Beyond the Badge: The Work and Records of the Texas Rangers
In This Exhibit: Collections of Interest | Legal Authority | Family Ties | Supply and Demand | What's in a Name? | Work Detail | Reading About Rangers | HOME
Collections of Interest
Who were the Texas Rangers and what did they do? As the repository for state government records, materials at the State Archives can help provide answers. Records from Texas governors, government offices, and state agencies may contain the information needed. The two most substantial collections for ranger research are the departments where the organization resided, the Texas Adjutant General’s Department from 1835-1934, followed by the Texas Department of Public Safety from 1935 to the present day.
Texas Adjutant General’s Department (1835-1934)
The rangers were once treated like a military operation, with the adjutant general, the head administrative officer, maintaining the records of their activities.
Texas Department of Public Safety (1935-present)
In 1935, the Texas Rangers were transferred into the new agency created for crime prevention and traffic control. The rangers continue to serve in this agency.
In addition to official government records, collections from individuals, such as those who served as rangers in the past, and photograph collections, artifacts, publications, and more offer details about the history of the rangers.
Texas Department of Public Safety Golden Anniversary Pictorial and History Book, 1935-1985. P3500.8 T312DP 1986. Click or tap on image to view larger version.
The Texas Department of Public Safety celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1985 with this commemorative yearbook. The Texas Rangers became official members of statewide law enforcement with the creation of the Department of Public Safety on August 10, 1935.
Texas Ranging Service honorable discharge and payment record for Private McElrath, December 1854-1860. Texas Adjutant General’s Department Ranger records, 401-1153. Click or tap on image to view larger version.
Requisition for six companies to be mustered into service on the frontier, October 9, 1854. Texas Adjutant General’s Department Ranger records, 401-1153. Click or tap on image to view larger version.
Texas Rangers Sesquicentennial Anniversary, 1823-1973. Heritage publications, 1973, 976.404 T312t. Cover, Page 26, and Page 27. Click or tap on links and images to view larger versions.
TSLAC holds many publications related to ranger history, such as this publication celebrating their 150th anniversary in 1973. Many of the original documents and photographs described in these publications can be found in our collections.
Group of rangers posing with rifles on a lawn in front of a small house, about 1919. J.R. Hunnicutt collection, 1968/029-422. Click or tap on image to view larger version.
J.R. Hunnicutt (left) and rangers mounted on horseback, about 1919. J.R. Hunnicutt collection, 1968/029-151. Click or tap on image to view larger version.
Ranger mounted on horseback holding rifle, about 1919. J.R. Hunnicutt collection, 1968/029-155. Click or tap on image to view larger version.
J.R. Hunnicutt was a Texas Ranger from 1917-1919, stationed in Glenn Springs, Texas. This collection includes photographs from scrapbooks he compiled from his time in the ranger service.
Ranger job classifications, 1958-1961. Texas Office of the State Auditor records, 2000/198-2. FRONT. Click or tap on image to view larger version.
Ranger job classifications, 1958-1961. Texas Office of the State Auditor
records, 2000/198-2. BACK. Click or tap on image to view larger version.
In 1961, the Texas State Auditor’s Office published official job classifications as part of a survey to capture job descriptions, salary structures, and education requirements for all areas of state employment. At this time, the rangers had three different positions: Ranger, Sergeant, and Captain.