Texas History Book Reccommendation

[Altariel]

Do you have a recommendation for a good book on Texas history?

[Jane Long]

Thanks for pinging 😉

[Sans-Culotte]

Though I have lived in Texas since 1969, I have not read much Texas history in recent years. Most of what I have read are old books. I second the recommendation of A Time to Stand by Walter Lord. It came out around 1961 when there weren't many books on the Alamo or Texas history. More recently, there is Alamo: The Price of Freedom by George Mcalister. This served as the basis for the IMAX movie of the same name that play in the theater adjacent to the Alamo in San Antonio. If you ever go to San Antonio, I suggest seeing the IMAX movie (which was shot on John Wayne's Bracketville set) before walking over to the real Alamo. The book by McAlister is simplistic, and covers Texas history from Moses Austin's dream of settling the state with Americans to Texas independence. There's really not a huge amount to write on the founding of Texas through its fight for independence as it was a fairly brief period.

[Texas Fossil]

Texas is a big state with a varied history.

I cannot think of a single book that encompasses the broad perspective.

Is this aimed at general knowledge of Texas, or historic perspective of an area.

I can think of several really great reads by local area ranch families. (Matthews & Reynolds in Throckmorton County) But they are cultural in nature, not the general development of Texas.

[bgill]

Depends on what you are looking for. Browse through The Handbook of Texas Online - https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online .

Many universities have their collections online.

Visit the state library in Austin or they have some online - https://www.tsl.texas.gov/landing/collections.html . Nothing better than to go to the source.

[Texas Fossil]

Here are several related to early ranch culture. These are real people, not fiction. These families still ranch and live in nearby Throckmorton County>
(Most Libraries here have them available to read)

Interwoven: A Pioneer Chronicle

Watt Matthews of Lambshead

Lambshead before Interwoven: A Texas Range Chronicle

Lambshead Legacy: The Ranch Diary of Watt R. Matthews

—

Watt Matthews was well know, enough that the NYT wrote about his death>

“Watkins Matthews, Rancher From Bygone Era, Dies at 98”

http://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/21/us/watkins-matthews-rancher-from-bygone-era-dies-at-98.html

[Altariel]

I’m looking for a good introduction to the subject.

[Windflier]

Hope you’re seeing all the helpful replies on your thread, Alta.