New Online: Recent Updates to Finding Aids and Digital Images Available Online

As our archives staff work on an ongoing basis to arrange, preserve, describe, and make available to the public the materials under our care, we spotlight new additions to the website in a regular feature from Out of the Stacks. The column lists new and revised finding aids recently made available online, along with fresh uploads to the Texas Digital Archive, our repository of electronic items. For a comprehensive list of all recently added and updated finding aids visit Archives: Finding Aids (New & Revised).

FY2025 Q1

New Finding Aids

State Records

Texas Health Disparities Task Force meeting files
The Texas Health Care Disparities Task Force was established with the goal of identifying and eliminating inequalities in the delivery of health care to residents of Texas. It was administratively attached to the Texas Department of Health (TDH). Its purpose was to assist TDH in eliminating health care disparities among multicultural, disadvantaged, and regional populations. The task force had a close relationship with the Office of Minority Health Statistics and Engagement. These Texas Health Care Disparities Task Force meeting files consist of minutes, agendas, and supporting meeting documentation, dating 2002-2004.

Texas Health Care Information Council records
The Texas Health Care Information Council (THCIC) was established in 1995 (74th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, House Bill 1048) to develop a statewide health care data collection system to supply health care providers and the public with information on the cost and quality of health care programs. These records are minutes, agendas, and supporting documentation of meetings of the council held between 1996 and 2004, and the agency’s Sunset Commission review report and remarks from 1998; the bulk of the records date 1996-1997.

2017_09 September – ALL IG ORG CHART. Texas Health and Human Services Commission Office of Inspector General organization charts.

Texas Health and Human Services Commission Office of Inspector General organization charts – all records are electronic and are part of the Texas Digital Archive
The Texas State Health and Human Services Commission Office of Inspector General prevents, detects, audits, inspects, reviews, and investigates fraud, waste, and abuse in the provision and delivery of all health and human services in the state. Records consists of organizational charts showing the structure of the Office of the Inspector General, dated 2006-2022.

Texas Statewide Health Coordinating Council meeting records
The Texas Statewide Health Coordinating Council (SHCC) ensures health care services and facilities are available to all Texans through health planning activities. Based on these planning activities, the SHCC makes recommendations to the governor and the legislature through the Texas State Health Plan (TSHP). These Texas Statewide Health Coordinating Council meeting records, dating 1977-1996, consist of minutes, agendas, and supporting documents (including committee minutes, correspondence, council resolutions, and reports).

Texas Department of State Health Services Promotor(a) or Community Health Worker Training and Certification Advisory Committee minutes and agendas
The Promotor(a) or Community Health Worker Training and Certification Advisory Committee, part of the Texas Department of State Health Services, advises the executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission on issues related to the training and regulation of persons working as promotores(as) or community health workers. A promotora is a lay Hispanic/Latino community member who receives specialized training to provide basic health education in the community without being a professional health care worker. These Texas Department of State Health Services Promotor(a) or Community Health Worker Training and Certification Advisory Committee minutes and agenda, 2002-2013, document the work accomplished by the committee at its meetings.

Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services Council meeting records
The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) was created to administer long-term services and supports for aging people as well as for people with intellectual and physical disabilities. DADS also licensed and regulated providers of these services and administered the state’s Guardianship Program. The agency was under the leadership of a commissioner who was appointed by the executive commissioner for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) with the approval of the governor. The DADS commissioner led a council, consisting of seven members (later increased to nine) that oversaw and advised on the operations of the agency. These Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services Council meeting records, 2005-2016, contain minutes, agendas, and supporting documents of meetings of the DADS Council.

Texas Secretary of State labor records
The Texas Secretary of State Statutory Documents Section and its predecessor, the Texas Secretary of State Administrative Division, were responsible for receiving labor union annual reports and issuing labor organizer cards beginning in 1943. These Texas Secretary of State labor records, dating 1943-1979, consist of labor exemption orders (1943-1971) and labor organizer card applications as filed with the office of the Secretary of State between 1943 and 1979, along with related materials such as labor organizer card revocation files and correspondence. The records also include annual reports of Texas-based labor unions (1949, 1951, 1975-1978).

Manuscripts

Friends of the Governor’s Mansion recordsincludes digitized records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive
In 1979, Texas Governor William P. Clements Jr. and First Lady Mrs. Rita Clements established Friends of the Governor’s Mansion, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization committed to maintaining and preserving the historical and cultural significance of the Texas Governor’s Mansion, preserving the historical collections, beautifying the gardens, and educating the public about the home and its history. The Governor’s Mansion’s docents educate the public about the mansion and serve as trained guides for mansion tours and hostesses during special events held there. These Friends of the Governor’s Mansion records are tour schedules, function sheets, docent manuals, historians’ notebooks, correspondence, notes, oral histories, agendas, newsletters, electronic newsletters, invitations, financial reports, meeting minutes, renovation documents, historical information about the mansion, furniture and furnishing inventories, loan documentation, photographs, film reels and a VHS videotape about the history of the mansion, and ephemera related to the Docent’s Committee. Materials date 1937, 1964-2023, and undated, bulk 1979-1995. A portion of these materials have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive.

