If you have ancestors from Texas or an interest in the Old West, we are pleased to announce that we’ve once again partnered with McClatchy, the second-largest local news company in the U.S., to add the Fort Worth Star-Telegram to our archives. Included in this collection are other historic Fort Worth papers including the Fort Worth Record-Telegram 1912-1931; the Fort Worth Record and Register 1897-1912; and the Daily Fort Worth Standard 1876-1877. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram was founded in 1909 when the Fort Worth Star merged with the Fort Worth Telegram. This archive has chronicled the growth of Fort Worth for nearly 150 years!
At a time when the American frontier expanded westward, settlers moved into the Fort Worth area in the 1840s. They met with local Native American chiefs and established a treaty where Native Americans would remain west of a line drawn through present-day Fort Worth. The line would mark, “Where the West Begins” – Fort Worth’s famous slogan that is still found on the masthead of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram today.
In 1849, construction began on a fort, one in a line of military outposts meant to establish control over North Texas and protect settlers from Native American attacks. The fort was named after Maj. Gen. Williams Jenkins Worth and soon a small community of civilians sprang up in the area.
Ranching has long played a part in the history of Fort Worth and ranchers herded millions of cattle along the Chisholm Trail. Our newspaper archive dates back to 1876, the year the first railroad came to town and helped establish Fort Worth as a center of the cattle trade.
With all the cattle being driven through Fort Worth, the meatpacking industry developed in the late 1800s, bringing jobs in packing houses. The Texas oil boom brought additional growth to Fort Worth. In 1917, workers drilling for oil in Ranger, Texas, hit a gusher. More oil nearby discoveries followed, and Fort Worth’s strategic location meant that speculators, promoters, and interested parties set up offices in the Westbrook Hotel lobby bringing throngs of people to the city. Advertisements selling oil leases filled the pages of the Star-Telegram as many sought their fortune.
In the early days of radio, the Star-Telegram’s founding publisher, Amon G. Carter, started an experimental radio station WBAP. A ringing cowbell signaled listeners that their program was about to start. That cowbell was the first audible logo broadcast over the radio. The station broadcast livestock reports, rodeos, and even church services. In 1948, the Star-Telegram expanded its reach again and established the first television station in the southern half of the United States.
In 1982, in a time before readers consumed information online, the Star-Telegram pioneered another way to deliver news when they began StarText. StarText was a subscription service that delivered the latest news, stock quotes, and classified ads 24 hours a day via home computer and modem.
If you are researching your ancestors from Fort Worth, there are countless stories about challenges faced by early settlers in Texas. Severe weather, snake bites, heat and humidity, and life in the wild west where six-shooters ruled were just a few. Be sure to search for birth announcements, wedding announcements, death notices, news about family reunions, and more. Start searching the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Newspapers.com today!
I enjoy and applaud your website. I spent several years researching old newspapers several years ago while convalescing from blood cancer chemotherapy. I managed to read newspapers in Bradford County Historical Society, Towanda, PA. I have records of The Northern Banner which had excellent coverage of political events in our nations history including Jackson’s Presidency, the Alamo with lists of executed volunteers in the war with Santa Ana, rationales for keeping slavery ( work competition), and much more. Again Thank you.
I am interested in Gainer Family and relatives
from through out Texas. There have been several Gainer relatives that have made
their homes in Texas from different lines (branches) of other Gainer Families and relatives from State’s all over with a lot of immigrations from Ga., Fl., Tn., N.C. & other.
Interested in Joseph P . Gainer served in civil war Co K 49 Georgia Infantry
B:16 Oct 1846. D: 17 Jul 1897
Buried San Marco Cemetery.
Hayes Co, Tx. I think
I know somethings see if any newspaper articles on him. I know not much family on him.
I think I know who parents are, but I’m looking for his personal family.
Interested in Joseph P . Gainer served in civil war Co K 49 Georgia Infantry
B:16 Oct 1846. D: 17 Jul 1897
Buried San Marco Cemetery.
Hayes Co, Tx. I think
I know somethings see if any newspaper articles on him. I know not much family on him.
I think I know who parents are, but I’m looking for his personal family.not a duplication
3dupjlication
I did the 14 day free trial and again, even though you have 30 Million new papers, nothing on my grandmother which you falsely say you do. Cancelled the subscription & you would not let me cancel. What a rip off.
Genealogical research takes great effort and patience. I have searched for 30 years for a great-great grandmother’s information. Facts are not often where others say the event occurred. Happy Searching.
https://www.newspapers.com/paper/the-fresno-bee/22295/ WTF happened here?
This site practices censorship! Don’t give them ANY money. The web has gone full thought control and with Open Sky Treaty being pushed even more it’s going to get worse!
I’ve unplugged from the web pretty much as it’s a disgusting place unless you like to play with cockroaches and get diseases.
Sometimes you have to do things the old fashioned way when society decides to screw people.
Edit. Open Skies Treaty.