Nebraska State Archives

Overview

The Nebraska State Archives is a division of the Nebraska State Historical Society, maintaining Nebraska government records, newspapers, and other historical documents, alongside the Society's separate Library Division.

History

The Nebraska State Historical Society was founded in 1878 to "encourage historical research and inquiry, spread historical information ... and to embrace alike aboriginal and modern history," and was designated a state institution in 1883. It was upgraded to a state agency in 1994. The agency rebranded as History Nebraska on April 30, 2018, then returned to its original name, the Nebraska State Historical Society, on September 3, 2024.

Collections, Holdings, and Publications

The Society's headquarters building at 1500 R Street, Lincoln, houses the James E. Potter Research Room, where the public can access the Nebraska History Library (books, maps, newspapers) and the Nebraska State Archives (unpublished manuscripts, photographs, film/audio, and government records). The Society also operates the Museum of Nebraska History and a network of state historic sites, including the Neihardt State Historic Site and the Thomas P. Kennard House.

Access and Usage

The Research Room is located at 1500 R Street, Lincoln, Nebraska, on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus.