texas history research topics

• Research Guides
• Texas History Research Guide

Texas History Research Guide:Websites

• Find Articles
• For More Information
• Daughters of the Republic of Texas This site contains an illustrated chronology of the Battle of the Alamo, a link to the Daughters of The Republic of Texas (DRT) library catalog, a list of historical events hosted by DRT, and two Alamo bibliographies, one for adults and one focusing on children’s resources. It also provides a link to an extensive list of other Texas History related sites.
• H-Texas: H-Net Discussion Network on Life & Culture in Texas A discussion list focusing on Texas history and culture. Scholarly research and discussion, teaching aids and bibliographical information can be found within the discussion list.
• Handbook of Texas Online A multidisciplinary encyclopedia of Texas history, geography, and culture sponsored by the Texas State Historical Association. Included is authoritative information on people, places, events, historical themes, institutions and other Texas topics.
• Institute of Texan Cultures test
• Texas Beyond History An award-winning virtual museum focusing on the prehistory of Texas from the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory at The University of Texas at Austin. It provides results of archeological and historical research on the cultural heritage of Texas. Online exhibits cover a multitude of subjects regarding Texas’ prehistory. Teacher lesson plans and activities for kids are also available.
• Texas Historical Commission The Commission is charged with preserving Texas’ heritage, from archeological sites to local courthouses and cemeteries. Information on cultural resource management, heritage travel and historic properties, among other topics, is available.
• The Medallion A monthly magazine published by the Texas Historical Commission with feature articles about Texas History and historic preservation.
• The Portal to Texas History A digital library with collections from many Texas museums, archives, and private collections. Educators will enjoy the Primary Source Adventures and researchers will appreciate the ability to view digitized items of interest.
• Texas State Library The official site of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission lists archives and manuscripts held in the Texas State Library, as well as other resources about Texas. Resources range from the map collection to the searchable Confederate Pension Applications Index.
• Call: 361-825-2340
• Text: 361-726-4986
• Visit the Circulation Desk in Bell Library
• << Previous: Find Articles
• Next: For More Information >>
• Last Updated: Aug 21, 2024 3:21 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.tamucc.edu/texashistory

• Library Hours
• Strategic Plan
• Giving to the Libraries
• Jobs at the Libraries
• Find Your Librarian
• View All →
• Google Scholar
• Research Guides
• Textbook/Reserves
• Government Documents
• Get It For Me
• Print/Copy/Scan
• Renew Materials
• Study Rooms
• Use a Computer
• Borrow Tech Gear
• Student Services
• Faculty Services
• Users with Disabilities
• Visitors & Alumni
• Special Collections
• Find Information

Texas History

• Getting Started
• UTSA Special Collections

Databases Featuring Primary Source Material

Digital primary sources - texas history, historical census data, texas postcard collections.

• Texas Newspapers
• Texas Revolution
• Texas Republic
• Civil War Texas
• Texas Women

• Baylor University Digital Collections Digital collections related to gospel music, sheet music, Texas history, and U.S. Civil War.
• LLILAS Benson Digital Collections Digitized images and documents from the history of Latin America from the Benson Latin American Collection at UT Austin.

• Digital Collections - Briscoe Center for American History Browse by collection or subject, or search by keyword. Includes documents, photographs, illustrations, book excerpts, moving images, sound recordings, and even digitized artifacts.
• Center for Mexican American Studies and Research Special Collections - Our Lady of the Lake University - Research Collections Historic documents and information that include the Spanish Colonial Missions Collection, the María Antonietta Berriozábal Collection, the Mexican American Collection, among others. Make an appointment with OLLU library staff to see items in person.
• Edwards Aquifer Website by Gregg Eckhardt Unofficial website about Edwards Aquifer presented as an information resource for the general public. Use the drop-down "Index" menu to find historical and environmental information and primary sources about the San Antonio River, San Antonio Springs, and other area springs, rivers, lakes, and canals.
• Eugene Omar Goldbeck Photograph Collection - Harry Ransom Center Goldbeck (American, 1892-1986) was a commercial photographer who specialized in panoramic photography. Photographs in this collection document a period of rapid growth and prosperity in San Antonio, Texas, as well as America's involvement in the First World War on the home front both on- and off-base.
• Houston Public Library Digital Archives Digitized photographs, maps, film news clips, oral histories, and more from the Houston area.
• Laredo Archives Series - The Portal to Texas History Indexes and summaries of items in the Laredo Archives, held by St. Mary's University in San Antonio, TX.
• Portal to Texas History Digitized materials submitted by archives across Texas.
• Rice University Woodson Research Center Special Collections & Archives Digital collections can be found at the links for "Archives," "Manuscripts," and "Rare Books." Exhibits focus on the founding and history of Rice University, digitized copies of the student newspaper "Rice Thresher," slavery and the Battle of Sabine Pass, Houston waterways, and the architectural career of William Ward Watkin, among others.

• Southern Methodist University Digital Collections Digital collections covering a variety of topics in Texas and Southwestern history, including the Civil War, railroads, Dallas historic aerial photographs, historic Texas documents, photographs of historic periods/events in Mexico, and more.
• Bird's-Eye Views - Amon Carter Museum of Modern Art A collection of digital city views from the Amon Carter Museum, including Texas city views Search the Collection for: birds-eye view
• Texas State University Digital Collections Digital collections including a digitized edition of The Account and Commentaries of Governor Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca. Spanish conquistador Cabeza de Vaca was shipwrecked in 1528 on what is now Galveston Island and was the first European to explore what is now Texas and the Southwest. Also, a behind the scenes look at the making of the television miniseries Lonesome Dove and documents relating to the Branch Davidians of Waco.
• Texas Tech University Vietnam Center and Archive A collection of digitized documents and manuscripts, still and moving images, audio recordings, oral histories, maps, artifacts, and more related to the Vietnam War. Topics include military operations, POW/MIA, My Lai massacre, Agent Orange, antiwar activities, and more.
• Texas Woman's University Libraries - Gateway to Women's History Archive of documents, manuscripts, photographs, oral histories, and artifacts with a strong focus on women. Some topics: women in the military, women Airforce service pilots, women in aviation, African American women, women's athletics, women's organizations, and women's activism and political participation.
• University of Houston Digital Library Digital collections related to the history of Houston, Texas and the University of Houston. Includes photographs and documents about suffragist Minnie Fisher Cunningham, civil rights leader Alonso S. Perales, the Houston Negro Hospital founded in the 1920s, and more.
• University of Texas Arlington Tejano Voices Project Audio, transcripts and photographs from the personal recollections of 173 Tejanos and Tejanas and their struggle against racial discrimination in post-World War II Texas.
• University of Texas at Austin Tarlton Law Library Digital Collections Digital collection includes text and images of Texas constitutions from 1824-1876, papers of Justice Tom C. Clark relating to some of the most important Supreme Court cases of the 20th century, description of the Justices of Texas from 1836-1986, and more.
• University of Texas El Paso Digital Commons Digital collections include UTEP publications, El Paso city directories, and photograph collections, as well as oral histories of participants in the Bracero Program from the Institute of Oral History. Click "Expand All" to see an index of all digitized content.
• UT Health Science Center Digital Archive A selection of digitized items pertaining to the history of medicine, university history, university records, and electronic theses and dissertations.
• UTSA Libraries Digital Collections Digitized materials from UTSA Special Collections and the Institute of Texan Cultures.
• AustinPostcard.com Personal digitized collection of postcards of website author. Postcards are not dated.
• George W. Cook Dallas/Texas Image Collection A native Dallasite, George W. Cook (1949-2012) was a lifelong collector with a focus on Dallas and Texas. Hundreds of post cards have been digitized with descriptions by Southern Methodist University.
• Tyler, Texas Vintage Postcard Collection Postcard categories include businesses, homes, churches and schools, government buildings, etc.
• Irene Carnes Collection Texas Post Card Collection Non-digital collection held at the Dallas Public Library. Donated in 1983, this collection includes many small towns and at least one full box of Dallas postcards.
• Jenkins Garrett Texas Postcard Collection Non-digital collection held at UT-Arlington, this collection is focused on historic images of Texas towns and cities.
• Stansel Postcard Collection Digitized by the University of Texas-El Paso, most of the postcards are scenes from El Paso, Texas; Cloudcroft and Alamogordo, New Mexico; or Mexico--many with added color. Some of the postcards are real photographic reproductions in black and white. From the late 19th or early 20th century.
• Texas Healthcare Facilities Postcards A digitized collection comprised of hundreds of postcards depicting health care facilities across the state. Website of the McGovern Historical Collections at the Texas Medical Center.
• Texas Postcards Website of the TXGenWeb Project. Postcards are not dated individually but dating guidelines are provided on the homepage. Categories include courthouses, statewide, towns, and counties.
• University of Houston Libraries - Historic Texas Postcards The 243 postcards in this collection present colorful views of historic Texas, from Houston in the east to El Paso out west, from Laredo down south to Amarillo up north. Drawn from the larger George Fuermann Texas and Houston Collection, this group represents the subset of postcards that date from before 1925. Fuermann was a reporter and editor for the Houston Post
• << Previous: Archives
• Next: Texas Newspapers >>
• Last Updated: Aug 22, 2024 12:47 PM
• URL: https://libguides.utsa.edu/texas_history
• Library Locations
• Staff Directory
• 508 Compliance
• Site Search
• © The University of Texas at San Antonio
• Information: 210-458-4011
• Campus Alerts
• Required Links
• UTSA Policies
• Report Fraud

• Lone Star Politics
• Politifact Texas
• Austin History

History is a click away: The best digital tools for Texas history buffs

Although I dearly love a good library or archive — and goodness knows I cherish taking road trips to talk to historical witnesses or experts in person — some of the sharpest tools for Texas history research are as close as your favorite digital device.

Today's column is devoted to some of the most reliable digital resources. Please send your favorites to [email protected].

'The Handbook of Texas Online'

Originally published for decades in two volumes by the essential Texas State Historical Association, "The Handbook of Texas" could be found in any reference library worth the name in this state and beyond.

In the 1990s, I purchased "The New Handbook of Texas," a six-volume revision that has served me with unswerving accuracy ever since.

