America’s Bicentennial in Liberty, Texas

Posted on August 19, 2026 by ARIS Staff

Drill team members wearing white skirts and boots march in a single file line down a city street during a parade. First few women carry flags. Spectators line the street on both sides. — Drill team, Bicentennial Parade, Liberty, TX, April 24, 1976.

Like many communities across the country, the City of Liberty participated in planning projects and events to celebrate the American Bicentennial in 1976. Mayor Lewie Majors appointed the Liberty Bicentennial Commission on February 14, 1973, to initiate the process well in advance of the milestone year. The commission selected two major projects for the 200th anniversary of U.S. independence: a new home for the city’s replica of America’s Liberty Bell, and a fun-filled, patriotic Bicentennial festival to be held in the spring of ’76.

Red, white, and blue parade float with children dressed in costumes of 1776 soldiers and betsy ross sewing a flag. Liberty 2nd grade sign on side. — Liberty Second Grade Float, “Bicentennial Moments,” Bicentennial Parade, Liberty, TX, April 24, 1976.

Liberty’s Liberty Bell is an important part of the community’s history and has a connection to the more famous one in Philadelphia. Both bells were cast by the same company, Whitechapel Bell Foundry, based in London, England. In 1960, Whitechapel cast what they say was the first true replica of the bell from the original cast. The bell was made for the Liberty Muscular Dystrophy Research Foundation (LMDRF) to promote the Foundation and its mission. Liberty residents Sallie and Nadine Woods established the Foundation in 1950 after suffering from the disease themselves. LMDRF was the first foundation created to increase awareness of muscular dystrophy and raise funds for medical research to find a cure.

Colorized photo of Liberty Bell replica with Texas and American flags hanging behind. The bell sits on a mount and a closed space, which was in a truck called the Liberty Liner. — Replica of Liberty Bell on display in a truck called the “Liberty Liner,” about 1963.

The bell was unveiled in front of the Liberty courthouse with much fanfare. Even legendary actor John Wayne was on hand to greet the crowd. Images below feature Wayne (top right) at the dedication ceremony and Roy Rogers with wife Dale Evans (bottom left) and the Woods sisters.

photo spread from pamphlet about the Liberty Bell replica and muscular dystrophy. Four b&w photos in a square. One photo of children in wheelchairs on stage, one photo of John Wayne coming on stage with the Liberty Bell, one photo of Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, and the Woods sisters, and one phot of Don Commander, poster boy of the Harris County chapter and Mrs. Leon Sacco, chairman of the foundation's patient aid program. — Images from pamphlet, The Story of the Liberty Bell and the Liberty Muscular Dystrophy Research Foundation. Includes John Wayne (top right) and Roy Rogers and Dale Evans (bottom left).

For many years, the bell had been in storage outside of Liberty in nearby Houston. In 1971, LMDRF’s board of directors transferred custody and control of the bell to the Woods sisters. The sisters wanted the bell returned home to Liberty and asked local attorneys Charles W. Fisher Jr. and John Middleton to head a committee to arrange the bell’s return and to have a suitable tower erected. This committee joined forces with the Liberty Bicentennial Commission to achieve this goal.

color sketch of the The Liberty Bell Tower surrounded by trees and a building. Bottom left corner reads The Liberty Bell Tower and Brown & Root. — Drawing, The Liberty Bell Tower, Brown & Root, Architects.

The Woods sisters presented the bell to the citizens of Liberty in July 1974, and in December of that year the bell was temporarily placed in the foyer of the city’s Geraldine D. Humphreys Cultural Center pending construction of the bell tower. The tower site would be in the area behind the Cultural Center. The Commission began soliciting funds for the construction, accepting contributions from area residents as well as applying for grants from various nonprofit organizations and the state Bicentennial Commission, with a goal of raising $30,000 to cover the cost. The architectural and engineering firm Brown & Root was selected to design the tower, which was completed in time for the community’s Bicentennial festival.

flyer promoting bicentennial festival called Patriotism lives in Liberty April 1976 written in red. Two stars at top. Support your (underlined) bi-centennial celebration by attending the festivities today! See the parade 10:00a.m. See the bell dedication 12:00 noon Refreshments street dancing games craft displays everybody welcome! — Flyer, Liberty Bicentennial Festival, April, 1976.

Planning for the Bicentennial festival, which took place the weekend of April 24-25, 1976, was also a major undertaking. Among the activities were a parade complete with floats, area school bands, and dignitaries; the dedication ceremony for the bell tower and ringing of the Liberty Bell; skits and musical performances in the Humphreys Cultural Center; and a historic homes tour conducted by the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

governor bill daniel dressed as sam houston in white suit and hat and sitting on a white horse. Several children on bicycles surround Daniel. — Governor Bill Daniel (portraying Sam Houston) greets some young fans before the start of the parade.

Dignitaries taking part in the event included former Texas Governors Price Daniel and Preston Smith, former Guam Governor Bill Daniel (portraying Sam Houston), Alabama-Coushatta Chief Robert Fulton Batisse, and Vice Consul for Great Britain Colin Lord and his wife.

