To create, promote, and manage an online Online Panola County Texas Research Center as a public service to advance and increase the appreciation and availability of Panola County history.

To work in partnership with educators, historians, students, organizations, and all other interested persons to create an awareness of the importance of preserving and sharing information relevant to local history.

From 1999-2004, the Panola County Texas Research Center physically located at Panola College and made possible by a Summerlee Grant received in 1999, used volunteer help to locate, identify, catalog, and make available resources that could assist people in researching all aspects of Panola County history. The Center also spearheaded a Digitization Project. Today the Center exists only as a website, but continues to be supported by Panola College.

The Center, also acting as the Oral History Workroom, processed hundreds of oral histories provided by East Texans. Today that collection is housed at the LaGrone Family History Center, N. Shelby Street, Carthage, Texas. Patrons may view the transcripts and hear the audio tapes there.

Please send your comments to the Center via email or call 903-693-2014 or 2013.

If you have letters, photographs, articles, videos, audio tapes, or other items relevant to Panola County and its people, notify the LaGrone Family History Center.

If you would like to be audio or video taped while sharing some of your life's experiences or if you would like to record family stories handed down to you, the Center will set up an appointment for you.  We encourage and  welcome all oral history interviews.

Of course, you will be asked to sign a release providing permission to publish your contribution to our web site. If you know of links or other information that should be added to our site, please let us know with a phone call to 903-693-2014 or email.