
  • Cedar County Historical Society, 304 West Franklin, Hartington 68739
  • Chappell Historical Society, P.O. Box 324, Chappell 69129-0324
  • Chase County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 303, Imperial 69033
  • Chase County Historical Society, P.O. Box 577, Imperial 69033-0577
  • Cherry County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 380, Valentine 69201
  • Cherry County Historical Society, 650 Essex St., Valentine 69201-1618
  • Cheyenne County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 802, Sidney 69162
  • Cheyenne County Historical Society, 6th & Jackson Sts., Sidney 69162
  • Clarkson Historical Society, 221 Pine St., Clarkson 68629
  • Clay County Historical Society, P.O. Box 201, Clay Center 68933-0201
  • Cozad Genealogy Club, P.O. Drawer C, Cozad 69130
  • Cozad Historical Society, P.O. Box 325, Cozad 69130-0325
  • Crawford Historical Society, 337 2nd St., Crawford 69339
  • Creighton Historical Center, P.O. Box 535, Creighton 68729-0535
  • Cuming County Historical Society, 130 North River, West Point 68778
  • Custer County Historical Society, P.O. Box 334, Broken Bow 68822-0334
  • Dakota County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 18, Dakota City 68850
  • Dakota County Historical Society, P.O. Box 971, Dakota City 68731
  • Dalton Historical Society, P.O. Box 314, Dalton 69131-0314
  • Dawes County Historical Society, P.O. Box 1319, Chadron 69337-1319
  • Dawson County Genealogical Society, Cozad 69130
  • Dawson County Historical Society, P.O. Box 369, Lexington 68850-0369
  • Denton Historical Society, Route 1, Box 7, Denton 68339
  • Deuel County Historical Society, P.O. Box 324, Chappell 69129-0324
  • Dewitt Historical Society, Route 1, Box 226, De Witt 68341
  • Diller Historical Society, Route 1, Box 2a, Diller 68342
  • Dixon County Historical Society, Route 1, Box 26, Dixon 68732
  • Dodge County Historical Society, P.O. Box 766, Fremont 68025-0766
  • Douglas County Historical Society, P.O. Box 11398, Omaha 68111-0390
  • Dundy County Historical Society, 522 Arapahoe, Benkelman 69021
  • Eastern Nebraska Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 541, Fremont 68025
  • Elgin Historical Society, P.O. Box 161, Elgin 68636-0161
  • Elkhorn Valley Historical Society, 515 Queen City Blvd, Norfolk 68701
  • Fairbury City Historical Society, P.O. Box 83, Fairbury 68352
  • Fillmore County Historical Society, 1043 G St., Geneva 68361
  • Fillmore Heritage Genealogical Society, Route 2, Box 28, Exeter 68351
  • Flatwater Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 324, Gibbon 68840
  • Franklin County Historical Society, RR 1, Box 156, Franklin 68939
  • Frontier County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 507, Curtis 69025
  • Frontier County Historical Society, P.O. Box 242, Curtis 69025-0242
  • Ft. Kearny Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 22, Kearney 68847
  • Furnas County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 166, Beaver City 68926
  • Furnas County Historical Society, P.O. Box 303, Arapahoe 68922-0303
  • Gage County Historical Society, P.O. Box 793, Beatrice 68310-0793
  • Garden County, Historical Society Of, P.O. Box 90, Oshkosh 69154
  • Garfield County Historical Society, P.O. Box 545, Burwell 68823-0545
  • Genoa Historical Society, 302 Willard, Genoa 68640
  • Gibbon Heritage Center, P.O. Box 116, Gibbon 68840-0116
  • Gothenburg Historical Society, 503 Lake Ave., Gothenburg 69138
  • Grant County Historical Society, Hc 88, Box 32, Hyannis 69350-9706
  • Greater Omaha Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 4011, Omaha 68104
  • Greater York Area Genealogical Society, 6th & Nebraska, York 68467
  • Greeley County Historical Society, P.O. Box 6, Greeley 68842
  • Greenwood Historical Society, Broad St., Greenwood 68366
  • Gretna Heritage Society, 23702 Schramm Rd., Gretna 68028
  • Hall County Historical Society, P.O. Box 1683, Grand Island 68802
  • Hamilton County Historical Society, 210 16th St., Aurora 68818
  • Harlan County Historical Society, P.O. Box 187, Orleans 68966-0187
  • Hastings Historical Society, P.O. Box 1286, Hastings 68901-1286
  • Hayes County Historical Society, Hc 62, Box 47, Hayes Center 69032