Three men actively pulling the rope to ring the bell during the bicentennial festivities. Liberty Mayor Paul Daniels, Charles W. Fisher Jr., and Liberty County Judge Harlan Friend ring Liberty’s Liberty Bell at the bell tower dedication ceremony, April 24, 1976. — (Left to right) Liberty Mayor Paul Daniels, Charles W. Fisher Jr., and Liberty County Judge Harlan Friend ring Liberty’s Liberty Bell at the bell tower dedication ceremony, April 24, 1976.

Liberty’s celebration of the nation’s Bicentennial culminated with a bell ringing ceremony on July 4 at 1:00 p.m. on the Humphreys Cultural Center grounds, hosted by the Bicentennial Commission. Liberty’s Liberty Bell joined other bells across the United States in ringing for two minutes, coinciding with the exact moment that Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell proclaimed the nation’s independence in 1776.

Visitors may view the special exhibit on this topic, Patriotism Lives in Liberty: Celebrating the 1976 American Revolution Bicentennial at the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center during business hours, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The historical collection Liberty (Tex.) American Bicentennial Collection documenting the work of the Liberty Bicentennial Commission is now available for research at the SHC.

Research Webinar on the Woods Sisters and Muscular Dystrophy: https://youtu.be/epcrZH1QRsc?si=EfELj8tMZZaKlt7o

Sources:

Liberty (Tex.) American Bicentennial Collection, SHC, TSLAC.

Liberty Vindicator, Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center Newspaper Collection, SHC, TSLAC.

Featured Book Display: Centennial and Bicentennial Celebrations in Texas

Posted on July 9, 2026 by ARIS Staff

As part of Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) activities commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence, our current featured book display and companion reading list offer a selection of titles related to other important milestones connected to Texas history.

The Bicentennial of the United States of America: A Final Report to the People by the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration, 1977.

The featured book display includes publications from a variety of city, county, state, and national centennial and bicentennial celebrations in Texas. America’s Bicentennial in 1976 is well-represented, as is the centennial of Texas independence in 1936. Search the TSLAC catalog for additional publications on these topics. For more information about access to the titles on display, please contact TSLAC reference services at ref@tsl.texas.gov or call 512-436-5455.

cover of pamphlet American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of Texas with a graphic of and eagle and shield and banner with 1776-1976 underneath. — American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of Texas by Gene Jones Riddle, 1971.

Title	Author	Call Number	Location	Digital
Albany Bicentennial. Historical Memoirs.	Banks, Anthony Bleecker	974.7 B226 GEN	GEN
Collingsworth County, Texas Cemeteries,1876-1976: Bicentennial Project	Daughters of the American Revolution. La Paisana chapter	976.4831 D265C	GEN
1536-1936 Texas Centennial Celebration	Diocese of El Paso	282 C286e OVER-T	MAIN
Texas Rangers: The Official Commemorative Bicentennial Guide.	Texas Heritage Trails, LLC.	363.28 T312r	MAIN
The Texas Centennial and Dallas Exposition, 1836-1936	Dallas (Tex.). Texas Centennial Central Exposition, 1936	607.34 T312c 1936	MAIN
The Bicentennial Collection of Texas Short Stories	White, James P.	813.5 W584B	MAIN
El Paso; a Centennial Portrait. A Project of the El Paso County Historical Society, 1973 Centennial.	El Paso County Historical Society.	976.496 J717	MAIN
Chambers County Centennial, 1858-1958	Chambers County Centennial Committee	976.4143 C355c	MAIN
Commemorating a Hundred Years of Texas History	Texas Centennial Commission	C900.8 T312ce OVER-T	TXD
Texas: a Bicentennial History	Frantz, Joe Bertram	976.4 F857T	MAIN
Somervell County Centennial,1875-1975	Somervell County Centennial Association. Historical Booklet Committee	976.4764521 SO53S	MAIN
The Celebration of the Texas Centennial	Massie, Bernard.	976.4 M385C	MAIN
Bee County Centennial, 1858-1958.	Bee County (Tex.). Centennial Commission.	976.4117 B391b	MAIN
Active Texas Bicentennial Communities	Austin : American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of Texas, 1975	A1500.8 AC85	TXD
American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of Texas	Riddle, Gene Jones	A1500.8 AM35	TXD

Celebrate Flag Day June 13 at TSLAC!

Posted on June 1, 2026 by ARIS Staff

Join the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) on Saturday, June 13, for a celebration of Flag Day! A full day of special events focused on Texas history is scheduled at the Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building, next door to the Capitol in downtown Austin. On display from 10:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. will be one of the rarest—and largest!—flags in the States Archives’ collection, a 28-star U.S. flag that served as the national flag from July 4, 1846, until July 4, 1847.

Curious about how Texas became the 28th state? Texas State Historian Dr. Richard B. “Rick” McCaslin will present on the subject at 11:00 a.m.!

Cover of the book Texas before the Lone Star, a publication of the Texas Society Daughters of the American Revolution, edited by GeorgiAnne Brochstein and Mary Anthony Startz.

