National History Day / Texas History Day Research Resources
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) offers this annual National History Day guide for educators and students seeking information and primary sources at the State Archives.
The Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) coordinates the Texas History Day educational program each year as part of National History Day, with a state-level contest held in April and culminating in a national fair for winners from state affiliates. Throughout the school year, students work individually or in groups on a project requiring historical research on a topic related to the theme. As they write papers, produce documentaries, or construct exhibits, students acquire essential research skills and a more in-depth understanding of what primary sources are and where to find them.
Libraries and archives provide the essential building blocks participants need to achieve their goals, and we are pleased to support students’ efforts. In addition, we are associated with the Texas Historical Records Advisory Board (THRAB), which offers a competitive award for both junior and senior divisions.
The next Texas History Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 5, 2025.
For more information on the state and national contests:
Texas History Day: https://texashistoryday.com (Texas State Historical Association)
National History Day: https://www.nhd.org
Sample Topics and Collections Related to the 2025 Theme: Rights and Responsibilities
Our curated list of topics connected to the current National History Day theme offers a starting point for delving into the extensive collections at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. As the central repository for the archives of the Texas government, our materials naturally support researchers interested in the history of the state. (Note: Texas History Day topics do not necessarily have to relate to Texas history, but students researching Texas history should find our collections worth investigating.) Many of our original documents are already available for viewing online and available to download for research purposes. Download the flyer for links to a range of access points and list of the links below.
Check with our reference staff for details on how to find out more about your topics of interest.
Online Exhibits and Digital Collections:
- Declaration of Independence of Texas 1836
- Texas 1836 Draft of the Constitution
- Forever Free: 19th Century African American Legislators
- Equal Rights for Women, Civil Rights for All
- Texans’ Struggle for Freedom and Equality
- Legislative Council: Programs for the Handicapped
- Fear, Force, and Leather: Texas Prison System's First 100 Years, 1848-1948
- "Pitch In. Join the Fight Against Litter" Texas Department of Highways
- Alcohol: Governor's Committee on Traffic Safety (1970)
- Hazardous Business: Industry, Regulation, and the Texas Railroad Commission
- The Texas State Archives Broadsides and printed ephemera collection contains printed documents used to distribute information to the public. Topics frequently included public decrees announcing government orders and legislation and celebrating special events. Try searching for the places, names, and dates involved in events or browse the collection as a whole.
Research Guides and Finding Aids
Texas State Archives Collections:
- Texas Department of Public Safety Films (about 1960)
- Texas Department of Transportation Highway Department Historical Records
- Texas State Department of Health Records
- Texas Legislative Council Study Committee on Program for the Handicapped Public Hearing Audiotapes, 1970
- Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Records
- Texas Department of Human Services History Files
- Texas Commissin on Human Rights Records
- Texas Commission for the Blind Records
- Texas Indian Commission Records
- Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission Minutes
- Texas Department of Insurance State Fire Marshal's Office Fire Insurance Maps
- Texas Departmet of Licensing and Regulation Records
- Texas State Archives Broadsides and Printed Ephemera Collection
Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center (Liberty):
- Martin Dies Papers
- Texas Attorney-General's Office Attorney General Price Daniel Records
- U.S. Senator Price Daniel Papers
- Texas Governor Price Daniel Papers
- Texas District Court (Jefferson County) Civil Case Files
Reference and Research Assistance
- Texas State Archives in Austin contact ref@tsl.texas.gov or 512-463-5455.
- Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center in Liberty contact SamHoustonCenter@tsl.texas.gov or (936) 336-8821.
- Download a flyer with key tools for research at TSLAC: Tools for Texas History Research
Help with Research Methods and Primary Sources
- National History Day and Archives Toolkit (Society of American Archivists/National History Day)
- National History Day Resources (National Archives)
- Getting Started with Primary Sources (Library of Congress)
- Texas History Day Special Award (THRAB)
Established in 2016, the purpose of the Texas Historical Records Advisory Board's (THRAB) Best Use of Texas Archival Collections award is to encourage the use of historical records as primary sources created in Texas or held in a Texas repository in support of National History Day in Texas. The awards are intended to recognize junior and senior division projects that utilize archival collections in a substantive way.