Archival Collection
If you have ever had an interest in local history or genealogical research, archives are a vital resource. Archives offer insight into our history – they are a place where almost everyone can find information about themselves, their ancestors or their community.
The shelves of the Fort Worth Library contain more than 2,500 linear feet of historic materials – that’s more than the length of eight football fields! The Archives collects primary and secondary materials about the history of Fort Worth, including its local institutions, organizations and people. Included in the collection are:
- Maps
- Photos
- Newspaper clippings
- Periodicals
- Scrapbooks
- City government records
- Books
- Pamphlets
- Correspondence
Formats include books, periodicals, CD-ROMs and online databases. The collection focuses primarily on Texas and the South, but also includes a considerable amount of information on the Midwest and the original thirteen states. Moreover, the Library is the official archives for the City of Fort Worth municipal government.
The Archives Unit is located in the lower level of the Central Library. Whether you are an experienced genealogist or just a casual history buff, there is something for you in our archives. To learn more, call 817-392-7740, or email to LibraryWebMail@fortworthtexas.gov with "Geneaology" as the subject.
City of Fort Worth
Organizations
- All Saints' Episcopal Church
- American Bicentennial Collection
- American Guild of Organists, Fort Worth Chapter
- Aviation Scrapbooks
- The Bohemian
- Carlin Art Galleries Records
- Casa Mañana Playhouse Scrapbooks
- Centennial Celebration Committee
- Composers, Authors & Artists of America, Inc.
- Cook Children's Medical Center
- Council of Social Agencies of Fort Worth and Tarrant County Records
- The Critic
- Dance Cards
- Daughters of the American Colonists, Hon. Phillip Livingston Chapter Scrapbooks
- Daughters of the American Revolution: Fort Worth Chapter
- Daughters of the Republic of Texas: Van Zandt Chapter
- Down Historic Trails of Fort Worth and Tarrant County
- Ellison Furniture Store Papers
- Fairmount Neighborhood Association
- Farmer's Alliance
- First Methodist Church Collection
- First National Bank of Fort Worth Archives
- Fort Worth Conservation Council
- Fort Worth Exchange Club
- Fort Worth Genealogical Society Scrapbooks
- Fort Worth Housing Authority
- Fort Worth Jazz Archives
- Fort Worth Library Women's Archives
- Fort Worth Little Theatre Programs
- Fort Worth National Bank Papers
- Fort Worth Opera Association Records
- Fort Worth Poetry Society Collection
- General Edward H. Tarrant Chapter of the National Society United States Daughters of 1812
- Greenwall Opera House Programs
- Hattitude Hats Off to Women Association *part of Digital Archive
- Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas-Fort Worth Chapter
- Huguenot Society of Texas, Navarre Chapter
- International Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
- JFK Tribute Collection *part of Digital Archive
- League of Women Voters of Tarrant County
- Magnolia Avenue Christian Church Records
- Mexican American College Education Fund
- Miss Texas Pageant Programs
- Monday Book Club Records
- National Cutting Horse Association Records
- National Society of Colonial Dames of America, Fort Worth Chapter
- Northern Texas Traction Company
- Pan American Round Table of Fort Worth
- Panthers Boys' Club
- P.E.O. Sisterhood, Fort Worth Council
- Pioneers Rest Cemetery Association Records
- RadioShack Records
- Revolutionary War Pension Records
- Reynolds-Campbell Lumber Company Records
- Riverside Christian Church Records
- Robert E. Lee #239, Sons of Confederate Veterans
- Rocket Club Records
- Southwestern Exposition & Livestock Show Programs
