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Genealogy Resources Available at Our Library

Beginning October 1, 2006, the Genealogy Collection will be open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and will be closed Saturdays and Sundays.

Our collections include microfilm of the federal census schedules for all states through 1910, selected states from the 1920 and 1930 censuses; printed family and county histories; and a variety of Texas government records. In addition to these, many of our frequently requested resources are highlighted below. Please use our Online Public Access Catalog to determine the cataloged titles in our collections.

Visitors to our library should be aware that the resources are located throughout several collections and locations. Please be sure to check for the hours of the collection you wish to visit before you leave home.

Links
Vital Statistics Indexes | Index to Confederate Pension Applications
Index to Adjutant General Service Records | Index to Republic Claims
Confederate Indigent Families Lists
| County Tax Rolls | County Records on Microfilm
City Directories | Telephone Directories | Newspapers on Microfilm
1920 Federal Census Schedules | 1930 Federal Census Schedules
1867 Voters' Registration | Texas Convict Record Ledgers and Indexes
Government Links | Other Online Resources

  • Vital statistics indexes are an important part of the genealogical resources available at the library. While we do not have access to the certificates themselves, the library does own selected indexes to Texas births, deaths, marriages and divorces. The indexes are available for on-site use in the Genealogy Collection, Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m - 5 p.m., as well as to be borrowed through the interlibrary loan program. Beginning October 1, 2006, the Genealogy Collection will be open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and will be closed Saturdays and Sundays.
  • The Index to Confederate Pension Applications provides the names, county of residence, and pension number for some 54,634 approved, rejected, and home pensions issued by the Texas government between 1899 and 1975.
  • Index to Texas Adjutant General Service Records, 1836-1935.   The Service Records Series combines both official service record files from the Adjutant General's Office and alphabetical files created by other agencies which contain records related to an individual's service in a military unit.
  • Index to Republic Claims. This series is now available in digital form as well as microfilm. It includes claims for payment, reimbursement, or restitution submitted by citizens to the Republic of Texas government from 1835 through 1846. It also includes records relating to Republic pensions and claims against the Republic submitted as public debt claims after 1846.
  • Confederate Indigent Families Lists. View the names of families that received aid through the 1863 "Act to Support the Families and Dependents of Texas Soldiers."
  • Texas County Tax Rolls on Microfilm are available for on-site use from the early years of each county through the late 1970s. Microfilm through 1901 is available to be borrowed through the interlibrary loan program.
  • Index of County Records on Microfilm is available online, along with instructions for borrowing rolls through interlibrary loan. Although the microfilm is housed in depository libraries throughout Texas, the Genealogy Collection houses the film for the following counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Bastrop, Bexar, Blanco, Caldwell, Comal, Dimmit, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kinney, LaSalle, Llano, Maverick, McMullen, Medina, Uvalde, Wilson and Zavala.
  • Selected Texas city directories from the past are available for on-site use in the Genealogy Reading Room, Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Beginning October 1, 2006, the Genealogy Collection will be open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and will be closed Saturdays and Sundays.
  • In July of 2001, our collection of past Texas telephone directories merged with the Center for American History's. The directories are available for on-site use in their reading room at 2313 Red River in Austin.
  • Newspapers Available on Microfilm. These are available for on-site viewing in the Reference/Documents Collection, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. or to be borrowed through interlibrary loan.
  • 1920 Federal Census Schedules. Texas and selected states are available for on-site viewing in the Genealogy Reading Room, Tuesday - Saturday, 8 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. Check the status column on our 1920 Wish List page to determine if we own the state needed. We also own a number of individual reels from states for which we do not have a complete collection. Please call 512-463-5463, Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., to check on the availability of individual reels for on-site use. Beginning October 1, 2006, the Genealogy Collection will be open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and will be closed Saturdays and Sundays.
  • 1930 Federal Census Schedules. Texas and selected states are available for on-site viewing in the Genealogy Reading Room, Tuesday - Saturday, 8 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. Check the status column on our 1930 Wish List page to determine if we own the state needed. We also own a number of individual reels from states for which we do not have a complete collection. Please call 512-463-5463, Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., to check on the availability of individual reels for on-site use. Beginning October 1, 2006, the Genealogy Collection will be open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and will be closed Saturdays and Sundays.
  • 1867 Voters' Registration. The Reconstruction Act of March 13, 1867 required the commanding officer in each military district to have, before September 1, a registration of all qualified voters in each county. These lists would be used to determine all who would be eligible to vote for any proposed Constitutional Convention in the state.
  • Texas Convict Record Ledgers and Indexes. The record ledgers are excellent sources of individual convict descriptions and information regarding their incarceration. This series, available for use only on microfilm, may be viewed on-site in the Genealogy Reading Room, Tuesday - Saturday, 8 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. or borrowed through the interlibrary loan program. Beginning October 1, 2006, the Genealogy Collection will be open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and will be closed Saturdays and Sundays.
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Government Links

  • The task of recording all the births, deaths, marriages and divorces in Texas belongs to the Texas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Unit.
  • Addresses and telephone numbers for Texas County and District Clerks are available online.
  • Responsible for preserving and providing access to 35.5 million documents containing information about land grants and transactions dating back to the 18th century, the Texas General Land Office Archives is an important resource for genealogists.
  • The Texas State Cemetery, the Lone Star State's version of Arlington National Cemetery, is where some of Texas' most notable sons and daughters are buried.
  • Visit the Texas Historical Commission site to learn about their projects, including the Texas Historic Cemetery Designation program.
  • The genealogy page of the National Archives provides comprehensive information about the research facilities, policy issues, publications, genealogical workshops, and so much more.
  • Although census records remain confidential for 72 years, limited information may be obtained from more recent counts. Visit the Bureau of the Census for details about the Age Search Service.

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