Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission 1201 Brazos St. P.O. Box 12927 Austin, TX 78711 Phone: (512) 463-5455

Archives and Manuscripts
A major division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission is the Archives and Manuscripts. The Texas State Archives preserves and documents the heritage and culture of Texas by identifying, collecting, and making available for research the permanently valuable official records of Texas government, as well as other significant historical resources. Maintaining the official history of Texas government, the State Archives includes archival government records dating back to the 18th century, as well as newspapers, journals, books, manuscripts, photographs, historical maps, and other historical resources.

Genealogy Resources
The following is a list of all Genealogy Resources Available at Our Library.


 * Vital Statistics Indexes
 * Index to Confederate Pension Applications
 * Adjutant General Service Records
 * Republic Claims
 * Confederate Indigent Families Lists
 * County Tax Rolls
 * County Records on Microfilm
 * City Directories
 * Telephone Directories
 * Newspapers on Microfilm
 * 1867 Voters' Registration
 * Texas Convict Record Ledgers and Indexes
 * Republic of Texas Passports
 * Government Links

Materials of interest to genealogists are available from library collections, State Archives, and the Regional Historical Resource Depository System (RHRD).
 * Library and genealogy collections include published family and county histories, vital statistics indexes, city directories, newspapers, and federal census records.
 * The State Archives preserves archival government records dating back to the 18th century, as well as original newspapers, journals, books, manuscripts, photographs, historical maps, and other historical resources.
 * Microfilm copies of county and local records are distributed among 23 Texas RHRD repositories and available to borrow through interlibrary loan.

The Texas State Library will loan selected materials from their library collections. Search the online catalog for materials or contact the reference desk for assistance.

Original manuscripts for Texas under Mexico, as a republic, and as a state, including all counties, vital records, newspapers, books, and maps. Three divisions of the Texas State Library house materials of interest to genealogists: the Information Services, the Archives, and the Local Records divisions. The Information Services Division contains such records as published histories, vital record indexes, census records, and military records. The Archives Division preserves colonial, republic, and state government records, while the Local Records Division maintains valuable city and county government records. Microfilm copies of the city and county records are distributed among 26 Texas repositories.

A helpful guide to important sources at the Texas State Archives is:


 * Jean Carefoot, Guide to Genealogical Resources in the Texas State Archives (Austin, Texas: Archives Division, Texas State Library, 1984. A 197? edition is on film  Please note some of the information contained in these guides may no longer apply. For updated information about resources and access, please contact ref@tsl.texas.gov.

The Texas State Library will loan selected materials from their Genealogy Collection. For a list of materials available for circulation, see Texas State Library, Texas State Library Circulating Genealogy Duplicates List. Austin, Texas: Texas State Library, 1992. A 1985 edition is available on