The Texas Institute of Genealogical Research (TIGR) follows a single track of specialized classes.
TIGR is sponsored in part by the Texas General Land Office.
Monday, May 22, 2017
Introduction
Kelvin Meyers
Texas History
John Sellers
A state under six flags! This lecture is an overview of a state’s unique story and history. Time periods and various countries influence on the Lone Star State and their consequences. Also how Texas’ history has influenced its records and how we need to research them.
Texas Geography
John Sellers
Texas is the 2nd largest state in area and now also in population. The different geographical regions will be reviewed and their influence on settlement and the various crops the pioneers grew. Various Ethnic and Regional migrations will be reviewed. How the influence of Texas unique geography helped shape its history will be discussed. Texas has a dual role of both a Southern State and a Western State.
Lunch
Included with registration. Dietary restrictions will checked later.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Teri Flack
The TSLAC is the repository of most of the state’s documentary history. This session provides an overview of the archival collections useful for genealogical research and strategies for finding the records and the information they contain.
Texas General Land Office
Teri Flack
The GLO Archives consist of land grant records and maps dating to the 16th century detailing the transfer of Texas public lands to private ownership before and during the Republic years, and throughout the 19th century. This session provides an overview of the land grant process, record groups and the genealogical information they contain, and successful research strategies.
Genealogical Collections of Texas
Cari Taplin
Texas is a huge state and full of wonderful research repositories. Learn about many of the “shining stars” and hidden gems of Texas research repositories.
Reception
Included in registration.
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Early Settlement
Teri Flack
The Spanish established Mission San Antonio de Valero in 1718, and Texas became a state in 1846. This session, focused on pre-statehood Texas, develops research techniques for uncovering Texas’ earliest settlers.
Land Records
Kelvin Meyers
Understanding the laws that governed how land was acquired in Texas will help you in locating the records for your ancestor. Because Texas was allowed to keep her public lands upon joining the United States, it is a “state land” state and therefore you have two government entities to check for land records. If your ancestor received land from Spain, Mexico, the Republic or state of Texas you may start your search at the Texas General Land office. If your ancestor bought land from another individual, then you will be searching the deed records at the county level.
Lunch
Included with registration. Dietary restrictions will checked later.
Tracking the Land: Inheritance
John Sellers
This lecture will begin with brief overview of deed research in a Texas Courthouse. We will then get into specifics of land research pertaining to probate and inheritance. Terminology to look for and to understand will be reviewed. Wills used as muniment of title will be examined.
Tracking the Land: Texas Tax Records
Anne Gillespie Mitchell
Texas has a fairly complete set of personal and real property tax records from1836 through 1976. We will look at where to locate them, and then how to read and interpret these records as well as look at some organizational tools that will help you use these valuable records to learn more about your ancestors.
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Using Maps and the GIS System of the GLO
Kelvin Meyers
As important as land records are, being able to locate that land is also very valuable to the researcher. This lecture will focus on what can be gained by locating the land and what other records that may lead to.
Texas Probate
Kelvin Meyers
Because Texas was at one time under the rule of Spain and then Mexico and later joined the Union, a competent genealogist knows that understanding inheritance laws will help them make more accurate assumptions of relationships within the families they are researching. Knowing where the records are today and how access them will also be discussed.
Lunch
Included with registration. Dietary restrictions will checked later.
Using Cluster Research to Find an Ancestor
Anne Gillespie Mitchell
Everyone has brick walls in their genealogy research. People who seem not to have parents; Women whose maiden names seem to be unknowable. It’s time to stop researching the person with the brick wall and instead research their family members, their neighbors and anyone and everyone they have been associated with. We will explore methodologies that will help you use cluster research to break down your brick walls.
Texas Court Records
John Sellers
As with many things about Texas, its court system has some unique features. Both criminal and civil case and courts will be reviewed Terminology will addressed and applied. Some cases will be reviewed to show genealogical value. Research techniques will be explained.
Thursday, May 25, 2017
Migration Trails and Settlement
Teri Flack
Texas has attracted settlers for centuries. This session provides an overview of the most common migration trails and settlement patterns, and strategies for tracking migrants to and through Texas.
Texas and Her Wars/Texas Rangers
Kelvin Meyers
As a Republic, Texas had its own Army and Navy, we sent soldiers to serve in both the Union and Confederate troops during the Civil War and of course its own special force, the Texas Rangers. This lecture we will look at the records created by each of these groups, how to access them and what they can reveal about your ancestors.
Lunch
Included with registration. Dietary restrictions will checked later.
Military, Bounty, and Donation Grants
Kelvin Meyers
A tradition of rewarding soldiers with land goes back to the Roman Empire and was continued in Texas by the Spanish Crown and throughout the state’s history. Whether offering bounty land to encourage men to join the Texas Revolution to rewarding Confederate veterans or their widows, land has been a benefit for being a Texas veteran.
Records of Reconstruction
Teri Flack
During the 10 years of Reconstruction county government changed, and the federal government intruded. Freed slaves had to make their way in unfamiliar territory; thousands of immigrants – from the South and overseas – migrated to Texas. This session identifies Reconstruction’s unique research opportunities: special laws and multiple constitutions, which led to the creation of records not found during any other time in the 19th century.
Banquet
Included in registration.
Follow our Blog | Subscribe to our eNews | Check the TIGR Website
Questions? Email tigr@txsgs.org.
Join the conversation @ #TIGR2017