I’m reserving this page to list the books and websites I use for basic information throughout the site.
NextGen This is the WordPress plugin that I’ve used for almost all of my photo galleries. I love it. It’s simple. It presents a very good slideshow, and easily reached thumbs and another – full screen slideshow. If you’re using WordPress, I do highly recommend NextGen.
WP-Table Reloaded – This was an answer to a quandary I was having with WordPress. How to best present a table for the counties. I settled on WP – Table Reloaded, and it’s been fairly useful. I did have to tinker with the coding so that I could present a picture and link using that picture in the tables. For now, it’s the best I can do.
The Courthouses of Texas by Mavis P. Kelsey, Sr., and Donald H. Dyal. Texas A & M University Press. This Gem of a book is a MUST for anyone seriously traveling the courthouses of Texas. It is the guide, the reference and the ‘The Bible’ of Texas Courthouse information. It is concise, all-encompassing and easy to use. If you don’t have this book, find it, seriously. Most basic individual courthouse information found on the courthouse pages comes from this book. It’s true, I could find the same information else where – but this book makes it so much easier.
‘The Inspiration’
Historic Texas Courthouses by Michael Andrews. Photographed by Paul Hester & Lisa Hardaway. Published by Bright Sky Press, 2006. If The Courthouses of Texas was the ‘Bible’, this book is certainly the ‘Inspiration’. It is the first Texas courthouse book we owned, and it certainly played a big part in our desire to take in all of the 254 Courthouses of Texas. It is well narrated and stunningly photographed. If you don’t have this on your coffee table, you might want to begin a search for it right now. In a 2009 interview, Mr. Andrews admitted to his 3 favorites – the courthouses in Marfa, Waxahatchie, and Anderson. The only one of these we’ve visited so far is Grimes County in Anderson, Texas. And there was a lot to like about his little jewel.
‘The All-inclusive Website’
Hi Tom,
Thanks for publicizing the historic courthouses of Texas! I just came across your site and would like to add it to our list of Texas courthouse websites. It might be helpful if I knew your last name and contact information.
Nice photos!
-Bess Althaus Graham
Architect, Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program
Bess – Yes, please do – add my site. I appreciate someone noticing the work – and it is work. But I thoroughly enjoy doing the website and visiting the courthouses. The whole quest came about in response to a desire to visit all parts of Texas – both the known and the not so well known. The weather has cooled down – so we should be back on the road again soon.
Tom, Are your photos copyrighted? Please send me an email. I would like to know how I may be able to use some of them.
No – they are not copyrighted. The only thing I would ask is that you cite the source of any photos you use. I try to upload photos of sufficient size to be useful. Let me know if you want any further info.