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Nebraska Public Records
| How
To Search Public and Vital Records -
Vital records are records of life events important enough that
some level of government acquires, organizes, and preserves
them. While the term "vital records" is often applied
to a wide variety of life events... Read
more |
Nebraska Vital Records
The statewide requirement for registration of births and deaths began
late in 1904, and marriages and divorces in 1909. However, compliance
was not total for several years.
For birth and death records from 1904 and marriage records from 1909,
write:
Nebraska Department of Health, Vital Records, P.O. Box 95065, Lincoln,
NE 68509-5065
For earlier records, write to the clerk of the county in question.
Nebraska Land Records
Nebraska is a federal-land state. Lands were generally acquired
from the federal government or from other individuals. The researcher
should be familiar with the boundaries of the early land offices
in Nebraska. Two good sources are Addison Erwin Sheldon, Land Systems
and Land Policies in Nebraska, vol. 22 (Lincoln: Nebraska State
Historical Society Publications, 1936), and Homer Socolofsky, "Land
Disposal in Nebraska 1854–1906: The Homestead Story,"
Nebraska History 48 (1967): 225–48. Another helpful reference
available from the Nebraska State Historical Society is Reference
Information Guide No. 7, "U.S. Government Land Laws in Nebraska
1854–1907," by James E. Potter. This may be obtained upon
request. The Nebraska State Historical Society has records from
the land offices and microfilmed copies of all the tract books.
Some of these entries are indexed. If the exact land description
is known, land patents for Nebraska may be obtained from the BLM,
Wyoming State Office, 2515 Warren Avenue, Box 1828, Cheyenne, Wyoming
82003.
The researcher should be aware that the railroads acquired nearly
a tenth of Nebraska land from the federal government and sold it
cheaply to settlers to encourage settlement and the development
of commerce. Most of the original records of railroad land sales
were destroyed by fire, but the Nebraska Historical Society holds
land records of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad in Nebraska.
Also check the county grantee/grantor lists for railroad deeds that
may have been filed there.
Transactions between individuals were also recorded on the county
level, through the Register of Deeds. Here, the researcher can search
deeds (indexed by grantee-grantor), mortgages, and cemetery record
deed books. For further information, also consult:
Hone, E. Wade. Land and Property Research in the United States.
Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1997.
Nebraska Court Records
Court records include probate records (which include wills), guardianship,
naturalization, and a wide variety of other sources, ranging from
criminal trials to simple road orders. All contain information about
individuals within the area. It should be remembered that there
are different levels of jurisdiction for courts in the United States,
all of which should be considered for research under various circumstances.
Court of Common Pleas, Orphan's Court, Probate Court, District Court,
Superior Court, Supreme Court, and other titles are among those
encountered. To study more about court records in general, see "Research
in Court Records," by Arlene H. Eakle, in Loretto DennisSzucs
and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking, eds., The Source: A Guidebook of
American Genealogy, rev. ed. (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1997).
Nebraska Military Records
The following records are located at the Nebraska State Historical
Society: The Grand Army of the Republic Membership Rosters (the
Nebraska Department of the Grand Army of the Republic Membership
Files) give the name of each member, dates of military service,
the unit and state from which he served, Grand Army of the Republic
post number, and Nebraska post office address of union Civil War
Veterans; The Grand Army of the Republic Burial Records is an alphabetical
file of Civil War veterans buried in Nebraska, which lists the military
unit in which the veteran served, date of death, place of burial,
and often the place of birth; Rosters of Nebraska Soldiers in the
Civil War (1861–65) were published in Andreas's 1882 History
of the State of Nebraska, 2 vols. (reprinted with index by Raymond
E. Dale; Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, 1962). Andreas
also includes rosters of those persons serving in Nebraska units
and Indian Campaigns on the Plains, 1861–69. These rosters
list names, dates of service, Nebraska residence, and remarks.
"Rosters of Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines (1887–1925)"
were printed and published by the secretary of state from information
furnished by county clerks and assessors. These rosters give name,
unit designation, and post office address. Service cards for the
1898 Spanish-American War provide name, birthplace, age or birth
date, residence, dates of service, and assigned unit of Nebraskans.
Included in these records are the enlistment and service records
for Nebraskans who served in the Philippine War and the Insurrection
that followed (1898–1902). World War I service cards are also
available and provide name, serial number, residence, age or birth
date, and dates of service of Nebraskans. A World War II serviceman
index cites references to Nebraska servicemen from local newspapers
in the state.
For further information, consult James C. Neagles's U.S. Military
Records: A Guide to Federal and State Sources. (Salt Lake City:
Ancestry, 1994).
Additional Sources
Nebraska State Genealogical Society. Nebraska: A Guide to Genealogical
Research. Lincoln: the society, 1984.
Perkey, Elton A. Perkey's Nebraska Place Names. Lincoln: Nebraska
State Historical Society, 1982.
White, John Browning. Published Sources on Territorial Nebraska:
An Essay and Bibliography. Vol. 23, Nebraska State Historical Society
Publications. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, 1956.
Nebraska Vital Records:
Event: Birth
Cost of copy: $8.00
Address:
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Department of Health and Human Services
301 Centennial Mall South
P.O. Box 95065
Lincoln, NE 68509-5065
Remarks: State office has had records since late
1904. If birth occurred before then, write the State office for
information. Check or money order should be made payable to Bureau
of Vital Statistics. Personal checks are accepted. To verify current
fees, the telephone number is (402) 471-2871. This is a recorded
message.
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Event: Death
Cost of copy: $7.00
Address:
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Department of Health and Human Services
301 Centennial Mall South
P.O. Box 95065
Lincoln, NE 68509-5065
Remarks: State office has had records since late
1904. If birth occurred before then, write the State office for
information. Check or money order should be made payable to Bureau
of Vital Statistics. Personal checks are accepted. To verify current
fees, the telephone number is (402) 471-2871. This is a recorded
message.
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Event: Marriage (State)
Cost of copy: $7.00
Address:
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Department of Health and Human Services
301 Centennial Mall South
P.O. Box 95065
Lincoln, NE 68509-5065
Remarks: Records since January 1909.
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Event: Marriage (county)
Cost of copy: Varies
Address: See remarks
Remarks: County Court in county where license was
issued.
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Event: Divorce (State)
Cost of copy: $7.00
Address:
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Department of Health and Human Services
301 Centennial Mall South
P.O. Box 95065
Lincoln, NE 68509-5065
Remarks: Records since January 1909.
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Event: Divorce (county)
Cost of copy: Varies
Address: See remarks
Remarks: Clerk of District Court in county where
divorce was granted.
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