" The Handbook of Texas Online " is an improvement on both sets of books because it can be revised instantly. It allows historians and history buffs to expand the work's encyclopedic range to topics ignored and voices suppressed in earlier ages.

Despite the loud claims of some cultural warriors, after all, a standard history that is not revised with updated discoveries and ideas is not a reliable history at all. 

'Portal to Texas History'

A gold mine of words and images, this website from the University of North Texas Libraries combines the digitized resources of countless libraries, archives and history centers in the state. It offers several ways to limit your searches by media, county or type of artifact, and includes digitized newspapers, city directories and other invaluable resources. 

At " Portal to Texas History ," you can download digital images in a choice of sizes, but be sure to record and share the accurate credits if you distribute an image. Check on fair use and copyright issues as well. 

'Traces of Texas'

This poster of Texas images, mostly historical, on Facebook and Twitter, as well as his own website, might be the most ingenious state historian of them all. I've met Jac Darsnek in person, but to most readers in the digital world, he remains fairly anonymous.

He applies a photographer's eye for singularity and detail to the project.

Featured in Texas Highways magazine, Darsnek brings a delicate sense of courtesy and diplomacy to the subject. He graciously thanks his fans for their donated family photos and he avoids partisanship at all costs. Still, politics seep into all history, as anyone who has followed the ongoing plans to renovate Alamo Plaza will remind you.

You can purchase contemporary and historical photos at TracesofTexas.com , which includes a forum on Texas culture and history.

More: Texas History: The Rio Grande is 'The River That Runs Through Me'

Newspapers.com

A few years ago, I switched from ProQuest, which requires only a public library card, to this pay site, owned by Ancestry.com, because the range of archived newspapers and the on-screen tools are superior. I even upgraded to a higher level because I work so often in this digital space.

The recently redesigned landing page requires some adjustments if you used Newspapers.com  in the past. Still, the access is priceless and anyone who went nearly blind staring at microfilm in the bad old days will tell you it's a lifesaver. I have not yet subscribed to Ancentry.com, but even its free zones are useful, especially if you are doing genealogical work.

FindaGrave.com

This site, rather like Wikipedia, proves the power of grassroots research. Thousands of contributors have photographed more than 210 million historical gravesites and have annotated them with extraordinary accuracy. The family trees at FindaGrave.com  alone have answered numerous questions posed to me by Texas readers.

At other spots on the internet, some birth registries, ship records, legal papers, city directories and census counts have been digitized. The U.S. Census for 1950 , the most recent available in this manner, was just released on April 1. 

University of Texas Arlington

While many Texas universities offer parts of their collections online, a special mention should be made of UT Arlington Libraries , which has been collecting historical images of the state for a long time. It is universally admired for it.

Some others to check out: Briscoe Center for American History , Ransom Center and LBJ Presidential Library , all at the University of Texas in Austin. Colleges and universities also support academic centers that study one Texas history topic, such as freedom colonies at Texas A&M University and lynchings at Sam Houston State University .

Digital magazines

Because they are proprietary, I rarely use images taken by photographers at Texas Monthly, Texas Highways, Alcalde or other digital magazines. I do, however, avail myself of their story archives, where much Texas history is artfully recorded. Remember that if you are going to republish any fragments, obtain permission of the author and/or publisher.

Localized sources

Blogs, websites and social media posts that focus on a single Texas city or region are multiplying by the day. I'm a close follower, for instance, of Dentonaut (Denton) and Houstorian (Houston) on Twitter, as well as Red River Historian (North Texas) on Facebook. I'd gladly follow many more.

More: Tom Staley, who built UT's Ransom Center into a global powerhouse, has died at age 86

In Austin, not a day goes by without checking " Dazed and Confused Austin Edition/Pieces of the Past ," a Facebook page that publishes thousands of fantastic pictures of long-ago Austin with thoughtful and usually polite commentary that is particularly instructive.

Digital podcasts are devoted to all sorts of Texas subjects, including Evan Stern's " Vanishing Postcards ," "TxArcanaRadio" and, of course, " Austin Found ," which radio personality J.B. Hager and I produce on Austin history.

Several newspapers, such as the Houston Chronicle, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, El Paso Times and Corpus Christi Caller Times, have run regular local or regional history columns that are published digitally. 

Did you know that your subscription to the e-edition of this newspaper gives you access to the e-editions of more than 200 newspapers in the USA Today Network, including more than a dozen in Texas, and that you can share your password with friends and family?

Libraries online

I've already celebrated Texas universities that preserve and make available research material, but I didn't want to leave out public libraries that do so as well. Among the ones I use most commonly these days are the Austin History Center and the Rosenberg Library's History Center  (Galveston).

The largest library of all, the Library of Congress , is also a free and excellent resource.

Additionally, several state agencies make their collections available online. Among these, I use the Texas General Land Office mostly for maps , the Texas Historical Commission for background on markers and designated historic sites , and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission  for material that they have published on their vast collections of books, artifacts and government records. The TSLAC watermarks their images. You must request copies without watermarks.

Michael Barnes writes about the people, places, culture and history of Austin and Texas. He can be reached at [email protected].

Texas Beyond History

Site explorer, discover 13,500 years of texas history.

Special Exhibits

Unique and thematic topics.

TBH Gallery

Icons of texas' cultural heritage.

Prehistoric Texas

Native peoples in a changing world.

Fun and Learning with Dr. Dirt

Lessons for Teaching K-12

• Math & Science
• Social Studies
• Language Arts

Illustrated glossary

Texas Beyond History (TBH) is a public education service of the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory at the University of Texas at Austin, created in collaboration with dozens of organizations. Begun in 2001, TBH interprets and shares the results of archeological and historical research on the cultural heritage of Texas with the world...

View this profile on Instagram TexasBeyondHistory.net (@ texasbeyondhistory ) • Instagram photos and videos

Copyright Accessibility

Explore Overview

The Portal to Texas History contains more than a half million items for you to explore.

Collections

Materials curated together under common themes.

Items grouped by contributing partners.

Find information about or created in specific Texas counties , the United States , or the world .

Items grouped by topics.

Resource Types

Only looking for newspapers, photographs, or maps? Browse these and dozens of other material types here.

Find materials from specific time periods or set your own date range .

A list of historic newspapers, serial publications, and other series titles.

Texas History

• Research Basics
• Books and eBooks
• Databases and Articles
• Journals and Periodicals
• Writing and Citing

Definition of a Periodical

"What the heck is a periodical?"

A periodical is a publication that is published on a regular, ongoing basis. It might be published daily, weekly, monthly, or at some other regular interval. 

Journals, magazines, and newspapers are all periodicals. 

Texas History Journals and Periodicals

The list below contains just a few of the Texas history journals in the MCC collection. (Scroll down to learn how to find more.)

• East Texas Historical Journal. "The East Texas Historical Association is committed to research into the unique role of East Texas in the history of Texas and the United States, the preservation and enhancement of East Texas’s historical heritage, and to publish and make known the rich history with which this part of Texas is endowed." --Publisher
• The Journal of South Texas "Though seeking scholarship on all aspects of Texas history, [this journal] especially strive[s] to publish new work on topics such as women’s history, ethnic history, Texas/borderlands, African American history, the Mexican-American Diaspora, and other foci illuminating the multi-cultural elements of the state’s past and broad geographical influence." --Publsiher
• Panhandle-Plains Historical Review "PPHR is a scholarly historical journal that annually publishes articles and book reviews relevant to the region. The phrase ‘Panhandle-Plains’ emphasizes a sense of the region centered on the Texas high plains but inclusive of Texas, Southwest, and Great Plains scholarship radiating more broadly as may be of interest to our readership. While based in the field of history, PPHR has long welcomed research in the social sciences and humanities—for example, geography, anthropology/archeology, art history, and literature—as long as it demonstrates a strong historical grounding." --Publisher
• Southwestern Historical Quarterly "The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, continuously published since 1897, is the leading scholarly journal for Texas history and also features content relating to the history of the Greater Southwest." --JSTOR
• The Texas Historian "This magazine contains the writings of Texas's outstanding student historians and features news and events involving Junior Historian chapters and participants." --Publisher
• Texas Monthly A monthly magazine "covering Texas news, politics, food, history, travel, crime, music, and everything in between for fifty years." --Publisher

To find a full list of the library's archaeology and anthropology journals:

• Select the "Journals" tab at the top of the library search tool .
• Change the drop-down menu (to the left of the search bar) to read "subject."
• Search for "archaeology OR anthropology."

The resulting list will contain all of the library's archaeology and anthropology journals.

• << Previous: Databases and Articles
• Next: Websites >>
• Last Updated: Jul 18, 2024 3:57 PM
• URL: https://mclennan.libguides.com/history_texas

© McLennan Community College

1400 College Drive Waco, Texas 76708, USA

+1 (254) 299-8622

181 Texas Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best texas topic ideas & essay examples, 👍 good essay topics on texas, ⭐ simple & easy texas essay titles, ✍️ texas essay topics for college, 🔎 interesting topics to write about texas, 📌 good research topics about texas.

