Texas Genealogical Archives

   It is wise to acquaint yourself with any repository which you might visit by writing to the appropriate archive or library in advance. Every repository has published materials that introduce its collections and research policy. State archives and historical agencies also have Internet sites that provide the same information. Some even have downloadable databases for some or parts of their collections.

• Texas State Library and Archives Commission, P.O. Box 12927, Austin, TX 78711-2927
  Holdings under the auspices of the Texas State Library are divided. Most important for genealogical research are the Texas State Archives with its Local Records Department, the Records Management Division, and the Information Services Division, which includes a Genealogy Section and a Reference Department.
  The Genealogy Section maintains vertical ties that contain notes, clippings, pamphlets, and correspondence on Texas families. These files may be accessed in person, by phone (512-463-5463, forty-five minute limit), or through correspondence.
• Texas State Archives, Regional Historical Resource Depository, University Archives, East Texas State University, Commerce, TX 75428-2810
• Dallas Public Library, 1515 Young Street Dallas, TX 75201
• Houston Public Library, 500 McKinney Street Houston, TX 77002
  Of paramount importance to the genealogical researcher working with Texas records are the holdings of the Texas State Library and Archives. Most other libraries including public have valuable material with genealogical information, such as published histories, newspapers, telephone books, city directories, manuscripts, and oral history.Because so many records pertaining to Texas are available in microform, much genealogical and historical material is accessible at the following:Twenty-five public and university libraries in Texas provide additional storage facilities of local records.
• Catholic Archives of Texas, P.O. Box 13327, 1600 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78811-3327
• Texas Land Office, Archives & Records Division, Stephen F. Austin Bldg., 1700 North Congress, Austin, TX 78701-1495

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Historical & Genealogical Societies

   "Genealogists are generally positive and energetic, and most are ready to share their findings or research experience with anyone they can help. There are hundreds of genealogical societies at the grass-roots level. Knowledge of the genealogical community will place you in the midst of much activity, increase your productivity, and alert you to the importance of research standards and etiquette."
Sandra Hargreaves Luebking, Editor of FGS Forum,
Co-editor of The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy

   Because family history research relies greatly upon records found at the county level, many local societies represent counties. Organizations also form around shared interests. Ethnic or religious origins account for many groups, such as the Polish Genealogical Society of America and P.O.I.N.T. (Pursuing Our Italian Names Together). Societies also form around common locales of origin for members’ ancestors; hence, the Palatines to America and Germans from Russia societies. To locate these and other societies, consult Juliana Szucs Smith’s The Ancestry Family Historian’s Address Book. It lists addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and Internet addresses of thousands of organizations throughout the United States.
For almost every state there is a state genealogical society, a state genealogical council, or both. In addition to their own work, state-level groups sometimes help coordinate the efforts of local societies within the state. Their publications, newsletters and quarterlies, supplement those produced by the local societies.

• Texas Genealogical Society, 2505 Beluche Drive, Galveston 77551
• Texas Historical Commision
  The Texas Historical Commission (THC) is the state agency for historic preservation. THC staff consults with citizens and organizations to preserve Texas' architectural, archeological and cultural landmarks. The agency is recognized nationally for its preservation programs.
• Central Texas Genealogical Society, Inc., c/o Waco-McLennan County Library, 1717 Austin Avenue, Waco, Texas 76701
  [Counties Covered: McLennan, Limestone, Hill, Falls, Milam, Coryell, Bosque]
• East Texas Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 6967, Tyler 75711
  [Counties Covered: Anderson, Henderson, Smith, Rusk, Gregg, Panola]
• SouthEast Texas Genealogical & Historical Society, c/o Tyrrell Historical Library, P.O. Box 3827, Beaumont, TX 77704-3827
  [Counties Covered: Jefferson, Tyler, San Jacinto, Polk, Chambers, Newton, Hardin, Liberty, Orange, Jasper]
• South Texas Genealogical Society, Inc., PO Box 754, Beeville, TX 78104-0754
  [Counties Covered: Bee, Goliad, Karnes, Live Oak, Refugio & San Patricio]
• East Texas Historical Association, P. O. Box 6223 SFA Station, Nacogdoches, TX 75962-6223; Phone: (936) 468-2407, FAX: (936) 468-2190
• Southwest Genealogical Society, 1300 San Pedro Ave, San Antonio 78212
• Southwest Texas Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 295, Uvalde 78802
• North Texas Genealogical Association, P.O. Box 4602, University Park Station, Wichita Falls, TX 76308
• Texas City Ancestry Searchers, P.O. Box 3301, Texas City 77592-3301
• Genealogical Society Of Northest Texas, P.O. Box 187, Paris 75460
• Texas State Afro-american, P.O. Box 670045, Houston 77267-0045
• Texas State Genealogical Society
• Texas State Historical Association, 2/306 Sid Richardson Hall, Austin 78712,
• Texas Wendish Heritage Society, Rt 2, Box 311, Giddings 78942
• Polish Genealogical Society of Texas, Rt. 1, Box 475-S, Navasota, TX 77868
• North Texas Cornish Society, 1300 Canterbury Court, Arlington 76013-1002
• Czech Heritage Society of Texas, 7411 Kite Hill, Houston, TX 77041
• Spanish American Genealogical Association
• German-Texan Heritage Society, 507 E. 10th St., P.O. Box 684171, Austin, TX 78768-4171