Sharpstown stock-fraud litigation case file
Joe Shannon Jr. was one of the attorneys who represented Texas State Representative Thomas Clifton “Tommy” Shannon during the legal proceedings of Mutscher v. State , also known as the Sharpstown stock-fraud case. This scandal centered on Texas Speaker of the House Gus Mutscher Jr., Representative Tommy Shannon, and Rush McGinty, who were found guilty of conspiracy for taking bribes from businessman Frank Sharp. Although the convictions were confined to these three individuals, the scandal affected many other officials, resulting in resignations and electoral losses. The aftermath prompted legislative reforms requiring income disclosure from public officials. These papers assembled by Shannon, spanning 1970 to 1974, are a case file encompassing subpoena records, trial testimony, trial notes, opening witness documents, closing jury arguments, appellate research, and appellate briefs submitted to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals pursuant to the trial in Abilene, Texas. The papers also include the opinion issued by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals at the conclusion of the appeal.

Scrapbook, 1938-1941. W. Lee O’Daniel collection, 2017/096-3.View in TDA

W. Lee O’Daniel collection – a portion of the materials have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive
W. Lee O’Daniel served as Texas governor from 1938 to 1941 and as United States senator from 1941 to 1948. His work in radio advertising and country music programming made him a popular figure in Texas. This collection, dating 1937-1948 and undated, consists of photographs, artwork, maps, scrapbooks, and a lacquer disc recording of his “Hillbilly Boys” radio show. These document O’Daniel’s family; political campaigns; his farm near Burleson, Texas; and news of the day. A portion of these materials have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive.


Revised Finding Aids

State Records

Texas Attorney General’s Office Howard Hughes estate litigation case file

Texas Attorney General’s Office litigation case filesincludes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Attorney General’s Office, Office of the Solicitor General litigation case files

Architectural drawings and derivatives, 1980143_139. Texas Capitol Building Commission administrative records and architectural drawings. View in TDA.

Texas Capitol Building Commission administrative records and architectural drawingsincludes digitized records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Department of Water Resources water planning files

Texas Ethics Commission recordsincludes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas House of Representatives recordingsall recordings are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Secretary of State deed files

Texas Secretary of State Elections Division election returns (precinct-by-precinct)

Texas Department of Transportation Right of Way Division recordsall records are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Board of Criminal Justice minutes and meeting filesincludes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Bureau of State Health Planning and Resource Development records

Texas Historical Commission Community Heritage Development Division records

 An Act Creating the County of Dallas. 1st Legislature, Regular Session (1846), Texas Secretary of State legislative bills and resolutions filed (General and Special Laws). View in TDA.

Texas Secretary of State legislative bills and resolutions filed (General and special laws)includes digitized records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Water Development Board Office of Project Finance and Construction Assistance recordsincludes electronic records are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation records – includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners records– includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Department of Agriculture audiovisual materials – majority of the materials have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive

 Richardson, Robert, Reconstruction Oaths, 1870. Texas Secretary of State bonds and oaths. View in TDA.

Texas Secretary of State bonds and oaths – majority of the records have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Water Commission minutes

Texas Water Development Board meeting files

Texas Department of Agriculture audiovisual materials – majority of the materials have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Secretary of State bonds and oaths – majority of the records have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Water Commission minutes

Texas Water Development Board meeting files

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation records – includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners records– includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Republic claims: We now have an improved researcher experience available for the Republic claims portion of our Texas Comptroller’s Office claims records, which is now a revised TSLAC finding aid available on the TARO website. The Republic claims portion of the records has been digitized and is part of the Texas Digital Archive.

Local Records

Galveston County (Tex.) County Clerk’s Office records

Manuscripts

Beauford H. Jester Railroad Commissioner campaign recordings and transcriptsall materials have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Price Daniel audiovisual materials and related papersall materials have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Brewers’ Institute recordsincludes digitized materials that are part of the Texas Digital Archive

image of painting of what appear to be caverns in blue ink. Wood frame.
Undersea painting at Tahiti in Coral Caverns (1), by Zarh Pritchard, about 1904-1930. Zarh Pritchard collection, 306-4025A. View in TDA.

Zarh Pritchard collectionincludes digitized materials that are part of the Texas Digital Archive

A new TSLAC finding aid is now available on the TARO website for the Henry Arthur McArdle scrapbooks, which have been newly digitized and are available on the Texas Digital Archive. In addition, the online exhibit for the McArdle scrapbooks has been revised and redesigned, and the scrapbook images are also available there. We think you’ll like the new look of this very popular online exhibit.


Searching for Historical African American Cemeteries

By Robyn Moore, Reference Librarian

Black and white photo of three people standing outside in front of a building. Two African American women in white blouses and long skirts stand on either side of an African American man in a suit and bow tie.
Group portrait of two African American women and one African American man standing by side of building, Batson, Texas, about 1905-1920. Clyde and Thelma See glass plate negatives collection, 1995.112-26a. Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center (SHC). View in TDA.

Finding historical African American cemeteries is a challenge for those seeking to know their history. Often, these cemeteries were unmarked, forced to be separate from the named burial sites, destroyed or displaced due to city development, or forgotten when the communities moved away. However, they may be mentioned in government records, local historical organizations, historical newspapers, and many other places. While we do not know of any comprehensive sources for finding an individual’s burial location or final resting place, the following resources may be helpful in tracking down relevant resources and conducting your search.

