Archives
Accessing and Using 1950 Census Data
The 1950 US Census is coming soon for genealogists and family history researchers to use in finding their ancestors. However, when the files are released on April 1, 2022, they are not going to be indexed like you are used to searching online. You are going to need to do some preparation to be ready […]
#ArchivesTrailblazers & Women of Plano
The early women of Plano, Texas led the way for the women of Plano today. They were wives, sisters, mothers, daughters, brides, athletes, farmers, teachers, historians, and much more. The students in high school were athletic and intelligent. Women had to work on the farms to prepare for the harsh seasons. To celebrate International Women’s […]
From the Archives: Early Black-Owned Businesses in Plano
Black-owned businesses have always been vital to the economic success and prosperity of Plano. One of the first Black members of the Plano community was Andy Drake. After initially coming to Plano from Louisiana as an ox-driver, he was asked by Si Harrington, one of the founding families in Plano, to stay and work in 1864. After the Civil War, more Black people came to Plano but were […]
#ArchivesBFF: Exploring Love & Friendship
The February National Archives #ArchivesHashtagParty theme is BFF (best friends forever), and we’ve explored the Genealogy Center’s archives to bring you some gems. High School Notes to/from Cupid Plano High School has had a newsletter for many years called Wildcat’s Tale. The Genealogy Center has some from 1933-1935 and 1965-1967. The February 1934 issue included a […]
Routh-Campbell Family Collection
The Genealogy Center has added a new collection to the Collin County Images: the Routh-Campbell Family Collection. This collection consists of images and documents related to the family of Jacob and Lodemia Routh, one of the early families in Plano. Jacob Routh moved from Tennessee and settled in the Plano area, where he met Lodemia […]
#ArchivesBookLove
In a collection full of great Plano history, one of our favorite pieces is a prime example of #ArchivesBookLove. One of the first donations to the archives collection was the original diary of Lizzie Mathews Carpenter (1876-1880). The archives has five volumes of her diaries, although the others are transcriptions of the originals. Elizabeth Mathews […]
#ArchivesSignatures
In the age of the email signature, there’s something beautiful about a handwritten name. Your signature is evidence of who you are and it is supposed to be as unique as a thumbprint (although famous forgeries exist). This month, we are celebrating #ArchivesSignatures for the National Archives and Records Administration’s (NARA) #ArchivesHashtagParty. Used to seal […]
#ArchivesTipoftheHat
Hats! Hats! Hats! From fashionable fascinators to common chapeaus, hats can be found in the Collin County Images digital collection for almost any time period during the past 150 years. Header image: Olney Davis Girls In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Collin County had several milliners making hats and selling them in stores in […]
#ArchivesYouAreHere
The Collin County Archives at Plano Public Library houses a variety of maps of Plano spanning from 1880 to 2020.
#ArchivesBlackEducation
We’re joining the party! Each month, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) hosts the #ArchivesHashtagParty for all types of archives to share their collections on social media around a fun topic.