Genealogy & History

A groundbreaking new digital resource exclusively devoted to African American family history research. NOTE: Access to this resource ended 05/31/2025 due to the decision of the Texas State Library & Archives Commission to drop it from the Texshare Databases program.

Resources that help in your genealogy/family history research. Types of records you might find include census and voter lists; birth, marriage and death records; immigration and travel records; military records and more. 

 Founded in 1867 by D. A. Sanborn, the Sanborn Map Company was the primary American publisher of fire insurance maps for nearly 100 years. The maps provide a wealth of information, such as building outline, size and shape. 

A free, online resource for genealogy/family history research. You can build your family tree, access billions of records, view webinars on their YouTube channel and take advantage of their Research Tips and the  FamilySearch Research Wiki.  Not sure where to start? Check out their Getting Started resources. 

Distributed by ProQuest, Fold3 Library Edition by Ancestry provides convenient access to a growing collection of US military records, including the stories, photos, and personal documents of the men and women who served. It contains millions of records from world-class archives, many of which are exclusively available on Fold3.

Explore over a century of iconic images, photography and fascinating narratives that capture the wonder of our planet and beyond. 

Here you'll find articles on Texas history, geography, culture, and more.

Information on the archives of Harris County, Texas.  Collections include records from county offices such as the Assessor and Collector of Taxes, Justices of the Peace, Commissioners, County Judges and more.  Also includes private manuscript, map and photograph collections.

HCPL Digital Archive is an online archive of historical and cultural materials that illustrate the continuing story of the library, our partners, and our community. Our collections are curated by the Harris County Archives and Harris County Public Library. The site, exhibits, collections, and individual items are managed and maintained by the Harris County Public Library. 

Primary sources dating back to the 1700s. Contains six core resources: U.S. Federal Censuses, genealogy and local history books, Periodical Source Index (PERSI), Revolutionary War Records, Freedman's Bank Records and the LexisNexis U.S. Serial Set.

ProQuest Historical Newspapers is considered the gold standard in historical news databases. As the leading newspaper in the capital of Texas, the historical Austin American-Statesman provides researchers with unique insights into the political, economic, cultural, and social life of this important state, as well as the southwest U.S. from the late 19th through the 20th century. The paper has strong central Texas coverage, especially for political reporting.

Access to historical issues of The El Paso Times (1881-2009) and the The El Paso Herald Post (1896-1996). Also included is access to current issues of The El Paso Times (2010-present). 

Life Magazine Archive presents an extensive collection of the famed photojournalism magazine, spanning its very first issue in November 1936 through December 2000 in a comprehensive cover-to-cover format. 

Access to digital image editions of historical newspapers from various cities and counties in Texas from the 1840s to the late 1990s. Coverage varies by publication. 

The Newsweek Archive offers digital access to the full run of the US edition of Newsweek, from its launch in 1933 to 2012 (when the print edition originally ceased).*

* Due to the rarity of older print volumes, there may be small gaps (issues / pages)

"The Portal to Texas History is a gateway to rare, historical, and primary source materials from or about Texas. Created and maintained by the University of North Texas Libraries, the Portal leverages the power of hundreds of content partners across the state to provide a vibrant, growing collection of resources."

Access to the Texas Almanac, including the Texas Towns database. Covers Texas history, politics, culture and more.

The Time Magazine Archive presents an extensive collection of the prominent weekly news magazine dating back to its first issue in March 1923 through December 2000, presented in a comprehensive cover-to-cover format.