Texas History and Archival Sites

Vicki Betts: Librarian/historian at The University of Texas at Tyler - extensive text-based site includes articles by Ms. Betts, newspaper transcriptions, bibliographies relating to Texas history, and other items of interest to this local historian. Ms. Betts site is invaluable to researchers interested in Texas history, especially the East Texas Region.

Center for American History (CAH) at the University of Texas - From the website:

"As an organized research unit of The University of Texas at Austin, the Center for American History (CAH) facilitates, sponsors, and supports teaching, research, and public education in U.S. history. In support of its mission, CAH acquires, preserves, and makes available for research archival, artifact, and rare book collections and sponsors exhibitions, conferences, video documentaries, oral history projects, grant-funded research, and publications."

Navarro College Archives - From the website:

"The Navarro College Archives facilitates research on the United States Civil War, the historical development of Navarro College and its service area, and Navarro County. The archives, housed in the Gaston T. Gooch Library on the campus of Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas, is home to collections of Civil War documents, Western art, American Indian artifacts, and original woodcarvings as well as documents and artifacts tracing the historical development of Navarro College and Navarro County."

Smith County Historical Society - From the website:

"The Smith County Historical Society is incorporated under the laws of the State of Texas and is known as Smith County Historical Society, Inc. The Society is a nonprofit organization formed in 1959 to discover, collect, and preserve data, records, and other items relating to the history of Smith County, Texas."

Texas/Dallas History & Archives Division - From the website:

"The collection of materials at the Texas/Dallas History & Archives Division is one of the largest of its kind in the nation. Our holdings span many aspects of the diverse history of not only Dallas and the surrounding area, but the entire state of Texas."

Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) - From the website:

"The mission of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission is to preserve the record of government for public scrutiny, to secure and make accessible historically significant records and other valuable resources, to meet the reading needs of Texans with disabilities, to build and sustain statewide partnerships to improve library programs and services, and to enhance the capacity for achievement of individuals and institutions with whom we work."

United States History and Archival Sites

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) - From the website:

"The National Archives and Records Administration serves American democracy by safeguarding and preserving the records of our Government, ensuring that the people can discover, use, and learn from this documentary heritage. We ensure continuing access to the essential documentation of the rights of American citizens and the actions of their government. We support democracy, promote civic education, and facilitate historical understanding of our national experience."

Society of American Archivists (SAA) - From the website:

"Founded in 1936, the Society of American Archivists is North America's oldest and largest national archival professional association. SAA's mission is to serve the educational and informational needs of more than 4,600 individual and institutional members and to provide leadership to ensure the identification, preservation, and use of records of historical value. For more information, see "A Brief History of SAA."

Rare Books and Special Collections (contains online exhibts of interest)

Grolier Club - From the website:

"FOUNDED IN 1884, the Grolier Club of New York is America's oldest and largest society for bibliophiles and enthusiasts in the graphic arts. Named for Jean Grolier, the Renaissance collector renowned for sharing his library with friends, the Club's objective is to foster "the literary study and promotion of the arts pertaining to the production of books."

Harry Ransom Center (HRC) at the University of Texas at Austin - a humanites research center with extensive collections relating to aspects of history, culture, and life around the world. The HRC holds the only copy of the Gutenberg Bible in the state of Texas. From the website:

"From the magnificent Pforzheimer collection of English literature to the page proofs of Joyce's Ulysses, from the First Photograph to the plays of Tom Stoppard and Arthur Miller, the Ransom Center's collections are dazzling in their range and stunning in their originality."

Publishers' Bindings Online, 1815-1930: The Art of Books - contains exhibits and descriptions of various publishers' bindings.

Please contact the University Archivist and Special Collections Librarian for suggested additions to the above list.