• Admiral McRaven’s Speech at the University of Texas The contents of the speech were coded based on the frequency of certain word’s appearance and classified; then, the codes were interpreted to identify themes emerging in the speech’s message.
• State Expenditure: Texas and Massachusetts Comparison In the first instance, a comparison is made between the two states with respect to local budgets and the preferences of the residents.
• History of Tectonic Formations of Texas The gravitational and conventional forces beneath the surface of the Earth forced the crustal layer of the Earth to divide and drift apart forming the presently existing continents.
• Gifted Student Identification Procedures, NAGC Criteria and the Texas State Plan In Texas State, the nomination procedures and forms for assessment used in identification of the gifted students are sent to the families in a language which is understood.
• The State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness The performance of the student is thus limited to the classroom level at the expense of the other students who are in other schools.
• History of the California Gold Rush and the Independence of Texas Therefore, the belief in Expansion to the pacific influenced the gold rush, where people moved to California, and Texas became part of the United States.
• Overview of the Texas City Disaster, 1947 The severity of the disaster was primarily attributed to the captain, who ordered the crew to close hatches in order to preserve the ammonium nitrate.
• Industrial Accidents: Texas City Refinery Explosion It was a legal and ethical obligation of this firm to pay the penalties as a consequence to its act of negligence.
• Stephen F. Austin’s Role in Texas History He was born on November 3, 1793 in the state of Virginia and carries the name the “Father of Texas,” not without reason.
• Texas and Florida Governments Comparison The government structure helps determine the functional role of each county government in the entire system of the state and identify the legal responsibilities of each agent, as well as delineating the legal system of […]
• Texas Abortion Ban as Current Political Topic Furthermore, denying women the right to make decisions regarding their bodies leads to the denial of bodily autonomy, which, in turn, must be regarded as a severe infringement on basic human rights.
• The Problem of Uninsured People in Health Care in Texas The purpose of this step is to understand current strengths, resources, needs and gaps in the community and to determine where and how to focus.
• The Texas STEM Education Toolkit Reflection The Texas STEM education toolkit provides a variety of insights and suggestions in regard to the current implementation of STEM within classrooms.
• Medicaid Expansion in Texas: Retrospective Quasi-Experimental Study The expansion of medical coverage for Americans under the provisions of the Affordable Care Act entails the increase of insurance rates and the improvement of overall public health due to the extended coverage.
• Successful Bias Lawsuits: Texas Company in Employment Discrimination Case The allegation was filed by the Department of Labor’s office in 2020, after the evidence indicated a shortfall of black and Asian employees at the company.
• Texas City: Sustainable Development Goals Outline Texas City Reduce Poverty: Reduce the poverty rate in the city. Reduce the number of people living in poverty from 14.
• The Ideal Sustainable City in Texas The first goal to guide the development of the proposed hypothetical city is that of reducing poverty. The fourth to guide the development and promotion of the intended urban neighborhood is that sustainable cities.
• Pandemic Effect on Texas Food Supplies There were plans to expand the growth of row crops to northern parts of Texas. The majority of the interruption is due to retailers ordering more meat and dairy than they had previously ordered.
• Healthcare Issues in Texas and Their Interconnection Low accessibility to healthcare and poor socio-economic conditions in the southern part of Texas are associated, in particular, with high levels of diabetes. The issues of destructive adolescent behavior, increasing levels of diabetes, and high […]
• Texas War of Independence: The Main Challenges The former treated Tejanos as traitors since they fought for the independence of Texas, while the latter wanted more lands free from the natives.
• Uri Winter Storm in Texas Discussion The Winter Storm had impacted the whole territory of the United States, yet the most damage was done to the State of Texas and Houston city in particular.
• The Texas War for Independence The mass executions of the local population, the destruction of all the defenders of the Alamo fortress, and other bloody events of that war showed that American statehood was formed despite obstacles and external threats.
• Environmental Legislation: Texas Clean Air Act Texas Clean Air Act was established in 1965 by the Texas House of Representatives Committee following the rise in air pollution due to the massive industrialization of the state.
• The Immigration Crisis in Texas The clash between the federal government and the state of Texas over the implementation of immigration law and the exercise of these powers has been ongoing for decades now.
• Texas Justice System and the Cameron Todd Willingham Case The majority of states support the ability to condemn someone to death on specific occasions, while Texas is one of the states that use the death penalty the most.
• Should the Texas Constitution Be Reformed? The structure of the Texas Constitution is quite intricate, and its text is one of the longest in the United States.
• Valley Baptist Medical in South Texas Moreover, the use of advanced medical technology and informatics is a trend in healthcare that has illuminated the quality of services, and patient safety offered by the organization.
• Environmental Legislation in Texas One of the key concepts in the Bill is greenhouse gas emissions, which are noted to have the meaning assigned by another document in the Texas Law.
• Legislative Powers in Texas: Case of Abortions In this particular situation, the Speaker of the House supports my position in the role of trustee, but here the position of the lieutenant governor is much more critical since the bill is heard in […]
• K-12 Educational Policy of St. Mark’s School in Texas The educational institution complies with the K-12 policy and is positioned as a school for boys. Marx Middle and High School is trying to revise to engage the needs of adolescents, but some provisions may […]
• Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital’s Analysis Keywords: hospital, administrative structure, mission, and vision When evaluating a healthcare institution, one would typically seek the characteristics that reflect the efficacy of healthcare management and the performance of the staff in order to pass […]
• Texas Utilities Lobbying Campaign in 2007 One of the primary goals of the lobbying campaign was to avoid consumer and environmental restrictions imposed on the TXU and its buyout partners.
• The Fox News Article: School Shooting in Uvalde, Texas Another topic of discussion is school safety and ways to confront the problem that has become a national concern due to its prevalence in this country.
• 2021-2022 Budgeted Financial Data of Education in Texas Therefore, it is worth paying attention to the fact that these categories form the basis of the financing of educational institutions.
• Texas Abortion Laws for Victims of Sexual Assault A female will have approximately two weeks in the law to evaluate her situation, verify the conception with a test, determine how to handle the pregnancy, and undergo an abortion.
• Extinction of Dinosaurs in North America and Texas It is necessary to identify the reason for the extinction of dinosaurs on the territory of the continent, namely, the state of Texas.
• Texas’s Intestacy Statutes and Estate Plan For instance, if a single person dies intestate but they have children as per code; the property or assets will be divided equally among the beneficiaries or descendants if they come from the same degree […]
• The Texas Border, Security, and Immigration Immigration from Mexico is not thought to represent a violation of U.S.security, but the issue of the Texas border remains relevant and intriguing.
• The Texas Board of Nursing Licensing In Texas, handling such a scenario requires the Texas Board of Nursing to think that not all complaints about a nurse’s capacity to practice safely will need the same level of board involvement or result […]
• The Mexican American Experience in Texas On the other side, Americans believed the annexation would cause conflict between the U.S.and Mexico. The evidence on whether the U.S.annexation would cause war between the U.S.and Mexico was based on two main reasons.
• The Legal Requirements of Owning a Cemetery in Texas The author of the article is a research scientist at the A&M University of Texas, hence, is credible. The primary purpose of the article is to discuss cemeteries on private property in Texas and provide […]
• Texas Emergency Management Plan (ESF-5 Annex) The purpose, as stipulated, is that the successful response to accidents across the state necessitates the coherent coordination of efforts of federal, state, and local agencies and organizations to react and assist in an affected […]
• Policy Issues on Human Trafficking in Texas The challenge of preventing human trafficking in Texas and meeting the needs of its victims is complicated by the multifaceted nature of the problem.
• The Texas Abortion Law: A Signal of War on Women’s Rights and Bodies The purpose of this paper is to examine the structure and implications of the Texas Abortion Law in order to demonstrate its flaws.
• Public Health Issues in Texas Department The Commissioner of Public Health is the senior-most head, and the other department members follow, and they have to adhere to the rule of the high-ranking.
• Coconuts in Texas: Tensions Between Avowed and Ascribed Identities It is crucial to remember that each of these labels, or other conceivable labels, might appear to the individual wearing them to be a genuine and honest identity. Social identity is essential for the development […]
• Texas Gov: Greg Abbott Bans any COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates Unlike other countries, the political system of the United States historically developed with power distribution shifted towards the states having some form of autonomy.
• Long-Term Care Organizations in Texas Both of these facilities provide end-of-life care to elderly patients, offering an assortment of services related to non-invasive and preventative care.
• Chapter 15 of Texas: The Lone Star State by Richardson et al. The fifteenth chapter of Richardson et al.’s Texas: The lone star state focuses on the events of the early 1900s as Texas transitioned into a new century as a diverse and modern state after the […]
• Chapter 13 of Texas: The Lone Star State by Richardson et al. The early years saw significant pushback from Indian tribes against the settlers, and despite the military setting up a chain of forts for defenses, it was inadequate protection at first.
• Chapter 12 of Texas: The Lone Star State by Richardson et al. The twelfth chapter of Richardson et al.’s Texas: The lone star state deals with the political, economic, and social realities of the aftermath of the Civil War in Texas.
• Washington vs. Texas Court Case No. 649: Issue, Facts, and Summary Still, the court authorities denied him a request to listen and consider the testimony of a witness or an accomplice, because of which the court’s verdict turned in the opposite direction.
• Probation in Texas: SWIFT Program The article highlights that the traditional probation’s orientation of allowing offenders to engage in repeat violations of their sentence conditions before having their probation revoked is no longer attractive as it reinforces a prison culture […]
• Minimum Wage Legislation in Texas The key objectives for a lobbyist for the organization would be to emphasize the numerous benefits to the working class while presenting arguments that changes will not be disruptive to the economy or businesses.
• Implications for Brookdale Galleria and Other Nursing Homes in Texas To analyze care coordination from the viewpoint of ethical issues, it is helpful to consult with the foundational document by the American Nurses Association.
• Medicaid Expansion Program in Texas In 2019, the state of Texas spearheaded the implementation of the Medicaid expansion for promoting affordable healthcare for middle and low Americans.
• Floods in the City of Austin, Texas on October 30th, 2013 The catastrophic consequences of the devastation in Central Texas and, in particular, in the city of Austin, were caused by flooding.
• Business Plan for Ceka Bar in San Antonio, Texas Ceka Bar will strive to create a suitable atmosphere that will enable the customers to have a sense of “place” while in the bar.
• Issues in the Sphere of Education in Texas Although the rate of public-school enrollment is one of the highest in the country, there are multiple concerns in the sphere of education in Texas.
• Enforcement Actions Taken by The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy was formed with an aim of “protecting the public by ensuring that persons issued certificates as certified public accountants possess the necessary education, skills, and capabilities and that […]
• Changes to the Bills: Texas Board of Nursing Some nurses view the changes as a disturbance in the hither to a smooth-running system whereas others view the amendment as timely readjustments needed to pace up with the dynamic nature of the nursing profession.
• Class Action Against the Enforcement of Texas Abortion The specific grounds of inconsistency are that the laws seek to prohibit an attempt to obtain or the actual procurement of an abortion regardless of the circumstances with the exception of the special circumstance of […]
• Analysis for Home Prices for Austin, Texas A multiple regression analysis was used to determine how various explanatory factors affect the prices of homes in Austin. Home prices in Austin differ from place to another and the cost is determined by various […]
• Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center: Delivery and Value-Added Strategies The term “value addition” refers to the practices undertaken by organizations in order to improve their services. The targeted facility can use new systems in order to offer the best care.
• High Rate of Neural Tube Defects Along the Texas Mexico Border 00 in the border counties and 0. 4 in the border counties and 3.
