INEZ HATLEY HUGHES HISTORICAL RESEARCH CENTER
Your family's history is probably in here.
INEZ HATLEY HUGHES HISTORICAL RESEARCH CENTER
The Inez Hatley Hughes Historical Research Center at 104 East Crockett is where the serious searching happens. Researchers, authors, students, genealogists, and people who simply want to know more about their families come here to dig into photographs, documents, books, and artifacts related to Harrison County and Texas history.
The collection goes deep. Vital records from the 19th century. Cemetery indexes covering more than 16,000 burials across Harrison County. Poll tax receipts, census records, marriage records, military documentation, and newspaper notices spanning more than a century. If your people lived in Harrison County, there’s a good chance they left something behind in this collection.
The center is named for Inez Hatley Hughes, a woman who knew Harrison County the way few people ever do. A retired high school English teacher, she served as volunteer director of the Harrison County Historical Museum for more than 25 years. Her knowledge of the people and places of this county was encyclopedic, and her own family roots ran deep here. Her ancestors were among the early settlers who helped establish Hallsville in western Harrison County. The center named for her reflects the standard she set: patient, thorough, and genuinely curious about the people who built this place.

Inez Hatley Hughes, Volunteer Director for over 25 years
OUR COLLECTION
Physical items from Harrison County’s history, including tools, household goods, religious artifacts, and personal effects from Marshall families.
Historical photographs of Harrison County people, places, events, and buildings, many rare or one of a kind.
Physical items from Harrison County’s history, including tools, household goods, religious artifacts, and personal effects from Marshall families.
Histories, directories, and reference volumes focused on Harrison County and Texas.
Research files organized specifically for genealogical work, including family histories compiled over decades by dedicated volunteers.
The Research Center operates Tuesday through Friday,
10am to 4pm. Call 903-938-2680 or email [email protected]
to schedule. Volunteers staff the center, so hours can shift depending on
availability.
We recommend calling ahead before you make the drive, just to confirm we’re open.
Texas Historic Sites Atlas
A searchable statewide database of archaeological sites, cemeteries, museums, and official Texas Historical Markers.
Texas History Online
The Handbook of Texas Online, the most comprehensive reference on Texas history, people, and places.
University of North Texas Portal to Texas History
Digitized newspapers, photographs, maps, and documents from across Texas held at the University of North Texas.
HCHM Genealogy Publications
Genealogy books compiled from Harrison County records and available for purchase through the museum. Call or email for titles and pricing.
104 East Crockett, Marshall, Texas
Tue–Fri 10am–4pm
There are a few ways to support the work, and every one of them makes a real
difference.
Donate
Your contribution directly funds collections, exhibits, and free programs for Harrison County schools.
Become a Member
Enjoy exclusive perks like a quarterly newsletter, free research help, and complimentary admission to various educational events all while supporting the preservation of Harrison County history.
Volunteer
Staff the Research Center, help with events, or welcome visitors. We'd love to have you.