WILLIE LEE GAY H-TOWN CHAPTER

Resources for Research

This resource page contains a list of selected libraries in the Houston area with significant genealogical & family history resources. They offer free access to genealogy related databases.

Also listed are genealogy websites and videos to support your research.

 

Perpetual Yearly Calendar   (Thanks to Debra) 

Houston Informer Index of Deaths 1916 – 1969


Selected Libraries

Clayton Library Center for Genealogical ResearchClick Here to learn more

5300 Caroline Street, Houston, Texas, 77004 ~~ Phone: 832.393.2600

Clayton is the fourth largest genealogy library in the United States. It houses most conventional genealogical resources such as Federal census records (all States), city directories, birth/death indexes, estate records, wills, deeds, newspapers, handbooks, guides, databases and much more.

Resources via Internet: As a TexShare member, HPL provides free access to a number of genealogical resources, including HeritageQuest Online (ProQuest), where you can search U.S. Federal Census records and other family history materials. Note: Remote access is available for those who have an HPL PowerCard.

Houston Metropolitan Research Center (HMRC)http://www2.houstonlibrary.org/hmrc/

500 McKinney Houston, Texas, 77002 ~~ Phone: 839.393.1313

The Texas Room and Archives are excellent resources for tapping local history as well as Texas history in general.

The African American Library at the Gregory SchoolClick to learn more!

1300 Victor Street, Houston, Texas 77019 ~~ Phone: 832.393.1440

The archival collection at the Gregory School contains historic local Black-owned newspapers, yearbooks from local Black high schools, family collections, scholarly journals, and other resources that are useful for genealogical research. Many resources are made available online.

Robert James Terry Library (RJT) (Texas Southern University Campus)Learn more here!

3100 Cleburne Avenue, Houston, Texas 77004 ~~ Phone: 713.313.7402

Resources: Heartman is reputedly the largest repository of people of African descent located in the southwestern United States. Among its extensive holdings are original slave narratives, rare books, local history, and an impressive manuscript collection. Heartman also oversees the African Art Gallery, Barbara Jordan papers, University Archives, and more. Heartman has recently released its Texas Slave Trade Series, 1818-1886 on microfilm which contains names of hundreds slaves, slave owners, bills of sale and more. The Guide to the Texas Slave Trade Series is now available (download) through Kathryn Morrow Research.

Thurgood Marshall School of Law Library (TMSLL) Special Collections Texas Southern University

3100 Cleburne Houston, Texas 77004 ~~ Phone: 713.313.1978
Email: obabatunde@tmslaw.tsu.edu

Resources: TMSLL Special Collections boast several resources with genealogical value such as Freedmen’s Bureau materials, U.S. Colored Troops, Ante-Bellum plantation records, National Negro Business League, Writer’s Project Administration, State Slavery Statutes, abolitionist papers, Texas Voter Registration List, index to Texas birth/death records, census indexes (CD-ROM), census records (Harris County), slave schedules, handbooks, guides and other conventional genealogical materials.
Resources via Internet: The Digital Serial Set within the CIS Congressional Universe collection of databases is an overlooked resource that has tremendous genealogical value. It is especially useful for researching state history. It references hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of names from well known legislatures to the average American citizen. CIS Congressional Universe is available to the public via local network; remote access is available to TSU students, faculty, staff and TexShare Card holders who have Law Library accounts. As a TexShare member, the public can also access HeritageQuest Online through the Law Library local network.

Harris County Archives – http://www.harriscountyarchives.com/

11525 Todd St, Houston, TX 77055 ~~ Phone: 713.274.9680
The holdings of the archives include approximately 6400 bound volumes, 3600 cubic feet of processed and unprocessed records, 637 bound volumes of the Houston Post, and over 14,000 rolls of microfilm including departmental records and the Houston Chronicle and Houston Post newspapers (1976 – 2001). Additionally, the archives includes over 600 volumes of scrapbooks and maps, photographs, video and film. The Harris County Archives is capable of providing digital copies of the records in its collection.