  • Heritage Center, 200 Block N. Baker, Hay Springs 69347
  • High Plains Historical Society, 413 Norris Ave, Mc Cook, NE 69001-2003; Phone (308) 345-3661
  • Hitchcock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 511, Trenton NE 69044-0511
  • Ho-chunk Historical Society, RR 1 Box 21E, Winnebago, NE 68071; (402) 878-2976
  • Holdrege Area Genealogical Club, P.O. Box 164, Holdrege, Nebraska 68949
  • Holt County Historical Society, 401 E Douglas St, O’Neill, NE 68763; Phone:(402) 336-2344
  • Hooker County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 280, Mullen 69152
  • Hooker County Historical Society, P.O. Box 185, Mullen 69152-0185
  • Howard County Historical Society, P.O. Box 304, St. Paul 68873-0304
  • Howells Historical Society, P.O. Box 297, Howells 68641-0297
  • Jefferson County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 163, Fairbury 68352
  • Jefferson County Historical Society, P.O. Box 154, Fairbury 68352-0154
  • Johnson County Historical Society, 3rd & Lincoln Sts., Tecumseh 68450
  • Kearney County Historical Society, 6th & Nebraska Ave., Minden 68959
  • Keith County Historical Society, 315 W. 4th St., Ogallala 69153
  • Keya Paha County Historical Society, Hc 80, Box 32, Springview 68778
  • Kimball County Plains Historical Society, 200 South Myrtle, Kimball 69145
  • Knight Museum and Sandhills Center, 908 Yellowstone, PO Box D, Alliance, NE 69301; 308-762-2384
  • Lexington Genealogy Society, P.O. Box 778, Lexington 68850
  • Lincoln County Historical Society, 2403 North Buffalo, North Platte 69101
  • Lincoln-lancaster County Genealogy Society, P.O. Box 30055, Lincoln 68503
  • Lodgepole Historical Society, Lodgepole 69149
  • Logan County Historical Society, P.O. Box 147, Stapleton 69163-0147
  • Long Pine Heritage Society, P.O. Box 333, Long Pine 69217-0333
  • Loup County Historical Society, P.O. Box 102, Taylor 68879-0102
  • Madison County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1031, Norfolk 68702-1031
  • Madison County Historical Society, P.O. Box 708, Madison 68748-0708
  • Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center, Chadron State College, Chadron 69337
  • Mc Cook Army Air Base Historical Society, P.O. Box B-29, Mc Cook 69001
  • Mcpherson County Historical Society, Hc 71, Box 20, Tryon 69167
  • Merrick County Historical Society, 215 East St., Central City 68826
  • Mexican-american Historical Society, P.O. Box 1662, Scottsbluff 69361
  • Morrill Historical Society, 215 �1/2 Adams Ave., Morrill 69358
  • Muddy Creek Historical Society, P.O. Box 62, Mason City 68855
  • Murdock Historical Society, 9014 310th St., Murdock 68407-2206
  • Nance County Historical Society, 501 Broadway, Fullerton 68638
  • Naponee Historical Society, P.O. Box 128, Naponee 68960-0128
  • Nebraska City Historical Society, P.O. Box 175, Nebraska City 68410-0175
  • Nemaha Valley Genealogy Society, P.O. Box 25, Auburn 68305
  • Niobrara Historical Society, RR 1, Box 24, Niobrara 68760
  • North Platte Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1452, North Platte 69101
  • North Platte Valley Historical Association, P.O. Box 435, Gering 69341-0435
  • Northern Antelope County Genealogy Society, P.O. Box 267, Orchard 68764
  • Nuckolls County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 441, Superior 68978-0441
  • Nuckolls County Historical Society, P.O. Box 441, Superior 68978-0441
  • Oran’s Black Americana Historical Society, 1240 South 13th St., Omaha 68108
  • Orchard Historical Society, P.O. Box 56, Orchard 68764
  • Otoe County Historical Society, 366 Poplar, Syracuse 68446
  • Papillion Area Historical Society, 546 North Washington St., Papillion 68046
  • Pawnee City Historical Society, P.O. Box 33, Pawnee City 68420
  • Pawnee Genealogy Scouters, P.O. Box 112, Albion 68620
  • Perkins County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 418, Grant 69140
  • Perkins County Historical Society, P.O. Box 737, Grant 69140-0737
  • Peru Historical Society, 5th & Califomia, Peru 68421
  • Phelps County Historical Society, P.O. Box 164, Holdrege 68949-0164
  • Pierce Historical Society, P.O. Box 122, Pierce 68767-0122
