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| Nebraska, State Census Collection, 1860-1885Free | 851,345 |
| Nebraska, State Census, 1885 | 737,606 |
| Nebraska, U.S., Compiled Census Index, 1854-1885 | 8,303 |
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| U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970 | 4,566,787 |
| U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Swedish American Church Records, 1800-1947 | 3,655,095 |
| Nebraska, U.S., Birth Ledgers, 1904-1911, Birth Index, 1912-1994 | 3,484,431 |
| U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639-1989 | 1,868,002 |
| Nebraska, U.S., Select County Marriage Records, 1855-1908 | 1,758,899 |
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| U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 | 54,144,553 |
| U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 | 14,501,913 |
| U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 | 837,569 |
| Nebraska, U.S., Grand Army of the Republic, Burial Records, 1861-1948 | 43,009 |
| Nebraska Resident Military Roster on June 1, 1891 | 14,972 |
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| Nebraska, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1835-1987 | 63,049 |
| Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., Passenger and Crew Manifests of Airplanes, 1958-1965 | 119 |
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| Nebraska, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-current | 757,333,849 |
| Nebraska Extracted Family HistoryFree | 4,176 |
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| There are no pictures collections unique to Nebraska | |
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| U.S., Chicago and North Western Railroad Employment Records, 1935-1970Free | 1,095,637 |
| U.S., Selected States Dutch Reformed Church Membership Records, 1701-1995 | 465,389 |
| A history of the Baptists in the western states east of the Mississippi | 421 |
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| U.S., Homestead Records, 1863-1908 | 107,521 |
| Nebraska, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1806-1989 | 12,805 |
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| The great valleys and prairies of Nebraska and the Northwest | 395 |
| Report on the archives of the state of Nebraska | 56 |
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| There are no maps, atlases & gazetteers collections unique to Nebraska | |
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A genealogical history
Statehood: March 1, 1867
Capital: Lincoln
Largest City: Omaha
Counties: 93
State motto: Equality Before the Law
State nickname: The Cornhusker State
Neighboring states: South Dakota, Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Wyoming
O. Street, Lincoln, Nebraska, c. 1901
Interesting facts
- It's estimated that about 500,000 emigrants followed the various trails to the West, many of which passed through Nebraska following along the Platte River.
- In 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska as the struggle over anti- and pro-slavery states escalated. In 1820, the Missouri Compromise of 1820 had designated territory north of the southern boundary of Missouri in the Louisiana Territory as free, and south of that line as slave. The Kansas-Nebraska Act would leave that decision up to voters in those two territories and an influx of pro- and anti-slavery settlers converged on the new territories to help sway the vote.
- In 1874, the Plains states were invaded by swarms of grasshoppers. According to Nebraska: The Land and the People, "Growing crops disappeared in a single day. Trees were stripped of leaves. Potatoes, turnips and onions were pursued into the earth . . . . Many settlers had nothing to live on during the winter but their sod corn and garden. These were gone. It looked like starvation. The future held no hope, for the very soil was filled with eggs which would hatch a hundred times as many grasshoppers the next spring. Those were the darkest days for the Nebraska pioneers. Some sold or gave away their claims and went east." 1874 was the worst year, but the problem continued until 1877.
Featured Nebraska collections
Famous people
Help and advice
Resources
Nebraska Census Research
Federal censuses in Nebraska began in 1860.
The Nebraska State Historical Society has the original enumerations for the territorial censuses of 1854, 1855, and 1856. A few counties (most notably Cass and Lancaster) were recorded in state censuses taken in 1867, 1874, 1875, 1878, and 1879.
School censuses are taken every year in Nebraska. Many counties are available at the Nebraska State Historical Society, some complete and some fragmented. Some are also available on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
Nebraska Vital Records
The statewide requirement for registration of births and deaths began late in 1904, and marriages and divorces in 1909. However, total compliance was not achieved for several years.
- Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Vital Records: Holds records of births and deaths from 1904, and marriage and divorce records from 1909. See the Genealogy page for additional information.
Nebraska Research Resources
The organizations listed below provide information about Nebraska history and genealogy. In addition to these state-level resources, many counties and towns maintain important genealogical collections in local libraries, genealogical societies, or historical societies, so check for a local resource when researching.
- Nebraska State Library and Archives
- Nebraska State Historical Society
- Nebraska GenWeb
- The National Archives at Kansas City, Missouri: This facility maintains records from Federal agencies and courts in Nebraska, including census, military, court, naturalization, and immigration records.
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM) General Land Office Records: The BLM administers Federal Land for public land states including Nebraska, and maintains records of land patents which granted land from the Federal Government to individuals. Use the Land Patent Search to locate land grants by name. Many record images are available on the web site. See the FAQ for more information on how to locate and use land patents.
- Chronicling America: Online newspapers: Provides searchable online versions of selected Nebraska newspapers.
- Nebraska Prairie Settlement: Library of Congress