Research Resources
Texas Research Help
Where to Look Next
Useful Resources for Texas Genealogy
Texas research can lead into Republic records, state archives, land grants, military service, libraries, local repositories, and historical collections. This guide brings the most useful starting points together in one place.
Republic of Texas & Early Texas
Start here for ancestors who lived in Texas before statehood or interacted with the Republic government.
- Gammel's Laws of Texas, 1822–1897 ExternalA major published collection of Texas laws spanning colonization, the Republic, and statehood.
- Republic Claims ExternalClaims, pensions, public debt records, and supporting documents connected to the Republic of Texas.
- Search Republic Claims by Name External
- Texas State Archives Online Collections ExternalIncludes Republic-era collections, maps, military material, and other digitized records.
- Handbook of Texas ExternalBackground on Texas people, places, events, communities, and institutions.
Texas State Archives & Vital Records
Official state resources for archival collections, vital records, and historical government records.
- Texas State Library & Archives Commission External
- Texas State Archives External
- Texas Vital Records ExternalCurrent information for obtaining Texas birth, death, marriage, and divorce records or verifications.
- Order Vital Records Locally ExternalFind county, city, and district offices that issue local vital records.
- Texas Historic Sites Atlas External
Texas Land Records
Texas land records can identify settlers, migration, associates, residence, and the circumstances under which land was acquired.
- Texas General Land Office Archives & Heritage External
- Land Grant Database ExternalSearch by original grantee, patentee, county, certificate, file number, and other fields.
- GLO Surname Index ExternalAlphabetical index to grantees and patentees, including Spanish and Mexican land grants.
- Search GLO Archival Collections External
Military Research
Use military collections to trace service during the Republic era, Civil War, and other periods.
- TXGenWeb Military & Veterans CollectionsTXGenWeb-hosted rosters, reports, schedules, and military-related records.
- Civil War Soldiers & Sailors Database External
- Confederate Prisoner of War Research External
- Civil War Battle Units External
Libraries, Museums & Digital Collections
These repositories can provide manuscripts, photographs, newspapers, oral histories, maps, books, and historical context.
- The Portal to Texas History External
- WPA Federal Writers' Project ExternalIncludes first-person life histories and reminiscences collected during the Great Depression.
- Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum External
- LBJ Presidential Library External
- George H.W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum External
People, Communities & Local Research
Use local and biographical sources to put an ancestor into a specific Texas community and historical setting.
- TXGenWeb County DirectoryThe best starting point for county-specific records, resources, and volunteer assistance.
- Texas Genealogical & Historical Societies
- Texas Maps
- Defunct & Historical Texas Counties
- Cyndi's List: Texas External
- U.S. Census QuickFacts: Texas External
A Better Way to Use This Page
Don't try every resource at once. Start with what you need to learn: a place, a date, military service, land ownership, or a specific record. Then use the resource most likely to answer that question.
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