A. Personal & Family Collection

Classification

Identifier: A

Staff Only

The Family and Personal Collection offer sources for the study of a variety of topics such as agriculture, economic conditions, the Civil War, the role of Texan women, and family history in Texas history. Such collections contain diaries, letters, land records, memoirs, and other papers collected by, and centered on, an individual or successive generations of a family. Among the collections is material from Karle Wilson Baker, Stephen F. Austin, Archie P. McDonald, and local NAACP leader Arthur Weaver. These collections document the social, cultural and economic history of East Texas from European colonialism to the present day and provide a view into southern culture and life.

Found in 378 Collections and/or Records:

McFarland-Russell Family Papers

Collection

Identifier: A-0019

Scope and Contents 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...

Dates: 1832-1950

Found in: East Texas Research Center

Ellen Landers Collection

Collection

Identifier: A-0275

Scope and Contents While ostensibly a genealogical collection detailing Ellen Landers’s ancestry going back more than 6 generations, the Ellen Landers Collection also offers valuable insight into topics such as the interstate slave trade, antebellum politics in Georgia, the 1856 Democratic National Convention, secession, and 1880s courtship etiquette. The majority of historical documents are correspondence to and from family and friends, but there are also bills and receipts, dance invitations, and one month...

Dates: 1791-2006

Found in: East Texas Research Center

A. A. Nelson Family Letters

Collection

Identifier: A-0272

Scope and Contents

The letters in this collection document A. A. Nelson II and Mattie Langston’s courtship and early marriage between 1895 to 1899 and provide a perspective of life in Nacogdoches in the late 19th century.

Dates: 1894-1899

Found in: East Texas Research Center

Lyne Taliaferro Barret Papers

Collection

Identifier: A-0005

Scope and Contents

Correspondence, field notes, deeds, receipts, contracts, and promissory notes of Barret. Includes material on the Angelina River clearance and the Confederacy and Reconstruction, the personal papers of T. Jeff and Amanda Johnson and business records of the Melrose Petroleum Oil Company (1845-1914).

Dates: 1836-1966; Event: Donated in 1966

Found in: East Texas Research Center

The Rusk Family Letters

Collection

Identifier: A-0030

Scope and Contents The majority of this collection consists of accounts, bills, advertising circulars, county records, correspondence, notes, postcards, promissory notes, and receipts addressed to David Rusk or his son John Rusk. This collection will have appeal for both the casual observer and the serious historian or researcher. Documents deserving special consideration in the collection include: • Letters (60) between Texas’ first U.S. Senator, Thomas J. Rusk, and his younger brother...

Dates: Event: The Thomas J. Rusk Letters (59 originals, 1 photocopy) were loaned from 6/24/1975 to early 2005.; Event: Purchased by the University 9/26/2016.; Event: Purchased materials received by the ETRC 10/10/2016.; Event: Addendum of donated materials received by the ETRC 10/24/2016.; Event: Addendum of donated materials received by the ETRC 1/23/2017.; Event: Addendum of donated materials received by the ETRC 3/15/2017.

Found in: East Texas Research Center

Karle Wilson Baker Papers

Collection

Identifier: A-0002

Scope and Contents

The Karle Wilson Baker Papers include diaries; manuscripts; correspondence with publishers, editors, writers, fans, friends, and organizations; newspaper clippings and other biographical materials; photographs; and historical research materials, including some original materials dating back to the 1830's.

Dates: c.1800s-1963; Event: Donated in 1974

Found in: East Texas Research Center

Goss Family Papers

Collection

Identifier: A-0187

Dates: 1859

Found in: East Texas Research Center

N. Campbell Cox Collection

Collection

Identifier: A-372

Content Description

Scrapbooks, post cards and photographs

Dates: Event: Donated 7/26/2012

Found in: East Texas Research Center

Pena-Chireno Family Papers

Collection

Identifier: A-0024

Scope and Contents The Peña-Chireno Family Papers contain original documents, 50 of which are written in Spanish, for the Peña family, the Chireno family, and other early Spanish and Mexican families (1). The collection includes personal correspondence from Sister Isabel Chireno at the Convent of Sacred Heart in Clarksville, TX to her parents Luis Chireno and Gregoria Chireno. Mother Superior, Mary Pepin also recounted Sister Isabel’s final days in two letters to her family. Other materials in the collection...

