In this lecture, attendees will explore the rich history and evolution of Texas journalism from the early days of the Republic through the modern era. The session demonstrates how Texas-specific reporting—covering industries like cattle, agriculture, and oil, as well as significant political shifts—serves as a functional research tool for documenting ancestral lives. Through a series of mini-case studies, participants will learn how to identify clues within news items that point toward records in probate, land, and court archives. The presentation also provides a methodical framework for locating these primary sources within specialized digital repositories, such as the Portal to Texas History, ensuring researchers can successfully navigate the vast landscape of Texas digitization projects to enhance their genealogical narratives.