About Texas
Need help? Contact us at:
ref@tsl.texas.gov
or
512-463-5455
Texas Business and Company Research
Information about business history research using resources available at TSLAC and through federal, state, and local agencies.
Texas Economic Development and Tourism 
Business information from the Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism.
Forms for businesses and nonprofit organizations
Filing information for corporations and nonprofit associations from the Texas Secretary of State.
Texas Labor Market Information
Unemployment statistics, wage information, and workforce demographics from the Texas Workforce Commission.
Starting a business
Resources from the Texas Workforce Commission.
Texas business taxes
The Comptroller of Public Accounts provides information on taxes. Questions about Texas taxes can be submitted to the Comptroller's office using their Texas Taxes Help webform.
City Charter Research
Information about locating city charters, amendments to charters, and articles of incorporation in state and local records.
City websites and contacts
Search for city websites, contact information, and government officials on the Texas Municipal League website.
Counties and county seats
Listing of the 254 counties and their county seats.
County websites
County website directory from the Texas Association of Counties.
County and district clerk addresses
Contact information for each of the county and district clerks from the County and District Clerks Association.
Local property appraisal and tax agencies
Directory of county appraisal districts and tax assessor-collectors.
Handbook of Texas
Encyclopedia of Texas information! Articles on people, places, events, and trends in Texas history.
Texas Almanac
Includes demographic, astronomical, weather, and government data. Almost everything you need for a Texas report.
Let's Texas
Travel information and the Texas State Travel Guide from the Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism.
Texas Legislature Online
Learn how Texas Government works! Get information about the legislative process in Texas, members of the legislature, and track the status of filed bills.
Office of the Governor
Learn about the Governor's duties and activities by visiting the Governor's website. Request a "Texas Packet" for students and teachers using the Governor's e-mail contact form.
Texas Beyond History
Showcases information and images about the cultural heritage of Texas.
Texas History Virtual Learning Portal
Become immersed in the story of Texas at this interactive site.
Texas State Archives Citation Form
How to cite materials from the Texas State Library and Archives.
Ask a reference question
If you have questions after visiting these sites, please contact the reference desk of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Texas Education Records and Research Resources
An overview of government records and publications about public elementary and secondary education in Texas, focusing on TSLAC resources.
Texas Education Agency
Information on public schools and programs for K-12 education in Texas.
Texas public and charter school directories
Public school, charter, and district contacts and maps from the Texas Education Agency.
School Performance Reviews
Public university, community college, and school district performance reviews from the Legislative Budget Board.
Higher education and career planning
Information for students and families from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Hazlewood Act
Educational benefits for wartime veterans from Texas.
Colleges and universities
Links to Texas public and private colleges and universities from the Texas Comptroller’s Office.
Capital designations
Places officially designated by the Texas Legislature as symbolic capitals.
Flag code
Laws governing the use of the Texas Flag.
Flag description
Official description of the Texas Flag.
Flag pledge
Words to the Texas Pledge of Allegiance.
Seal Mosaics
Pictures and history of the six seals of Texas.
Six flags
List of the nations which claimed Texas.
State seal
Pictures and a history of the official State Seal.
State song
Words to Texas, Our Texas.
State symbols
List of official state symbols.
Land and Property History Research
Information about researching the history of a property or structure using resources available at TSLAC and through federal, state, and local agencies.
Historical Imagery Archive
Digitized photos covering all parts of Texas dating from the 1920s from the Texas Geographic Information Office.
Natural regions of Texas
Interactive maps showing the land, wildlife, and water resources of Texas from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Mountains of Texas
List of Texas peaks over a mile high.
Texas geography
Articles about Texas geography from the Texas Almanac.
Historical Elections Research
Guide to researching election returns and information about elected officials from federal, state, and local contests.
Election information
Information on past and upcoming elections, voter registration, and election laws from the Texas Secretary of State.
Office of the Governor
The Governor's website.
About Texas Courts
Information about the Texas court system from the Texas Judicial Branch.
Texas Legislature Online
All about the Texas Legislature, including links to information on members, recent legislation, and how a bill becomes a law.
Legislative history and intent research
Step-by-step guide to researching the history and intent of Texas legislation from the Legislative Reference Library of Texas.
Texas Senate Recordings
Digitized recordings of taped Senate committee hearings and floor debates between 1971 and 2006.
Texas state agencies
Listings of state agency services and contacts.
Archives and manuscript collections
Descriptive guides for archival resources available at the Texas State Archives.
Genealogy resources
Resources and links to help you get started on family history research.
Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center
Information on resources at the Sam Houston Center in Liberty, Texas.
Resources of the Republic of Texas and Pre-Republic Era (1820-1845)
Resources from the Republic era for genealogists and others interested in Texas during that time period.
Texas annexation
Read all about the annexation of Texas, including the text of the most important documents.
Secession and readmission
Learn how Texas joined the Confederacy and rejoined the United States.
Texas Treasures and other online exhibits
Complete list of online exhibits from the Texas State Archives.
Handbook of Texas
Articles and bibliographies about people, places, and events in Texas history.
Texas Historic Sites Atlas
Features historic site records including Official Texas Historical Markers and National Register of Historic Places properties from the Texas Historical Commission.
Portal to Texas History
Hosted by the University of North Texas Libraries, the project offers a digital gateway to collections held in Texas libraries, museums, archives, historical societies, and private collections.
