THC Recommendations–CHC Research/Writing

Initial THC Recommendations for CHCs packet was issued in 2016 and is explained here. The following revised recommendations were shared via the CHC listserv in 2020 to help CHCs resume activity that could be accomplished within social distancing guidelines. This revised set of recommendations highlights basic work that CHC chairs can address or delegate to fellow appointees.  

Identify history-related repositories

Expand options related to researching local history in-person and online by identifying repositories and collections related to your county. 

• Inventory local records and archived materials––what material, where located, managing organization, and how to access.
   
• Familiarize appointees with the many digital research avenues available, essential tools in this time of social distancing. An extensive list is on this  webpage under subheading 2, but here are some of our favorite websites.

    Texas Digital Archive here 
 

    Portal to Texas History here  
 

    Texas Archival Resources Online here 
 

    National Archives and Records Administration here  
 

    Chronicling America here
 

Utilize THC research publications

THC staff members have provided a number of research guides on the THC website. Browse through the links below to see what publications may help your ongoing efforts.

• THC Guidelines for Historical Research helps individuals meet standards and expectations for THC programs, as well as other related preservation efforts.
   
• THC provides general research guides that address the use of census records, Sanborn Maps, pension records, and newspapers.
   
• THC also provides research guides for developing narratives for people, places, events, and organizations.
   

Collaborate with the public on research efforts

Take every opportunity to involve partners and the public in CHC efforts. Research efforts present several ways to work with others and discover new aspects of local history.

• Work with organizations and community members to learn about ongoing research projects and public interests related to local and regional history.
   
• Work with organizations manage repositories with history-related material and develop ways to connect the public to these collections when possible.
   
• Consider how inquiries over social media can pull facts and photos from the public that move your research efforts forward. This approach also generates public interest for CHC efforts and in research topics. 
   
• If the CHC spends a majority of appointee time on research, consider creating a research committee to address whatever related needs exist, especially stories that relate to underrepresented subjects in your county.
   
• Work with the public to submit potential topics to THC’s Undertold Markers initiative, an effort that seeks to address historical gaps, promote diversity of topics, and document significant underrepresented subjects and untold stories.
   

Photos: Liberty CHC participates in a archival and retention plan for county records. Travis CHC promoted online aerial photographs that help research local sites.