Nebraska History

United States Nebraska  Nebraska History

Timeline
The following important events in the history of Nebraska affected political boundaries, record keeping, and family movements.

Historical Content
Histories are great sources of genealogical information. Many contain biographical information about individuals who lived in the area, including:

Local Histories
Some of the most valuable sources for family history research are local histories. Published histories of towns, counties, and states usually contain accounts of families. They describe the settlement of the area and the founding of churches, schools, and businesses. You can also find lists of pioneers, soldiers, and civil officials. Even if your ancestor is not listed, information on other relatives may be included that will provide important clues for locating your ancestor. A local history may also suggest other records to search. Local histories are extensively collected by the Family History Library, public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies. The United States Research "History" page cites nationwide bibliographies of local histories which include histories of Nebraska.


 * A Bibliography of American County Histories


 * United States Local Histories in the Library of Congress


 * The Pony Express Pony Express riders carried the U.S. Mail on horseback. There were approximately 80 of them. There were support personnel as well that numbered over 400. The Pony Express Route Covered Parts of: California, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Utah and Wyoming. Pony Express Riders Biographies: By Name Include Some Photos

State Histories Useful to Genealogists
Good genealogists strive to understand the life and times of their ancestors. In this sense, any history is useful. But certain kinds of state, county, and local histories, especially older histories published between 1845 and 1945, often include biographical sketches of prominent individuals. The sketches usually tend toward the laudatory, but may include some genealogical details. If these histories are indexed or alphabetical, check for an ancestor's name. Some examples for the State of Nebraska:

The Nebraska State Historical Society has a major collection of state and local histories. The Family History Library also collects histories.


 * History of Nebraska is an especially helpful source

United States History
The following are only a few of the many sources that are available:


 * The Almanac of American History, This provides brief historical essays and chronological descriptions of thousands of key events in United States history.


 * Dictionary of American History, Revised ed This includes historical sketches on various topics in U.S. history, such as wars, people, laws, and organizations. A snippet view is available at Google books.


 * Webster's Guide to American History: A Chronological, Geographical, and Biographical Survey and Compendium  This includes a history, some maps, tables, and other historical information.


 * Writings on American History Has the full text available at Google Books

To find more books and articles about Nebraska's history use the Internet Google search for phases like "Nebraska history." Family History Library Catalog Surname Search lists many more histories under topics like:


 * NEBRASKA - HISTORY
 * NEBRASKA, [COUNTY] - HISTORY
 * NEBRASKA, [COUNTY], [TOWN] - HISTORY
 * NEBRASKA, BIBLIOGRAPHY

Web Sites

 * Nebraska History Resources
 * Nebraska State Historical Society