Organized in two major sections, this definitive reference work provides historical essays by leading scholars in the field and surveys of the principal archival holdings in Texas, with special emphasis on those significant to the history of the state. The essays, covering the most important chronological periods and including some special topics, offer up-to-date summaries of the major works and most significant interpretations in the historical literature, focusing on the political, economic, social, cultural, and intellectual concerns of the past. The second section provides an overview of the major archives within the state, which will enable the researcher to locate primary sources. Each article is written by a historian or an archivist with special knowledge of the archives and includes an introduction to the collection, location of the archive, hours of operation, and a wealth of other useful information. There are also brief discussions of topics that might be developed for further study, from the resources of the particular archive.