Digital Collections
- Indian Congress
- Maps & Atlases
- Millard Town Memories
- Trans-Mississippi & International Exposition
- World Stereoview Collection
Documents & Directories
Records
- Cemetery Records
- Census Records
- Church Records
- Douglas County Birth & Death Registers
- Naturalizations Index
- Nebraska Marriage Records (by county)
- Military Records
- National Register of Historic Places Applications
Unique Collections
- Funeral Pamphlet Database
- Historic Bound Magazines & Newspapers, opens a new window
- Historic Local Maps
- Historic Omaha Newspapers
- Historic Quilt Blocks
- Wagon Roads
Biography Files
Just because there may not be a book written about them doesn’t mean they weren’t in the newspaper! OPL has several file cabinets of clippings on local business persons, authors, artists and other well-known Omahans. These can be found in the Genealogy & Local History Room.
Douglas County Birth & Death Registers
Death certificates were not required in Nebraska until 1904. Prior to this time the county attorney/coroner recorded the event in a ledger. Birth and death registers are available on microfilm in the Genealogy & Local History Room. Birth registers are reels #1 (1874-1906), #2 (1896-1907) & 2A (1892-1910). Death Registers are reels #3 & 4. They cover Douglas County (1873-1904), South Omaha (1895-July 1905) & City of Omaha (1895-1915). An index is available at omahalibrary.contentdm.oclc.org.
Masonic Files
The Scottish Rite Masons donated over 30 boxes of admissions application forms dating from 1881 to 1999. These records can be accessed at the Genealogy & Local History Room. The Index to Vital Records of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite Masons, Valley of Omaha, Orient of Nebraska, 1881-1999, Nebraska Reference 366.109782254 Index, by Margaret Marrs, is a guide to these files.
Naturalizations Index
Index to Nebraska naturalization records and 63 Iowa counties prior to 1906, is available on microfilm in the Genealogy & Local History Room. Records for Declarations of Intention are held at the Douglas County Historical Society, opens a new window.
Newspaper Clippings
Ever wonder what people did before online indexes? They used clipping files! Most articles are from the Omaha World-Herald and from other local magazines and newspapers. They include articles on subjects of local interest, pamphlets and other ephemera. Files of clippings and other ephemera can be requested in the Genealogy & Local History Room. The majority of the newspaper clippings are from 1947-1987.
Phone Books
Omaha phone books from 1920-present are available upon request.
Wagon Roads
Think Omaha's roads are bad now? Imagine traveling by wagon to Fort Kearny, NE or Virginia City, MT! This unique source is a microfilm copy of papers from the office of the Secretary of the Interior relating to wagon roads from 1857-1887, available in the Genealogy & Local History Room. The originals are housed at the Library of Congress.
Yearbooks
A collection of yearbooks from various high schools and colleges in the Omaha area. Central High’s O-Book goes back to 1909! UNO and UNL are represented as well. Ask for yearbooks in the Genealogy & Local History Room. See what your ancestor looked like! Yearbooks from Omaha Central can also be found at https://chsfomaha.org/newsroom/, opens a new window.