Vertical files at the Texas State Library
Alphabetical index of clippings taken from newspapers, magazines, and other media through the late 1990s.
Official Texas state holidays
List of official state holidays with brief historical information.
Holiday schedules
From the Texas State Auditor’s Office.
Federal holidays
Schedules and historical notes from the US Office of Personnel Management.
History of Juneteenth
Texas observes Juneteenth on June 19.
Texas week
Read the law designating Texas week.
Texas Constitution
Online version of the current Texas Constitution. Versions of the Texas Constitution from 1824-1876 are available from the Tarlton Law Library at the University of Texas at Austin.
Texas Statutes
Texas laws, the codes and statutes, online. View current statutes or click Statutes by Date to view a statute as it existed on a particular date from 2004-present.
Historical Texas Statutes
The Texas State Law Library (SLL) has digitized historical Texas statutes from 1879 to 1984 on their website.
Statewide Judicial Rules and Standards
Procedural rules approved by the Supreme Court of Texas.
Texas Administrative Code
Codified regulations of Texas state agencies and departments published in the Texas Register.
Texas Register
Information on rulemaking by state agencies. Also includes Governor's appointments, Attorney General opinions, and other documents such as requests for proposals.
Attorney General Opinions
Written interpretations of existing laws by the Texas Attorney General.
Gammel's The Laws of Texas
Early Texas laws digitized and made available from the University of North Texas Libraries.
Legal Research for Beginners
Legal research resources from the Texas State Law Library.
Historic Texas maps
Search the Texas State Archives map collection database.
Fire Insurance Maps
Index to fire insurance maps in the Texas State Archives collection dating from the mid-1920s to the 1970s.
Maps of Texas
From the University of Texas Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection.
Portal to Texas History
Hosted by the University of North Texas Libraries, the project offers digital maps from collections held in Texas libraries, museums, archives, historical societies, and private collections.
Texas General Land Office Map Database and Store
Index to maps, online images, and information on obtaining decorative maps.
Texas Official Travel Map
Request a copy of the map, as well as the Official State Travel Guide, from the Let's Texas site.
Atlas of Historical County Boundaries
Every day-to-day change in the size, shape, location, name, organization, and attachment of each US county and state from the creation of the first county.
Historical Texas soil surveys
Pre-1950 soil surveys of Texas counties digitized by the University of North Texas.
Texas Bird's-Eye Views
Nineteenth- and early twentieth-century "bird's-eye view" maps of 44 different Texas cities from the Amon Carter Museum.
Texas Geographic Information Office
Historic and current geospatial data and mapping resources.
Texas Legislative Council
Current and historical district maps of Texas Senate, Texas House, and Congressional Districts.
DistrictViewer
Current and proposed legislative districts in Texas.
Newspaper research at the Texas State Library and Archives
Information about newspaper resources available at TSLAC, online newspaper subscriptions, and other newspaper resources.
Newspaper search
Links to Texas newspaper websites from the Texas Press Association.
Pre-Republic Governors, 1691-1836
List of the Spanish and Mexican Governors of Texas.
Presidents and Vice Presidents of the Republic of Texas, 1836-1846
Biographical information on the Presidents and Vice Presidents of the Republic of Texas.
Governors, 1846- present
List of Texas governors, with some biographical information.
Lieutenant Governors of Texas, 1846- present
List with links to biographical information.
Statewide elected officials
Names and addresses available at the Secretary of State website.
Who Represents Me?
A tool to search for your elected representatives from the Texas Legislative Council.
Justices of Texas 1836-1986
Describes the 160 individuals who were members of the Texas Supreme Court and Texas Court of Criminal Appeals from 1836 to 1986.
Poets laureate
List of Texas Poets Laureate.
State artists
List of State Artists.
State librarians
List of Texas State Librarians.
State musicians
List of State Musicians.
Who was known as the...
Some famous Texans.
State parks
Information about Texas state parks managed by the Texas State Parks and Wildlife Department.
National parks in Texas
Information on national parks in Texas managed by the US National Park Service.
National forests and grasslands in Texas
Public areas managed by the US Forest Service.
Cities, 1990-2017
City population figures, arranged by size and by name. No longer updated.
Counties, 1990-2017
County population estimates, by size and by name. No longer updated.
State and national, 1990-2017
Population statistics from Texas and the United States, from 1850 to the present.
Texas Almanac
The source for all things Texas since 1857. It serves as a reference book on resources, industries, commerce, history, government, population, and other subjects relating to Texas development.
Explore Census Data
Source for federal census data and content from the US Census Bureau.
Texas Demographic Center
The Texas Demographic Center produces and disseminates population estimates and projections for Texas, as well as other demographic information.
National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS)
Census data by state and county for census years 1790 through 1960.
Social Explorer
Data visualization tools and curated data sets from the US Census Bureau and NHGIS. Requires a paid subscription. Check with your library for access.
Texas State Publications Depository Program
State agency publications available at TSLAC and through depository libraries across the state.
State Publications
Born-digital state agency publications available online through the Texas Digital Archive.
Texas Records and Information Locator (TRAIL)
TRAIL searches and locates information archived in over 180 Texas state agency websites.
TSLAC library catalog
Search our online catalog to find materials in TSLAC archival and publications collections.
Federal Publications and Information
TSLAC as a federal depository library holds over more than 1.5 million documents and publications distributed by the Depository Library Program of the US Government Publications Office.