At 2:00 p.m., TSLAC’s Texas Center for the Book will lead a conversation focused on life in Texas before statehood. We will hear from special guests Dr. Carolina Castillo Crimm and GeorgiAnne Brochstein. Crimm is an author, historian and retired educator who will present a lively and engaging talk on the Spanish Colonial era. She taught for 40 years in various fields and recently retired from Sam Houston State University as a Professor Emeritus. Brochstein is a co-editor of the book Texas: Before the Lone Star, recently published by the Texas Society Daughters of the American Revolution (TXDAR).

The 1876 Texas State Constitution will also be on view. Texas still operates under this constitution today. Don’t miss your chance to see the foundation of our state government in person!

Flag Day at TSLAC Program

10:00 a.m. Special viewing of rare 28-star U.S. flag from 1846 – on display throughout the event.

11:00 a.m. “Texas Joins the United States” presentation by Texas State Historian Dr. Richard B. “Rick” McCaslin.

2:00 p.m. Texas: Before the Lone Star #TXBookChat with Dr. Carolina Castillo Crimm and author GeorgiAnne Brochstein, interviewed by Michele Chan Santos, Texas Center for the Book.

3:30 p.m. Event concludes

TSLAC is delighted to offer to the public this special opportunity to view a national flag representing annexation to the U.S., along with casual conversations and presentations from experts on Texas topics, as well as a chance to view the current lobby exhibit, Texas America250.

Flag Day, officially observed on June 14, commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States in 1777, by resolution of the Second Continental Congress.

The Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building is located in the Capitol Complex at 1201 Brazos St. Parking is available at the Capitol Visitors Parking Garage across the street. Additional parking options, including handicapped parking, along with directions and maps, are available on TSLAC’s website at www.tsl.texas.gov/visit. Please note research services will be closed for this event.

This event is part of statewide Texas America250 celebrations happening throughout 2026. To learn more about TSLAC and Texas Center for the Book programs for Texas America250, visit the website at www.tsl.texas.gov/america250.

One of 50 state centers affiliated with the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, the Texas Center for the Book is under the direction of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. For more information, visit tsl.texas.gov/centerforthebook.

Featured Book Display: Foundational Documents of Texas and America

Posted on May 12, 2026 by ARIS Staff

Document with — Signature page, 1876 Texas State Constitution. View in the TDA.

As part of our activities commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence, our current featured book display and companion reading list offer a selection of titles related to this legacy and its connection to Texas history. For example, The American Solution: Origins of the U.S. Constitution, by Robert Allen Rutland, examines how the country was founded. Though Texas was not one of the original 13 colonies, the historical record of Texas shares similarities with and echoes the sentiments of the documents written there.

Featured book display bookshelf with three rows of books faced out on book stands and books on top. A Texas map is framed on the wall. — Featured book display: Foundational Documents of Texas and America.

Another title on display, The Signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence, by L.W. Kemp provides backgrounds for each of the 59 members of the convention who met in the spring of 1836 to issue a Declaration of Independence from Mexico on March 2. The revolutionaries then hastily proceeded to craft a constitution for the new Republic of Texas, borrowing heavily from the U.S. Constitution. Learn more about the 59 signers and the document they created in the publication, Constitution of the Republic of Texas. To Which is Prefixed the Declaration of Independence, Made in Convention, March 2, 1836.

Between 1836 and 1876, Texas would see a series of constitutions adopted to reflect the changing status of the government. The first new constitution was drafted once Texas was accepted for annexation to the United States in 1845, followed by another constitution in 1861 when Texas seceded from the Union to join the Confederacy. Two more versions (1866,1869) would follow during the period of Reconstruction when states were required to ratify three new amendments to the U.S. Constitution in order to rejoin the country.

Spines of several books on display in featured bookshelf include Constitution of Texas, Annotated; Journal of the Constitutional Convention of Texas, and Debates in the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1875. — Books on display in featured bookshelf.

Texas was readmitted to the U.S. in 1870 with the 1869 constitution in place, but with a new convention on the horizon. Read Debates in the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1875 to learn what was discussed to draft the next version that was ratified in 1876. Though this document is 150 years old, it still serves as the current constitution for the state.

Texas Capitol House Chamber withe several representatives near the podium as vote takes place. — Vote being taken, 1974. Texas Constitutional Convention of 1974 audiovisual materials, 2025/057-0008. View in the TDA.

Lawmakers have attempted to create a new state constitution for the modern age. Almost a century and hundreds of amendments later, delegates met in 1974 to write a new constitution. Delegates struggled to agree and instead of a new constitution, they submitted eight constitutional amendments to Texans for a vote. None of these amendments passed. The Texas Constitutional Revision Experience in the 70’s, by Janice C. May describes the details of this episode in Texas constitutional history. In addition, audiovisual materials from the convention, including the film productions The Making of the Texas Constitution and A New Constitution for Texas, have been digitized and are available online in the Texas Digital Archive (TDA). Documents from other constitutional conventions are also available in the TDA: https://tsl.access.preservica.com/tda/texas-state-government/texas-conventions/.

The 1876 Constitution, with digital images of the pages and transcribed text, is available online at TSLAC. There are also published versions in our collections and you may even take a closer look at the original signed document on view in TSLAC’s Reference Reading Room through July.

