In 1866 the first constitution of Nebraska stated, "There shall
be a seal of the state, which shall be kept by the governor and
used by him officially, and shall be called the Great Seal of
the State of Nebraska." After statehood had been achieved in
March of 1867 then Governor Butler called a special session of
the legislature to pass such laws as the Governor thought
necessary for starting the state government. In this special
session a bill was introduced that required the Secretary of
State to procure a and the circle to be surrounded with the
words, "Great Seal of the State of Nebraska, March 1, 1867." A
sum of twenty-five dollars was appropriated to enable the
Secretary of State to carry out the act and the bill was signed
into law by Governor Butler on June 15, 1867. According to
legend the seal purchased by then Secretary of State Thomas
Kennard played a key role when the State Capitol was moved from
Omaha to Lincoln in 1868. According to Mr. Kennard's statements
much later in his life he and Governor