Archdiocese of Galveston - Houston

Houston

The Archdiocese of Galveston - Houston is the oldest diocese in Texas. Its Archives & Records date back to 1840 and include letters, maps, financial materials, sacramental records, artifacts, and other materials related to the Catholic Church’s mission in early Texas.

Arts & Special Collections Research Center

Waco

Part of the Baylor University Libraries, the Arts & Special Collections Research Center maintains a decent amount of early American sources. Its Special Collections has a focus on 19th century records related to slavery, indigenous peoples, the Civil War, medicine, and various other subjects. A full index to the collections can be found here. Much of the Special Collections has been digitized and is available through Baylor’s Moody and Jones Libraries Digital Collections.

Briscoe Center for American History

Austin

Located at the University of Texas at Austin, the Briscoe Center for American History is one of the leading historical institutions in the United States. Its Collections are wide-ranging and are especially strong for the American South, Texas History, and Western Americana. Highlights include the Natchez Trace Collection, the Papers of Sam Houston, and the Bexar Archives, which consist of 300,000 pages of manuscript material related to the Spanish colonial province of Texas. Finding Aids for the Center’s collections are available, as are Subject Guides and an Archives & Manuscripts Index. Researchers can also search the collections via the University of Texas Libraries’ Online Catalog. The Center also maintains various Exhibitions and has digitized much of its materials for its Digital Collections.

Coates Library Special Collections & Archives

San Antonio

Located at Trinity University, the Coates Library Special Collections & Archives maintains a wide selection of rare books and manuscripts. Its holdings are strong in southwestern materials. Highlights of the collections include the San Miguel de Allende Document Collection and the Beretta Texana Collection. Finding aids for the manuscripts can be found here. Some of the Special Collections material has been digitized and is available through the Coates Library Digital Collections.

Cushing Memorial Library & Archives

College Station

The Cushing Memorial Library & Archives houses the special collections and archival holdings of Texas A&M University. Its Collecting Areas are diverse and include Texas & Borderlands, Gender & Ethnic Studies, and Exploration & Expansion. Besides the Texas A&M holdings, the Library also houses the Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library Collection. Several online resources are available, including both Exhibitions and Digital Collections. The Library is a founding member of Primeros Libros de Las Americas, a collaborative project that seeks to digitize all known publications printed in the Americas during the 16th century.

Dallas Public Library Special Collections

Dallas

Although not extensive, the Dallas Public Library Special Collections maintain some early Texas sources. Its Manuscript/Archives Collections contain some Civil War materials, as well as Dallas County Records. Online Finding Guides are available for some collections.

DeGolyer Library

Dallas

The DeGoyler Library houses the special collections for humanities at Southern Methodist University. Its holdings are quite vast and are especially strong in European exploration and colonization of the Americas, western Americana, business history, and the history of science. Collections include Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps, Newspapers, and much more. Of special note is the Library’s Archives of Women of the Southwest, which consists of over 200 collections of letters, diaries, and journals written by women who lived in the Southwest. Finding Aids and Research Guides for the manuscript collections are available, and materials can be searched for through the Library Catalog. Some of the Library’s holdings have been digitized and can be viewed through its Exhibits and its Digital Collections. The Library also offers several Grants and Fellowships.

East Texas Research Center

Nacogdoches

Nestled in the Falph W. Steen Library at Stephen F. Austin State University, the East Texas Research Center maintains a solid selection of early Texas records. The Center’s Collection Guides provide a gateway into its holdings. Available resources include Newspapers, Microfilm, Vertical Files, County Records, the Personal & Family Collection, and more. Also of note is the East Texas Digital Archives, a collaborative effort between Stephen F. Austin University and various East Texas research institutions to digitize archival and library materials. Early Americanists may be particularly interested in the Archives’ Texas Runaway Slave Project and the Lone Star Slavery Project.

Fort Worth Public Library

Fort Worth

The Fort Worth Public Library maintains a few early Texas sources, with some materials dating back to the 18th century. These items range from collections of family papers to historic newspapers and Tarrant County records. A list of available collections can be found here. Some of these items have been digitized and can be viewed here.

Houston Metropolitan Research Center

Houston

Part of the Houston Public Library, the Houston Metropolitan Research Center collects and preserves documents related to the history of Houston. Its early manuscript holdings are primarily focused on the 19th century, particularly Texas independence and the Civil War. Finding Aids for the Center’s holdings are available. Much of the Center’s materials have been digitized and are available through Houston Public Library’s Digital Archives.

Rosenberg Library

Galveston

Formerly the Galveston Mercantile Library, the Rosenberg Library is the oldest public library in Texas. Its Galveston & Texas Research Center maintains various Manuscripts related to Texas independence, slavery, and the Civil War. The Library also boasts extensive collections of Maps, Newspapers, and Rare Books. Much of the Library’s material has been digitized and can be searched and viewed through the History Center’s Archives Portal.