• Pros and Cons of Regressive Tax Policy in Texas Hence, the Texas case becomes exceptionally peculiar in the context of taxation, as it appears to be a part of a broader discussion.
• Lawrence v. Texas: Outcome and Impact Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America guarantees the equal protection of laws to every citizen.
• Hernandez v. Texas: an Analysis The Hernandez’s right to be judged by the representatives of the same ethnicity was established by the Supreme Court’s decision and accentuated the changes that started to occur in the domain of social equality at […]
• Illegal Immigration Control in the Texas Although the public assigns immense powers to the governor’s office, Texas’ office of the governor enjoys weak institutional powers because of the constitution’s provision of multiple offices that server alongside the office of the governor.
• State or Federal Crime: Texas Kidnapping Study If the offended has the citizenship of the United States and he or she is taken away by any means of transport under the responsibility of the United States, the case will be tried by […]
• Morbidity and Mortality by Race in Maryland and Texas The evidence is in the form of average percentages of persons over the age of 18 but under the age of 64.
• Texas Education System and Its Main Problems The educational system is very important for each state, though in the USA there was a big decrease of its funding, which causes a great problems in the educational sphere and to find the solution […]
• Texas Declaration of Independence The core issue of the Declaration of Texas Independence is the proclamation of independence itself and the definition of responsibilities and functions of the new Government.
• Analysis of the Demographic Changes in Texas According to Murdock Assessing the consequences of the population on the pace and process of economic growth is one of the oldest themes in the literature on economics.
• Texas Electricity Rate Soared After Deregulation Despite the fact that under the current economic crisis the world prices for such energy resources as the natural gas and oil fall, the overall situation is rather critical the world’s deposits of these fuels […]
• The Effects of Immigration in Texas The period between 200 and 2006 saw the population of the foreign-born in the Texas state increase by twenty-four percent and it was during this same period that the state gained over 650,000 immigrants bringing […]
• Texas Rangers Agency Review By the opening of the Revolution, there were three races struggling for supremacy in Texas: Comanche Indians in the Plains; Mexicans in the southwest resting on the Rio Grande, and the Anglo Americans or Texans […]
• Political Science. Texas vs. Federal Government The government of the United States is using the federal government as the centralized body governing the US and backed up by the constitution.
• Crime and Punishment in Texas As for the number of prisoners, Texas has the highest number of them, and this is due to the fact that it is one of the states with the highest population in the United States.
• Bowers vs. Hardwick and Lawrence vs. Texas. Law Cases. The law in this case is that, under Texas law, a person could be held guilty for only same sex sodomy, while under these laws, hetero-sexuals engaging in sodomy would not fall within the purview […]
• Texas Government and State Constitution With the thoughts of the civilian revolution still in mind, there arose a need to re-write the constitution that witnessed the creation of a constitution that devolved the powers of the government to the local […]
• Mexican-American-War and the Role of Texas Rangers Mexicans saw the annexation of Texas by the United States as an abuse to its honor; and we are prepared to do anything to reclaim that honor.
• Three Funds in Texas and Their Use in State Government Projects The Texas Historical Commission Project Funds are the constituents of the Texas Capital Project Funds. One of the Debt Service Funds in Texas is the Texas Department of Transportation Texas Mobility Fund.
• Election Plan for the Governor of Texas Henceforth, the candidate’s message must include his political achievements and motivation to carry on reforming the state in favor of Texas residents.
• The Governor of Texas’s Influence on Public Policy That is why it is necessary to overview the formal and informal powers of the Governor of Texas to see how this elected official can affect public policy.
• Average Annual Costs at Texas Colleges and Average Salaries After Attending Since the focus of this study is at the inter-relationship of economics and sociology, it would be interesting and informative to conduct statistical analysis as well as gain deep insights into the phenomenon.
• Political and Election Trends of Texas in 2018 Therefore, according to some views, Republicans usually win elections referring to the tradition of citizens in Texas to vote in the context of the “red” framework.
• Hernandez vs. Texas as a Race and Ethnicity Case The case of Hernandez v. Although the case of Hernandez v.
• Wind Power in West Texas and Its Effects The main cause of introducing and developing wind power in West Texas is the need to generate more electricity with fewer costs and environmental friendliness.
• Texas History as an Integrated Thematic Mini Unit Students will learn about the significant events and individuals of the period and establish logical connections that link the Mexican Revolution and the state’s annexation, establishing a meaningful and valuable relationship with its past.
• Coastal Erosion in Texas: Effects and Solutions In the context of the Texas environment, the rapid pace of coastal erosion can be explained by the intense weather conditions.
• Due Process and Fair Dismissal of Teachers in Texas Specifically, the due process does not explain why a teacher should be dismissed but provides the procedures that should be followed by a school to dismiss a teacher.
• Encouraging the Accommodation of the Military in Texas Furthermore, the significance of encouraging the rest of the community members to provide the support for the members of military families should be interpreted as one of the primary areas of concern for social workers.
• Houston ISD and Galena Park Texas Budget There is no actual financial data from the years 2015-2016 for Galena Park ISD, so budgeted financial data will be used.
• Health Care Issues Impacting Texas Therefore, it is very important to pay close attention to the conditions under which healthcare services are offered, the opportunities that people could use to get health insurance, and the reasons why the state was […]
• Anti-Abortion Legislation and Services in Texas It might be possible to state that the aim of the legislation adopted so as to limit the provision of abortion service for the population was to reduce the number of abortions carried out in […]
• Alamo Battle and Its Texas and Mexican Heroes Stressing the importance of the Siege of the Alamo in the whole battle, it should be stressed that both sides fought with courage and the victory of Mexican forces in the particular event can be […]
• Immigrants’ Effects on Texas Real Estate However, despite the restriction, immigrants are likely to come to Texas and other states in America. Highly professional newcomers contribute to the development of the economy and stimulate the real estate market to expand.
• Criminal Justice in Fisher vs. University of Texas Following the admission plan, the University had to organize its admission practice based on the interests of the government and adjust it in terms of admission of those who did not belong to the top-10% […]
• Road Trip: From Oklahoma City to San Antonio in Texas With this in mind, it is possible to describe a journey from Oklahoma City to San Antonio in Texas to show onliness of nature of the USA.
• Casino Gambling Legalization in Texas In spite of the fact that the idea of legalizing casino gambling is often discussed by opponents as the challenge to the community’s social health, Texas should approve the legalization of casino gambling because this […]
• Political Issues: Voter Turnout in Texas The effectiveness of the voting process can be measured by the proportion of people who cast their ballots, as some people may be discouraged from voting due to irregularities in the voting systems, which raises […]
• Adapt of Texas: Leadership and Organizational Behavior This is consistent with the reality of organizational behavior; hence there is a need to motivate the case managers. Research without objectives has no worth, and part of the solution to the problem at Adapt […]
• Educator Mentoring in Public Texas Schools Educator mentoring in public Texas Schools It is apparent that Texas education Agency offers a wide range of services to members of staff in the teaching fraternity and mentors to facilitate mentorship programs in public […]
• Texas Religious Music Company Business Plan Texas Religious Music Company believes that excellent customer service and professionalism in provisions of services would be the key to its success in a competitive music industry of the US.
• Marketing Plan: Texas Religious Music Promotion Company By integrating these social networks in its advertising processes, the firm will be able to create awareness to a large number of customers.
• Texas Religious Music Promotion Company Business Plan The company’s long-term goal is to be the leading company in the music promotion services in public and private events within Texas in the next three years.
• The State of Texas Academic Readiness The main aim of the STAAR is to appraise the knowledge of students and skills. However the advocates of the STAAR state the standardized testing is the only viable option to assess students’ knowledge and […]
• Teacher Mentorship Programs in Texas The increase in teacher mentees is instrumental in the enhancement of the sufficient teaching staff in the region’s educational system. Mentors need to have a proper understanding of the vital role that they play in […]
• Nursing Competencies in Texas The practice of Nursing in Texas runs with a range of practice scale based on learning and training from the Licensed Vocational Nurse to the doctoral trained and Registered Nurse.
• Texas Women University Academic Freedom The university also ensures that members from all faculties are treated equally throughout the university especially on the basis of tenure and rank.
• Judiciary Branch in Texas Government The legislature has a chance of making a correction to the cancelled law to rectify the mistakes that the judiciary branch pointed out.
• Participation Rates in Texas America, being the foremost democracy in the word, has among the highest rates of citizens’ participation in issues of governance. The political culture that is a feature of other states is lacking in Texas.
• Opinion on Fisher v. Texas The criteria for deciding whether the policy should be adjusted are to be established, so that the evaluation for probability of representation is conducted in tandem with the court hearing.
• Knowledge Management at Texas’ Electrical Power Grid-Texas The responsibility of the electricity supply in Texas lies on the Electric Reliability Council of Texas that supplies about 85% of electricity use in the state.
• Death Lore: Texas Rituals, Superstitions, and Legends of the Hereafter Further, it links the same to the beliefs and values of the people of the state of Texas. It has not been able to address some of the aspects that encompass the Texas Death lore.
• History of Texas and Its Accession to the USA The Anglo Americans had slaves back in the United States, and brought them to Texas. They wanted to become part of the United States, and eventually Texas was annexed to the Union.
• Texas Concealed Weapons: Pros and Cons According to the CCW legislation, a license holder is allowed to carry a concealed firearm in any institution of higher education in Texas.
• Argument for Legalization of Gambling in Texas The subject of gambling is that the gambler losses the money offered if the outcome of the event is against him or her or gains the money offered if the event outcome favors the gambler.
• Political Interference in Texas’ Judicial System The result of partisan choice of Texas State judiciary is a public perception of it being pro-money, in the market for highest bidders.
• The Texas Ten Percent Plan’s Impact on College Enrollment
• Turn Over Rate for the Texas Retail Industry
• Disaster Preparedness for Travis County Texas
• Electricity Reform and Retail Pricing in Texas
• Mexicans, Blacks, and Poor Whites in Texas Cotton Culture
• Access Issues for Healthcare in Texas
• Career and Technology Education Programs in Texas Public Schools
• The Theme of Life and Health Insurance Texas
• Understanding the Texas Unemployment Rate
• Moral Disengagement and Tolerance for Health Care Inequality in Texas
• Population-Based Health Problems in Texas
• Racial and Ethnic Characteristics of the State of Texas
• Reasons Why New England Opposed the Annexation of Texas
• Hispanics Health Care Issues in Texas
• Federalism and Texas Welfare Programs
• The Reasons Why Texas Fought in the War Against the Union
• Social and Cultural Influences on Texas History
• Tax Policy and Texas Economic Development
• Understanding the Three Kinds of Models of Democracy in Texas
• Texan War for Independence & Civil Rights in Texas
• Individualistic and Traditionalistic Cultures in Texas
• Prevalence of Drug Cartels and Crime in Texas
• Cash Flows and Financing in Texas Agriculture
• Gun Control: Texas Castle Doctrine
• Theory and Evidence From Texas Liquor Referenda
• Barbara Jordan, the First Black Female Texas Senator
• The Sentencing Structure and Texas Capital Punishment
• Cherokee People and Their Problems in Texas
• Culture, Food, Attractions, and History of Texas
• Evaluation of Social Welfare Programs Spending in Texas
• Banking Industry Evolution Along the Texas-Mexico Border
• Disputes Between Texas Rangers and Mexicans
• Can Low Oil Prices Cripple the Texas Banking System
• Abortion and the Texas Law on the Ban of Abortion
• Demographics Diversity and Education in Texas
• The Reasons for the Cessation of the Annexation Practices in Texas
• History of the Texas Judiciary System
• California and Texas Welfare Programs
• The Theme of Individualistic and Traditionalistic Cultures in Texas
• Adverse Selection and Competing Deposit Insurance Systems in Pre-depression Texas
• Illegal Immigration Topics
• Prison Paper Topics
• Public Safety Research Ideas
• Republican Party Paper Topics
• US History Topics
• Growth Strategy Titles
• Manufacturing Essay Topics
• Racism Paper Topics
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, March 2). 181 Texas Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/texas-essay-topics/