  • Plains Genealogical Society, 208 South Walnut Street, Kimball 69145
  • Plainview Historical Society, P.O. Box 752, Plainview 68769-0752
  • Platte County Historical Society, P.O. Box 31, Columbus 68601
  • Polk County Historical Society, Hawkeye St., Osceola 68651
  • Ponca Historical Society, P.O. Box 530, Ponca 68770-0530
  • Potter Historical Society, P.O. Box 155, Potter 69156-0155
  • Prairie Pioneer Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1122, Grand Island 68802
  • Ravenna Genealogical Society, 105 Alba Street, Ravenna 68869
  • Rebecca Winters Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 323, Scottsbluff 69361
  • Red Willow Historical Society, P.O. Box 426, Indianola 69034-0426
  • Richardson County Historical Society, P.O. Box 45, Falls City 68355
  • Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 116, Bassett 68714-0116
  • Saline County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 24, Crete 68333-0024
  • Saline County Historical Society, 1127 East 2nd St., Friend 68359-1113
  • Sarpy County Genealogical Society, 2402 Sac Place, Bellevue 68005-3932
  • Sarpy County Historical Society, 2402 Sac Place, Bellevue 68005
  • Saunders County Genealogy Seekers, 462 E. 13, Wahoo 68066
  • Saunders County Historical Society, 240 North Walnut, Wahoo 68066
  • Schuyler Historical Society, 202 East 20th St., Schuyler 68661
  • Seven Valleys Historical Society, Route 1, Box 45, Callaway 68825
  • Seward County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 72, Seward 68434-0072
  • Seward County Historical Society, P.O. Box 274, Seward 68434-0274
  • Sheridan County Historical Society, P.O. Box 274, Rushville 69360-0274
  • Sherman County Historical Society, Rt. 1, Box 153, Loup City 68853
  • Sioux County Historical Society, P.O. Box 312, Harrison 69346-0312
  • Sokol South Omaha Czechoslovak Society, 2021 U St., Omaha 68107-3666
  • South Central Genealogical Society, Route 2, Box 57, Minden 68959
  • Southeast Nebraska Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 562, Beatrice 68301
  • Southwest Nebraska Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 156, Mc Cook 69001
  • St. Michael’s Historical Society, Route 1, Box 225, Tarnov 68642
  • Stanton County Historical Society, North Main Street, Pilger 68768
  • Steinauer Historical Society, P.O. Box 114, Steinauer 68441-0114
  • Swedish Heritage Center, 301 North Chard Avenue, Oakland 68045
  • Table Rock Historical Society, P.O. Box 194, Table Rock 68447-0194
  • Thayer County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 388, Belvidere 68315
  • Thayer County Historical Society, P.O. Box 387, Belvidere 68315-0387
  • Thomas County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 136, Thedford 69166
  • Thomas County Historical Society, P.O. Box 85, Thedford 69166
  • Thurston County Heritage Society, P.O. Box 624, Pender 68047-0624
  • Tobias Community Historical Society, P.O. Box 45, Tobias 68453
  • Trinity Cathedral Historical Society, 113 North 18th St., Omaha 68102-4969
  • Valley County Genealogical Society, 619 S. 10th, Ord 68862
  • Valley County Historical Society, Rt. 1, Box 194, Ord 68862
  • Valley Historical Society, 218 West Alexander, Valley 68064
  • Verdigre Heritage Society, P.O. Box 241, Verdigre 68783-0241
  • Wahoo Genealogical Seekers, 871 West 6th, Wahoo 68066
  • Washington County Genealogical Society, Public Library, Blair 68008
  • Washington County Historical Association, P.O. Box 25, Ft. Calhoun 68023
  • Wayne County Genealogical Society, 210 West 6th, Wayne 68787
  • Wayne County Historical Society, PO Box 408, 908 Windom St., Wayne, NE 68787-1438; phone: 402-375-3885
  • Webster County Historical Society, P.O. Box 464, Red Cloud, NE 68970-0464
  • Wheeler County Historical Society, Hc 61, Box 2, Spalding NE 68665
  • Wilber Historical Society, P.O. Box 253, Wilber NE 68465-0253
  • Winnetoon Historical Society, P.O. Box 94, Winnetoon NE 68789; phone: 402-847-3368
  • Wisner Heritage Society and Museum, P.O. Box 520, 920 Avenue E, Wisner, NE 68791-0520
  • York County Historical Association, P. O. Box 81, 2329 N Nebraska Ave, York, NE 68467, Phone:(402) 362-2990
  • Yutan Historical Society, 744 County Road N, Yutan, NE 68073-5007