The list below offers more options to explore the founding of Texas and the nation. Search the TSLAC catalog for additional publications on these topics. For more information about access to the titles on display, please contact TSLAC reference services at ref@tsl.texas.gov or call 512-436-5455.

title	author	call num.	location	digital
The Texas State Constitution	May, Janice C.	342.764 M451t GOV	Ref RR
Our documents: 100 milestone documents from the National Archives.	United States. National Archives and Records Administration.	973 UN3o US GOV-HIST	Ref RR
Events preceding the Declaration of the Independence of Texas	Hill, George Alfred	976.404 H552e	MAIN
The signers of the Texas declaration of independence	Kemp, L. W.	976.403 K32S 1959	MAIN
The State Constitution of Texas: including the complete text and amendments, together with the Declaration of Independence	Texas	342.764 T312s 1963	MAIN
Fifty-nine for freedom: the Texas signers	Adams, Willena Casey	923.2764 AD19	MAIN
The constitution and government of Texas	Stewart, Frank Mann	342.764 ST4c 1949	MAIN
The Texas constitutional revision experience in the 70’s	May, Janice C.	342.764 M451	MAIN
The father of Texas: Stephen F. Austin	Phegley, Mallie	976.402092 AU77p	MAIN
Our Texas Bill of Rights	Harrington, James C.	342.764 H237O	MAIN
The Texas Bill of Rights: in the mainstream of the movement to protect individual rights: a commentary and litigation manual	Harrington, James C.	342.764 H238T	MAIN
Popular series of national documents; containing. I. The civil rights bill. II. The veto message. III. The Freedmen’s Bureau bill. IV. The veto message.	New York, Published at the Office of the Commercial Advertiser [1866?]	973.81 P819	MAIN
Constitution of the republic of Texas. To which is prefixed the declaration of independence, made in convention, March 2, 1836	Texas	L1790.4 C766r 1836	TXD
Constitutional Convention of Texas: procedures manual	Texas. Constitutional Convention (1974)	C3050.5 P942 1974	TXD
1974 Texas Constitutional Convention : [the plan].	Texas. Legislature. Joint Constitutional Convention Planning Committee.	C3050.3 C766 1974 V.1 (2, & 3)	TXD
Debates in the Texas Constitutional convention of 1875	Texas. Constitutional Convention (1875)	C3044.8 D35 1875	TXD
Rules and order of proceeding adopted by the Constitutional convention, September 8, 1875.	Texas. Constitutional Convention (1875)	C3044.4 R861 1875	TXD
Constitutional Convention, a new beginning: two constitutions, 1875 and 1974	Cook, Lucia G.	C3050.8 N42B	TXD
Journal of the Constitutional Convention of the state of Texas: begun and held at the city of Austin, September 6th, 1875	Texas. Constitutional Convention (1875)	C3044.6 J826 1875	TXD	yes
Constitution of the state of Texas: adopted by the Constitutional Convention convened at Austin, September 6th, 1875	Texas	L1800.9 C7664 1876-1912	TXD
Address to the people of Texas	Texas. Constitutional Convention (1875)	C3044.8 AD28p 1875	TXD
Biographical directory of the Texan conventions and congresses, 1832-1845	Texas. Legislature. House of Representatives.	L1801.5 B52d 1942	TXD
Is there a constitutional convention in America’s future?	United States. Congress. House. Committee on the Judiciary.	Y 4.J 89/1:AM 3/8	USD
A decent respect to the opinions of mankind: Congressional State papers, 1774-1776	United States. Continental Congress.	LC 1.2:OP 3	USD
The American solution: origins of the U.S. Constitution	Rutland, Robert Allen	LC 1.2:AM 3/14	USD
The American solution: origins of the U.S. Constitution: an exhibition at the Library of Congress Great Hall of the Thomas Jefferson Building, May 14 through September 17, 1987	Rutland, Robert Allen	LC 1.2:AM 3/13	USD
The Constitution of the United States and the Declaration of Independence	[Washington, D.C. : Commission on the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution], 1992.	Y 3.B 47/2:2 C 76/9/992	USD
The Bill of Rights	Center of Military History.	D 114.2:B 49	USD

Texas Newspapers at TSLAC and Online

Posted on April 29, 2026 by ARIS Staff

Extra! Extra! Read all about it…online! The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) has published the Texas State Library and Archives Newspaper collection finding aid, available to view through Texas Archival Resources Online (TARO).

image of top half of newspaper The Texas Christian Advocate from Dallas, Texas, Thursday, March 6, 1890. — The Texas Christian Advocate newspaper, Dallas, Texas, Thursday, March 6, 1890.

Alphabetically arranged by Texas and non-Texas newspapers, the collection consists of 1,600 newspapers published between 1741 and 2006. The collection spans time periods ranging from the Republic-era to Statehood, the American Civil War through Reconstruction, industrialization through the Second World War, and into the modern era. These newspapers document aspects of Texas history including migration and emigration, education, politics, religion, government, labor movements, and major industries such as agriculture and petroleum.

Among the oldest Texas newspapers within the collection is The Texas Gazette, published in San Felipe de Austin in 1829 (name changed to Mexican Citizen in 1831). Examples of Republic-era papers include The Red-Lander (1838-1839, 1841-1847), and The National Vindicator, published in Washington-on-the-Brazos in 1843-1844.