"181 Texas Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." IvyPanda , 2 Mar. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/texas-essay-topics/.

IvyPanda . (2024) '181 Texas Essay Topic Ideas & Examples'. 2 March.

IvyPanda . 2024. "181 Texas Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." March 2, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/texas-essay-topics/.

1. IvyPanda . "181 Texas Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." March 2, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/texas-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "181 Texas Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." March 2, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/texas-essay-topics/.

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

• Basic site functions
• Ensuring secure, safe transactions
• Secure account login
• Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
• Remembering privacy and security settings
• Analyzing site traffic and usage
• Personalized search, content, and recommendations
• Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

• Remembering general and regional preferences
• Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy .

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy .

Texas History: Primary Source Collections Online

• All Collections, Alphabetical
• Political, Legal, & Diplomatic History
• Houston & Huntsville History
• Maps & Images

Related Guides

Need U.S. sources on more than just Texas? Check out U.S. History Primary Source Collections Online .

Looking for current info on Texas? Check out Texas Information .

Originally Curated By

This is a listing of high-quality Texas History websites selected by the History Bibliographer. The focus is on primary source collections from government agencies, universities, museums, libraries, and historical organizations.  

Disclaimers : 

• The library is not responsible for the content of the selected sites.
• No endorsement is given to additional sites which are linked to by selected sites. 
• It is a student's responsibility to accurately cite online materials used in research.

Primary Source Collections Online

• The Alamo: Official Site
• American Lumberman Photographs of Southern Pine Company Taken in 1903 and 1907, these 255 gelatin silver prints were originally published in American Lumberman, a weekly trade journal. The majority of the shots document lumber production activities near Diboll in East Texas, including log cutting, transportation, sawmills, and kilns. The collection also provides a glimpse of everyday life in a company town and in the logging camps. (Univ.of North Texas)
• Austin History Center (Austin Public Library)
• Bracey's Block Maps of the City of Houston Maps for eight years spanning 1922-1955. (Houston Public Library)
• Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Plans and Drawings 3900 large-format drawings documenting park development and construction activities by the CCC in Texas from 1933-1958. (Texas State Library and Archives Commission)
• The Constitution of the State of Texas An Annotated Comparative Analysis by George D. Braden, et. al. (1977) (Texas State Law Library)
• Čechoslovák and Westske Noviny Weekly Czech language newspaper from West, Texas. Online issues span 1920-1948.
• Death Row Information and Statistics Includes data from 1923 to present. (Texas Department of Criminal Justice)
• East Texas Digital Archives (Stephen F. Austin Univ.)
• From Indepedence to Annexation, 1836-1846 Documents in law, history, and diplomacy. (Yale Law School)
• From Republic to State: Debates & Documents Relating to the Annexation of TX, 1836-1856 (Univ. of North Texas Libraries)
• Galveston and Texas History Online Rosenberg Library
• Galveston Immigration Database Texas Seaport Museum has compiled the nation’s only computerized listing of immigrants to Galveston, Texas. The database includes names of passengers and members of their traveling parties, age, gender, occupation, country of origin, ship name, dates of departure and arrival, and destination in the United States. Information is also provided for a small number of ship arrivals. The ship database includes ship name, type of ship, master, home port of ship, arrival date at Galveston, port of departure, destination port, tonnage, number of immigrants, ship owner, and citation source. (Texas Seaport Museum)
• Gammel's The Laws of Texas , 1822-1897 (Univ. of North Texas Libraries)
• The Greensheet archive - Houston, Dallas, Austin, and Forth Worth (Univ. of North Texas - hosted by the Portal to Texas History)
• Handbook of Texas Online This link opens in a new window (Texas State Historical Commission)
• Hard Road to Texas: Texas Annexation, 1836-1845 Digitized primary documents are scattered throughout this exhibit site. (Texas State Library and Archives Commission)
• Historic Flags of Texas (Texas State Library and Archives Commission)
• Houston area land records for the Little, Dickson and Pastoriza additions, 1877-1935 (Rice Univ.)
• Houston Asian American Archives Oral Histories Audio recordings and transcripts of interviews with Asian Americans native to Houston. (Rice Univ.)
• Houston City Council Minutes and Revised Code of Ordinances City Council Minutes: 1840-1847, 1865-1869, 1872-1875, and 1875-1878. Revised Code of Ordinances, 1904, 1914, and 1922. (Houston Public Library)
• Houston City Directories (1866-1923) City directories spanning approximately 1866 to 1923. Provides information on government entities, banks, churches, schools, benevolent societies, local businesses, and private citizens. (Houston Public Library)
• The Houston Gargoyle Digital Archive A journal of Houston's Jazz Age. Read more about the history of the publication in this article in Houstonia magazine.
• Houston, Historic Photographs (Univ. of Houston)
• Houston Independent School District (HISD) Annual Reports Spanning 1888-1956 (not inclusive of all years). (Houston Public Library)
• Houston Metropolitan Research Center The Houston Metropolitan Research Center is part of the Houston Public Library and is the Special Collections and genealogy / digital resources portion of the HPL.
• Houston Waterways Collections (Rice Univ.)
• Il Messaggiero Italiano A weekly Italian language newspaper that was published in San Antonio and Galveston between 1907 and 1913. Galveston, Houston, and San Antonio each had growing communities of Italians in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. (Univ. of North Texas, Portal to Texas History)
• Images of a Rural Past: Photos from the Texas Agricultural Extension Office (Texas A&M Univ.)
• Indianola Immigrant Database The Indianola Immigrant Database seeks to record the individuals and families that reached Texas through that ill-fated port of Indianola on the Texas coast. Most historical accounts relate that there were thousands of people who immigrated through the port of Indianola but there were never any official passenger lists for this port. The Indianola Immigrant Database is an effort to record Indianola immigration via family history, printed histories, and other sources that are often provided by descendents. (Victoria Regional History Center (VRHC) at the Victoria College/Univ. of Houston-Victoria Library)
• J. Russell Wait Port of Houston Records (Rice Univ.)
• John N. Rowe III Collection of Texas Currency (Southern Methodist Univ.)
• Last Statements: Final Words of Offenders Executed in Texas Since 1982
• Legislative Reference Library of Texas This link opens in a new window Detailed information about the Texas Legislature and its legislation, leaders, sessions, committees, statistics, and more. Use the Legislative Archive System to search for bills; digitized documentation is available for some bills.
• Lone Star History LInks: Selected Texas History Primary Source Documents (Texas State Historical Association)
• Lukes Collection of Houston Photographic Research Materials, 1969-1974 (Rice Univ.)
• Marguerite Johnston Barnes Research Materials for Houston, The Unknown City, 1830-1991 Includes oral histories, newspaper clippings, photocopies of secondary source materials, brochures, newsletters, and photographs either created, gathered, or maintained by Barnes. Dates range from 1830-1991, bulk 1920-1991. (Rice Univ.)
• McArdle Notebooks Late 19th-century compiled research on the Texas Revolution. (Texas State Library & Archives Commission)
• Mexican-American Diplomacy Documents in law, history, and diplomacy. (Yale Law School)
• NBC-5 / KXAS-TV News Collection - North Texas Local TV News Archive The archive will eventually contain almost 30 years of the station's news footage from 1950 to 1979 and the original broadcast scripts, available on the Portal to Texas History; digitization has begun with the fall of 1956. "The Texas News" program on what was then WBAP-TV was the first newscast in Texas and the Southwest. (Univ. of North Texas)
• Portraits of Texas Governors Biographies of all of the governors of Texas, complete with official portraits, timeline of events, revealing documents, and rare photos. (Texas State Library and Archives Commission)
• Rice University Woodson Research Center Contains a variety of collections related to the history of Houston and Texas, including early Houston histories; Houston area land records; Houston Asian American oral histories; Houston waterways collection; Port of Houston records; and more. (Rice Univ.)
• Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps of Texas (1877-1922) Various Sanborn fire insurance maps for cities across Texas. (Univ. of Texas)
• South Texas Border, 1900-1920 (Univ. of Texas at Austin)
• State Civil and Criminal Statutes Revisions of 1879, 1895, 1911, and 1925. (Texas State Law Library)
• State Constitution: Amendments Since 1876 (Texas Legislative Council)
• State Constitution and Statutes (Texas Legislature Online)
• State Constitutions 1824-1876, and Constitutional Convention documents (Univ. of Texas at Austin)
• Story of the Texas Navy Digitized primary documents are scattered throughout this exhibit site. (Texas State Library and Archives Commission)
• Telegraph and Texas Register (San Felipe de Austin), circa 1830s (Houston Public Library)
• Tejano Voices: Post WW-II Oral Histories (University of Texas at Arlington, Center for Mexican American Studies)
• Texas, Texans, and the Alamo (Univ. of Texas at Austin)
• Texas Adjutant General Service Records, 1836-1935 Official service record files from the Adjutant General's Office and alphabetical files created by other agencies... related to an individual's service in a military unit. Information in a file varies considerably; may include measurements of uniforms, payments for mustering-in, warrants of authority, individual equipment records, general orders, oaths of allegiance, pay vouchers, powers of attorney, and discharge verifications. Names listed in the index do not represent all people who served in the various units, only those represented in the records described above. If an individual is not found in the index, it should not be assumed that they did not serve. (Texas State Library and Archives Commission)
• Texas Almanac Online In addition to the site's current information, the archive contains all the Almanacs from 1857 to 1989. (Texas State Historical Commission)
• Texas Beyond History (Univ. of Texas at Austin)
• Texas Digital Newspaper Program Digital papers from cities all across Texas, 1829-1953 (dates are currently scattered). Free from University of North Texas; part of Library of Congress' Chronicling America project.
• Texas Laws and Resolutions Archive (Univ. of North Texas Libraries)
• Texas Law Timeline (Legislative Reference Library of Texas)
• Texas Register Archive, 1976-present (University of North Texas Libraries)
• The Texas Revolution and the Narrative of José Enrique de la Peña (University of Texas at Austin)
• Texas Slavery Project Interactive maps illustrate data on slavery in Texas' history. (Univ. of Virginia)
• Texas Treasures (Texas State Libraries and Archives Commission)
• Texas Week Newsmagazine, 1946-1947 Texas Week was the first weekly magazine to be devoted entirely to the State of Texas. Founded right after WWII, its focus was on capturing the post-War normalization of the State – culturally, politically and structurally. (Univ. of North Texas, Portal to Texas History)
• Triumph and Tragedy: Presidents of the Republic of Texas Digitized primary documents are scattered throughout this exhibit site, relating to David G. Burnet, Sam Houston, Mirabeau B. Lamar, and Anson Jones. (Texas State Library and Archives Commission)
• Under the Rebel Flag: Life in Civil War Texas Digitized primary documents are scattered throughout this exhibit site. (Texas State Library and Archives Commission)
• University of Houston Digital Collections Various collections highlight history of Houston, Galveston, & Texas.
• Virtual Landscapes of Texas (Univ. of Texas at Austin)
• Walker County Treasures (City of Huntsville)
• West Texas Digital Archive Collections from a wide range of institutions, including the 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum, the Howard Payne University Library, and the Abilene Public Library, including oral histories, city directories, cemetery records, and much more. (Abilene Library Consortium)
• William J. Hill Texas Artisans and Artists Archive "In the 19th century, Texas artisans & artists created ceramics, furniture, textiles, metalworks, photographs, paintings, and works on paper in this growing region... Their lives, practices, and products are captured in the census records, city directories, newspapers and primary sources included in the Hill Archive." (Museum of Fine Arts Houston)
• Next: Political, Legal, & Diplomatic History >>
• Last Updated: Aug 23, 2024 10:18 AM
• URL: https://shsulibraryguides.org/txprimary