Dates: 1800-1936

Found in: East Texas Research Center

Quillian Garrison Research Collection

Collection

Identifier: A-0042

Scope and Contents The Quillian Garrison Research Collection is a genealogical research collection compiled by Garrison for her book, Descendants of Caleb Garrison, Sr. and His Wife, Sarah Fleming 1791-1966. Caleb Garrison is the namesake of Garrison, TX. The collection is composed of approximately 750 items. Included are military records for the Mexican-American War and the Confederacy, obituaries, census data, newspaper clippings, copies of death certificates, copies of bible records,...

Dates: 1831-1973

Found in: East Texas Research Center

David V. Muckleroy Papers

Collection

Identifier: A-0053

Scope and Contents

The collection contains four original land deeds (1849-1851) and copies of two other land documents. There are also several biographical and genealogical materials, including a typescript of an account by Jesse H. Muckleroy (son of David) tracing the family's move from Tennessee to Texas and the establishment of their farm near Nacogdoches.

Dates: 1840-1871

Found in: East Texas Research Center

Anna Kathryn Holbrook Collection

Collection

Identifier: A-0219

Scope and Contents

This collection consists mainly of historical information about San Augustine. There is some personal material such as cards and invitations.

Dates: 1891-1977

Found in: East Texas Research Center

W. Goodrich Jones Papers

Collection

Identifier: A-0016

Scope and Contents This collection consists of personal and business correspondence; writings; newspaper and magazine articles; brochures; biographical and genealogical materials; and Texas forestry history by and about Jones, known as "the Father of Texas Forestry." Researchers may find the ledger of correspondenceof particular interest. It has letters, notes and telegrams from important individuals such as Texas' U. S. Senator Morris Sheppard, Texas Governor Pat M. Neff, timber baron John...

Dates: 1881-1985

Found in: East Texas Research Center

Cox Family Collection

Collection

Identifier: A-0388

Scope and Contents The Cox Family Collection offers an insight into the city of Nacogdoches from 1895 to 2021.The Navarro Cox Tire Co. is featured prominently in the collection through photographs and annotations written on the back that detail the history of the company. Peggy Cox’s correspondence provides the history of historic sites around Nacogdoches such as the restoration of the Durst-Taylor House and the construction of “The Treaty” statue. Nacogdoches civic organizations documented in the collection...

Dates: Event: Donated 6/30/2025

Found in: East Texas Research Center

Dorothy Palmer Papers

Collection

Identifier: A-0222

Scope and Contents

The bulk of this collection consists of deeds, but there are also promissory notes, photographs, negatives, several land surveys, some estate papers, a land grant, and a plat map. The majority of the documents pertain to Nacogdoches County.

Researchers may find several of the c.1920s photographs and negatives in folder 1 to be of particular interest.

Dates: 1854-1935

Found in: East Texas Research Center

Henry L. Watson Letters

Collection

Identifier: A-0140

Scope and Contents

Although named for Henry L. Watson of Rusk County, Texas, the bulk of the collection pertains to Henry Watson of Panola County, Texas and consists of his Civil War letters to his parents and sister while serving in the Texas Cavalry. The collection also includes service records, a receipt for a gun, and a pension application. This is a collection of photocopied material.

Dates: 1861-1864

Found in: East Texas Research Center

Teutsch Early Nacogdoches Documents

Collection

Identifier: A-0218

Abstract

Photos of 19th and 20th century Nacogdoches and Nacogdoches County. Taken from books, newspapers, originals and post cards. Fire Department minute books 1907-1973.

Dates: 1800s-1973

Found in: East Texas Research Center

Robert Anderson Booklet

Collection

Identifier: A-0184

Scope and Contents

World War II booklet about the 5th Bomber Command during the move from Owi Airfield to the Island of Leyte.

Dates: -

Found in: East Texas Research Center