With newspapers published in English, Spanish, Italian and German, the collection reflects the richly varied history of Texas. Such papers as the San Antonio El Bejareño, the Brownsville Democrata, the San Antonio La Prensa, the Corpus Christi Verdad, and the Dallas La Tribuna Italiana, shed light on those vibrant communities.

Twenty-eight newspaper titles from this collection have been digitized so far through an ongoing partnership with the University of North Texas (UNT) and are now freely available on TSLAC’s Texas Digital Archive (TDA) and through UNT’s Portal to Texas History. Since 2023, this partnership allows for digitization of historical newspapers in formats including fragile print issues and microfilm reels, ensuring that the information within these newspapers is preserved and accessible for years to come.

image of newspaper Neu-Braunfelser Zeitung, Freitag, den 12. Januar 1855 [Friday, the 12. January 1855. — Neu-Braunfelser Zeitung newspaper, Freitag, den 12. Januar 1855 [Friday, the 12. January 1855].

One of the oldest digitized newspapers available on the TDA is the Dallas Herald, published in 1855. The Neu-Braunfelser Zeitung, now known as the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung, is among the longest-published newspapers in Texas and is one of the digitized newspapers available through the TDA. Digitized papers providing coverage before, during, and after the Civil War include The Harrison Flag and The Goliad Guard, while papers documenting events at the beginning of the twentieth century include the Alpine Avalanche, The Texas Christian Advocate, and The Terry County Herald.

image of Alpine Avalanche newspaper, Alpine, Brewster County, Texas, Friday March 2, 1900. — Alpine Avalanche newspaper, Alpine, Brewster County, Texas Friday, March 2, 1900.

For genealogists, students, educators and historians of Texas history, these Texas newspapers, more of which will appear online as digitization continues, present much to explore.

For information about access to collections at TSLAC contact reference staff at 512-463-5455 or ref@tsl.texas.gov.

Featured Book Display: Federal Programs in Texas

Posted on April 15, 2026 by ARIS Staff

color image of mountains of Big Bend National Park. — Big Bend National Park. Color slides and transparencies, 1991/077-302-28. Texas Tourist Development Agency photographs and audiovisual materials. View in the TDA: https://tsl.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_ca82482a-ed23-4e2a-9cc9-5b20d2bcfd0d/

With pine forests, miles of coastline, prairies covered in wildflowers, and red desert mountains, Texas is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Preserving that natural beauty has been a collaborative effort between the Texas state government and the United States federal government. Over the past century, Texas has participated in many federal government programs to preserve Texas lands.

One of the first federal programs to prioritize maintaining Texas natural spaces was the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Not only did this work to protect natural wonders, but also to control flooding and erosion during the Great Depression. Texans can explore the great outdoors in Big Bend, a national park that safeguards thousands of years of human history, including cave paintings and a wild west ghost town. To learn more about it, you can read Big Bend Historic Sites, by G. Hubert Smith. The CCC also worked on state parks, so some of these are also a collaboration between Texas and the federal government. Read Parks for Texas: Enduring Landscapes of the New Deal by James Wright Steely to learn how places like Texas’s Big Bend became national treasures.

Another historical program born from the New Deal was the Federal Farm Board, which worked directly with farmers when it began. Now known as the Farm Credit Administration (FCA), they work with the banks that help farmers by subsidizing crops to keep prices lower. For a look at how the Federal Farm Board helped Texan farmers at the start of its mission, check out The T. C. C. A. Handbook for 1931: Some Facts Concerning the Federal Farm Board and the Cotton Co-operatives in Texas for those Who are Interested in the Welfare of the Southland.

With all of the different landscapes across Texas, the state can be prone to a variety of natural disasters. Another well-known Federal program that has helped Texans throughout the years is the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). After hurricanes like Celia and Harvey, FEMA was an instrumental part of getting Texans back to regular life. TSLAC holds documents like Hurricane Celia Redevelopment: a Preliminary Catalogue of Priorities and Needs for Possible Federal Assistance in the Seven County Disaster Area, which explains what FEMA did to help people get back to their normal lives. FEMA also plays a part in making sure that even before a disaster happens, people are prepared. One example is the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Planning Project for the City of Gonzales, Texas: 2001 Flood Preparedness and Mitigation plan.

color image of book cover with the title Texas and the Federal Government: A Book on Civil Government for the Children of Texas by George B. Terrell. — Texas and the federal government by George B. Terrell, c1942. Main 342.783 St325p.

Search the TSLAC catalog for more publications about Texas and the Federal government working together. For more information about access to the titles on display, please contact TSLAC reference services at ref@tsl.texas.gov or call 512-436-5455.