Newton Gresham Library | (936) 294-1614 | (866) NGL-INFO | Ask a Question | Share a Suggestion Sam Houston State University | Huntsville, Texas 77341 | (936) 294-1111 | (866) BEARKAT © Copyright Sam Houston State University | All rights reserved. | A Member of The Texas State University System

Quick Links

• Topics Index
• The Texanist
• Latest Issue

Texas History

You Can Buy Ma and Pa Ferguson’s Home for a Weirdly Reasonable Price

The first woman to serve as governor of Texas, and her disgraced husband, built and lived in this house in Temple. 

By Dan Solomon

An Encyclopedia of Weird Texas Town Names

Find out the surprising tales behind the Lone Star State’s strangest monikers, from Bug Tussle to Dime Box, Frognot to Needmore.

By Kristen Steenbeeke

A Guide to Living History Across Texas 

These out-of-the-classroom experiences, including reenactments and theatrical performances, bring key moments from textbooks to life for all ages.

By Tommie Ethington

The Most Underrated Travel Experience in Texas: College Museums

Museums on university campuses are teeming with hidden gems. Here are eight favorites.

By Robyn Ross

The Unbelievably True Story of One of the Artists Behind Cadillac Ranch

Architect Doug Michels's best-known work, the roadside attraction that's celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year, holds the seeds of the project that animated—and cut short—his life: an obsession with dolphins.

By Patrick Michels

How the Designer of Central Park Was Inspired by Texas

Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of landscape architecture, fell in love with the Hill Country—and mimicked aspects of its beauty in Central Park and his other renowned urban designs.

By Clayton Maxwell

The Karankawa Want You to Know They’re Not Extinct

Emerging from a long history of oppression, slanderous folklore, and rumors of their demise, the Gulf Coast people are finding a place for themselves in the twenty-first century.

By Stephen Harrigan

The “National Beer of Texas” Isn’t as Old as It Claims

You may have noticed the “140” on its cans and merch, but today's Lone Star brewery doesn’t date back to 1884.

By Dave Dalton Thomas

The Dallas Teacher, Navy Vet, and Devout Christian Who Fought to Overturn Texas’s Sodomy Law

Unlikely activist Don Baker scored a landmark win for gay rights in Texas 42 years ago this week.

By Bruce Selcraig

Meet the Other GOATs (Greatest Olympic Athletes From Texas)

From the “Grand Old Man” of trapshooting to Bob Beamon's long jump to Simone Biles, Texas has a long history of bringing home Olympic gold.

By David Courtney

The Forgotten Female Sharpshooter Who Surpassed Annie Oakley

Elizabeth “Plinky” Toepperwein peeled potatoes with bullets and shot cigarettes out of her husband’s mouth.

By Lea Konczal

In a New Era, Century-Old James Coney Island Leans Into Its Nostalgic Roots

Despite scaling down exponentially, the iconic Houston-based hot dog chain remains a comforting destination for diners.

By Megha McSwain

A Texas Congressman Wrote the Culture War Playbook When He Killed a 1930s Theater Program

The Federal Theatre Project launched the careers of Arthur Miller and Orson Welles, and brought free plays to millions. Martin Dies killed it off, and the political tactics he used are still alive today.

By Courtney Thomas

The Architect Behind Texas’s Painted Churches Was So Good, His Peers Had “Steeple Envy”

Leo Dielmann’s stunning churches brought modernity and sophistication to Texas as the state grew into the twentieth century.  

By Anthony Head

The Hidden Texas Roots of a Historic Colorado Retreat

Cofounded by the University of Texas, Boulder’s Colorado Chautauqua has become a beloved summer travel destination for generations of Texans.

By Becca Hensley

The Best, Worst, and So-Bad-They’re-Good Texas City and County Flags

These 75 weird and wonderful local flags are what happens when somebody has a quixotic vision and a copy of Photoshop.

By Dan Solomon and Forrest Wilder

The Texas Ranger Who Helped a Serial Killer Go Free

In this adapted excerpt from her new book, ‘We Were Illegal,’ Jessica Goudeau looks at the life of a relative who, she learned, was not the heroic figure of family lore.

By Jessica Goudeau

How Rockabilly Trailblazer Charline Arthur Shocked Nashville and Almost Became a Superstar

She was known for her rowdy stage shows, during which she jumped off amplifiers, rolled around the floor, and even sang while lying down.

By Bobbie Jean Sawyer

Five Years After a Devastating Tornado, Caddo Mounds Reopens With a New Mission

Caddo artists and teachers are reclaiming this sacred place in East Texas.

By Cynthia J. Drake

Archaeologists Dug Up a Vanished Texas Town and Found 10,000 Artifacts

It’s part of a $51 million project to rebuild Washington-on-the-Brazos, “the birthplace of Texas,” where the declaration that created the Republic of Texas was signed.

By Pam LeBlanc

Would Sam Houston Be a Texans Fan? A Texas Monthly Investigation

The towering Huntsville statue of the first president of the Republic of Texas was dressed in an NFL jersey, and some locals are upset.

The Horniest Bar in Texas Is on the Rebound

Henry’s Hideout, one of the oldest honky-tonks in Texas, is back after six years of no action.

By Josh Alvarez

How One Waco Family Resurrected the Oldest Known Tiffany Stained Glass Window in Texas

The 136-year-old ‘Good Shepherd’ window has been transported, dismantled, scrubbed, painted, and reassembled for its home congregation in Galveston.

By Taylor Prewitt

New Markers Remember Enslaved People Brought to Texas by Sea

Volunteers and historians are breaking new ground in a less widely told story of slavery in Texas.

The Former Slave Who Became a Cowboy, a Rancher, and a Texas Legend

Daniel Webster Wallace was born in bondage in South Texas. By the time of his death, nearly eight decades later, he'd amassed a fortune—and a place in West Texas history. 

By W.K. Stratton

Laredo’s La India Packing Co. Has Been Healing With Its Spices for 100 Years

The company started in 1924 as a way to counter inflammation from Tejanos’ beloved chiles, and today its homeopathic products still help with all manner of aches and pains.

By Luis G. Rendon

Waring Cuney Is the Best Harlem Renaissance Poet You’ve Never Heard Of

He hung out with Langston Hughes and wrote verses inspired by his Galveston roots, but he’s largely been forgotten. A new biography seeks to change that.

Texas’s First College for Black Women Lies in Ruins. Can It Find a New Purpose?

In a small East Texas town, Mary Allen College offered opportunity to thousands of Black women, and later men, for nearly nine decades. It’s been shuttered since 1977, but efforts are underway to restore it.

