The Archives and Information Services Division (ARIS) of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission is dedicated to preserving the documents and important records of Texas. With a collection exceeding 200 million pages of archival documents, only about 10 million are currently available digitally. This makes the physical library an essential destination for genealogists with Texas roots.
This episode of the Lone Star Family Trails podcast was produced in front of both a live and a Zoom audience and was facilitated by the Waco-McLennan Library. Participants had the opportunity to ask questions, which were answered by Jelain Chubb, the Texas State Archivist and Director of ARIS.
Located near the state capital building in Austin, Texas, the archives offers an open source reading room and the ability to request materials held by the archives. Among the most popular resources for genealogists are the Confederate pensions, with over 54,000 indexed records searchable online. Other valuable resources include maps, photographs, tax rolls, and city directories. Don’t forget to check out the Texas Convict Record Ledgers and Indexes—every family has its black sheep!
The ARIS website provides a variety of finding aids that can be viewed before planning a visit. These aids will help you understand the breadth of their resources and what you can expect to find.
Happy hunting!
Website URL: ……….https://www.tsl.texas.gov/arc
Reference Phone: ….612-463-5455
Address: ………………1201 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701
Hours: ………………….9:00 – 4:45 pm Monday through Friday;
………………………………9:00 – 4:00 pm, second Saturday of the month