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Go to Texas!

The Texas mystique of cowboys, land, and opportunity is well known across the globe today. However, that situation was not always true. Understanding the essential need for a thriving population, state officials have a long history of promoting Texas to draw people and enterprise to the state.
 

Exhibit Items

An image of a color broadsheet with the headline: Go to Texas. “Go to Texas! Rapid Development of a Glorious Country, 1871.” Broadsides collection, 591.“Go to Texas! Rapid Development of a Glorious Country, 1871.” Broadsides collection, 591.

This broadside advertises land for sale in the town of Lawrence in Kaufman County. Selected by the Exhibits Committee. Click or tap on thumbnail for larger image.

 

 

 

 

 


 

A photograph of men and women standing in an enclosure. Jewish immigrants landed at Galveston, undated. William Deming Hornaday photograph collection, 1975/070-1483.A photograph of men standing in an enclosure, some wearing top hats, some wearing bowler hats. Jewish immigrants landed at Galveston, undated. William Deming Hornaday photograph collection, 1975/070- 1757.Jewish immigrants landed at Galveston, undated. William Deming Hornaday photograph collection, 1975/070-1483 and 1757.

These images of Jewish immigrants arriving in Galveston, Texas, exemplify immigration into the state and the variety of immigrants. Selected by Caroline Jones, Reference Archivist. The State Archives holds many photographs that serve as prime genealogical resources that researchers sometimes overlook. Click or tap on thumbnails for larger image.


 

An image of an opened book, with a lithograph of a farm scene on the left page and the title of the book on the right page. “A paper on the resources and capabilities of Texas: read by Col. William W. Lang, before the Farmer's Club of the American Institute, Cooper Union, N.Y., March 8th, 1881.” TSLAC Main Collection, 917.64 L257.“A paper on the resources and capabilities of Texas: read by Col. William W. Lang, before the Farmer's Club of the American Institute, Cooper Union, N.Y., March 8th, 1881.” TSLAC Main Collection, 917.64 L257.

The speech promoted the advantages of the state for immigration. This copy includes maps of the Southwest (Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Indian Territory) including counties, cities, railroads, and rivers. Selected by Caroline Jones, Reference Archivist. Click or tap on thumbnails for larger image.

 

 

 

An image of handwriting on paper. General Sam Houston passport, 1839, front image.An image of handwriting on a piece of paper. Emily D. West passport, 1837, front image.General Sam Houston passport, 1839, front image and back image, and Emily D. West passport, 1837, front image and back image. Texas Secretary of State records relating to passports issued by the Department of State, Republic of Texas, 1905/007.

Passports were issued by the Department of State of the Republic of Texas to allow persons to freely leave and re-enter.  Selected by the Exhibits Committee. Click or tap on thumbnails for larger image. 

 

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Page last modified: February 24, 2025