By Ashanté M. Reese

His Art Was Real. His Native American Heritage Wasn’t.

Texas writer and artist Roxy Gordon loved Native culture so much that—at least in his own mind—he “became” an Indian.

By Michael Hall

Beer Nerds, Get Thee to the Library!

The Munday Library at St. Edward's University in Austin, that is, where the Texas Craft Brewing Collections keeps artifacts from the state's illustrious craft beer history for the public to view.

By Ruvani de Silva

The Texanist: Why Doesn’t Dallas Have a Rodeo?

An investigation into Big D's lack of a big, dusty to-do.

The Forgotten Poets (and Unlikely Alliance) of Crystal City

More than three thousand people were locked up in the South Texas camp, which closed 76 years ago today. Internees and descendants have joined forces with community members to honor their shared history.

By Arman Badrei

Barred From a Segregated Golf Course, These Texas Teens Built Their Own

The team from Del Rio went on to win the Texas high school golf championship in 1957—and soon will see its story told in movie theaters around the country.

Ah, the Sweet Scent of Mission’s Citrus Fiesta

All hail Queen Citrianna and the Duchess of Ruby Red, who ride atop floats adorned with hundreds of slices of fresh fruit.

By Ryan Cantu

Inside America’s Last Ninepin Bowling Enclave

Once a national craze, ninepin bowling is now practiced in just eighteen Texas clubs, where a vibrant cast of characters keep the sport alive.

Felix Longoria Died a Hero in World War II. Then His Texas Hometown Refused to Host His Memorial.

His family fought back—and made a lasting impact on the fight for Mexican American rights.

By Carlos Kevin Blanton

The Thorny History of the Poinsettia’s Namesake

Joel R. Poinsett, the first American minister to Mexico, was supposed to help the U.S. buy Texas. He meddled in local politics instead.

By Scott Ray

This 1879 Map Is Now the Priciest Map of Texas Ever Sold at Auction

It fetched $705,000, topping the list of about 165 items from Ted Lusher's Texana collection.

A Treasure Trove of Texas History Is Up for Auction. Here Are the Coolest Items.

An original broadsheet announcing the fall of the Alamo, the first book published in Texas, and other stuff that Phil Collins will probably buy.

Sixty Years After JFK’s Assassination, Two Authors Claim “Incontrovertible Proof” of a “Conspiracy”

In their new book ‘Chokeholds,’ researchers argue Lee Harvey Oswald was just one piece of a sprawling conspiracy—one that other investigators claim never existed at all.

By Peter Holley

The Pioneering, Barnstorming Women’s Basketball Stars of the Texas Cowgirls

The Texas Cowgirls weren’t all from the state, but the groundbreaking women’s pro team promoted itself with loads of Texas mystique.

By Jarrett Van Meter

The Horror Sequel That Made All of Texas Out to Be Insane

Tobe Hooper’s ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2’ satirizes yuppie greed by painting the entire state with a broad and bloody brush.

By Sean O'Neal

Dispatch From the Ghosts of Bookstores Past

The independent bookstores of sixties and seventies San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas created community and opened whole new worlds for Texans.

By Mimi Swartz

Ken Burns’s ‘The American Buffalo’ Isn’t Really About Bison

It’s about the violence that white settlers wrought upon the West—and the path to redemption.

The U.S.S. Texas, Once the World’s Most Formidable Battleship, Gets a Dramatic Makeover

The famously powerful dreadnought was hailed by Hemingway and played a key role in several famous battles.

Come for the Dr Pepper Float, Stay for the Civil Rights History

Waco’s Dr Pepper Museum offers an insightful exhibit on the 1960s lunch counter protests that helped desegregate Texas.

The Texanist’s Texas Trivia Test 3

Beans in chili, the Houston Oilers, and mutton busting: test your knowledge of all things Texan.

Frank Lloyd Wright Built Just One Freestanding Theater in His Lifetime. Dallas Has Let It Fall Into Disrepair.

The Kalita Humphreys Theater was built by arguably the most famous American architect of the twentieth century. It’s now a shell of its former self, and the city can’t decide how—or if—it’ll restore it.

One Woman Brought Funnel Cake to the State Fair of Texas—And Changed the Game Forever

Fernie the Funnel Cake Queen made the deep-fried, sugar-dusted treat a best-seller, and now her daughters continue her legacy with innovations including a funnel cake–flavored wine cocktail.

By Amanda Albee

The Donkey Lady Has Haunted Generations of San Antonians. She Has Her Own Talk Show.

The legendary Donkey Lady is alive (sort of) and has a lot to say about San Antonio.

By Paulina Rodriguez

University History

• General University History
• Yearbooks, catalogs, and genealogical resources
• Enrollment Figures
• University Star
• Lyndon B. Johnson
• Campus in times of war
• Campus during the Great Depression
• Constituting Documents & Name Changes
• Historical Postcards
• Citing Resources
• 1963 Integration at SWT
• Researching Departmental History
• Campus Maps
• Mr. Garcia's photos
• HEA Exhibit
• Construction, 1987-1990
• Symbolic Book Move, May 1990
• Dedication (1990) and Naming (1991)
• Staff Photos, from 1990-
• Campus Library History, from 1903-
• 2015 Book-It-Brigade

Potential research topics

There are a number of topics that have yet to be researched and placed within their respective historical contexts. The following subjects are represented in primary resources held by the Special Collections and Archives (but will likely require additional external research to complete the history):

• College farm
• Campus elementary school
• Campus high school

Archival Resources

The Special Collections and Archives holds official university records, donated materials from friends and alumni, and subject files related to various buildings, property, programs, and events. Researchers interested in in-depth study may find these materials to be a rich source of information. 

Use the Archives and Records Form to schedule an appointment and include specific information on what you are requesting and would like to view from the archives. Researchers are also welcome to schedule an initial reference consultation with an archivist to discuss research needs. Please keep in mind that while some topics are well-documented, there are still many gaps in our historical records.

Sources for historical research

A wide variety of topics related to university history are documented within the Special Collections and Archives. The archives is a research collection that holds primary source materials — original records that exist only in the Archives — that are available for research by appointment. Please contact us to schedule and appointment and we can work with you to identify related materials to your research: Archives and Records Form

Students, faculty, and staff have researched and written about a variety of historical topics related to the institution. While these publications are often available in print from in both the general collection and the Special Collections and Archives, some are also available in digital format — a few of which are described below. To search for a topic not included in the examples below or in the drop-down menu above, visit the Digital Collections page and use the search feature.

Also, be sure to check information included on other pages in this research guide!

• Digital Collections at Texas State University The Digital Collections repository provides free and open access to digitized materials from the Special Collections and Archives.
• Laws establishing and maintaining Texas State Teachers Colleges, compiled by C. E. Evans. Time period: 1879-1943 Evans compiled a list of legislative references, from the General and Special Laws of Texas, related to the creation and evolution of teachers colleges. For legislation after 1943, see the General and Special Laws of Texas (located in the general collection). more... less... Full text of these abstracts can be found in the General and Special Laws of Texas. See http://catalog.library.txstate.edu/record=b1312647~S1a for a list of volumes.
• Early History of the Pedagog Time period: 1904-1925 This 1941 thesis by Margaret McQuary analyzes the first 21 years of the student yearbook and traces the history of student societies, clubs, and organizations. It also includes information about the Pedagog staff from 1904-1925.
• A History of the Southwest Texas State Teachers College Time period: 1903-1939 This thesis by Roger French covers the early history of the college plant, internal development, and student activities. It also includes brief sketches of presidents Thomas G. Harris and C.E. Evans.
• History of Teacher Education at Southwest Texas State University Time period: 1903-1977 The dissertation by Ben Wilson Jr. (Baylor University) covers the creation of the Normal School, the growth of the institution, and its evolving purpose.
• The Death of Evans Field: The End of an Era Time period: circa 1919-1980 Written by Dr. James W. Pohl for the October 1980 issue of Hillviews, the article reflects on this history of Evans Field as the new athletic stadium was under construction.
• The Story of Riverside Time period: 1915-1944 Written in 1944 by Chloe Walker Sanborn, this thesis traces the evolution of the college recreational center known as Riverside and the many contributions of Dr. S.M. Sewell and his wife.
• Rugged Summit Time period: 1911-1942 The core of this story is a biography of Dr. Cecil Eugene Evans who was President of Southwest Texas State 1911-1942. This is also the story of the Teacher’s Colleges in Texas and the struggle to survive and thrive in the first half of the 20th century. The author of this book, Tom Nichols, was secretary to President Evans and a member of the teaching faculty for many years.
• The Administration of John Garland Flowers Time period: 1942-1964 This narrative begins with an overview of the history of the college to 1942, when Flowers became president. Remaining chapters describe the growth of the institution's academics and the physical plant during President Flowers' administration, 1942-1964.
• << Previous: Yearbooks, catalogs, and genealogical resources
• Next: Enrollment Figures >>
• Last Updated: Sep 12, 2024 4:23 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.txstate.edu/univhistory

Texas History: Find Primary Sources

• Find Articles
• Find Primary Sources
• Cite Sources: Chicago

Primary Sources Best Bets

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Prominent Texas newspaper. Coverage dates: 1902 - Current

Dallas Morning News

Prominent Texas newspaper. Coverage dates: 1885 - Current.

Portal to Texas History

Rare, historical, and primary source materials from or about Texas. Coverage dates: 1700 - present

Additional Primary Sources

• Government Info
• Data & Statistics
• TCU Historical Resources

• Civil Rights in Black and Brown Members of civil rights movements in Texas describe their experiences. Coverage: Current
• Fort Worth Public Library Digital Archives Regional history about Fort Worth and Tarrant County. Official archives for the City of Fort Worth, contains records and documents relevant to municipal history.

