If your ancestors lived in Starr, Hidalgo, or Cameron County at the turn of the twentieth century, the key to their untold stories may be hidden in a single South Texas newspaper, The Brownsville Daily Herald.
The Brownsville Daily Herald: A Key Source for South Texas Families
In my research on early families from Starr County, Hidalgo County, and Cameron County, the only newspaper I have consistently found that provided regional coverage for all three counties during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries is The Brownsville Daily Herald, published in Brownsville, Texas. This newspaper covers the years 1897 through 1910 and is an essential source for researchers working in South Texas during this period.
Using Newspapers to Discover Family Stories
A particular article that stands out, while searching this newspaper in the past, is when I came across a particularly compelling article involving a local family and ranching community. That discovery resulted in a post titled Anita Flores: Tragedy at Los Guaraches Ranch, Hidalgo County, Texas, which highlights the depth of genealogical and historical information that can be uncovered through newspaper research.
Where to Search The Brownsville Daily Herald Online
Researchers can browse or search The Brownsville Daily Herald in two primary online repositories.
- The first is Chronicling America, a project of the Library of Congress that provides access to historic American newspapers published between 1836 and 1922, along with a comprehensive U.S. Newspaper Directory covering publications from 1690 to the present.
- The second is The Portal to Texas History, a digital gateway to Texas historical materials that includes newspapers, maps, photographs, and a wide range of primary sources. Researchers may find anything from an ancestor’s name in a news item to rare historical maps documenting early settlements.
Researching South Texas Newspapers After 1910
After 1910, The Brownsville Daily Herald continued publication under the name The Brownsville Herald. Unfortunately, issues from 1910 to the present are not available online. However, most of these later issues can be consulted in person at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, which holds extensive newspaper collections relevant to South Texas research.
Earlier issues are also available online. The predecessor newspaper, The Daily Herald (Brownsville, Texas), published from 1892 to 1897, is accessible through Chronicling America and provides valuable coverage for the years immediately preceding the establishment of The Brownsville Daily Herald.
Learning How to Research Historical Newspapers
If you ever wanted to explore newspaper research in greater depth but was unsure where to begin. A helpful starting point was a video created by Kenneth R. Marks, in which he explains how to research newspapers and locate free historical newspaper collections. His guidance offers an excellent introduction for genealogists seeking to incorporate newspapers into their research strategy.
Help Expand South Texas Newspaper Coverage
If you are aware of additional newspapers that covered South Texas communities—particularly Starr, Hidalgo, or Cameron Counties—I would welcome the opportunity to learn about them. Newspaper research remains one of the most powerful tools for uncovering stories, relationships, and context that may not survive in other records.
First Published on: Feb 13, 2013
