Tarrant County Archives

{Tarrant County Courthouse 1883}

The Tarrant County Archives were established by the Commissioners Court in May 1976 at the request of Bennett Smith, then chairman of the Tarrant County Historical Commission. The Texas Legislature provides that it is the duty of the Historical Commission to preserve the heritage of the county. The legislation further states that the Commission may operate and manage a facility owned by the county, and collect items in the name of the Commission. The Tarrant Historical Commission collects and maintains the contents, and operates and manages the Tarrant County Archives, which is housed in the Civil Courts Building.

The purpose of the Archives is not only to preserve the heritage of the county, but also to serve as a research center for Tarrant County history. Duties of the Historical Commission are varied and demand constant research. Therefore, it is necessary for extensive research files to be readily at hand and available to the Commission in its own work environment. The Archives, however, is much more than a workplace for the Commission. It is a public facility, open to the public for research of local history and is extensively used by all facets of the community.

Texas legislation also specifies private collections as inclusive in the items the Commission may collect and maintain. These are extremely valuable, and the Commission is appreciative of donations of documents and photographs from individuals. They will be maintained as archives, using proper archival storage materials and systems.