Title	Author	Call Number	Location	Available Digitally
Selected United States Government publications	McLean, Va.	015.73 D659s 1968	MAIN
Parks for Texas : enduring landscapes of the new deal	Steely, James Wright	333.783 St325p	MAIN
Texas and the federal government	Terrell, George B.	342.784 T277	MAIN
Hurricane Celia redevelopment : a preliminary catalogue of priorities and needs for possible federal assistance in the seven county disaster area.	Coastal Bend Regional Planning Commission	350.754 C63HU C.1	MAIN
Tales of the Big Bend	Miles, Elton	398.209764 M594T	MAIN
T. C. C. A. hand book for 1931 : some facts concerning the Federal Farm Board and the cotton co-operatives in Texas for those who are interested in the welfare of the southland	Texas Cotton Cooperative Association	381.41351 T312T	MAIN
Big Bend historic sites	Smith, G. Hubert	978.3 SM57b	MAIN
Ranchers, farmers, soldiers, and the CCC : the background for seven historical sites at Camp Bowie, Brown County, Texas	Leffler, John	A1900.7 P422 NO.2591	TXD
Phase I archaeological survey, Dunlap Canal, emergency spillway, Guadalupe County, Texas : FEMA-1257-DR-TX	Texas Antiquities Committee	A1900.7 P422 NO.2704	TXD
Critical environmental areas in Texas : a summary of federal, state, and local protective measures	Texas Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations	I1150.8 C869EA 1977	TXD
Texas State Parks Centennial Plan	Texas. Parks and Wildlife Department	P400.8 C333PL 2016	TXD
The Civilian Conservation Corps in Texas state parks	Steely, James Wright	P400.8 C499CON 2020	TXD
Texas state parks	Texas. Parks and Wildlife Department	P400.8 T312ST 1988	TXD
Birds of Buescher & Bastrop state parks	Mitchell, David	P500 B86BIR 1988	TXD
Site assessment and inventory of Civilian Conservation Corps features : Buescher State Park.	Texas. Parks and Wildlife Department.	P500 B86Si 2008	TXD
State services and federal expenditures in Texas	Texas. Office of State-Federal Relations.	S1250.8 ST29	TXD
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) planning project for the city of Gonzales, Texas : 2001 flood preparedness and mitigation plan	Public Management, Inc.	W600.8 G589 2002	TXD
Texas state parks and the CCC : the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps	Brandimarte, Cynthia A.	Z TA475.8 B733te	TXD
Fire in the Piney Woods : Texas lookout towers, the forest service, and the Civilian Conservation Corps	Cavallerano, Edward	Z TA475.8 C314fi	TXD
Management alert – observations and concerns with FEMA’s housing assistance program efforts for Hurricane Harvey in Texas	United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General	HS 1.22:17-121-MA	USD	Yes
National parks and national forests	United States. National Park Service.	I 29.2:N 21/6/956	USD
The national parks : shaping the system	McDonnell, Janet	I 29.2:SH 2/2005	USD
Texas narrative review of agency operations, 1933-1938	National Emergency Council (U.S.)	Y 3.N 21/9:9 T 31/2	USD

Featured Book Display: Texas and the American Revolution

Posted on February 18, 2026 by ARIS Staff

By Robyn Moore, Reference Librarian

Historic map of the Spanish Province of Texas with beige background, teal colored water at the Gulf of Mexico and orange outlining different regions. — Spanish Province of Texas, about 1700-1821. Compiled from map on file among the archives at Saltillo, Mexico, Texas State Archives Map Collection, no. 2748.

Have you ever wondered what was happening in Texas while the original thirteen colonies of the Union were fighting the British Army in the 1770s? As the nation celebrates 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, TSLAC invites you to explore the published resources that offer insight into events occurring in Texas during this pivotal time. A good place to start is The Texas Connection with the American Revolution, by Robert H. Thornhoff. This book highlights Texan contributions to the newly-formed United States.

It turns out, Texas played a part in the American victory over England. The British faced war on two fronts once Spain allied with the colonies on the east coast, as they also had to fight on the border with New Spain in the west. New Spain was the territory controlled by Spain at the time, which included Texas. Cattle drives, naval battles, and many other contributions are recorded in the archival documents of the Spanish empire. You can access reproductions of these documents in Documentos Relativos a la Independencia de Norteamérica Existentes en Archivos Españoles.

You don’t need to travel east to see landmarks related to the American Revolution, either. Galveston is named for a Revolutionary War hero, Bernardo de Gálvez. Learn more about how Gálvez cleared the British Navy from the Gulf and helped draft the Treaty of Paris, the document that officially ended the war, in Forgotten Chapters of the American Revolution: Spain, Gálvez, and Isleños, by Rueben M. Perez. Investigate other landmarks with the Markers Placed by the Texas Daughters of the American Revolution, by the Texas Society Daughters of the American Revolution. If you miss the featured book display, don’t worry, we have these titles available all year long!

Photo of bookcase with three shelves of books facing outward and four books on top with a Featured Books sign. An antique map of Texas is hung on the wall behind the display.

