We are working on updating this list and repairing broken links. In the meantime, please search our current holdings using the Search Our Collections button below.
Genealogical Subject Guides:
(More guides coming soon!)
Each subject guide listed below is tailored to the specific characteristics of its research topic and can be very helpful to researchers working on genealogy. The formats of the guides vary with the subject matter, but each directs the researcher to key resources within the Briscoe Center’s collections. Many of the guides include useful contextual information such as inclusive years, physical size, historical context, and collection strengths. The next step is to examine the more detailed finding aids or the University of Texas Online Catalog to determine exact access codes or call numbers. Please contact our Reference Services staff if you have any questions.
Due to the changing needs of researchers and new additions to the collections, existing guides are regularly updated and new guides created. You are welcome to send recommendations for future guide topics to our Reference Services staff.
German Ship Passenger Lists (1842-1854):
This PDF includes passenger ship passenger arrival records from the Verein zum Schutze der Deutsche Einwanderer Collection and the Anna Blasig Papers. These ship lists document German and Wendish immigration to Texas in the mid 19th Century.
The Verein zum Schutze der Deutsche Einwanderer (The Union for the Protection of German Immigrants) was an organization established by a group of German noblemen in 1842 for the purpose of settling the Fischer-Miller Land Grant in central Texas.
The Anna Justine Blasig Papers contain the ship passenger arrival records from the Ben Nevis, a ship that transported Wendish settlers from eastern German to Texas.
Notes on using this resource:
Many first names recorded in the original ship lists were abbreviated (ie “Jac.” instead of Jacob or “Chr.” instead of Christian). There has been no attempt made to infer names from the abbreviations, rather the lists have been transcribed exactly as they were recorded.
Portions of the original ship lists have faded, torn, or are simply illegible. In such cases, there is a bracketed note or a question mark to designate the portion of the name that is illegible.
Census Records:
Below is a listing of U.S. Census Records available on microfilm at the Briscoe Center for American History.
- Alabama: Population schedules only for 1830, 1840, 1850, and 1860.
- Arkansas: Population schedules only for 1830 and 1840; population and agricultural schedules available for 1850; population, mortality and agricultural schedules available for 1860; population, mortality, industry and agricultural schedules available for 1870; and population, mortality, industry, agricultural and defective, delinquent and dependent schedules available for 1880; no schedules for 1890 or 1900.
- Florida: Population schedules only for 1830, 1840, 1850 and 1860; no schedules for 1870 through 1900.
- Georgia: Population schedules only for 1830, 1840, 1850 and 1860; no schedules for 1870 through 1900.
- Kansas: Population schedules for 1870, Lincoln-Morris Counties only; no other schedules for Kansas.
- Kentucky: Population schedule for 1820 for Barron-Hart Counties only; population schedules only for 1830 through 1860; no schedules for 1870 through 1900.
- Louisiana: Population schedules only for 1830 through 1880; no schedules for 1890 or 1900.
- Maryland: Population schedules only for 1830 through 1860; no schedules for 1870 through 1900.
- Mississippi: Population schedules only for 1830 and 1840 include slave names; population schedules only for 1850 and 1860; no schedules for 1870 through 1900.
- Missouri: Population schedules only for 1830 through 1860; no schedules for 1870 through 1900.
- North Carolina: Population schedules only for 1830 through 1860; no schedules for 1870 through 1900.
- Pennsylvania: Population schedules only for 1830 for the City of Philadelphia.
- South Carolina: Population schedules only for 1830 through 1850; population, manufacturing, agricultural, social statistics, and industry schedules for 1860; no schedules for 1870 through 1900.
- Tennessee: Population schedules only for 1830 through 1860; no schedules for 1870 through 1900.
- Texas: Population schedules only for 1850 through 1900; name indexes available for 1850 and 1860 census schedules and include slave names; soundex microfilm available for 1880 schedule.
- Virginia: Population schedules only for 1820 through 1860; no schedules for 1870 through 1900.
- Wyoming: Population schedule only for 1870; no schedules for 1820 through 1860, or 1880 through 1900.
