Host: Susan Kaufman
Guest: Linda Reynolds, 
Director, East Texas Research Center
East Texas, and Nacogdoches in particular, has historically served as a gateway into Texas, an important point in the migration of Texas pioneers for over 150 years. The East Texas Research Center (ETRC) preserves the history of this region through manuscript materials, photographs, books, and more. ETRC’s collections offer many opportunities for genealogists to explore their ancestor’s life in the area.
Genealogists can discover treasures when diving deep into the collections. The time taken to review the contents of these collections could reveal social history details applicable to an ancestor. For example, as East Texas once supported a heavy lumber industry, ETRC holds collections of business records and photographs of that time period. One gem might be a love letter written to a spouse living in another state. Listen to the podcast to learn more about this letter.
Located in the Ralph W. Steen Library at the Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. ETRC’s mission emphasizes preservation of history through donations of manuscript materials, photographs, books, and other items. Their focus is on archival materials from the East Texas geographical region from the Gulf of Mexico north to the Red River and east of the Trinity River in Western Louisiana. Researchers may explore these collections in person by appointment.
Only a small part of the collection is digital and available online via a designated URL: https://digital.sfasu.edu/. Of particular interest is the Texas Runaway Slave Project, which includes newspaper articles published in Texas regarding more than 2,500 fugitive slaves.
In addition, ETRC houses all of the TxSGS First Families lineage applications. Copies of lineage applications with source documents (minus documents applying to living persons) can be obtained from ETRC. Check the First Families index at https://www.txsgs.org/programs/heritage-certificates/first-families-index/ to see if someone has submitted a lineage with your ancestor. Then, contact asketrc@sfu.edu for information on how to obtain that lineage application.
If you have ancestors from this area, consider adding the East Texas Research Center to your list of must-visit repositories.
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
URL: https://www.sfasu.edu/library/archives
Address: Ralph W. Steen Library, Second Floor
…………………………..905 E Library Drive, W. Nacogdoches, TX 75692
Phone: 936-468-4199
Questions: asketrc@sfasu.edu