Uncovering Your Texas Roots: A Guide to Genealogical Research in Austin

Are you looking to uncover your Texas roots? Austin, Texas is a great place to start your genealogical research. With a variety of resources available, you can easily trace your family history and discover the stories of your ancestors. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission is a great place to begin your research. Located in Austin, the library houses nine computers for public use, a conference room, genealogical reference material, and a printer.

In addition, the center offers programs dedicated to the practice of genealogy. The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum was designated the “Official State Repository of Texas Ranger Memories” by Concurrent Resolution 55 of the 75th Texas Legislature (May 1, 1999). The internet is a great resource for those looking to research their Texas genealogy. Cyndi's list of genealogy sites on the Internet provides thematic access to almost every genealogy topic imaginable.

TxGenWeb is the Texas component of the USGENWEB project, a group of volunteers who work together to provide Internet websites for genealogical research in every county and state of the United States. The National Archives genealogy page provides comprehensive information on research facilities, policy issues, publications, genealogical workshops, and more. The Genealogy Collection of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission includes vital statistics indexes, city directories, county records, publications such as printed family and county histories, a variety of Texas government records, federal census schedules, and many other resources to help you compile your family history. This means that any research on Texas genealogy must also take into account the different offline locations.

When it comes to researching your family history in Texas, there are several approaches you can take. Most state genealogical research work begins in public records, and these tend to fall into three titles or categories. When starting any search for Texas genealogical information, you can go online and use available digital files, and even obtain copies of historical materials or documents. Of course, even if there's a lot of it online, it doesn't mean that everything you might need for Texas genealogy is available digitally.

You may need to visit local archives or libraries in order to access certain records or documents. It's important to remember that not all records are available online. In addition to public records, there are also many private collections that can be accessed for genealogical research. These collections may include family papers or photographs that can provide valuable insight into your family history.

When conducting genealogical research in Austin, it's important to be organized and methodical in your approach. Start by gathering as much information as possible about your family from living relatives. This will give you a good starting point for your research. Once you have gathered all the information you can from living relatives, it's time to start searching for records.

Start with public records such as birth certificates or marriage licenses. These documents can provide valuable information about your ancestors. You may also want to search for private collections such as family papers or photographs. These collections can provide valuable insight into your family history.

Finally, don't forget to take advantage of all the resources available at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. From computers for public use to programs dedicated to the practice of genealogy, this library is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to uncover their Texas roots.