The McFarland-Russell family papers contain the personal histories of early Texans Thomas S. McFarland and Robert B. Russell and their descendants. The McFarland journal, an original copy, was written by Thomas McFarland from January 1st, 1837 to June 1840 about his daily activities while land surveying in early East Texas. It provides a glimpse into life for Texans following independence from Mexico. Robert B. Russell’s correspondence details his service as the Confederate postmaster of Orange, TX. The scrapbook of Thomas S. McFarland’s daughter, Kate McFarland Russell, contains newspaper clippings and genealogical information. Her daughter Mary Catherine Russell Fleig updated the family history and added the Fleig family’s genealogy to the last pages of her mother’s scrapbook. Other materials in the collections include family genealogical research of descendants from 1830 to 1965, photos, newspapers articles, and personal correspondence between family members.