Black and white photo of white headstone in a cemetery with fence and trees in the background
Cemetery presumed to be in Liberty area and connected to African American burials from collection context. One photo included with others attached to: Essay,” The Negro of the South, “Molly Smith, May 1932, 1977.047-1. Lois M. Short collection, SHC.
Two white headstones in cemetery with other graves in the background.
Cemetery presumed to be in Liberty area and connected to African American burials from collection context. One photo included with others attached to: Essay,” The Negro of the South, “Molly Smith, May 1932, 1977.047-1. Lois M. Short collection, SHC.

Searching the Web
The following websites are registries specifically for African American cemeteries.
Texas African American Cemetery Registry – The Texas Freedom Colonies Project
Site Directory — Black Cemetery Network

The site Find a Grave (https://www.findagrave.com/) may prove less useful for a researcher looking for African American cemeteries but is still a good resource that you won’t want to miss.
Search Cemeteries – Find a Grave

Searching our Catalog
One resource that the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) holds that many people may not know about are the archaeological reports done before some construction projects. Before construction is begun, the site is evaluated for historical significance. If it is determined to be historically significant, an archaeological investigation is done to see what the construction would be displacing. Through these investigations, burial sites that were once lost can sometimes be rediscovered. Search for archaeological reports in the TSLAC catalog, including keywords to target your area of interest, to see if any discoveries have been made.

Cover of publication with logo of Texas Department of Transportation. Title in caption.
Bioarcheological Investigations of Nineteenth-Century African American Burials at the Pioneer Cemetery (41B0202) in Brazoria, Texas, [2016]. Texas Documents Collection, H2000.7 P422 NO.5058.

Try using a special kind of search, called a Boolean Search, in our catalog with keywords such as “African American” AND “cemetery.” The all caps “AND” tells the search engine to use both terms at once. This can show resources such as Investigation of the Hockley Cemetery, 41BX911, and African American family of the Wetmore Community, in northeast San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, or Bioarcheological investigations of nineteenth-century African American burials at the Pioneer Cemetery (41BO202) in Brazoria, Texas.

Searching Local Resources
We also suggest that you contact libraries in your area of interest about their local history and newspaper collections. You may search for Texas libraries on our Find a Library page.

Another great strategy is to contact a local genealogy or historical group, like Travis County Cemetery Project. FamilySearch has wikis to help your search for sources by location.

Searching for the Funeral Home
Private funeral home and crematory records are not maintained by TSLAC. If you know the name of the funeral home or crematory that performed the burial, you may wish to contact that entity about available records. 

If you do not know the name of the funeral home or crematory that performed the service, you may try using some of the tips from our Business and Company History Research Guide to try locating the entities that served your communities of interest.

Searching for a Death Certificate
You may want to search for the individual’s death certificate, which may have burial information. Although we do not have the certificates themselves, we do have some Texas vital statistics indexes available for on-site research at our library in Austin, Texas.

FamilySearch.org has some Texas vital statistics collections available to search online:

Searching Newspapers
Newspapers from the date(s) and area(s) of interest may have published an obituary, which can provide funeral home or cemetery information. Visit our website for information about newspaper resources, including online newspaper databases.

Historic Texas Cemetery Designation
If you locate a lost or threatened cemetery, you may be able to get it registered as a Historic Texas Cemetery (HTC). You can read more about this designation on the Texas Historical Commission’s (THC) website. THC has several grants that support care of these historical cemeteries. Care for these historic cemeteries is vital in preserving history and comes from grassroots volunteers like you. If you know of a historical burial site that needs care, reach out to THC for their support in maintaining this Texas landmark.


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

Featured Books on Display: Texas Waters

Featured Books display on Texas Waters in the Reference Reading Room.

Texas has many diverse ecosystems, each fed by their own unique waterways. There are the limestone karst systems that supply the state capital and Hill Country with water, the East Texas lakes famous for sport fishing, and the rivers that crisscross the state and bring life wherever they flow. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission has titles to take you on a canoe trip down a lost river, to enjoy bird’s eye views of every Texas lake, or learn about the archaeological discoveries made in a stream near you!

For more information about access to the titles on display, please contact TSLAC reference services at ref@tsl.texas.gov or call 512-463-5455. Search the online library catalog for more titles of interest.

Title

Author

Call Number

Collection

Availability online

Ogallala : water for a dry land

Opie, John

333.913 OP3o 2018

Main

Spotlight on groundwater conservation districts in Texas

Brock, Laura Lizabeth

354.36 B782s

Main

Bitter waters : the struggles of the Pecos River

Dearen, Patrick

577.6 D347b

Main

A guide to Texas lakes

Bailes, Carlton

797 B15

Main

Fishing holes of Texas : a guide to the major fishing lakes of Texas, some yet unfilled

Wilke, L. A.

799.1109764 W651

Main

Lake atlas, Texas 1st annual ed.

Marlake, Inc.

912.179911 M343L 1984 OVER-T

Main

Camper’s guide to Texas parks, lakes, and forests : where to go and how to get there

Little, Mildred J.

