Texas Biography

United States   Texas    Texas Biography

Biographies provide useful genealogical information such as an individual’s birth date and place (including foreign birthplaces where applicable); family members; occupation and education; and social, political, and religious affiliation. They may also contain a physical description of the person, his or her previous residences, and immigration information. Biographies are the product of family knowledge or previous research compiled about early settlers and prominent citizens of the state, county, or town. Many lesser-known individuals may have biographical sketches written about them in local histories.

See United States Biographies for information on nationwide biographical collections. See also the "History" and "Genealogy" sections for additional sources.

Most of the major archives mentioned in Texas Archives and Libraries have collections of biographical materials.

Biographical Gazetteer of Texas

 * An ongoing project to index more than 200 biographical and historical publications in the Texas Collection at Baylor University has produced the Biographical Gazetteer of Texas. An online index is available in the Baylor University Texas Collection and University Archives. Also available through the Family History Library, Austin, Texas: W.M. Morrison Books, 1985- Volumes 1-6, alphabetical;

The Handbook of Texas
The Handbook of Texas is a encyclopedic collection of history, geography and biographies. It is now available on line through the Texas State Historical Association.

Family History Library Collection

 * A genealogical cardfile of approximately 270,000 cards compiled by Rudolfo Gonzalez de la Garza representing thousands of families of Southern Texas and Northern Mexico. The cardfile is in the Laredo Public Library.




 * Bailey, Ernest Emory. Texas Historical and Biographical Record With a Genealogical Study of Historical Family Records. Austin, Texas: Texas Historical and Biographical Record, N.d.


 * Bailey, Emory E., et al. Who's Who in Texas. Dallas, Texas: Who's Who Publishing, 1931.


 * Biographical Souvenir of the State of Texas, 1889. Reprint, Easley, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press, 1978. and  Digitized version available through the FHL catalog entry.


 * Davis, Ellis Arthur and Edwin H. Grobe. Encyclopedia of Texas. Dallas: Texas Development Bureau, 190? ; [larger print] or


 * Brown, John Henry. Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas. 1880. Reprint. Easley, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press, 1978. 1978; 1880 edition: ;  Digitized version available through the FHL catalog entry.


 * Crockett, David. Col. Crockett's Exploits and Adventures in Texas. (New York : Wm. H. Graham, Tribune Buildings, 1848. Free digital copy.


 * To locate biographical material available through the Family History Library Catalog, use the Place-names Search for:


 * TEXAS - BIOGRAPHY
 * TEXAS, [COUNTY] - BIOGRAPHY
 * TEXAS, [COUNTY], [TOWN] - BIOGRAPHY

Web Sites

 * Historic Texas.net
 * Texas Biographies
 * The Handbook of Texas An encyclopedia of Texas history, georgraphy and culture. Includes biographies.