Sam Houston State University Special Collections

Huntsville

Housed in the Newton Gresham Library, the Sam Houston State University Special Collections contain many unique sources related to early Texas. Its holdings are particularly strong in Texana, the Civil War, and local history, including the physical records for Walker County. Finding Aids for its manuscript collections are available. Much of the Special Collections material has been digitized and is available through the Digital Special Collections.

San Antonio Public Library Special Collections

San Antonio

There is just a wealth of early Texas sources held at the San Antonio Public Library Special Collections. Much of its material dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries and documents well the Spanish colonization of San Antonio, Texas independence, the Civil War, and more. The Texana Collection includes various public and private records, including the minutes of the San Antonino City Council, military records from the Mexican-American and Civil Wars, various Catholic Church records and missionary documents, 19th century newspapers, and numerous county courts records. Also of particular interest are the Cadena Files, which are especially rich in Spanish and Mexican records of both a private and public nature.

Texas General Land Office

Austin

The Texas General Land Office is the official repository for land records in Texas. As an independent republic, Texas administered its own public lands, much like the original thirteen United States. Its Archive Collections hold over 35 million documents and more than 45,000 maps. These materials are made up of various land documents dating back to the 16th century, including surveys, field notes, land titles, plats, correspondence, and various other sources related to Texas public lands. Records can be searched via the Land Grant Search or the Surname Index.

Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Austin

As the official repository for the state government, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission maintains a sizeable selection of early Texas sources. Its Archives & Manuscripts contain various records related to the history and culture of Texas, dating back to the 18th century. Much of the material covers the 19th century, particularly Texas independence and the Civil War. Besides state government records and private manuscripts, various local and county court records that have been microfilmed can be found at the Archives. An index of Processed Manuscript Collections is available. Many records for southeastern Texas are held at the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center. The Archives off digital access to some of their holdings through its Online Exhibits and Online Archival Collections, as well as the Texas Digital Archive.

Texas Tech University Southwest Collection / Special Collections Library

Lubbock

The Texas Tech University Southwest Collection / Special Collections Library holds various early American sources, including both Rare Books and Manuscripts. A guide to the manuscript holdings is available here. Some of the early manuscripts have been digitized and can be viewed through the SWC Digital Collections, including the Austin Wisall Civil War Correspondence and the Elijah Parish Lovejoy Papers.

University of Houston Libraries Special Collections

Houston

The University of Houston Libraries Special Collections maintains a sizeable archive of early Texas sources. It has several Collecting Areas, including the Carey Shuart Women’s Research Collection, the Hispanic Research Collection, the Houston & Texas History Research Collection, the USS Houston & Military History Research Collection, the Rare Books Collections, and more. There is a decent amount of Texas independence and Civil War materials in these collections. Items can be searched through the Special Collections Library Catalog. Much of the Special Collections’ holdings have been digitized and are available on the University of Houston Libraries’ Digital Library.

University of Texas at Arlington Libraries Special Collections

Arlington

The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) Libraries Special Collections has a significant selection of early American sources. Among its holdings are the Historical Manuscripts Collections which focus on 19th century Texas and Mexican history, especially the Mexican-American War. There is also the Maps & Atlases Collection, the Texas Labor Archives, and the Microform Special Collections, which consist of historical newspapers, county records, and large amounts of Spanish colonial documents microfilmed throughout Honduras and Yucatán. Early Americanists may also be interested in the Benson Latin American Collection. There is a list of Finding Aids available, as well as an Online Catalog. Researchers may also find UTA’s Virginia Garrett Cartographic History Library helpful. Much of the Collections’ material has been digitized and can be viewed through the UTA Libraries’ Digital Gallery.

Woodson Research Center Special Collections & Archives

Houston

Located at Rice University’s Fondren Library, the Woodson Research Center Special Collections & Archives maintains some great early American sources. Its Rare Books selections are particularly strong in the history of the book, the history of science, and cartography. There is also a solid Manuscript Collection made up of over 600 collections. These collections are particularly strong in early Texas history, British maritime and naval history, the Civil War, and women’s history. Online Finding Aids are available, and all the Center’s holdings can be searched through Fondren’s Library Catalog. Some of the Center’s material can be viewed online through its Online Exhibits and Story Maps.

Other Texas Archives & Sources

Texas Archival Resources Online (TARO) is a state-wide database that provides online finding aids for various archives and research libraries throughout Texas. Texas State’s Center for the Study of the Southwest maintains a solid list of Collections & Archives that focus on the culture and history of the Southwest, including Texas.

Several regional repositories hold early Texas sources, including the Arizona Historical Society, the Bancroft Library, the Louisiana State University Libraries Special Collections, the New Mexico State Research Center and Archives, the University of Arizona Special Collections, and the University of Oklahoma Libraries Special Collections. Early Texas sources can also be found at the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration.

Prior to independence and annexation by the United States, Texas had long been a site of Spanish and Mexican colonization. As such, sources on early Texas can be found in Mexico at the Archivo General de la Nación and the Biblioteca Nacional de México, and in Spain at the Archivo General de Indias.