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Texas Genealogical Publications

Search The PERiodical Source Index

   Genealogical periodicals are numerous for Texas with some counties having three or more different societies. Some representative titles are:
 [ see specific county page for individual county list ]

• The Dallas Quarterly. Dallas Genealogical Society, 1955-present.
• Footprints. Fort Worth Genealogical Society 1968-present.
• Genealogical Record. Houston Genealogical Forum, 1958-present.
• Stirpes. Texas State Genealogical Society, 1961-present.
• Heart of Texas Records. Formerly Central Texas Genealogical Society
• Bulletin. Central Texas Genealogical Society, 1958-present.
• The Herald. Montgomery County Genealogical and Historical Society, 1978-present.
• Newsletter. German Texas Heritage Society, 1979-present.
• Nase Dejiny. Devoted to Czechs who settled in Texas. 1982-present.
• Northeast Texas Genealogy and History. Genealogical Society of Northeast Texas, 1965-present.
• Oak Leaves. Matagorda County Genealogical Society 1982-present.
• PGST News. Polish Genealogical Society of Texas.
• Our Heritage. San Antonio Genealogical and Historical Society, 1959-present.
• Yellowed Pages. Southeast Texas Genealogical and Historical Society, 1971-present.
• Stalkin' Kin. San Angelo Genealogical and Historical Society, 1973-present.
• The Thorny Trail. Midland Genealogical Society, 1973-present.
• The Roadrunner. Chaparral Genealogical Society, 1974-present.
• Stalkin' Kin. San Angelo Genealogical and Historical Society, 1973-present.
• Stirpes. Texas State Genealogical Society, 1961-present.
• The Thorny Trail. Midland Genealogical Society, 1973—present.
• Yellowed Pages. Southeast Texas Genealogical and Historical Society, 1971-present

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Texas Newspapers

Search Historical Newspapers

   The Name Index to Early Texas Newspapers serves as a significant finding tool for names in newspapers between 1830 and 1885. The original card-file index is at the University of Texas Library, with a forty-three roll set on microfilm and available throughout Texas. The card data includes the name, date, and title as well as other identifying information. Other works include:
Lu, Helen Mason. Texas Methodist Newspaper Abstracts (17 April 1850—17 Sept. 1881). 4 vols. Dallas, Tex.: H. Lu, 1987. Also in microfiche.
Kelsey, Michael. Genealogical Abstracts from Central Texas Newspapers, 1885-1899. Temple, Tex.: the author, ca. 1987.
———. Genealogical Abstracts from the Austin Texas State Gazette 1849-1859. Temple, Tex.: the author, 1988.
———. Miscellaneous Texas Newspaper Abstracts, 1856-1870. Temple, Tex.: the author, ca. 1988.
Swensen, Helen S. Early Texas News 1831-1848, Abstracts from Early Texas Newspapers. St. Louis, Mo. F. T. Ingmire, 1984.

   While records of birth, marriage, and death are the most commonly sought and the most consistently helpful records, only the genealogist’s imagination and resourcefulness limit newspapers’ usefulness in supplying clues about historical events, local history, probate court and legal notices, real estate transactions, political biographies, announcements, notices of new and terminated partnerships, business advertisements, and notices for settling debts.

   Newspapers can provide at least a partial substitute for nonexistent civil records. For example, a person’s obituary may have appeared in a newspaper even when civil death records for that person do not exist. And newspapers are an important source of marriage records, particularly in those states where civil recording of marriages was essentially nonexistent until the twentieth century.

   Unlike official records, newspapers are not limited to a particular geographical area. They often include reports of the weddings of local citizens (even those that occurred in a neighboring county or another state), and they sometimes report visits of geographically distant relatives or the visits of former local residents. They often published death notices of individuals who had left the area long before but who still had local family or friends as well. In each case the newspaper account can identify the date and place of an event, thus opening the possibility of turning up additional documentation in other sources.

   The first step in searching a newspaper is to identify those which served the area of interest and which have survived. The three most necessary tools are bibliographies (What was published?), inventories of library and depository holdings (Where is it?), and indexes (How do I find what I want in it?).

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