I need some recommendations on sources to learn about the history of east texas. Its been tough to find many reliable books. I also would love to find old maps and other geographic history sources.

Ive read a few books like A Hanging in Nacogdoches (i highly recommend, sheriff spradley sounds like a real badass) and a book about cass county soldiers in the civil war though i cant recall the name at the moment.

You might also try looking up some of Bob Bowman's old newspaper columns.

Edit: Found an archive link

AsburyAg said:

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Also tour around a bit.
Go to the Oil Museum in Kilgore. The Depot Museum in Henderson and the museum in New London that focuses on the New London gas explosion in the school.

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Done all that plus grew up in east texas. Looking for the history one might not find in a typical textbook or museum.

Wasn't the book Rush about Tyler? Heard that was good.

Smith County Historical Society

Caddo Mounds Historic Site ( http://www.thc.texas.gov/historic-sites/caddo-mounds-state-historic-site ) has a pretty nice welcome center, and if I can find my copy (slim chance I'll remember to), will post the name of the book I bought there that gives a really good history of the Indian/early settlement period of this side of Texas. The site itself is a must see, IMO, as well as Mission Tejas SP a few miles west.



The Smith county sidetrack in this thread gave me flashbacks...weird times.

-Land of Bears and Honey by Truet
-Backwoodsmen Stockman and Hunters among a Big Thicket River Valley by Sitton
-Paddling try Wild Neches by Donovan
-Nameless Towns: Texas Sawmill Communities

Also check out The History Center in Diboll's website.
They are a wealth of information
http://www.thehistorycenteronline.com/

I'd like to read it. Where can a man get a copy?

https://www.amazon.com/War-Redlands-Regulator-Moderator-Movement-1838-1844-ebook/dp/B00550WMAQ

https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc700074/

Read: Love is a Wild Assault

Then head over to Caddo Lake to check out areas near the setting of the book.

I may or may not have ancestors listed throughout the book.

Also while you're in that area, check out T.C.Lindsey in Jonesville -they have all kinds of interesting history regarding the area.

Go to the Vanishing Texana museum in Jacksonville. Great stuff on East TEXAS and very interesting.

John Wesley Hardin

Mike, are the busses running today???

The blue line is running late.

Glenn Elliott: A Ranger's Ranger https://www.amazon.com/dp/0872441229/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_bB7NDbKY8BWTN

"The Last Boom" James Clark

Mike, you are Texas, Son.

Check out the author Bill O'Neil on Amazon. He has lots of history about the East Texas area.
Was a history prof at Panola College for many years. Really good guy.