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 rely upon gifts from the community and our valued members to continue to expand our efforts to include all accurate and inclusive histories in TSHA publications, the Handbook of Texas and its special projects, the Southwestern Historical Quarterly and our entire range of educational materials and conferences.
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Recent News & Press:
Texas State Historical Association and Autio.com Partner to Celebrate Texas History Day Students
4 weeks ago
TSHA Hosting the San Jacinto Patrons Dinner and San Jacinto Symposium
1 month ago
TSHA in the News:
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We bring Texas history to life!
Annual Meeting
The largest gathering of its kind for Texas history enthusiasts and professional and independent scholars.
San Jacinto Symposium
The preeminent conference on the Texas Revolution era.
Texas Talks
Authors, professors, and historians discuss our fascinating history. If you are a TSHA member, you can watch previous Texas Talks in our Digital Library.
Texas History Day
An annual competition for students in grades 6–12.
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 27,806 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.
New Entries
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Stratton, Monty Franklin Pierce
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Montgomery, Ellie Alma Walls Mims
3 days ago
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Texas Day By Day
What happened today in Texas history? We'll tell you!
One-time port of Saluria was prominent in the Civil War
162 years ago today
U.S. recognizes Republic of Texas claims to disputed territory
185 years ago today
Black Seminole scouts rescue commander from Comanches
148 years ago today
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 Texas and the Southwest.
Printed copies of the Quarterly are a benefit of membership in the Texas State Historical Association and are widely available in public and private libraries.
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, we hope to reach as many Texas students as possible.