ACCESSING DIGITIZED RECORDS FROM TEXAS PORTALS
BRENDA KELLOW
OCTOBER 13, 2013
We search many different states in our genealogical pursuit. Modern technology lets us access these sites online rather than driving or flying to the different states.
We have many places to search for Collin County records and history. From the County Clerk’s site at www.co.collin.tx.us/county_clerk/genealogy/genealogy.jsp, historians and genealogists can access some older vital records and read about the county’s early history, and access the many activities and events relating to our county’s past and present.
Many other sites have the county’s history at heart. The Genealogy Friends Collin County Texas History site has a wealth of information on the old settlers, cemeteries, churches both current and extinct, and schools at www.collincountyhistory.com/index.html. There you can find a little history on the old county communities, many that no longer exist. The Historical Assets Survey is another resource, www.co.collin.tx.us/historical_commission/historical_assets.jsp. Now, by accessing the survey, you can look up on the map to see where everything is located such as our local historical buildings, sites, markers and other assets. We need your help with the Assets Survey. If you are aware of a historical asset that is not included in this survey, please contact the Historical Commission by email, [email protected], or letter at Collin County Historical Commission, 2300 Bloomdale Road, Suite 4192, McKinney, TX 75071
For the county and for the state there is the Portal to Texas History at http://texashistory.unt.edu/. The Portal is a gateway to Texas history materials. The University of North Texas in Denton has undertaken the task of digitizing newspaper records among other things. The have begun digitizing the local papers in our county as well as those throughout the state. You may discover anything from an ancestor's picture in a college yearbook to a rare historical map. Some of the featured collections include Native Americans, the Clyde Barrow Gang collection and the German Immigration to Texas. In the Clyde Barrow collection you can view photos of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, along with numerous mug shots, fingerprint cards, wanted notices, and images of their bullet-ridden car. Rescuing Texas History 2010 presents local history materials from twelve partners: Bell/Whittington Public Library, Cedar Hill Museum of History, Cleveland Historic Society, Cooke County Library, Dallas Firefighters Museum, Dallas Municipal Archives, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, Fort Worth Jewish Archives, Friench Simpson Memorial Library, Harris County Archives, Longview Public Library, McAllen Memorial Public Library, Mesquite Public Library, etc.
The Handbook of Texas is digitized online at the Texas State Historical Association, at www.tshaonline.org/handbook/search. When I am not searching, I enjoy reading the Texas Day by Day that appears in the top left column. It tells what happened in Texas history each day. Years ago, I bought the rather expensive six-volume set rather than driving to the library each time I wanted to use it. Now, you can have it in your home at no charge simply by accessing it online.
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLA) have a rather extensive collection of genealogical and historical information on their site at www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/genfirst.html. There are links to 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 and telephone directories, newspapers on microfilm, 1867 Voter’s Registration, Texas convict record ledgers and indexes, republic of Texas passports, government links and other online resources. You should use their Online Public Access Catalog to determine the cataloged titles in their collections, http://tsla.sirsi.net/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/x/0/49/.
Regrettably, due to our nations’ government shutdown, the Digital Portal to State Histories that includes 71 states is closed (as well as the Library of Congress). It did not have the Portal to Texas History listed, but I did leave a comment last week advising them of the oversight. When the government goes back to work, you can access it at http://blogs.loc.gov/digitalpreservation/2013/09/71-digital-portals-to-state-history/.
Do enjoy these for they are easily accessible to you at home. They are a great source for understanding our ancestors’ lives and the conditions they endured while making their homes in the new land.
Brenda Kellow has a bachelor's degree in history, teaches, and lectures on genealogy. Before retiring to publish her family’s histories in 2007, Brenda held certification as a Certified Genealogist and as a Certified Genealogical Instructor. Send reunion announcements, books to review, and genealogy queries to: [email protected].