917.64046 L725C

Main

Goodbye to a river : a narrative

Graves, John

917.641 G785

Main

The Spanish acequias of San Antonio

Cox, I. Waynne

976.4351 C839s

Main

Crossing Rio Pecos

Dearen, Patrick

976.49 D347C

Main

The River of Pearls : early Texas history on the Concho River

Woodrick, James Victor

976.49 W860R

Main

Archaeology along the San Antonio River : the Mission Reach Project, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

Kemp, Leonard

H2000.7 P422 NO.5957 V.1

TXD

Archeological survey of phases 3 and 4 of the Medina River Greenway Train, Bexar County, Texas Public version.

Bonine, Mindy L.

H2000.7 P422 NO.6348

TXD

Angler catch, harvest, and characteristics at Neighborhood Fishin’ Program lakes

Mauk, Robert J.

P421.7 M315DN NO.288

TXD

How we protect streams, rivers, and lakes

Clayton, Brent

Z TA265.7 L47 NO.5530

TXD

Designing the Bayous

Reuss, Martin

Z TA475.7 G951 NO.4

TXD

Texas Water Safari : the world’s toughest canoe race

Spain, Bob

Z TA475.8 SP153te

TXD

Viva Texas rivers! : adventures, misadventures, and glimpses of nirvana along our storied waterways First edition.

Davis, Steven L.

Z TA475.8 V836vi

TXD

Water for Texas

Norwine, Jim

Z TA475.8 W291TE

TXD

The Western river steamboat

Kane, Adam I.

Z TA475.8 W525

TXD

Canoeing and kayaking Houston waterways

Wiest, Natalie H

Z TA475.8 W638ca

TXD

A parsimonious model for simulation of flow and transport in a karst aquifer

Barrett, Michael E.

Z UA260.7 T226 NO.269

TXD

The Onion Creek mosasaur

Langston, Wann

Z UA355.7 M972 NO.10

TXD

More city than water : a Houston flood atlas

Johnson, Lacy M

Z UA380.8 M813

TXD

Hydrogeology, Land-Surface Subsidence, and Documentation of the Gulf Coast Land Subsidence and Groundwater-Flow (GULF) Model, Southeast Texas, 1897-2018 Revised : Version 1.1

Ellis, John H.

I 19.16:1877

USD

https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo190910

Evaluation of water-quality data and monitoring program for Lake Travis, near Austin, Texas

Rast, Walter

I 19.42/4:97-4257

USD

https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo158235

Streamflow gains and losses in the Colorado River in northwestern Burnet and southeastern San Saba Counties, Texas, 2012-14

Braun, Christopher L.

I 19.42/4-4:2015-5098

USD

https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo188771


Personal Stories about Texans during World War II at TSLAC

By Cecily Fergeson

On June 6, 1944, the Allies stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, in a massive invasion called D-Day, setting the scene for the end of World War II. The global conflict touched the lives of Texans at home and abroad. At the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC), a wide variety of resources are available for visitors to explore the personal stories of Texans who lived through World War II. TSLAC collections include war memoirs, filmed interviews, books about Texas women in wartime, Allied training on Texas soil, and more. Personal connections may be closer than you think!

Texas and Texans in World War II 1941-1945 by Christopher B. Bean. Texas A&M Press, 2022. TSLAC Texas Documents Collection, Z TA475.8 T312te.

If you’ve just developed an interest in the stories of Texans during WWII, TSLAC has several options for you to explore before diving deeper. Texas and Texans in World War II 1941-1945, edited by Christopher B. Bean, handily covers what its title suggests and could be a good place to start. Published by Texas A&M University Press in 2022, this book provides a broad array of subjects for further consideration. Each chapter is written by a different scholar and offers a different lens on the Texan World War II experience, such as women serving in the military, civilian women, the Black community, Tejanos, prisoners of war, and more. The book also covers the war’s impact on a variety of Texan industries such as oil and agriculture and their workers, including the Texas organized labor movement during the conflict. Readers may then search TSLAC collections for works on one or more of these topics and find titles like Cindy Weigand’s Texas Women in World War II (Republic of Texas Press, 2003).

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Those looking for stories of Texans serving in military and combat roles on the European front will also find plenty to satisfy their curiosity at TSLAC, including interviews filmed with veterans, publicly available through our Texas Digital Archive.

In Recollections of Texas T-Patchers (WWII 36th Infantry Division), each film lasting 45-60 minutes, Texas T-Patchers Virgil Duffy, Roy Goad, and Bennet Palmer describe their early lives, how they found their way into military service, and their firsthand experiences of the European front. The 36th Infantry Division was a unit first formed during World War I and was called to active duty again in November 1940 at Camp Bowie, Texas. After sailing to North Africa in 1943, the T-Patchers were called to fight through Italy to Rome, and then, in 1944, to land on the beaches of France. Duffy, Goad, and Palmer’s eyewitness accounts of the European front of WWII represent an increasingly scarce resource, especially for those looking for firsthand Texan stories of that moment and place in history.

