A very warm welcome from another newbie!
As a uni student, I know and understand the term "financially embarrassed" very well!
This place is, as I have discovered over the last couple of days, tele heaven!
Im sure there are a few web-based recources out there about the history of the tele (perhaps someone else can point you in the right direction), but I think your best bet would be to experience the various models yourself. Go out to you local guitar centre and go nuts... Hop on ebay... check out the variety on offer. Compare and contrast. Knowledge will come with time. Pretty soon you'll know teles like the back of your hand!
Exciting, isnt it?
Cheers!
Chris.