- Spade & Trowel Garden Club
- St. Johns Evangelical & Reformed Church
- Taliaferro Target | Texahoma Bugler
- Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society Collection
- Tarrant County Community of Churches Records
- Tarrant County Historical Society Records
- Texas Society of Professional Engineers Fort Worth Chapter Records
- Wesley Community House Records (settlement house records)
- Women’s History Month Collection – Hattitude Hats Off to Women Association *part of Digital Archive
- Women’s Policy Forum Collection, 1986 - 2008
- YWCA Records
Personal/Family
- Allen, John: Photographic Collection
- Anderson-Caldwell Family: Papers
- Ashbury, Samuel: Papers
- Batchelor-Williams Family: Papers
- Beall-Magruder Family: Papers
- Bell, Robert: Papers
- Benge Family: Papers
- Bice, Ernest G.: Collection
- Blankenship, Katie Ruth Anderson: Papers
- Blue Family: Manuscript
- Boaz, Willis L.: Papers
- Bonds Ranch and Burnett Family: Photographs
- Brancato, Al: Papers
- Brown Family:Papers
- Buckley, Evelyn Ruth: Papers
- Burchill Family: Papers
- Burritt, Ida Calhoun: Papers
- Burroughs-Cetti Family: Papers
- Campbell, Kathryn: Papers
- Cantey, Sam: Papers
- Cary, Reby: Papers
- Casstevens, Katie: Papers
- Castle Family: Papers
- Clark Family: Record Book
- Clarke, Mark Whatley: Papers
- Clifton, Judge Drew S.: Scrapbook
- Copeland Family: Papers
- Dacus, Melvin: Oral History
- Danciger, Jack: Papers
- Daniel, Louis Papers
- Duvall, J.C.: Papers
- Ferrier, Lona Bryan: Papers
- Freear Family: Papers
- Fry Family: Papers
- Fuller-Perkins Family: Papers
- Garber, William: Papers
- Garcia, Samuel: Papers
- Garrett, Julia Kathryn: Typescript
- Gillette, Mildred Pauline Hickman: Papers
- Goldsworthy-Johnson Family: Papers
- Graves, Mr. & Mrs. Frank: Papers
- Guam: Scrapbook
- Hackney, Mary Martha: Papers
- Hamlett Family: Papers
- Hardy, Marian: Papers
- Harlow, Ruth Murphy: Papers
- Harris, Tom: Papers
- Heaton Family: Papers
- Hogg, Alexander: Papers
- Holloway: Papers
- House, Boyce: Papers
- Hudson, Weldon: Collection
- Hull Family: Papers
- Hutcheson, Ellie Papers
- Jackson, Pat Chadwell: Papers
- Johnson, M. Shirley: Papers
- Kassel Family Collection
- Kellam, George Duane: Papers
- Kuykendall Family: Papers
- Lake, Mary Daggett: Papers (a local historian/pioneer)
- Leigh, Hazel Vaughn: Papers
- Losh, Samuel: Papers
- Luker, Harley W. & Lucille: Photograph Collection
- Lyons, Mrs. John F.: Photographic Collection
- Marek, Ann: Collection
- Marsh, Irma: Scrapbooks
- McLean Family: Papers
- Medford, H.C.: Diaries
- Moran, Abby: Papers
- Mowery, Anna: Collection
- Mullins, Marion Day: Papers
- Naughton, Lynita Martin: Papers
- Naylor, John: Papers
- Newsom, Pearl: Papers
- Newton-Byas Family: Papers
- Peace, Hazel Harvey: Collection *part of Digital Archive
- Puente-Brancato Family: Collection
- Pumphrey Family: Papers
- Randels, Betty: Papers
- Reilly, Virginia: Papers *part of Digital Archive
- Rott, Mildred McCollom: Papers
- Rylander, Lois: Papers
- Sanguinett, Albert A.: Papers
- Sawyer Family: Papers
- Schlottman Family: Papers
- Sells, Cato: Papers, 1920-1929
- Shuman, Mrs. A. L. (Florence): Photograph Collection
- Smith, Julia: Papers
- Smith, Van Zandt: Papers
- Steltz Family: Papers
- Stephens, Homer: Papers
- Stetson Family: Papers
- Thompson, Richard C.: Papers
- Trigg, Mrs. Harry: Papers
- Turner, Ida: Manuscript
- Venth, Carl: Papers
- Weisberg, Joseph: Photographs (1913-1978) Collection
- Wilhoit, May Kendall: Papers
- Wolfe, Jeanette: Papers
- Zepeda, J. Pete: Collection
Fort Worth and Area Post Cards
These and other collections are available to researchers during the Fort Worth Public Library's regular hours of operation. There are also other archival repositories on the Internet.
Updated 7 May 2013
