The following external websites contain primary source and educational materials helpful in researching each U.S. state and territory.
African American History Resources
Explore these resources for historical context and specific records that reveal details about the lives ofAfrican American ancestors.
The African American Story - Texas State History Museum External
African American Texans have created culture and community despite being subjected to racism and oppression in the form of enslavement, segregation, and violence, and have improved the state of Texas with valuable cultural and historical contributions.
Church and Religious Records
Most religious records are maintained at the local level. It is important to reach out directly to your ancestors' house of worship. Keep in mind that original records from a particular religious institution may also have been transferred to the custody of an area library, historical society, or denominational archive for preservation and research. See the Library of Congress Research Guide Church and Synagogue Records for Genealogy for research strategies and resources.
The following list provides a selection of the types of records and repositories that you may find for the denominations represented in your family or local history:
Catholic Archives of Texas External
The mission of the Catholic Archives of Texas is to collect, preserve and make available for research books, artifacts, records, and photographs that document the Catholic experience in Texas from the sixteenth century to the present.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: Region 4 - South Archives External
Those materials include parish records of disbanded congregations, historical information about disbanded and active congregations, biographical information on deceased rostered leaders, minutes and various records of judicatories, their institutions and organizations, and historical photographs, films, and recordings.
Indigenous Peoples
Explore these resources for historical context and specific records that reveal details about the lives of Indigenous ancestors.
Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1793–1999 - National Archives
Agencies and subagencies were created as administrative offices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and its predecessors. Their purpose was (and is) to manage Indian affairs with the tribes, to enforce policies, and to assist in maintaining the peace. The names and location of these agencies may have changed, but their purpose remained basically the same. Many of the records of genealogical value were created by these offices.
Laws
To understand the time and place in which our ancestors lived, we must understand the laws that governed their community. These laws governed their daily lives and impacted the records they left behind.
Law & Genealogy | Cyndi's List External
Cyndi Ingle has curated a list of locality specific law resources by jurisdiction, as well as general resources.
Law Library | The Advancing Genealogist External
Debbie Mieszala has created an online law library with links to historic statutes and related materials. The index includes items organized by state and by special topic.
The Legal Genealogist External
Throughout numerous historical contexts and circ*mstances, Judy G. Russell provides case studies that examine ancestors and the laws they lived by.
The State Law Library serves the legal research needs of the Texas Supreme Court, the Court of Criminal Appeals, the Office of the Attorney General, other state agencies and commissions, and the citizens of the state.
Maps and Geographical Resources
These historical map collections may be searched by state or county.
Atlas of Historical County Boundaries: Texas External
Interactive Maps displaying boundary changes and new county formations. Provided by the Newberry Library.
David Rumsey Map Collection External
Search by state name to see statewide results or narrow your results with a search for a county or community name.
"We strive to map Indigenous lands in a way that changes, challenges, and improves the way people see the history of their countries and peoples." (From website)
Military Records
Military records often reveal much more than military service. Search these records for personal details, family ties, and local history context.
Texas Military Records Research - Texas State Library and Archives
This guide is designed to help researchers who are interested in accessing the records of individuals who served in Texas military units between 1835 and 1945, with a focus on records held by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC).
Veterans' Service Records | National Archives
Access to federal military records that have been digitized, as well as order forms for those that have not, may be obtained through the National Archives.
Newspapers
Historic newspapers provide important content for historical and genealogical research.
Texas Digital Newspaper Program - Portal to Texas History External
The Texas Digital Newspaper Program (TDNP) partners with communities, publishers, and institutions to promote standards-based digitization of Texas newspapers and to make them freely accessible via The Portal to Texas History.
State and Local Repositories
Despite the vast amount of information available online, most genealogy and local history records have not been digitized. Be sure to find the repositories of records in the specific communities where your ancestors lived. Over the years, some records have been shifted to nearby academic libraries or to state archives. Reach out to these institutions directly to discover what collections they hold and how you can access them.
Texas County Information Map - Texas Association of Counties External
Includes overview information, including county seat and population, and links to official county websites.
Research Guides and Reference Tools
There are various online research guides, printed inventories, and other resources that can be helpful when determining where a specific type of historical record might be located.
Texas County Records Inventories - Portal to Texas History External
This ambitious project began in 1936 under the auspices of the Work Projects Administration (WPA) and continued until 1942, producing 24 inventories of Texas county archives. The idea was revived in 1973 with the formation of the Texas County Records Inventory Project (TCRIP) which surveyed county records until funding was discontinued in 1981.
Texas Local Government Retention Schedules
Texas Government Code provides that the Texas State Library and Archives Commission shall issue records retention schedules for each type of local government, including a schedule for records common to all types of local government. These schedules can help you to learn where certain types of historical records might be located.
Texas State Law Library - Texas Court Records
Texas doesn’t have a single database where you can search all court records for the state. Each court is responsible for keeping their own records. Some courts make their records available online, but you may have to contact the court clerk to get access and pay a service fee.
Texas State Library and Archives - County Records on Microfilm
Information about the county records on microfilm held by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Copies of most county records are also held by FamilySearch. Most of these records are also available through FamilySearch.
Texas State Library and Archives - Texas Vital Statistics Indexes
Information about how to access vital statistics indexes maintained by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and additional information for researching vital records in Texas.
