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Texas Area Key to Genealogical Records
Introduction
One of the necessary tasks for all family history researcher is to learn about the
history and the records for the States and Counties where their ancestors lived.
My mother called this developing an "Area Key". In other words you need to know
the territory. This page represents what I have located for an Area Key for Texas
so far.
Area Keys
need to contain a little history, how the area began to be settled and
organized, beginning dates of counties and parent
counties, maps, a list of towns,
information about the state records including when various types of records such
as vital records began to be kept, a list of repositories
such as archives, libraries, and internet sources that contain records,
publications and databases for the state and how we can gain access to them, and
other statewide collections such as for church organizations and lineage
societies.
If you have ancestors in Texas, you would be wise to
make this make this Area Key one of your favorites so you can come back often. I
hope you will find these pages helpful in locating your ancestors.
Sincerely, Donna K. Clark
Texas Statewide Genealogy Publications
Texas became a state in 1845.
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Texas
Archives |
The
Texas State Library and Archives
(with both the state library and the state archives as the same government
agency) collects and maintains as well as makes available historical
documents. Records date back into the 1700s.
Many
County Records
on Microfilm are available on interlibrary loan throughout the Untied
States. They contain records such as Births and Deaths, marriages, deeds,
probates, civil court minutes, tax rolls, etc.
Genealogy Resources include Vital Statistics Indexes, Index to
confederate pension applications, Index to Texas adjutant general service
records, 1836-1935, Index to Republic claims, Confederate indigent
families lists, Texas County Tax Rolls on Microfilm, and more.
Online databases are only available to libraries within
the state of Texas. Research services are limited, however a list of
private
researchers is provided. |
Texas
Adoption |
|
____-1900s
Texas Adoption Registry
- by adoption registry connect |
Texas
Cemeteries |
___-2000s
Texas
Cemeteries - free online by USGenWeb Tombstone Transcription Project
USGenWeb really has this project going well. I have
seen results in other states as well. They have a table listing all the
counties. You simply click on the county and the cemetery list appears. It
is easy to see which cemeteries have transcribed tombstones where you can
look for your ancestor online for free. |
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The following census links at Ancestry.com
take you to the page where you can enter your ancestor's name and search
for that ancestor. To search the original census page by page, scroll down
to the bottom, click on the desired state, then county, and then township. |
1850 United States Census
 - online at Ancestry.com |
|
1850 United States Slave Schedules
- online at Ancestry.com |
|
1850-1880 Mortality Schedules
- online at Ancestry.com |
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1860 United States Census
- online at Ancestry.com |
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1860 United States Slave Schedules
- online at Ancestry.com |
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1870 United States Census
- online at Ancestry.com |
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1880 United States Census
- online at Ancestry.com |
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1890 United States Veteran Census
- online at Ancestry.com |
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1900 United States Census
- online at Ancestry.com |
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1910 United States Census
- online at Ancestry.com |
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1920 United States Census - online at Ancestry.com |
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1930 United States Census - online at Ancestry.com |
Texas
Church |
____-1920
Catholic
Archives of Texas - free overall description of microfilm collection
This collection of thousands of microfilm may be search
at their archives by genealogists. For records after 1920 authorization by
the individual is required. The collections includes school records as
well as catholic newspapers, Mexican and Spanish Manuscripts (1519-1881),
personal papers, photographs, sacramental records, maps, bibles, etc. If
you cannot visit the archives in person, perhaps it would be worth while
to hire a professional research who lives in the area. |
Texas
Directory
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1889
Southwestern business directory: including principal towns on Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway, Kansas
City, Fort Scott and Memphis Railroad, Denver, Texas and Fort Worth
Railway, Texas and Pacific Railway, Union Pacific Railway, Denver and Rio
Grande Railway, Colorado Midland Railway, and Atlantic and Pacific
Railroad.
- online at Ancestry.com |
Texas
Land
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1700s-1800s
Texas
Land Title Abstracts - online at Ancestry.com |
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1864-1918
United States County Land Ownership Atlases, c. 1864-1918
- online at Ancestry.com |
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WORLD-WIDE
www.FamilySearch.org - free index
online by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
The largest collection of genealogy records is in Salt
Lake City, Utah. Their web site includes a free index to an online database
currently called the Ancestral File and other major collections including
the 1880 US Census and the 1881 United Kingdom Census.