TSLAC is also home to published accounts of Texans who served in the War in the Pacific. One such narrative is From Texas to Tinian and Tokyo Bay: The Memoirs of Captain J. R. Ritter, Seabee Commander during the Pacific War, 1942-1945 (University of North Texas Press, 2019), compiled from the writings of a U.S. Navy “Seabee,” by his grandson Jonathan Templin Ritter.

From Texas to Tinian and Tokyo Bay: The Memoirs of J.R. Ritter, Seabea Commander during the Pacific War, 1942-1945 by Jonathan Templin Ritter. UNT Press, 2019. TSLAC Texas Documents Collection, Z N745.8 R514TE.

The Seabees were a unit nicknamed for the first letters of its official name, the Construction Brigade. The unit’s main focus was construction, but its men were still trained to carry and use weapons as necessary—a unique breed whose unofficial motto was: “The difficult, we do now, the impossible takes a little longer.” In From Texas to Tinian and Tokyo Bay, Captain Ritter describes his life as a Seabee commander through surviving Japanese air raids, clean-up after fierce island battles, and organizing troop entertainment through the USO.

ON THE HOMEFRONT

Not to be outdone in international relations by those serving overseas, Texans were also “doing their bit” for the war at home by, among other efforts, helping the British Royal Air Force to train its pilots. Tom Killebrew’s The Royal Air Force in Texas: Training British Pilots in Terrell during World War II (University of North Texas Press, 2009) shines a light on this special moment in Allied cooperation.

The Royal Air Force in Texas by Tom Killebrew. UNT Press, 2009. TSLAC Texas Documents Collection, Z N745.8 K554ro.

Plans for the British Flying Training Schools (BFTS) in America began to coalesce in 1940, even before the US officially entered the conflict. The United States had several things Britain desperately needed to train more Royal Air Force Pilots: the physical space needed for training necessities like airfields, hangars, and runways; the relative safety of uncontested airspace; and, the ability to train pilots in night-flying over a country whose lights did not all need to be out to ensure safety from the Luftwaffe, which was the case in Britain. Terrell, Texas, with its wide-open spaces and clear, sunny skies, was the perfect place for a BFTS to open in 1941. Details covered in this publication include descriptions of training aircraft and flight maneuvers as well as entertaining servicemember accounts of contrasts and similarities between British and American military training, organization, and culture.

Anyone curious about the role of Texans in World War II may find something of interest at TSLAC. In addition to the publications and online interviews mentioned here, there are also photographs and documents in the State Archives. Our reference team is available by phone, email, and in person to assist with your questions about resources on this topic.


For questions about TSLAC collections, please contact reference staff at 512-463-5455 or ref@tsl.texas.gov.

Learn How to Use Maps and Land Records for Family History Research at SHC

The Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center (SHC), part of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC), will host its annual Family History Day for new and advanced genealogists on Saturday, May 31, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Presenters will explore the use of maps and land records for genealogical research.

Professional genealogist Teri E. Flack will teach attendees how to use maps to explore their ancestor’s lives and how to use property records to trace their family tree. TSLAC staff will share key map and land records available online and through TSLAC’s Austin and Liberty locations. Following the seminar, attendees will be given the opportunity to consult with TSLAC reference staff and conduct research within the Center’s collections.

This event is free and open to the public. To reserve your seat, please email samhoustoncenter@tsl.texas.gov or call (936) 336-8821. Seating is limited.

Schedule of Events:
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.   Using Maps to Explore Ancestor’s Lives
Teri E. Flack, Texas Institute for Genealogical Research Faculty and Texas State Genealogical Society Fellow

10:00 – 11:00 a.m.  Introduction to TSLAC Map and Land Records
Traci Reece, TSLAC-Austin Reference Staff
James Anderson, TSLAC-Liberty Reference Staff

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Connecting Generations Through Property and Probate
Teri E. Flack, Texas Institute for Genealogical Research Faculty and Texas State Genealogical Society Fellow

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.

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The Texas State Library and Archives Commission provides Texans access to the information needed to be informed, productive citizens by preserving the archival record of Texas; enhancing the service capacity of public, academic and school libraries; assisting public agencies in the maintenance of their records; and meeting the reading needs of Texans with disabilities. For more information, visit www.tsl.texas.gov.

MayDay: Saving Our Archives

It is MayDay for archivists! The first of May marks a day for acknowledging threats to archival collections and as a reminder to have a plan in place for disasters. The Texas Historical Records Advisory Board (THRAB) maintains a suite of videos and handouts online through the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC). If you need a refresher or to get started learning about how to prepare for and respond to threats to your collections, explore the resources below.

Disaster Planning Recordings

Creating an Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan Webinar Series 2020
Rebecca Elder, Elder Preservation, THRAB 2020

Part 1: Emergency Planning Basics and the Emergency Team  [ Recording | Handout packet ]
Part 2: Risk Assessment and Choosing a Plan Template [ Recording | Handout packet ]
Part 3: Contact Lists and Salvage Priorities [ Recording | Handout packet ]
Part 4: Procedures, Supplies and Implementation [ Recording | Handout packet ]
Part 5: How Did It Go? [ RecordingHandout packet ]

Emergency Preparedness and Planning Series 2019
Rebecca Elder, Elder Preservation, THRAB 2019

Part 1: Emergency Preparedness: Hurricanes, Tornadoes and Fires, Oh My! Creating Your Emergency Preparedness Plan [Recording]
Part 2: Emergency Response: Hurricanes, Tornadoes and Fires, Oh My! Responding to Your Emergency [Recording]


Learn more about THRAB programs and initiatives at www.thrab.org.

