The Galveston and Texas History Center serves as a crucial resource for genealogy researchers, with resources such as early birth and death records, immigration records, census records, and church records. Rosenberg Library also provides access to databases such as Ancestry and Newspaper Archive to aid in one's research into his or her family history.
The First Census of Texas, 1829-36 to which are added Texas Citizenship lists, 1821-1845 and other early records of the Republic of Texas. Mullins, Marian Day, ed.
F 385 .F37 1959. GTHC Ready Reference Shelf
Republic of Texas Poll Lists for 1846. Mullins, Marian Day, ed.
F385 .M84. GTHC Ready Reference Shelf
1840 Census of the Republic of Texas. White, Gifford, ed.
F 390.W59. GTHC Ready Reference Shelf
U.S. Census (Texas only) 1850. Indexed; Publications by county.
GTHC Ready Reference shelf.
*We recommend visiting the Clayton Genealogical Library in Houston to access census indexes. Their website is http://www2.houstonlibrary.org/clayton/
Galveston County Tax Assessor’s Abstracts: 1880-1914. Original ledger books divided by Galveston city lots and out lots.
GTHC manuscript.
Galveston County Tax Rolls: 1838-1921. Arranged chronologically then alphabetically.
MS# 83-0013 microfilm. GTHC Microfilm Cabinet.
Early Texas Birth Records, 1838-78. Gracy, Sumner, and Gentry.
F 385.G72. GTHC Ready Reference Shelf.
1903 – present. Contact Galveston County Health District, Dept of Vital Statistics.
Note:
Record of Interments of the City of Galveston, 1859 – 1872. Transcription.
F394.25.G2R4 v.1. GTHC Ready Reference Shelf.
Record of Interments of the City of Galveston, May 1878 – Nov 1882. Transcription.
F394.25.G2R4 v.2. GTHC Ready Reference Shelf.
Record of Interments of the City of Galveston, 1866 – 1881.
MS# 83-0021 microfilm. GTHC Microfilm Cabinet.
Mortuary Records, City of Galveston, 1875 – 1926.
MS# 98-0006 microfilm. GTHC Microfilm Cabinet
Book 1: Jan. 01, 1875 – Dec. 31, 1886
Book 2: Jan. 01, 1887 – Aug. 09, 1894
Book 3: Aug. 10, 1894 – Mar. 30, 1900
Book 4: Mar. 30, 1900 – Dec. 31, 1903
Book 5: Jan. 01, 1904 – Jan. 31, 1910
Book 6: Feb. 01, 1910 – May 31, 1918
Book 7: Jun. 01, 1918 – Dec. 31, 1926
Death Certificates, City of Galveston, ca. 1880 - 1910. Alphabetized by last name.
MS# 86-0005 microfilm. GTHC Microfilm Cabinet. [copy at Clayton Genealogical Library]
Early Texas Death and Legal Records From Joseph Franklin’s Diary and John Griffin’s Sexton Records. Joseph Franklin’s Diary Parts 1 and 2 (1838-1908), and Galveston City Sexton Part 3 (1847-1851). Galveston County Genealogical Society.
F 394. G2E E2 1990. GTHC Ready Reference Shelf
1927 – current. Contact Galveston County Health District, Dept of Vital Statistics.
Cemetery and Marriage Records Notebook for Galveston, 1838-circa 1840.
MS# 85-0025. GTHC Manuscript Collection (oversize)
Galveston County Texas Marriage Records, Book A: 1838 – 1850. Crabtree, Oradel, compiler.
F 392 .G25 G17 1985. GTHC Ready Reference Shelf
1838 – current. Contact Galveston County Clerk’s Office.
[Scholastic Census: 1900 – 1912]. Includes all children enrolled in Galveston School District. Separated by City, County, and Race. Arranged chronologically and then alphabetically by last name.
MS# 78-0018 microfilm. GTHC Microfilm Cabinet
Galveston School Records: [1881 – 1902]. Ledgers from Ball High School, 1886-1892; First District School, 1884-1888; Grammar School, 1881-1888; Second District School, 1881-1884; West District Colored School, 1885-1895; West District School, 1895-1902.
MS# 95-0010. GTHC Manuscript Collection (oversize)
Galveston Yearbooks. Search the catalog for any Galveston school to see holdings. Holdings include Ball High School (from 1894), Central High School (from 1946), Kirwin High School, Ursuline Academy, and many others. Holdings are incomplete; please check for a particular year.