• Houston Chronicle Prominent newspaper in Texas. Coverage dates: 1901 - present
• Newspapers.com Historical newspapers from the U.S. and U.K. Library subscription does not include as much content as a personal subscription. Coverage dates: 1700 - 2010
• Historical Newspapers (Proquest) Includes U.K., U.S., and U.S. Black newspapers collections from Proquest. Coverage dates: 1880 - 2000
• Congressional Publications (ProQuest) Congressional hearings, public issues, legislation, member biographies, committee assignments, voting records, financial data, and key regulatory and statutory resources. Coverage dates: 1789 - present
• Texas.gov Info about the Texas State government.
• Texas Legislature Online Track and search for legislation in progress, and bills that have become laws in the Texas Legislature.
• TRAIL The Texas Records and Information Locator (TRAIL) service provides access to Texas state government information contained in electronic publications. TRAIL facilitates ready access to the information for Texas citizens and other users.
• Texas.gov Open Data Open data project from the State of Texas. Contains data on a broad range of topics.
• Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) Dataset archive from an international consortium of academic institutions and research organizations. Coverage dates: 1790 - present
• TCU Special Collections (RR) Search TCU's digital archives.

What are Primary Sources?

• Primary vs Secondary Sources Video Transcript

Historians (for the most part) try to understand the context of events– what REALLY happened? In order to understand the context, they look at primary sources.

Primary sources  are any items that were produced at the time of an event. They are original sources. They tell us what people at the time were doing, thinking, and feeling. These kinds of sources may include pamphlets, newspaper articles, letters, diaries, art, photos, speeches, recordings, court documents, or anything else that was produced during the time you are studying. Historians use these items to  interpret  the history and create theories for why things happened the way they did.

Secondary sources  are the interpretations of history that use primary sources  as evidence  to support various theories. These often come in the form of history books, essays, commentaries, journal articles, newspaper articles, documentaries, or other kinds of items that use the primary sources as evidence for their interpretations.

So how can you tell which is which? Here’s a few ways to figure it out:

• Check the date: Was the item produced in the time period you are studying?
• Evaluate the author/creator: Who created the item? Did he or she live during the time period you are studying?

If you can answer “yes” to these questions, you are probably using a primary source.

Secondary sources might be a bit easier to identify:

• Does the item have a bibliography?
• Does it seem more interpretive rather than an original creation?
• Evaluate the author/creator: Who created the item? Who is the primary audience?

If you find a bibliography, reference list, footnotes or endnotes, your document is probably a secondary source. If the item seems to be an interpretation of history, rather than an eye-witness account, then it is probably a secondary source.

Of course, if you have a question about whether an item is a primary or secondary source, ask your professor or a librarian.

Subject Guide

• << Previous: Find Articles
• Next: Cite Sources: Chicago >>
• Last Updated: Sep 9, 2024 10:27 AM
• URL: https://libguides.tcu.edu/texas_history

ADVERTISEMENT

Texas History and Research Overview

Sign up for the Family Tree Newsletter! Plus, you’ll receive our 10 Essential Genealogy Research Forms PDF as a special thank you.

Get Your Free Genealogy Forms

" * " indicates required fields

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW 16th-century Spaniards exploring Texas found indigenous people, but not the gold they sought. Later Spanish missions, presidios and villages were the nuclei for modern cities, including El Paso (1682), San Antonio (1718), and Nacogdoches (1779)—the latter well situated for trade with the Indians and with Natchitoches, La. French settlement on the Texas Gulf coast in 1685 was short-lived. When France ceded greater Louisiana to Spain in 1762, Texas and Louisiana were under the same crown. In 1803, the United States tried to claim Texas as part of the Louisiana Purchase.

Anglo-American settlement had not begun when Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821. Under a renegotiated Mexican contract, Stephen F. Austin recruited several hundred families to settle river valleys near his San Felipe de Austin headquarters. Other empresarios also settled the Mexican State of Coahuila and Texas. Newcomers had to swear allegiance to Mexico and Catholicism.

Adventurers and would-be land speculators became disgruntled by the centralist Mexican government and its 1830 attempt to halt Anglo-American settlement. Many colonists were alarmed by Mexican preparations to send an army to occupy Texas. After several battles, Texans declared themselves an independent republic on March 2, 1836. The war for independence was short. The Republic of Texas existed for nine years before the US Congress annexed it in late 1845, accepting Texas as the 28th state. After a war with Mexico from 1846 to 1848, Mexico relinquished its claim to Texas and the United States gained most of its Southwest.

Early settlers arrived largely from Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana and Missouri, as well as other US states, Mexico, the British Isles and German states. Czechs, Scandinavians, and Alsatians began arriving in the 1840s; Poles, in the 1850s. Most early settlers were small farmers, but cotton planters with slaves also moved in. By 1860, Texas had about 604,000 residents, of whom 30 percent were slaves, 7 percent were foreign-born immigrants, and only about 350 were free blacks. Not counted in censuses were numerous Indians, many of whom were eventually relocated to Indian Territory reservations.

Although divided over the issues of slavery and secession, Texas seceded from the United States in February 1861. The state saw limited military action during the Civil War and was readmitted to the Union in 1870.

From the 1820s to the early 1900s, cotton was the money crop and corn sustained life. After the Civil War, cotton, railroads, and cattle and sheep industries expanded rapidly. The 20th century saw economic diversification in agriculture and development of the petrochemical, timber-related, food-processing and other industries.

RESEARCH TIPS

• The Texas State Library participates in interlibrary loan of microfilmed county records through a regional historical resource depository’ program. See lists of regional depositories and available county records at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/local .
• Besides the state library and archives in Austin, major research facilities include the Center for American History, University of Texas, Austin, http://www.cah.utexas.edu ; Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research, a unit of the Houston Public Library, http://www.houstonlibrary.org/clayton ; the Texas Room, Central Library, Houston Public Library; Dallas Public Library’s genealogy department and Texas/Dallas history and archives department, http://www.dallaslibrary.org/central.htm ; and various academic libraries. Numerous Texas public libraries have genealogy collections.

CENSUS RECORDS

• Federal census: 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930
• Federal mortality schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880
• Federal slave schedules: 1850, 1860 (schedules name slaveholders but rarely name slaves)
• Special census of Civil War Union veterans and widows: 1890
• Colonial: 1829-1836

GENERAL RESOURCES

• Bibliography of Texas, 1795-1845 by Archibald Hanna (Fresearch Publishing, 1983)
• Biographical Gazetteer of Texas: Publication of the Biographical Sketch File of the Texas Collection At Baylor University, an Ongoing Project, 6 vols., (Morrison Books, 1985-)
• Biographical Souvenir of the State of Texas, 1889 (Southern Historical Press, 1978)
• Black Churches in Texas: A Guide to Historic Congregations by Clyde McQueen (Texas A & M Univ., 2000)
• Catalog of Genealogical Materials in Texas Libraries by John Corbin (Texas State Library and Historical Commission, 1965)
• Citizens of the Republic of Texas by Mrs. Harry Joseph Morris (Texas State Genealogical Society, 1977)
• Cracker Barrel Chronicles: A Bibliography of Texas Town and County Histories by John Holmes Jenkins (Pemberton Press, 1965)
• Founders and Patriots of the Republic of Texas: Lineages of the Members of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, 3 vols., (Daughters of the Republic of Texas, 1963-85)
• Four Decades of Catholicism in Texas 1820-1860 by Mary Angela Fitzmorris (Catholic University of America, 1926)
• Genealogical Records in Texas by Imogene Kinard Kennedy and J. Leon Kennedy (Genealogical Publishing Co., 1987)
• Genealogical Research in Texas: A Bibliographical Guide by Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck in National Genealogical Society Quarterly vol. 75 (Sept. 1987) pages 194-215
• Genealogies of Texas Families: Biographical Notes of Pioneer Settlers by James Pylant (Datatrace Systems, 1989)
• Guide to Genealogical Resources in the Texas State Archives by Jean Carefoot (Archives Division, Texas State Library, 1984)
• A Guide to Texas Research by Carolyn R. Ericson and Joe E. Ericson (Ericson Books, 1994)
• A Guide to the Texana Holdings of the Texas History Library of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, 2 vols. (Daughters of the Republic of Texas, 1978)
• The Handbook of Texas, 3 vols., edited by Walter Prescott Webb (Texas State Historical Association, 1952-1976)
• The Historical Encyclopedia of Texas, 2 vols., edited by Thomas S. Chamblin (Texas Historical Institute, 1982)
• History of Early Methodism in Texas, 1817-1866 by Macum Phelan (Cokesbury Press, 1924)
• A History of Texas Baptists by James M. Carroll (Baptist Standard Publishing Co., 1923)
• History of Texas and Texans, 5 vols., by Frank W. Johnson (American Historical Society, 1914)
• Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas by John Henry Brown (1880; Southern Historical Press, 1978)
• Residents of Texas, 182-1836, 3 vols., (San Antonio: The University of Texas, Institute of Texan Cultures, 1984)
• Resources of Texas Libraries by Edward G. Holley (Texas State Library, 1968)
• Spanish and Mexican Records of the American Southwest: A Bibliographic Guide to Archive and Manuscript Sources by Henry P. Beers (University of Arizona Press, 1979)
• Texas Family Land Heritage Registry, 8 vols., (Texas Department of Agriculture, 1974-)
• Texas Historical and Biographical Record with a Genealogical Study of Historical Family Records by Emory E. Bailey (Texas Historical and Biographical Record)
• Texas Local History: A Source Book for Available Town and County Histories, Local Memoirs and Genealogical Records by Tom Munnerlyn (Eakin Press, 1983)
• Texas Newspapers, 1813-1939: A Union List of Newspaper Files Available in Offices of Publishers, Libraries, and a Number of Private Collections (San Jacinto Museum of History Associations, 1941)
• Texas Research Outline by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (online at http://www.familysearch.org/eng/search/RG/guide/texas.asp )
• Who’s Who in Texas by Emory E. Bailey, et al. (Who’s Who Publishing, 1931)
• Who’s Who in Texas Today: A New Biographical Survey of Texas by Seymour V. Connor (Pemberton Press, 1968)

Return to the main Texas page

From the Family Tree Sourcebook Also available: the State Research Guide Book , State Research Guides CD and The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy .

Family Tree Editors

related articles

Historical research maps: houston birdseye.

Texas Photo Mysteries

Photos, texas, texas records resources, texas archives, libraries and societies, 0 articles left, 0 free articles left this month.

Get unlimited access. subscribe

0 free articles left this month

Don't miss the future..

Get unlimited access to premium articles.