The web site also
contains an online catalog to their massive genealogy collection. Local,
state, and country records have been gathered throughout the world. Individual lists of
United States statewide records can be viewed online
including one for
Texas. If the record has been microfilmed it can be rented and viewed
at a Family History Center near you. Hours and addresses are available on
the Find
a Family History Center Near You web page. Access is open to everyone. |
WORLD-WIDE
Texas State Database
- online at Ancestry.com
Ancestry.com began gathering, indexing, and placing
genealogical records on the internet in the 1990's. Their collection not
includes thousands of genealogical records and publications. Compared to
how much they have and what you pay, the cost is reasonable. It is a great
pleasure to find your ancestors in their databases. And now with their
Free Family Tree that you
can establish on their site, their search engine can and will Search Billions of Names at Ancestry.com.
All you have to do is enter a few names and a few dates and your on your
way to discovering your ancestors. It is so easy, it is just plain fun. |
Texas
Maps
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1835
Map of
Spanish Texas in 1835 - free online by TXGenWeb |
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1836-1930
Texas County Formation Maps - free online by USGenWeb |
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1895
1895 United States Atlas (Texas map) - free online |
2000
Texas State Map Collection - free online at geology.com
This page shows county outlines, elevations, rivers
with names, a political map showing 15 county names, and a road map with
the numbers of major highways. |
Texas
Military
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1917-1918
World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 (Can search by given name, even middle name)
- online at Ancestry.com |
Texas
Societies |
1700s-1800s
Our Ancestors - free online by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas
The information on these pages lists the pioneers along
with his birth date and place and his death date and place. Some dates are
complete and other have only the year. |
Texas
Vital
Records
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1766-1981
Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas Marriage Index
 - online at Ancestry.com |
1800s-1900s
Texas Counties Marriage Indexes - free online by USGenWeb
These indexes are to the the marriage records found in
the offices of county clerks throughout Texas. Each county list is
contains different information. Generally the contain the name of the
Groom and Bride, their date of marriage and reference information to the
original marriage record. |
1903-present
Order Texas Birth, Death, Marriage & Divorce Records Online - offered
by the Texas Dept. of State Health Services
The rule is that a birth record must be 75 years old
before it can be offered to the public and a death record must be 25 years
old. |
1937-present
United States Social Security Death Index
- free online at RootsWeb |
Texas
Voter Records
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Voter Records:
An Index to the 1867 Voters Registrations of Texas - CD by Heritage Books |
Towns and Cities in Texas
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N
O P Q R
S T U V
W X Y Z
A
Arlington, Tarrant, Texas,
USA
Austin, Travis, Texas, USA
Austin, Williamson, Texas, USA
Azle, Tarrant, Texas, USA
B
Bedford, Bedford,
Texas, USA
Brenham, Washington, Texas, USA
Brownsville, Cameron,
Texas, USA
C
Carthage, Panola, Texas, USA
Cayuga, Anderson, Texas, USA
Commerce, Hunt, Texas, USA
D
Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA
Dallas, Tarrant, Texas, USA
Top
E
El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
Euless, Tarrant, Texas, USA
F
Fairview, Wise, Texas, USA
Fort Worth, Tarrant,
Texas, USA
G
Galveston, Galveston,
Texas, USA
Goldthwaite, Mills, Texas,
USA
Grand Prairie, Dallas,
Texas, USA
Grapevine, Tarrant, Texas,
USA
Greenville, Hunt, Texas, USA
Top
H
Haltom City, Tarrant,
Texas, USA
Handley, Tarrant, Texas, USA
Harlingen, Cameron, Texas,
USA
Houston, Fort Bend, Texas,
USA
Houston, Harris, Texas, USA
Houston, Montgomery,
Texas, USA
Huron, Hill, Texas, USA
Hurst, Tarrant, Texas, USA
I
Irving, Dallas, Texas, USA
K
Kerrville, Kerr, Texas, USA
M
Mansfield, Tarrant, Texas,
USA
Mexia, Limestone, Texas, USA
Top
O
Odessa, Ector, Texas, USA
P
Palestine, Anderson, Texas, USA
Port Arthur, Jefferson, Texas, USA
Preston, Grayson, Texas, USA
Pritchett, Upshur, Texas, USA
S
San Antonio, Bexar, Texas, USA
Santa Anna, Coleman,
Texas, USA
Southlake, Tarrant, Texas,
USA
T
Tennessee, Shelby, Texas,
USA
Trophy Club, Denton,
Texas, USA
W
Watauga, Tarrant, Texas, USA
Wichita Falls, Archer,
Texas, USA
Wichita Falls,
Wichita, Texas, USA
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