West Nebraska Family Research & History Center

01/03/2024

Hello everyone! West Nebraska Family Research & History Center is looking for motivated individuals who would be interested in helping at the center! If you would like to volunteer, please call 308-635-2400

01/20/2022

Nebraska State Genealogical Society Family Recognition Files

West Nebraska Family Research and History Center applied for and was chosen as the new home for the Nebraska Genealogy Society's Family Recognition Files. Nebraska State Genealogy Society's Family Recognition Certificate program was started in 1981 as a way for early Nebraska families to be recognized and honored for their contributions to the development to our great state.
To be eligible to receive recognition through this program, the descendent must fill out an application and submit proof of residency for their family member who will be named on the certificate. There are three levels of recognition, and each cover a specific time period.
1. First Family Recognition is for families that settled prior to 1867.....prior to
Nebraska's statehood.
2. Pioneer Family Recognition is for families that settled here between
1868 and 1879.
3. Century Family Recognition is for families that settled here at least 100
years prior to application.
The award certificate is issued by the Nebraska State Genealogical Society and is signed by the society's president. The certificate then goes to the Nebraska Secretary of State's office for their endorsement and is signed by the current Nebraska Secretary of State.
The actual paper application and physical files are housed here at the Center and can be viewed during normal business hours. The Nebraska State Genealogical Society will have only digitized files that are available through their website at https://nsgs.org. There are currently 763 files available to be viewed.

NSGS is a state wide genealogical organization located in Nebraska. If you are interested in genealogy or family history in Nebraska, please join us. We also have smaller societies within our group.

11/28/2021

Since the day West Nebraska Family Research and History Center opened its doors, we've looked at the building to our south. It's a two story building, and the name on it is E E Maxon. It's a building that even tho it's very old and has been here since 1917, the history on it seems to be elusive. If any of you know any history on this building, we'd welcome anything you might share.

06/14/2021

Have you ever wondered where, in our area, your Grandparent's or even Great Grandparent's home was located? Is their house still standing, or is it now a local business? You may be able to locate that address so you can go check it out. At West Nebraska Family Research and History Center, or Nebraska Ancestors, you may learn that address and perhaps their phone number and what others are living in the home. We
have old telephone books, school annuals, and city directories.

There may be many things at West Nebraska Family Research & History Center that you are not aware of. We have a large collection of Memorial/Funeral cards that were passed out at funerals. I've mentioned before that we have a vast obituary collection. We have been clipping and pasting obituaries from local newspapers and placing them in binders since day #1 in 2004. Not only do we have those binders, but we have been gifted binders from individuals. They include:
Edythe Streeks
Leona McMasters
Eleanor Preston
Clara Mae McConkey
Gloria Thompson
Charlotte Ward (obituary cabinet and cards)