Religious and Ethnic Societies

Nebraska Newspapers & Publications

Nebraska Genealogical publications (magazines, newsletters, periodicals, books, etc.) contain all types of invaluable information about specific ancestors, whole lineages and families, places in time, and about all sorts of genealogical records and repositories.

There are more than 32,000 Nebraska newspaper reels available at the Nebraska State Historical Society. They cover all the way from when Nebraska was a territory to the present day.

The Nebraska Newspaper Project has been used to catalog all of the society’s newspaper holdings. In fact, more than 3,000 newspapers in Nebraska have been cataloged by the project.

The online catalog of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, called IRIS, lists an inventory of the newspaper collection at the society. The database can be searched according to subject, title, newspaper name, or keyword.

There are several unpublished and published indexes available at the Nebraska State Historical Society. The website for the society has a complete listing. In the 1980s the Nebraska State Newspaper Project began.

Its mission has been to index newspapers from across the state. There are presently more than 200,000 names included in that index. The Nebraska GenWeb Project has also contributed to that list.

The General Crook House at the Douglas County Historical Society is home to the Omaha World-Herald Clipping File. That file contains more than five million newspaper clippings covering the years of 1907 to 1983.

More than 15,000 feet of archival material and manuscripts have been gathered and stored at the Nebraska State Historical Society.

They have been collected from various private collections, including those from families, individuals, churches, organizations, associations, private educational institutions, and other sources.

The website for the society lists all of those records according to type.

Newspapers

Periodicals

Genealogical journals provide you with plenty of sources of information and facts, they are generally overlooked by genealogy and family history researchers and genealogist in looking around for family history.

Many regional and county genealogical and/or historical societies produce periodicals which have records relating to the region or vicinity they operate.

Frequently these publications have articles involving records that are not obtainable somewhere else.

  • Nebraska History is published quarterly by the Nebraska State Historical Society. It has quality articles on a large array of Nebraska topics of history and culture. The society publishes an index (1959–79).
  • Nebraska Ancestree, a quarterly that is published by the Nebraska State Genealogical Society. It contains genealogical data such as cemetery readings, early marriage records, newspaper abstracts, and queries.
  • Nebraska and Midwest Genealogical Records, vols. 1–22, published from 1923–44.

Books