Search the TSLAC catalog for more publications about Texas and the American Revolution. For more information about access to the titles on display, please contact TSLAC reference services at ref@tsl.texas.gov or call 512-436-5455.

title	author	call number	location	digital
The littlest vaquero Texas first cowboys and how they helped win the American Revolution	Liles, Maurine Walpole	XX		yes
Index of the Rolls of honor (ancestor’s index) in the Lineage books of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution [volumes 1-160]	Daughters of the American Revolution	369.135 D265L INDEX 1972 V.1-80	GEN
Tejano patriots of the American Revolution, 1776-1783	Villarreal, Jesse O.	976.40046 V713t	GEN
Republic of Texas roots : American Revolution roots	Rathburn, Lloyd Calvin	929.2 R175	GEN
The American revolution in the South	Lee, Henry, 1756-1818.	973.3 L512A	GEN
The Alamo heroes and their Revolutionary ancestors	Daughters of the American Revolution. Alamo Chapter (San Antonio, Tex.)	976.435 D265aa	GEN
Brunswick deserter-immigrants of the American Revolution.	Smith, Clifford Neal	929.3 SM53	GEN
Texas and the American Revolution	University of Texas Institute of Texan Cultures at San Antonio	976.402 IN7T	MAIN
The Texas connection with the American Revolution	Thonhoff, Robert H	976.402 T388t	MAIN
Bernardo de Gálvez : hero of the American Revolution	LaFarelle, Lorenzo G.	920.7 G139b	MAIN
Forgotten chapters of the American Revolution : Spain, Gálvez, and Isleños	Perez, Rueben M.	973.3 P415f	MAIN
Markers placed by the Texas Daughters of the American revolution; with illustrations and historical sketches. A contribution to the celebrations commemorating the state’s centennial year.	Daughters of the American Revolution. Texas Society	976.4 D265M	MAIN
The American sword, 1775-1945 : a survey of the swords worn by the uniformed forces of the United States from the Revolution to the close of World War II	Peterson, Harold L.	739.72 P442 1965	MAIN
Historic costumes and furnishings	Daughters of the American Revolution. Texas Society.	391.2 D265	MAIN
Documentos relativos a la independencia de Norteamérica existentes en archivos españoles	Spain. Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores	973 D659 V.1 PT.1	MAIN
Drama & conflict : the Texas saga of 1776	Weddle, Robert S.	976.402 W413D	MAIN
Texas in 1776 : a historical description	Connor, Seymour V.	976.402 C762T OVER-T	MAIN
American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of Texas	Riddle, Gene Jones	A1500.8 AM35	TXD
Spanish Texas, 1519-1821	Chipman, Donald E.	Z UA380.8 C444SP	TXD
Guidelines for city bicentennial planning	American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of Texas, issuing body	A1500.5 G942ci	TXD
Texas Bicentennial Community Program : citizen involvement in a national celebration	American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of Texas	A1500.8 B471co	TXD
American revolution at a glance, 1775-1783	National Park Service	I 29.2:R 32/5	USD	Yes
Revolutionary secrets : cryptology in the American Revolution	Wilcox, Jennifer E.	D 1.2:C 88/11	USD	Yes

Free Family History Workshop with the Texas Society Daughters of the American Revolution (TXDAR)

Posted on February 3, 2026 by ARIS Staff

Graphic with workshop title, Family History Workshop with TXDAR, Saturday, February 14, 10:00a.m. - 2:00p.m. Free and open to the public, in person at TSLAC, Austin.

Join us on site at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) in Austin on Saturday, Feb. 14 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for a user-friendly workshop on tracing your family lineage back to the era of the American Revolution in 1776. Guest speakers from the Texas Society Daughters of the American Revolution will discuss the organization along with resources they offer for genealogy research.

Come learn about the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), why women join and how DAR resources can help uncover overlooked patriots. You may have one or more Revolutionary patriots in your family, and this session will walk you through the resources available that help you explore your connection to these brave men and women. Presenters will also share information about the DAR’s E Pluribus Unum Committee and specialty research groups. In addition, our library reference staff will describe the various genealogy tools available through TSLAC. After the morning presentations and Q&A, DAR volunteers and TSLAC librarians will be on-hand to assist with family history research in the reading room from noon until 2:00 p.m.

Presentations 10:00a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Public Events Space

Hands-on Research Noon – 2:00 p.m. Reference Reading Room

This workshop is free and open to the public. Registration is requested, but not required. Sign up for the workshop by Feb. 11 via the online form at https://forms.office.com/r/iJFDaG7qtS.

Named a National Literary Landmark, the Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building located at 1201 Brazos St. in downtown Austin, directly east of the Texas Capitol. In addition to TSLAC’s rotating exhibits, visitors may view the six flags flown over Texas, six Texas seal mosaics and the panoramic Texas history mural in the lobby.

Parking is available at the Capitol Visitors Parking Garage across the street. Additional parking options, including handicapped parking, along with directions and maps, is available on TSLAC’s website at www.tsl.texas.gov/visit.

Liberty Area Readers, Join the Club! SHC Book Club Meets January 27

Posted on January 21, 2026 by ARIS Staff

graphic with information about the SHC Book Club, Jan. 27 6:00pm featuring The Briar Club by Kate Quinn and location, phone, and email address of SHC. All included in text of the post.

The SHC Quarterly Book Club will meet January 27 at the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center (SHC) in Liberty to discuss the novel The Briar Club by Kate Quinn.

Quinn’s work of historical fiction centers around a boarding house in 1950s Washington, DC, and the various women renting rooms from the home’s owner. Join the group for this fun, free, and informal gathering of readers from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. No membership or registration is required.

Featuring fictional works with a connection to the world of museums, archives, and libraries, the SHC book club is open to all and meets in the Center’s main building at 650 FM 1011 in Liberty. Home to extensive archival holdings documenting Southeast Texas, a library collection and a museum, the Center offers an ideal setting for discussions about novels tied to these fields. Each meeting will be led by SHC staff.

