Nebraska Research Tips and Strategies

Nebraska Wiki Topics

Beginning Research

Guided Research Research Strategies Record Finder

Record Types

Adoption Bible Records Cemeteries Census Church Records Correctional Institutions Court Records Crime & Punishment Directories Emigration & Immigration Genealogies Land & Property Military Records Naturalization & Citizenship Newspapers Obituaries Online Collections Periodicals Probate Records Taxation Vital Records Voter Records

Nebraska Background

Biography Further Reading Gazetteers History Law & Legislation Maps Migration

Cultural Groups

African Americans Indigenous Peoples Cultural Groups Swedish American

Local Research Resources

Archives & Libraries Societies Find a FamilySearch center

Nebraska

Research Tips and Strategies

Purpose of Research Tips and Strategies Wiki Page The Nebraska Research Tips and Strategies page consists of links to specific research strategies for Nebraska. It also contains general tips and other resources for finding your ancestors in this locality.

Nebraska Research Strategies

Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in Nebraska:

Finding Nebraska Birth, Marriage or Death Records

• Finding Nebraska Births, Marriages, and Deaths using Guided Research

Finding Nebraska Records

• Nebraska Record Finder

Nebraska Statewide Databases

• Nebraska Online Genealogy Records

Nebraska Research Process

• Step-by-Step Nebraska Research, 1880-Present
• Step-by-Step Nebraska Research, 1850-1910
• Nebraska Descendancy Research
• How to Find Birth Records
• How to Find Marriage Records
• How to Find Death Records

Nebraska Research Tips

These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in Nebraska:

Birth and Death information:

---

• Statewide birth registration: Statewide registration of births began in 1904 and was generally complied with by 1920.
• Access to records: See Montana Vital Records for more information about birth, marriages, and deaths in Montana.

Substitute Records:

---

• Secondary source: Substitute records are used when primary sources do not exist for an event, such as birth, marriage, and deaths. Secondary sources list information about the event but they were not recorded at the time of the event and they are not an official record of the event.
• Accuracy: Because the information about an event in substitute records was not the official recording of the event (such as, cemetery or obituary records) inaccuracy may occur. Use other substitute records to help verify information.
• List of substitute records: See Montana Substitute Records for more information.

Finding Parents:

---

• Death records: State recorded deaths starting in 1904 required birth and parent information. Information was not always provided and the accuracy of the information was limited by the grieving relatives' memory.
• Obituaries: Official obituaries can also include the names of parents and other family members. See Montana Newspapers and Montana Obituaries for more information.
• Church records: Knowing the denomination of the church the family belonged to helps in locating information about the parents. See Montana Church Records for more information.

Census Records:

---

• Check all census years: Always look for your ancestor in every possible census to learn more about them and their family members. See Montana Census Records for more information.
• Clues to other records: There are clues in censuses regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records.
• Finding families: Starting in 1850, all members of the household were listed in the census. By 1880, relationship to the head of household was added.
  
• Birth information: Statewide registration of births began in 1904 and was generally complied with by 1920. A helpful substitute record to find birth information is a death record. However, date and place of birth on a death record is considered secondary information, as it was not recorded at the time of the birth event. The birth information should be corroborated with other substitute records to improve accuracy.
• Finding Parents: The State of Nebraska began recording deaths in 1904. They often will list the parents of the deceased and their birth information. Search Nebraska death records
• Look in all censuses: Always look for your ancestor in every possible census. There are clues regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records. Sometimes parents can be found living with their children later in life. Search U.S. Censuses.

Further Nebraska Research

• Nebraska Family History Library Research Outline
• NEGenWeb - Nebraska GenWeb Project
• Nebraska Genealogy Trails - collection of transcribed data for the state of Nebraska
• Cyndi's List - Nebraska genealogy websites
• Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness - State of Nebraska Records Guide