Lone Star Menu: Tastes of Texas Now on Exhibit

logo for exhibit with the shape of the state of Texas in blue and a label that reads Lone Star Menu Tastes of Texas on a grey background.
Lone Star Menu: Tastes of Texas exhibit on display through 2025.

Do you know the official dish of Texas? What about the official state snack? The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) presents answers to these questions and more in an appetizing new exhibit for 2025. Lone Star Menu: Tastes of Texas is now on display in the lobby of the Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building in downtown Austin and is free and open to the public. 

color photo of a guacamole salad with onions and tomatoes, a bowl of salsa, a basket of tortilla chips, and large mug of beer.
Chips and salsa. Texas Tourist Development Agency photographs and audiovisual materials, 1991/077-411-021.

Lone Star Menu highlights official, historic, and iconic flavors of Texas through selections from the State Archives’ extensive collections. Home to the archival records of state agencies like the Department of Agriculture, the TSLAC exhibit illustrates the important role Texas government plays in supporting and promoting homegrown producers and businesses. 

color photo of a shrimp boat out on the water with the sun behind it on the horizon.
Shrimp boat in Palacios, undated. Texas Department of Agriculture photograph collection, 2001/078-118-86-010.

From the coastal waters of the Gulf and its bustling shrimp industry to the vineyards of the high plains region, the state offers a full menu of ingredients. The exhibit displays handy pamphlets on cooking tips alongside archival documents with statistical data on fishery markets and recipes from the files of Texas’s first ladies. Cookbooks on African American cuisine, German and Czech, Tex-Mex and others demonstrate the varied backgrounds in Texas kitchens. Special dishes from the Governor’s Mansion and even the White House are also included in the exhibit. Treat yourself to a visit to the State Archives for a historical tour through the Lone Star Menu
 

cover of green pamphlet-style cookbook with Texas Country at the top and German and Czech Style Recipes below the title.
Texas Country German and Czech Style Recipes, 1971. Main Collection, 641.5 T312.

The Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library building lobby is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the second Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lone Star Menu: Tastes of Texas is also available online at www.tsl.texas.gov/lonestarmenu. The exhibit runs through 2025. 


Texas Women, Texas Spirit

By Robyn Moore, Reference Librarian

The people of Texas are renowned for their can-do attitude, and Texas women are no exception. Across Texas history, they have been part of statewide and nationwide movements. These items from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission’s shelves highlight some of the leadership roles of Texas women, what their goals were, and how citizens and government have interacted over time.

photo of library book display on with 3 rows of books on a bookshelf and a few on top next to a sign that reads Featured Books. The books face out and are about women in Texas.

Search the TSLAC catalog for more publications about Texas women. 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. You can find a list of titles displayed below. Visit our reading room to access even more!

Title

Author

call number

location

 

Texas women : their histories, their lives

Turner, Elizabeth Hayes.

305.409764 T312

Main

 

What wildness is this : women write about the Southwest 1st ed.

Albert, Susan Wittig

Z UA380.8 W556

TXD

 

Brave Black women : from slavery to the space shuttle 1st ed.

Winegarten, Ruth

305.48 W725

Main

 

Creativity and Persistence: art that fueled the fight for women’s suffrage

National Endowment for the Arts

NF 2.2:W 84

USD

 

New women of the new South : the leaders of the woman suffrage movement in the southern states

Spruill, Marjorie Julian

324.6 SP88n

Main

 

Dreaming with the ancestors : Black Seminole women in Texas and Mexico

Mock, Shirley Boteler

305.896 M717d

Main

 

Black Texas women : a sourcebook : documents, biographies, timeline 1st ed.

Winegarten, Ruthe.

305.48 W725BS

Main

 

To ‘joy my freedom : Southern Black women’s lives and labors after the Civil War

Hunter, Tera W.

331.4 H919t

Main

 

Black Texas women : 150 years of trial and triumph 1st ed.

Winegarten, Ruthe

305.48 W725B

Main

 

MeXicana fashions : politics, self-adornment, and identity construction First edition.

Hurtado, Aída

Z UA380.8 M574fa

TXD

 

The Latina advantage : gender, race, and political success First edition.

Bejarano, Christina E.

Z UA380.8 B397LA

TXD

 

Políticas : Latina public officials in Texas 1st ed.

García, Sonia R.

Z UA380.8 G165PO

TXD

 

Working women into the borderlands

Hernández, Sonia

Z TA475.8 H430wo

TXD

 

Women in nonviolent movements

Principe, Marie A

Y 3.P 31:20/399

USD

e-resource

Fangirls : scenes from modern music culture First University of Texas Press edition.

Ewens, Hannah

Z UA380.8 EW35fa

TXD

 

Her act and deed : women’s lives in a rural southern county, 1837-1873 1st ed.

