IMPORTANT: UTRGV Special Collections & University Archives houses materials that may be helpful for genealogical research. However, our access to resources is generally limited to secondary source materials (especially books and indices) compiled by regional genealogical researchers and online databases available to the UTRGV students, faculty, and staff.
Genealogical societies and organizations are the best resources for discovering your family ancestry.
Searching for indigenous heritage in Texas requires special consideration for colonial Spanish and Mexican records, including municipal and parish records. We recommend the research compiled by John Schmal for Indigenous Mexico to get started.
The U.S. Department of Interior also provides insight for genealogical research, which recommends researchers "begin research in current, rather than historic records. If an individual is not currently a member of a federally recognized tribe, band or group research should begin in non-Indian records or other public records such as those records maintained by state and local governments, churches, and schools. Individuals should find all the information they can about their parents, grandparents, and more distant ancestors and write such information down..."
Official tribal websites:
Specific records vary by county, they generally contain information such as court documents, marriage records, deed records, and probate minutes. We strongly recommend beginning your county records search online:
Census records are an excellent place to begin expanding information on your family. There you will find members of households, ages, and occupations, as well as countries or states of origin. Begin with the latest census records released, and work backward to 1790 (the State of Texas was founded in 1848). Note: the 1890 census was destroyed by fire. Census records are widely available online via genealogy databases. UTRGV faculty, staff, and students can use HeritageQuest Online.
After a person's death, their Social Security Number and information are made available as public information. The Social Security Death Index is a database of deaths reported to the Social Security Administration (SSA) beginning about 1962 that have been purchased and made available by various organizations. For more information about the SSDI, and links to search pages, go to The Social Security Death Index: A Genealogy Records Guide, or use a genealogy database like HeritageQuest.
Find information on a variety of topics related to immigrants from the late 1700s through the early 2000s, including immigration and naturalization, passport records, visas, A-files, and more. Click here to link to more information: https://www.archives.gov/research/immigration
The Library of Congress Local History and Genealogy research guides are organized by category according to their respective topics. Explore the information and resources in each guide, which encompass Library collections on-site and online, as well as quality materials available through important repositories across the country and around the world. https://guides.loc.gov/local-history-genealogy-research-guides/introduction
Finding Your Hispanic Roots by
Starting with an examination of basic research principles and techniques, illustrated with examples from actual Hispanic research experience, it goes on to discuss such important subjects as language and handwriting, Hispanic surnames, methods of tracing Hispanic immigrants in U.S. records, and, most importantly, how to conduct Hispanic genealogical research in LDS Family History Centers, where the researcher has access to the largest body of Hispanic records in the United States. With this foundation in place, the work proceeds with an examination of the types of records found in all Hispanic countries, using examples from many of them and indicating where particular record types are found. Covered here are such indispensable records as civil registers of births, marriages, and deaths; church records of baptisms, marriages, and burials; census records; military records; and the often under-utilized notarial records.
Finding Your Mexican Ancestors by
Finding Your Mexican Ancestors is essential to any researcher looking to trace their heritage across the Rio Grande. In it, authors George and Peggy Ryskamp show how easy Mexican American research can be providing detailed descriptions of parish records, civil records, and other types of records common in Mexico.
Genealogy Online by
Find your roots This effective hands-on resource explores the vast world of ancestry-related networks, Web sites, and online services, explaining which ones best suit your purposes. Learn to organize your search, where to begin, where to go on the Web, and how to use chat rooms, mailing lists, and Usenet effectively.
Hispanic American Genealogical Sourcebook by
This text provides historical genealogical information on Hispanic Americans. The book looks specifically at their emigration history and genealogical records, and features a directory of genealogical information.
Mexican Genealogy Research Online by
"Mexican Genealogy Research Online: A Guide to Help You Discover Your Mexican Ancestry" will provide you with a solid foundation to being able to find your Mexican Ancestors online. Practically without leaving your home.
A few archival resources have been digitized, and the images are available through the Library's Institutional Repository. Popular items include:
If you prefer old-school, in-person research, then use the library's online catalog to see what is available on microfilm:
Maximize your time and effort. Let our staff assist you with finding and accessing resources online.
We also invite you to schedule an appointment to meet one-on-one with a member of our Special Collections & Archives staff. Schedule an on-campus research visit or choose to meet online (video chat).