W.K. Herbert & Company Records, 1919 - 1968. Includes Rosewood Cemetery Association.
MS# 87-0033. Index on Ready Reference Shelf
Johnson – Young Funeral Service, [1947 – 1950]. Beal, Bertha Ellen, compiler.
F 394.25 .G2 J4 1995. GTHC Ready Reference Shelf
Green’s Funeral Home Ledgers, 1948-1999 (African-American)
MS# 2014-0008 GTHC Manuscript Collection (oversize)
Cahill Cemetery Records, 1923 – 1951.
MS# 77-0033. GTHC Manuscript Collection
Episcopal Cemetery Register, 1848 – 1994.
MS# 95-0006. GTHC Manuscript Collection (oversize)
Cemetery and Marriage Records Notebook for Galveston, 1838-circa 1840.
MS# 85-0025. GTHC Manuscript Collection (oversize)
Magnolia Grove Association Records, 1871.
MS# 71-0097. GTHC Manuscript Collection
Magnolia Grove Cemetery Collection, 1876-1941.
MS# 88-0009. GTHC Manuscript Collection
Galveston County Tombstones Inscriptions. Texas City Ancestry Searchers.
F 392 .G25 G2. GTHC Ready Reference Shelf
Volume 1: Alta Loma Cemetery; Fairview Cemetery, League City; San Leon Cemetery; City Cemetery, Dickinson; Episcopal Cemetery, Dickinson; Mainland Cemetery, Hitchcock; Perthius Cemetery, Hitchcock; Campbell’s Cemetery, Texas City.
Volume 2: Campbell’s Cemetery, Texas City (revised); Evergreen Cemetery, Arcadia: Grace Memorial Cemetery, Alta Loma; LaMarque Cemetery; High Island Cemetery; Bolivar Cemetery.
Volume 3: Galveston County Memorial Park Cemetery burial records before 1952 (Hitchcock)
Broadway Cemeteries Galveston, Texas. McBee, Linda and Doug.
F 394.25 G2M3 1994. GTHC Ready Reference Shelf
Book 1: Vol. 1: Oct. 1900 – March 1910, A-J
Book 1: Vol. 2: Oct. 1900 – March 1910, K-Z
Book 2: Vol. 1: 1910 – 1920, A-K
Book 2: Vol. 2: 1910 – 1920, L-Z
Book 2: Vol. 3: 1920 – 1930, A-K
Book 2: Vol. 3: 1920 – 1930, L-Z
Lakeview Cemetery Record, Galveston, Texas. McBee, Linda, compiler.
F 394.25 .G2 L3 1992. GTHC Ready Reference Shelf
Vol. 1: 1887 – 1908
Vol. 2: 1908 – 1917
Vol. 3: 1917 – 1929
Confederate Veterans “Rest in Peace” Galveston, Texas. McBee, Linda, compiler.
F 394.25 .G2 C6 1991. GTHC Ready Reference Shelf
Find-A-Grave. https://www.findagrave.com/
Ships Passenger Lists, Port of Galveston, 1846 – 1871. Galveston County Genealogical Society.
HE 601 .U5 S5. GTHC Ready Reference Shelf; also 2nd floor reference stacks
Passenger Lists for Galveston, 1850 – 1855. Blaha, Albert, compiler.
These lists were compiled from German newspapers and newsletters. The lists are in chronological order. There is no name index.
HE 601 .U5 P3 1985. GTHC Ready Reference Shelf
The Galveston-Bremen Project: 1865 – 1896. Konecny, Lawrence, compiler.
Immigration from Bremen and Bremerhaven to Galveston, Texas 1865 – 1896, an analysis by year and by voyage. Information gathered from newspapers; not a complete list of immigrants.
F 395 .G3 K6 1995. GTHC Ready Reference Shelf
Fisher-Miller and GEC Forever: July 1844 – Feb. 1846. Kleinecke, Charles, Jr., compiler.
From the original ship lists in the Texas State Archives at Austin, TX (the Fisher Colony Papers).
F 395 .G3 F53 1994. GTHC Ready Reference Shelf
Czech Immigration Passenger Lists, Vol. 1, 2, 3, 6. Baca, Leo.
Includes pictures and information about the ships.
CS 68 .B32. GTHC Ready Reference Shelf
New Homes in a New Land: German Immigration to Texas, 1844 – 1847. Geue, Chester W. and Ethel.
F 395 .G3 G41. GTHC Ready Reference Shelf
Passenger Lists for the Port of Galveston, 1895 – 1948. Indexed.
