Free Reference: The Handbook of Texas Online 

The idea of Texas’s return as a soverign republic independent of its other 49 brethren is more than an urban cowboy myth perpetuated by ever-brisk sales of the anthemic “TEXAS SECEDE” slogan set against the Lone Star flag and emblazoned on T-shirts, bumper stickers, decals, and Shiner beer cozies. Our own three-term Gov. Rick “Adios Mofo” Perry suggested Texas could bail on the union whenever it wanted when he was quoted by the Houston Chronicle in 2009: “Texas is a unique place. When we came into the union in 1845, one of the issues was that we would be able to leave if we decided to do that.” And Texans wonder why we consistently play musical chairs with California, New Jersey, and Florida as the most despised state. Actually, we know why. Everybody loves to hate Texas, and if taking shots at big hair, Jerry Jones, and colloquialisms like “y’all” is like the proverbial shooting fish in a barrel, then it’s equally true that the staunch pride imbued throughout the history and culture is encyclopedically documented in countless reference sources, but none more definitive, comprehensive, and wide-ranging in scope than the award-winning Handbook of Texas , the six-volume conceit of famed Texas historian Walter Prescott Webb.

First published by the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) in 1952, the Handbook went online in 1999, and it’s a beaut. With over 25,000 articles, updates, and numerous features not included in the reference set, WWW.TSHAONLINE.ORG is, as proclaimed on the masthead, “a digital gateway to Texas history.” A series of introductory buttons—including a brief orientation to the site, searching tips, and contact information—underlines the main banner. With the sesquicentennial of the Civil War upon us, there is also a button for Civil War Texas, which yields an extensive array of biographies, military history, and information in ancillary areas such as Mexico’s involvement. Searching the online handbook is conveniently facilitated by a free-text dialog window and a Browse Articles feature, which easily accesses information by title, subject, period, place, and more. A sample search for, say, secession, pulls 100 listings of individuals, places, and events of interest. Additionally, the website hosts a portal to the Southwestern Historical Quarterly, TSHA’s research journal, and many more citations to Texas secession.

BOTTOM LINE Should you ever find yourself confrontationally challenged with anything Texas—What were those bizarre circumstances surrounding LBJ’s first congressional election victory? What is the name of the Aquarena Springs swimming pig? What famous landmark was for many years situated next to a Joske’s? Why is Shiner the national beer of Texas?—just remember the Alamo...and www.tshaonline.org. —Barry X. Miller, Austin P.L., TX