Boswell, Angela

Z TA475.8 B657he

TXD

 

Courage, charm, and character : the story of the first ladies of Texas and the historic gown collection at Texas Woman’s University

Hartzog, Martha Ann

391.2 H259c OVER-T

Main

 

Texas women in World War II

Weigand, Cindy J

940.54 W427t

Main

 

Texas women and ranching : on the range, at the rodeo, and in their communities First edition

Liles, Debbie M

Z TA475.8 T312wo 2019

TXD

 

New Online: Recent Updates to Finding Aids and Digital Images Available Online

As our archives staff work on an ongoing basis to arrange, preserve, describe, and make available to the public the materials under our care, we spotlight new additions to the website in a regular feature from Out of the Stacks. The column lists new and revised finding aids recently made available online, along with fresh uploads to the Texas Digital Archive, our repository of electronic items. For a comprehensive list of all recently added and updated finding aids visit Archives: Finding Aids (New & Revised).

FY2024 Q3-Q4


New Finding Aids

State Records

Texas Air Control Board records
The Texas Air Control Board (TACB) was created by the Texas Clean Air Act in 1965 to monitor and regulate air pollution in the state as a part of the Texas Department of Health. In 1973, the Texas Legislature removed the TACB from the Department of Health and made it an independent state agency. These TACB records are the agency’s meeting minutes and agenda, correspondence on paper and microfiche, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant files on microfilm, executive office files, and permit applications, dated 1963-1993 and undated.

Texas Department of Agriculture producers board records
The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) promotes production agriculture, consumer protection, economic development, and healthy living. These Texas Department of Agriculture producers board records, dating 1965-2007, and undated, bulk 1976-1991, document the creation, activities, and occasional dissolution of the local Texas producer boards operating under the oversight of TDA. The records include agendas, annual reports, audits, ballots, budgets, bylaws, correspondence, election returns, financial records, financial statements, forms, membership lists, minutes, oaths, plans, press releases, research proposals, and reports concerning the boards’ administrative tasks, such as obtaining certification, developing and managing budgets, assessing fees, and holding local referendums, elections, and meetings.

Local Records / Manuscripts

Caroline Roget papers
Caroline Roget became the secretary and romantic partner of Texas Governor Beauford H. Jester from 1940 until his death in 1949, after her earlier life in which she had trained and performed as a professional singer. The Caroline Roget papers, which date 1917-1958, bulk 1940-1949, document Roget’s personal and professional activities in Texas society and political circles. The papers consist of Roget’s personal and professional correspondence, personal and printed materials, and political office materials for Jester, along with photographs taken of him, Roget, and others at events and as portraits. Correspondence comprises the bulk of the papers, the majority of which is personal correspondence between Roget and Jester. A significant amount of clippings, a scrapbook covering Jester’s political career, and two of Roget’s diaries are also included. Hand-sketched floor plans and letters within the papers document Roget’s acquisition and renovation of the historic Bowie-Watson House in Austin, Texas.

Microfilm reel 01, Image 00164, General Correspondence, Colonial and National Government, Nacogdoches records, Nacogdoches archives from the Texas Digital Archive.

Nacogdoches archives – digitized version of the microfilm is part of the Texas Digital Archive
Texas has been governed by six sovereign countries, including Spain from 1690 to 1821 and Mexico from 1821 to 1836. The Nacogdoches archives consists of records maintained by national, regional, and local officials—both political and military—of the Spanish and Mexican governments documenting their rule of Texas from the mid-eighteenth into the early nineteenth century, dating 1729-1836, undated. The bulk of the records consists of correspondence and copies of letters.

The records include Spanish colonial and Mexican national government correspondence, decrees, and reports; correspondence and reports of military and political officials stationed in the Provincias Internas (1776-1824) and later, the State of Coahuila y Texas; records of the Department of Nacogdoches (northeastern area of Texas), 1830-1836; and municipal records of Nacogdoches and vicinity. Until the 1830s, the records are written almost entirely in Spanish. The records of the Municipality of Nacogdoches (not to be confused with the Department of Nacogdoches) are a mixture of both English- and Spanish-language documents after 1830. Portions of these records have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive.

Revised Finding Aids

State Records

Texas Historical Commission meeting records – includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive
The Texas Historical Commission protects and preserves the state’s historic and prehistoric resources for the use, education, economic benefit, and enjoyment of present and future generations. Records are minutes, agenda, and exhibits of the Texas State Historical Survey Committee meetings, from 1953 to 1973; and of the Texas Historical Commission meetings, dating 1973-2018.

Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission records – includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) inspects, supervises, and regulates the business of manufacturing, importing, exporting, transporting, storing, selling, advertising, labeling, and distributing alcoholic beverages in Texas. These records date 1964-2022 and include copies of minutes, agenda, and transcripts of meetings of the Texas Liquor Control Board (TABC’s predecessor from 1935 to 1969) and the TABC; correspondence, memorandums, and reports from the executive division; and press releases issued by the agency.

Sam Houston to Sam Houston, Jr. (February 18, 1859), Texas Governor Sam Houston records pages 1 and 2 from the Texas Digital Archive.