Microfilm on 3rd Floor
Note: There are no official Galveston passenger lists for the years 1872 – 1894.
http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/passengerlists/index.htm
Naturalization Records prior to 1950 are held at the Civil Division of the District Clerk’s Office. Information may include the immigrant’s Petition and Declaration of Intent to become a citizen, along with accompanying data, such as birth, origin, family, employment, residence, and arrival information.
Galveston County Courthouse, 4th Floor, Suite 4001, 600 59th Street, Galveston, TX 77551, 409-766-2440. http://www.galvestoncountytx.gov/dc/Pages/default.aspx
Galveston City Directories
1856 – 1860; 1866 – 1938 on microfilm
1938 – current. GTHC Reading Room
1859 – 1860; 1866-1913, Portal to Texas History
Portal to Texas History - Galveston City Directories
Galveston Telephone Directories
1904 – current, shelved in GTHC Book Room
Houston City Directories
1879 – 1984 [not inclusive]. GTHC Reading Room
Alvin City Directories
1967 – 1991. GTHC Reading Room
Clear Lake City Directories
1964 – 1979. GTHC Reading Room
Texas City/La Marque City Directories
1963 – 1993. GTHC Reading Room
Avenue L Baptist Church Records, 1840 – 1861.
MS# 83-0046, located in GTHC
First Baptist Church Meeting Minutes, 1840 – 1948.
MS# 83-0005 microfilm, located in GTHC
First Baptist Church Records, 1882 –1938.
MS# 79-0000, located in GTHC
First Lutheran Church Records, 1850 – 1946. [Records are written in German].
MS# 83-0006 microfilm, located in GTHC
First Presbyterian Church Papers, 1868 – 1976.
MS# 76-0039, located in GTHC.
Grace Episcopal Church Records, 1875 – 1955.
MS# 89-0012, located in GTHC. Also on microfilm.
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Galveston, Texas: baptismal, confirmation, marriage, and death records, 1860 – 1952.
BX 4603 .G2 S24 1984, GTHC Ready Reference Shelf. Also on microfilm, MS# 83-0007
Temple B’Nai Israel Congregation, 1869 – 1953.
MS# 83-0008 microfilm, located in GTHC
Trinity Episcopal Church Records, 1865 – 1944.
MS# 86-0006, portions on microfilm, located in GTHC
Zion Lutheran Church Records, [1896 – 1945].
MS# 89-0023, located in GTHC
Lisa May, Director
The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Archives
Downtown Chancery
1700 San Jacinto
Houston, TX 77002
713-652-8283
https://www.archgh.org/offices-ministries/administration/archive-records/
NewspaperArchives. Searchable, digitized microfilm of Galveston newspapers, as well as many other newspapers across the country. Accessible through Computer Lab on the third floor. www.rosenberg-library.org under E-Library / All Online Databases / Articles, News, & Magazines / NewspaperArchives.
Portal to Texas History. Searchable newspapers from Galveston and across Texas, as well as many other Texas history resources. Accessible online at https://texashistory.unt.edu/.
Flake’s Bulletin: 1861 – 1872
Galveston Daily News: 1863 – 69; 1870 – present
Galveston News: 1846-1863
Galveston Tri-Weekly News: 1855 – 1873
Galveston Tribune: 1885 – 1965 (only a few scattered issues)
Indianola Bulletin: 1853 – 1860
Indianola Courier: 1859 – 1861
Indianola Times: April 21, 1866
Indianola Weekly Bulletin: 1871 – 1872
Galveston County Clerk’s Office
600 59th Street Suite 2001, 2nd floor
Mailing address: PO. Box 17253, Galveston, TX 77552-7253
409-766-2200
http://www.galvestoncountytx.gov/cc/Pages/default.aspx
Civil Division of the District Clerk, Galveston County
600 59th Street Suite 4001, 4th floor
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 17250, Galveston, TX 77551
409-766-2424
http://www.galvestoncountytx.gov/dc/Pages/default.aspx
Galveston County Health Department
Birth & Death Records (Vital Statistics)
9850 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway, Suite A-102
Texas City, TX 77591
409-938-7221 or 409-765-2595
https://www.gchd.org/public-health-services/environmental-health-services-/forms-reports-requests/birth-death-records
Updated 4/7/2020 LM
(409) 763-8854 ext. 126
[email protected]
Galveston and Texas History Center
Rosenberg Library
2310 Sealy Avenue
Galveston, TX 77550
Open Tue-Sat 9-6
Directions & Maps
