R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

Texas
Research Outline
   

Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
Bible Records
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
Church Records
Court Records
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
Gazetteers
Genealogy
History
Land And Property
Maps
Military Records
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
Periodicals
Probate Records
Vital Records
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions

CHURCH RECORDSLook this term up in the glossary.

Before 1900 the largest religious groups in Texas were the Baptist, Methodist Episcopal, Roman Catholic, and Christian (Disciples of Christ).

The Family History Library has some church records for Texas. For example, the library has microfilm copies of original documents from the Catholic archives in El Paso, Galveston, and San Antonio. The records from the San Antonio archdiocese include 100 microfilms for the city of San Antonio for the years 1703 to 1957.

Many denominations have collected their records into central repositories. You can write to the following addresses to learn where their records are located.


BaptistLook this term up in the glossary.

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
A. Webb Roberts Library
2001 West Seminary Drive
Fort Worth, TX 76122
Telephone: 817-923-1921 (x3330)
Fax: 817-921-8754
Baylor University
Moody Memorial Library
Box 6307
Waco, TX 76703
Telephone: 254-710-2111
Fax: 254-710-3116
For a history of the Baptists in Texas, see James M. Carroll, A History of Texas Baptists (Dallas: Baptist Standard Publishing Co., 1923; FHL film 1000597).

Disciples of ChristLook this term up in the glossary.

Brite Divinity School Collection
Mary Couts Burnett Library
Texas Christian University
2913 West Lowden
Fort Worth, TX 76129
Telephone: 817-921-7117
Fax: 817-921-7447

MethodistLook this term up in the glossary.

Center for Methodist Studies
United Methodist Historical Collection
Bridwell Library
Southern Methodist University
6005 Bishop Boulevard
P.O. Box 750476
Dallas, TX 75275
For a history of the Methodist Church, see Macum Phelan, History of Early Methodism in Texas, 1817-1866 (Nashville: Cokesbury Press, 1924; FHL film 599530).

Roman CatholicLook this term up in the glossary.

Catholic Archives of Texas
1600 North Congress
Capitol Station P.O. Box 13327
Austin, TX 78711-3327
Telephone: 512-476-4888
Fax: 512-469-9537
For a history of the Catholic Church, see Mary Angela Fitzmorris, Four Decades of Catholicism in Texas 1820-1860 (Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America, 1926; FHL book 976.4 A1 no. 21; film 924684 item 3).

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COURT RECORDSLook this term up in the glossary.

Major Texas courts that kept records of genealogical value were established as follows:

Commissioners courtsLook this term up in the glossary. are countywide courts that have kept records of taxes, juries, county financial affairs, and police matters. These files often include records of other courts, such as county courts. The Family History Library has commissioners courts records for some Texas counties. From Bexar County, for example, the library has the county commissioners' minutes from 1837 to 1909.

District courtsLook this term up in the glossary. have countywide jurisdiction over divorces, feloniesLook this term up in the glossary., misdemeanorsLook this term up in the glossary., probate appeals, and civil suitsLook this term up in the glossary., as well as adoptionsLook this term up in the glossary. since 1931. The Family History Library has district court records for half of the Texas counties, often dating to the early 1900s. From Bexar County, for example, the library has microfilm copies of San Antonio court minutes from 1837 to 1911. The original records are in the various county courthouses.

County courtsLook this term up in the glossary. have been established in each county and have jurisdiction over major criminal casesLook this term up in the glossary., civilLook this term up in the glossary. matters, and some naturalizationsLook this term up in the glossary.. A judge oversees matters and a county clerk keeps the records. The Family History Library has microfilm copies of county court records from many counties of Texas. From Galveston County, for example, county court minutes are available from 1867 to 1908.

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