Texas Governor Sam Houston records – the manuscripts, some typescripts, and the letterpress book of outgoing correspondence have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive
The governor of Texas is the chief executive officer of the state elected by citizens every four years. Sam Houston served as governor from December 21, 1859, to March 16, 1861. These records mainly document Governor Houston’s term in office. Types of records are correspondence; petitions from citizens of various counties; memorandums; proclamations; broadsides; resolutions; requisitions; military orders; minutes; a letterpress book; messages to and from the Texas Senate and House of Representatives; clippings; and related records, dating from 1824 to 1862, bulk 1859-1861. The manuscripts, some typescripts, and the letterpress book of outgoing correspondence have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive.

Texas Judicial Advisory Council meeting files – includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive
The Judicial Advisory Council advises the director of the Community Justice Assistance Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Texas Board of Criminal Justice on matters of interest to the judiciary. These files contain the minutes and agendas of the Texas Judicial Advisory Council and accompanying reports and documents presented to the council at its meetings, 1990-2022.

Texas Municipal Retirement System minutes – includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive
The Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS), created in 1948, administers a retirement and disability pension system for employees of participating Texas cities. Records of TMRS are minutes of its Board of Trustees and committees, 1947-2022, that were created to document in a thorough but summary fashion the actions of the board and committees at their meetings. Minutes since 2019 are in electronic format and are in the Texas Digital Archive.

Texas State Board of Dental Examiners records – includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive
The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners serves the following functions: to license qualified dentists and dental hygienists (by examination and/or by credentials); to register dental assistants after examination; to register qualified dental laboratories; to renew licenses and registrations annually; to investigate all complaints; to prosecute complaints through informal or formal disciplinary means; and to monitor on-going compliance of disciplined licensees/registrants with board orders. Those functions are documented by these records, which include copies of minutes, agenda, transcripts, press releases, committee membership lists, and a brochure, dating 1961-2005, 2018-2020.

Alice Index Map, Texas Department of Insurance State Fire Marshal fire insurance maps from the Texas Digital Archive.

Texas Department of Insurance State Fire Marshal’s Office fire insurance maps – includes digitized records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive
The Texas State Fire Marshal is a division of the TDI that promotes fire safety through prevention, education and protection. These Department of Insurance State Fire Marshal fire insurance maps are commercially printed and hand-drawn, and were used by the State Fire Marshal’s office to determine fire insurance rates for Texas cities and towns. Maps date from 1906 to 1992, undated, bulk dating from 1920 to 1980.

Texas Historical Commission History Programs Division records – includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive
The History Programs Division of the THC provides preservation assistance to county historical commissions, museums, nonprofit preservation organizations, state and federal agencies, local governments, students, educators, and the general public. Records in these files include correspondence, memos, minutes, surveys, inscriptions, lists and project files of historical markers, membership lists and activity reports of county historical commissions, clippings, county historical commission newsletters and other publications, programs of local events, photographs, slides, negatives, maps, lists of donors to the Texas Historical Foundation, contracts, bids, and specifications for building historical markers, and electronic records. Dates covered are about 1880-2016, undated, with the bulk dating 1960-1975, 2007-2016. 

Texas Health and Human Services Commission advisory committee meeting files – includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is the oversight agency for certain state agencies with health or human services functions. Services provided include Medicaid for families and children, long-term care for people who are older or who have disabilities, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash assistance for families, behavioral health services, services to help keep people who are older or who have disabilities in their homes and communities, and services for women and people with special health needs. Records are the meeting files of many of the commission’s advisory committees, dating 1996-2022.

Local Records / Manuscripts

Texas Library Association records – includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive
The Texas Library Association (TLA) is a non-profit organization whose goal has been to promote, support and improve services for academic, public, school, and special libraries in Texas since its establishment in 1902. These records document the TLA’s own work and its history with other organizations such as the American Library Association, the Southwestern Library Association, and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Records of the Texas Library Association consist of executive board and TLA Council reports, planning and promotional material for annual conferences, meeting minutes, and documentation relating to the nomination and selection of their numerous annual awards. The records are dated 1902-2018 and undated, bulk 1970-2017.


Contact ref@tsl.texas.gov or 512-463-5455 with questions about using TSLAC’s archival resources. For a comprehensive list of all recently added and updated finding aids visit Archives: Finding Aids (New & Revised).

State Archives Hosts SAA Workshop on Arrangement and Description

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) will host the Society of American Archivists (SAA) two-day course, “Arrangement and Description: Fundamentals,” April 24-25, 2025, at the State Archives in Austin. A requirement for the SAA Arrangement and Description Certificate program, the fundamentals course introduces the basic principles, concepts and tools that archivists use to establish both physical and intellectual control over archival records. These include developing accession records and processing work plans, identifying common arrangement schemes for certain types of collections, as well as various formats and how to physically organize materials during processing.

Participants will also learn about the essential elements of a finding aid and the major descriptive standards that support these elements. The instructor will place particular emphasis on the day-to-day decisions made in arranging and describing archival materials. The course includes exercises designed to highlight the principles and concepts of arrangement and description.

The in-person, two-day course will run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at TSLAC’s headquarters in downtown Austin. For more information about visiting TSLAC see: https://www.tsl.texas.gov/visit.

To register and further details, visit: https://mysaa.archivists.org/nc__event?id=a0lUV000001YethYAC