Additional Resources
We wish we could house all of Dallas history under one roof. Unfortunately, for obvious reasons we can only scratch the surface of the rich of Dallas County's history & culture. Fortunately, we have wonderful partners that would be more than happy to supplement your thirst for knowledge. For more information about Dallas or Texas history, please visit the following websites.
DAllas historical society
The Dallas Historical Society collects, preserves and exhibits the unique heritage of Dallas and Texas to educate and inspire present and future generations. They endeavor to be the preeminent resource for exploring, preserving and instilling appreciation for the diverse history of Dallas and Texas.
The stories of Dallas are shared each day at the Dallas Historical Society (DHS) through the three million items that comprise their archives and artifact collections. Housed at the Hall of State in Fair Park since 1938, the Society presents these collections through education programs, exhibitions, tours, access to research materials and workshops.
City of Dallas Municipal Archives
Established in 1985, the Dallas Municipal Archives contains over 2,000 cubic feet of departmental records in a variety of forms and formats, including ledgers, manuscripts and typescripts, maps, photographs, microforms, and printed materials. Furthermore, they maintai housands of permanently valuable documents, maps, and architectural plans reflecting the actions of every aspect of Dallas government.
As a division of the City Secretary´s Office, the Archives is also responsible for the preservation microfilming of the City Secretary´s council action files, which contain the originals of all City ordinances and resolutions, meeting minutes, agenda, and support documentation.
Among their many collections are the "Bonnie and Clyde" Barrow Gang materials of the Dallas Police Department, the John F. Kennedy/Dallas Police Department records relating to the assassination of President Kenned, the earliest extant City of Dallas Charter, and over a quarter million images documenting the growth and public services of the City of Dallas.
The Dallas Municipal Archives is open to the public by appointment only Monday - Thursday from 9 am to 4:30pm.
Dallas Public Library
The collection of materials at the Dallas History & Archives Division is one of the largest of its kind in the nation. Their holdings span many aspects of the diverse history of not only Dallas and the surrounding area, but the entire state of Texas.
The Dallas History & Archives Division collects, preserves, and makes available to patrons information in text, graphic, audio, and video formats.
Please note that because of the many unique and fragile resources in the Dallas History & Archives collection, no items circulate outside the Library.
The Dallas History & Archives Division is part of the Special Collections department, which also houses the Fine Books Division.
Texas State Historical Association
TSHA Online is a digital gateway to Texas history. Here you will experience a vast storehouse documenting the rich and complex history of the state through innovative online features and content.
Organized in Austin on March 2, 1897, the Texas State Historical Association is the oldest learned society in the state. Its mission 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.” The association’s publications include the Southwestern Historical Quarterly, more than 150 scholarly books, the Texas Almanac, and the well-known Handbook of Texas Online.
The online Handbook, the nation’s preeminent state history encyclopedia, attracts 400,000 visitors per month from more than 200 countries and territories around the world. Through its varied education programs, the Association directly serves more than 50,000 elementary through college-aged students each year, while indirectly reaching an additional 86,000 through its teacher training opportunities. You can access and search through the Handbook of Texas Online, which also includes Dallas' rich history.