Host: Ron Barnett
Guest: John R Verslius, Dean of the Texas Heritage Museum at Hill College, Hillsboro, Texas
The Texas Heritage Museum has three separate divisions: the Texas Heritage Museum Galleries & Collection, the Historical Research Center, and the Hill College Press. Dean Verslius announced that the Texas Heritage Museum just received accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums, the highest recognition afforded the nation’s museums.
The museum’s Historical Research Center is the focus for this Lone Star Family Trails podcast. The Historical Research Center concentrates on military history, with a primary focus on the Civil War. Considered by many to be one of the top five civil war repositories in the nation, Historical Research Center’s resources include an extensive collection of maps, photographic collections, microfilm, and an archival repository. Housed in 256 filing cabinets within the center are soldiers’ letters, diaries, and unpublished manuscripts from all wars.
Most of the research needs to be done in person or by asking the Historical Research Center to perform research for you. They have material on the units that participated in both the Union Army and the Confederacy including information on where they fought, who was involved in the unit, and the overall history of the unit. This corresponds to a map that shows their movement throughout the war.
Although they are best known for their Civil War articles, they also have files for World War I and II.. Appointments are required, because the staff works directly with the researcher to find items that pertain to their ancestor. However, there is an online form that allows you to request civil war research be done without you visiting, for a small fee. They are also looking for Civil War artifacts, uniforms, and letters to add to their collections.
Address: 112 Lamar Drive, Hillsboro, Texas, 76645
URL: https://www.hillcollege.edu/museum/Divisions.html
Email: museum@hillcollege.edu
Phone: 254-659-7750
Hours: by appointment only