Spotlight on State Libraries and Archives: Texas The Texas State Archives collects and makes official records of the Texas government and other significant historical resources available for research. A number of these resources may be accessed via the Archives and Manuscripts homepage on the Texas State Library and Archives Commission web site http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/index.html. Click on the Finding Aids link to locate the links to these resources. Map Collection This searchable database contains descriptions of more than 8,000 maps that cover the period from the early seventeenth century through the late twentieth century. Search results comprise a list of relevant maps. Click on map number links to bring up the descriptions of individual maps. The information provided includes the map number, date and title; publisher and/or cartographer; size and scale, format, type of map, donor, language and a list of related maps. In addition, there are approximately 700 digital images of maps in the collection. Republic Claims The database forms an index to papers submitted to the Texas Comptroller or Treasurer as documentation of goods or services provided to the government during the era of the Republic of Texas, 1835 - 1846. The index contains more than 48,500 names. The search results provide links to digital images for each claim. Examples of services provided to the Republic for which one could expect payment include military service or association with any military engagement during the period, attendance in an official capacity at a convention, or services as a witness in a county court case, to name a few. The record groups include Audited Claims, Republic Pensions, Public Debt Claims, and Unpaid and Miscellaneous Claims. As each record group contains very different types of papers, it is important to read the introduction to and overview of the database before beginning your search. Confederate Pension Applications The Confederate Pensions database is an index to the 54,634 approved, rejected and home pensions issued by the government of Texas between 1899 and 1975. The index provides names, county of residence and pension number. You should note that this database does not include all Texas residents who served in the Confederacy as Texas, like most southern states, only awarded pensions to veterans or their widows residing in Texas since 1880 who were disabled or indigent. Adjutant General Service Records This database contains official service records from the Adjutant General's Office and files created by other agencies, which contain information related to an individual's military service. Fifteen military organizations are represented in this database. The records cover the period from 1836 through 1935. The information in the files may include measurements of uniforms, payments for mustering in, warrants of authority, individual equipment records, general orders, oaths of allegiance, pay vouchers, powers of attorney, and discharge verifications. These documents have been scanned and saved as PDF documents. They are formatted to print on standard letter size paper. Confederate Indigent Families List In 1863, the Texas Legislature passed an "Act to Support the Families and Dependents of Texas Soldiers." The Act set aside funds to be paid to the families, widows and dependents of soldiers who were at the time serving in state and Confederate military forces or of soldiers who had been killed or disabled. This database is an index to county-wide lists of the dependents of the soldiers and their dependents who were eligible for assistance. Not all counties collected this information. The information varies from county to county and may include the name of the soldier, currently in service, disabled or killed in service, unit, and acting head of household in addition to the number of dependents, which is always included. If your family history research takes you to Texas, a visit to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission web site might be in order. Visit http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/index.html. Sally Rolls Pavia sallypavia2001@yahoo.com "Those who dislike the cat . were in a former life, a rat." List Owner: GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES-L-request@rootsweb.com Archives: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES "All incoming and outgoing email checked by Norton Anti-Virus"