Interested participants may obtain a copy of the novels through their local library or favorite bookstore to prepare for the conversation. For more information, contact SHC staff at (936) 336-8821 or via email at SamHoustonCenter@tsl.texas.gov.

The Sam Houston Center is a component of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and serves as the official regional historical resource depository for the 10 Southeast Texas counties of Chambers, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Newton, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto, and Tyler. The Center’s primary mission is to collect, preserve, and provide access to historically significant state and local government records and publications of the designated region and secondarily to serve as a library of Texana and genealogical resources.

From the Feeds: State Archives Social Media Roundup 2025

Posted on January 7, 2026 by ARIS Staff

Featuring recent selections from our “Throwback Thursday” and other posts on TSLAC’s social media platforms. No subscription required.

July

Sepia-toned full length photo portrait of Mrs. Clara Driscoll Sevier wearing a full-length dress and clasping her hands in front of her waist. — Mrs. Clara Driscoll Sevier, Austin, Texas, undated. William Deming Hornaday photograph collection, 1975/070-4821.

#OTD July 17, 1945, Clara Driscoll (1881-1945) passed away. Descended from veterans of the Battle of San Jacinto, Driscoll was raised in a wealthy family in the Corpus Christi area. As an educated young woman of eighteen, she turned her interest in historic preservation to the fate of the crumbling buildings left standing on the site of the famous battle of the Alamo. Driscoll financed, with the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the purchase of the site and became known as “The Savior of the Alamo.” She went on to engage in other historic preservation efforts, write fiction, serve on various boards and committees, and take over her father’s business interests after the death of her brother.

August

Sepia-toned photo of Texas governor W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel riding a bicycle while wearing a suit and a white wide-brimmed hat. — W. Lee “Pappy” O’Daniel on a bicycle, undated. Prints and Photographs collection, 2009/100.

#TBT W. Lee O’Daniel served as Texas governor and United States senator. Born in 1890 in Ohio, O’Daniel came to Texas at age 29 as a sales manager for Burrus Mills, a flour-milling company in Fort Worth. In 1928, O’Daniel took over the company’s radio advertising and started a country music program to promote the flour. O’Daniel hosted the show and organized a band called the Light Crust Doughboys. Many of the musicians who made Western Swing famous, including Bob Wills, got their start in O’Daniel’s band. In 1935 he organized his own flour company to make “Hillbilly Flour” and began to call his band the Hillbilly Boys. The slogan, “Pass the biscuits, Pappy,” made O’Daniel a household name throughout Texas. O’Daniel takes a spin on a bicycle in this undated photo. Read more about “Pappy” here: https://www.tsl.texas.gov/treasures/characters/pappy.html

September

Black and white photo of the two-story Texan Theatre in Kilgore Texas. — Texan Theatre, Kilgore, TX, undated. Department of Public Safety records, 1978/023-30.

#TBT This undated photo of Kilgore’s Texan Theatre may have been taken very soon after it opened in 1931. The 1931 film A Connecticut Yankee starring humorist Will Rogers is advertised as running in June at the theatre. A fire destroyed the building in 1942, and a new theatre was constructed in 1944.

October

Sepia-toned photo of man riding a peanut harvester pulled by two horses. The man wears a shirt and vest and hat and is viewed from the back. — Harvesting peanuts in Texas, undated. William Deming Hornaday photograph collection, 1975/070-5076.

#TBT Fall is a time for hayrides and pumpkin carving and celebrations surrounding harvest season. This gentleman is using a horse-drawn plow to harvest peanuts somewhere in Texas. The state is a leading producer of peanuts, which have health benefits for people and are also good for the soil. According to our Dept. of Agriculture, Texas is the only state to produce all four types of peanuts: Runner, Virginia, Valencia, and Spanish.

November

1918 sepia-toned photo of soldier kneeling next to a rifle in a grassy field. — Kneeling soldier, 1918. Photographs, 1972/115-189. General John A. Hulen papers.

#OTD Originally referred to as Armistice Day, on Veterans Day we honor all those who have served in the U.S. military. Armistice Day celebrated the end of WWI, which was still ongoing when this photo was taken in 1918. The note reads: “Wounded man on the way back to the hospital, 144th Regiment Infantry (formerly 4th and 6th Regiments Infantry, Texas National Guard), Ville-sur-Tierre, France 8-29-18. Signal Corps Photo 24134. Photo by U.S. Signal Corps.” View more images from this collection in the TDA: https://tsl.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_26bce761-1078-437b-9172-f3bff4545619/

December

Black and white photo of Texas governor's mansion with a snow-covered lawn and the governor W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel and his wife Molly posing in front. — Texas Governor’s Mansion in the snow, January 22, 1940. Texas Department of Safety photographs, 1976008_194.

#TBT Will Austin see snow this year like this day back in January of 1940? Governor W. Lee “Pappy” O’Daniel and his daughter Molly pose in front of the Governor’s Mansion on a snowy day. The first day of winter is around the corner and time will tell!

For more information about the collections at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, contact ref@tsl.texas.gov or 512-463-5455.