Your Source for Texas History

The mission of the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) is to “foster the appreciation, understanding, and teaching of the rich and unique history of Texas and, by example and through programs and activities, encourage and promote research, preservation, and publication of historical material affecting the state of Texas.”

TSHA is the oldest learned society in our state. Organized in Austin on March 2, 1897, the founders of TSHA brought lay and professional historians together to document and celebrate the state’s complex and diverse history. Today, TSHA follows the path laid out by its founders, sharing Texas history and stories of events and people from all walks of life with individuals and organizations across the state, nation, and globe. It supports educational materials and other scholarship that follow the tenets, methods and practices advocated by the professional historical community.

We will continue to expand our efforts to include all accurate and inclusive histories in TSHA books, the Handbook of Texas and its special editions, the Southwestern Historical Quarterly and our entire range of educational materials and conferences.

In addition, we are involved with educators and students throughout the state who are enthusiastically engaged in these initiatives: Texas History Day, Texas History Challenge, Teaching Texas, Junior Historians of Texas, and the Walter Prescott Webb Historical Society.

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Recent News & Press

TSHA Announces Research Fellowships and Awards for Texas History Research

3 days ago

Texas Students Claim Top Honors at the 2022 National History Day Contest

1 month ago

The Handbook of Texas project began in 1939 as an effort led by University of Texas Professor Walter Prescott Webb to preserve Texas history and create “the most useful book that has ever been published in Texas.”

Today, the Handbook is entirely online and includes 27,555 encyclopedic entries on the influential people, eras, and events of Texas history. Its staff of editors continuously works to add and update entries to ensure its accuracy and comprehensiveness.

See Also

Recent Additions

Simpson, William Hood

1 day ago

Huntt, George Gibson

1 day ago

Stinson, Marjorie Claire

1 week ago

Martin, Mary Belle Littles

1 week ago

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Texas Day By Day

Find out what happened on this day in Texas history

Raiding Comanches soundly defeated at Plum Creek

181 years agotoday

Giant sinkhole appears at Boling Dome

38 years agotoday

Eccentric ornithologist and editor dies

36 years agotoday

Texas Almanac

The Texas Almanac is a biennially published reference work providing readers with information on the history of the state and its 254 counties, people, government and politics, economics, natural resources, and many other topics. Each edition includes featured articles unique to each edition. The book includes insights on the state’s rapidly growing population and changing demographics.

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, continuously published since 1897,is the premier source of scholarly information about the history of Texasand the Southwest.

Printed copies of the Quarterly are a benefit of membership in the TexasState Historical Association and are widely available in public and privatelibraries.

Education Programs

We seek to encourage and improve the teaching of Texas history for the next generation. From our year long Texas History Day program for K-12 students, to our Webb Society chapters for college students, to our Teaching Texas website for teacher resources, TSHA hopes to reach as many Texas students as possible.