Research Resources

The Nebraska State Historical Society, founded in 1878, collects, preserves, and shares the history of Nebraska through museums, historic sites, archives, libraries, educational programs, publications, and digital collections. The website provides information about exhibits, events, historic preservation, publications, and statewide history resources, along with links to the Society's research and genealogy services. Address: 1500 R Street, Lincoln, NE 68508. Phone: (402) 471-3270.

The Nebraska State Historical Society's Research, Reference & Genealogy Services provide researchers with access to extensive collections documenting Nebraska history and families. Researchers can use books, newspapers, maps, manuscripts, photographs, government records, digital collections, church records, cemetery records, and numerous online research resources. Staff provide reference assistance, and the Research Room is open by appointment on Mondays and regular hours Wednesday through Friday. Address: 1500 R Street, Lincoln, NE 68508. Phone: (402) 471-4751.

The Nebraska United Methodist Historical Center/Archives is the official repository for the Nebraska area of the Great Plains United Methodist Annual Conference. Located at Nebraska Wesleyan University's Cochrane-Woods Library, the archives preserve conference records, local church histories, photographs, publications, and records of predecessor Methodist denominations in Nebraska. Researchers may search the online book catalog and photo collection or arrange an appointment for in-person research assistance. Address: Cochrane-Woods Library, Lower Level, Nebraska Wesleyan University, 5000 St. Paul Avenue, Lincoln, NE 68504. Phone: (402) 465-2175.

NebraskAccess is provided by the Nebraska Library Commission and offers Nebraska residents free access to premium research databases, including genealogy, newspaper and magazine articles, legal, health, business, and science resources. The site also provides access to Nebraska Memories, Nebraska State Agency Publications, and librarian-selected websites covering Nebraska history and genealogy. Access to licensed databases is available through participating Nebraska libraries.

WieWasWie is a free genealogy website that provides access to historical records from archives throughout the Netherlands. Researchers can search civil registration records, church records, population registers, and many other genealogical sources. The site also includes user-contributed family trees and biographies, making it a valuable starting point for researching Dutch ancestors.

New York passenger lists (1820–1957) can be searched using Stephen P. Morse's One-Step search tools, which provide powerful search options for locating passengers despite spelling variations, transcription errors, and incomplete information. The tools search passenger lists from Castle Garden (1820–1891) and Ellis Island (1892–1957), making them easier to search than many of the original websites.

Lincoln City Libraries provides access to newspaper collections in both online and microfilm formats. The Lincoln Journal Star is available online from 1996 to the present, and the Omaha World-Herald is available online from 1983 to the present with a Lincoln City Libraries library card. Additional Lincoln newspapers dating back to 1867 are available on microfilm for use in the library. Newspapers are an invaluable resource for locating obituaries, birth and marriage announcements, legal notices, and articles that help document the lives of individuals and communities.

Obituary Guide provides a practical outline and template for writing an obituary. The guide serves as a checklist covering the information commonly included in an obituary, such as biographical details, family members, funeral or memorial service information, memorial donations, and other personal remembrances. It can be used as a sample format or planning tool when preparing an obituary.

Old Medical Terminology is a glossary of medical terms commonly found in historical records. The site defines obsolete and historical medical terms that appear in death records, medical records, and other historical documents, helping genealogists better understand the illnesses, conditions, and causes of death recorded for their ancestors.

The Omaha Public Library's Genealogy & Local History collection provides extensive resources for researching families in Nebraska, Omaha, and the Midwest. Researchers have access to family histories, local newspapers, city directories, census records, government documents, cemetery records, maps, microfilm, and other genealogy and local history collections. The library also offers research assistance, genealogy programs, and an online catalog. Address: 7205 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68114. Phone: (402) 444-4800.