ARCHIVES RECORD RG014 Nebraska. Nebraska State Historical Society & film Records: 1878-current Cubic ft.: 165.5 Approx. # of Items: 350 boxes and oversize HISTORICAL NOTE The Nebraska State Historical Society is the oldest state institutions organized as the Nebraska Historical and Library Association in 1867. On September 25, 1878 this association was reorganized as the Nebraska State Historical Society. The University of Nebraska provided space to house the records and property of the Society, and the first annual meetings were held at the University. In 1883 the Nebraska State Historical Society was designated a state institution and the legislature made an appropriation to carry on Society activities. Because of this appropriation, the Society was able to begin publishing the first volume of Transactions and Reports. The Society is governed by a twelve- member executive board elected by members and three who are gubernatorial appointees. It is assisted by the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation which solicits and accepts gifts of real or personal property for the use and benefit of the Nebraska State Historical Society and gives financial support to many of its programs. The first Secretary of the Nebraska State Historical Society was Dr. Samuel Aughey of the University of Nebraska, who served until 1885 when Professor George E. Howard assumed this position. Howard remained Secretary and Superintendent of the Society until 1891 when he was succeeded by Howard W. Caldwell, also of the University of Nebraska. A staff of permanent employees was retained during Caldwell's administration and the Society began more active work in the collection and preservation of materials relating to Nebraska's history. During this time an active program of archeaological field work was begun under the direction of Elmer E. Blackman and became one of the Society's primary activities. RG014 Nebraska State Historical Society #2 & film In 1909 Caldwell was succeeded by Clarence S. Paine who served as Secretary and Superintendent until his death in 1917. During Paine's tenure the Society failed in attempts to secure a permanent building of its own in which to house the collections. Addison E. Sheldon, who had been with the Society since 1903, assumed the post of Secretary and Superintendent following Paine's death. Sheldon began the publication of the Society's magazine, Nebraska History, as well as producing numerous other published works. In 1932 the Society moved from the University to the newly completed capitol building where its offices remained until the completion of the present business headquarters and research building in 1953. Following Sheldon's death in 1943, Professor James L. Sellers assumed the post of Superintendent of the Society serving until 1946 when he was succeeded by James C. Olson. W. D. Aeschbacher followed Olson as Society Director from 1956-1963. In 1963 Marvin F. Kivett, formerly Museum Director of the Society, assumed the directorship. Kivett served as Director until 1985 when a new Director was chosen, James E. Hanson. Hanson resigned in 1991 and the present director, Lawrence J. Sommer was chosen to take his place. Sommer comes from the directorship of the Montana State Historical Society. Major programs of the Society include the Museum and its branches, the Library and Archives Division, Historic Preservation, and the Archaeology Department. The main objectives of the Society are to plan and provide leadership for the preservation of Nebraska history; to stimulate interest in the history of Nebraska; to collect, preserve, identify and display artifact material relating to the people and history of Nebraska; to interpret the collected material to educate the public about Nebraska's past; to collect and maintain a specialized library of Nebraska history for the information and education of the public; to collect and preserve public records of historical value contained in the offices of the state and political sub-divisons of Nebraska; and to preserve and display historical and archaeological artifacts relating to the people and history of Nebraska. The Museum maintains sites of historic interest and maintains museums in Lincoln (Museum of Nebraska History and Kennard House), Crawford (Fort Robinson), Neligh (Neligh Mills), McCook (George Norris Home), Red Cloud (Willa Cather Center), and near Bayard (Chimney Rock). The Society also manages the Joslyn Castle in Omaha. The Education Department of the museum educates the public through exhibits, tours, lecture, and the media, assists patrons in the research of privately-owned artifacts and family history, provides technical assistance to local museums and develops classroom materials to supplement teaching of Nebraska history in local schools. The Highway Salvage Program, carried on with reimbursement from the RG014 Nebraska State Historical Society #3 & film Department of Roads, preserves historical and archaeological material endangered by road construction. The State Historical Society was authorized by the 1967 Legislature to administer on behalf of the state provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended. The responsibilities of this division include the identification, evaluation, registration, and protection of the state's historic and cultural properties. All programs are implemented under the Nebraska Cultural Resource Plan, the principle planning document issued by the office. The Director of the Society, as State Historic Preservation Officer, is responsible for administering provisions of this act in Nebraska and other provisions of state law dealing with historic preservation. The office is assisted by federal Historic Preservation Fund grants to support its operations and, when funds are available, as grants-in-aid for preservation projects. In the early 1900s, the society became involved in the preservation and marking of the sites of historical events. It offered limited support for preservation of sites. Many historical sites of Nebraska have been preserved through the efforts of the Historical Society. The first organized effort to mark historic sites was begun during Clarence Paine's administration when the Society supported a federal act to locate and mark the Oregon Trail and cooperated with the state organization of the Daughters of the American Revolution in marking the trail across Nebraska. The first marker in the state was erected near Kearney in April, 1910. The next year the Nebraska Legislature appropriated funds to continue the project and the Oregon Trail Memorial Commission was established to direct the effort, with the Society's Secretary acting as secretary- treasurer of that organization. Legislation in 1957 enabled the Society to implement a uniform markers program for historic sites. By this legislation the Historical Landmark Commission was established. The function of this Commission were later taken over by the Historical Society. Requests for historic markers are submitted by local groups or public agencies. The final text is approved by the Society. One-half the cost is paid by the requesting agency. The markers are of standard design and to date over 350 markers have been erected. The society is also involved in the Hall of Fame Commission which was created in 1961 to bring public attention and official recognition to outstanding Nebraskans. Persons elected by the commission are honored with a bust that is housed in the State Capitol building. RG014 Nebraska State Historical Society #4 & film In 1905, the Nebraska Legislature designated the Society as the official custodian of historical records. During Marvin Kivett's administration, the State Archives was made a separate division of the Society with the responsibility for public records, private manuscript collections, Nebraska newspapers, and the Society's microfilming program. In 1961 a program of records management was begun in the state, and in 1969 the law was amended to provide funds for the operation of a Records Management Division of the Office of Secretary of State. The division developed retention-disposition schedules for most state and local records with the cooperation of the State Archives and the State Records Board. This legislation also recognized the State Historical Society as the official Archives of Nebraska. The Director and the State Archivist were made members of the State Records Board. The Society has produced over 20,000 reels of microfilm of Nebraska newspapers and public records. The Society holds the largest existing collection of Nebraska newspapers. In recent years the State Archives and the Library were again combined as Library and Archives Division. A centennial history of the Society was published as an issue of Nebraska History in the Fall of 1978. RG014 Nebraska State Historical Society #5 & film SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE This collection consists of the records of the Nebraska State Historical Society, the Museum of Nebraska History, and its affiliated programs and branches arranged into thirty-five subgroups: SG1 DIRECTOR S1 Administrative correspondence and special subject files S2 Hall of Fame Commission S3 Construction plans, diagrams, etc. S4 Membership Records, 1934-1943 S5 Miscellaneous/Historical SG2 LIBRARY/ARCHIVES DIVISION S1 Administrative correspondence and special subject files S2 Accessioning and processing records S3 Computer File Registration SG3 ARCHIVES/MANUSCRIPT DIVISION S1 Administrative correspondence SS1 Correspondence & Special Subjects SS2 Topical Files SS3 Annual Reports S2