Beyond the Badge: The Work and Records of the Texas Rangers

A horizontal logo with the text Beyond the Badge: The Work and Records of the Texas Rangers, along with a graphic of a gold star Texas Ranger badge containing the text Texas Ranger


In This Exhibit:   Collections of Interest  |  Legal Authority  |  Family Ties  |  Supply and Demand  |  What's in a Name?  |  Work Detail  | Reading About Rangers  |  HOME

 

What's in a Name?

Texas Rangers have operated under different organizational names during their 200-year history. Inquiries about types of rangers leads to records referring to units called Minute Men, Frontier Forces, Special State Troops, Mounted Volunteers, the Frontier Battalion, and others. The Texas Ranger Force was established in 1901. Photographs help reveal how rangers evolved from these earlier versions to the more uniform official Texas Ranger in the twentieth century.

In 1874, the Texas Rangers’ Frontier Battalion was formed to defend settlements. Rangers also acted as peace officers, and that role was codified in 1901 legislation that made them the Ranger Force. Rangers from this era are often portrayed as the “cowboy lawmen” called on to fight crime and restore order. 

A row of white colored tents with large trees in front of them and men in cowboy hats standing among them. In the foreground are branches and rifles in small piles. Texas Ranger, Company D, Captain Frank Jones, camp at Uvalde Co., 1886-1887. Texas Department of Public Safety photographs, 1983/112 R-no number 9-1.

Texas Ranger, Company D, Captain Frank Jones, camp at Uvalde Co., 1886-1887. Texas Department of Public Safety photographs, 1983/112 R-no number 9-1. Click or tap on image to view larger version.
 


A photograph of nine men with cowboy hats and rifles atop nine horses with large trees in the background. “Rangers ready to start on the trail of criminals, about 1890. William Deming Hornaday photograph collection, 1975/70-4533. 

Rangers ready to start on the trail of criminals, about 1890. William Deming Hornaday photograph collection, 1975/70-4533. 
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Six men with cowboy hats on horses with one man squatting down in front of the horses. Dudley White, horse and range equipment, April 8, 1958. Texas Department of Public Safety photographs, 1983/112-R-479-008.

D.W. Bass, mounted inspector of customs and other officers on scout, about 1890. William Deming Hornaday photograph collection, 1975/70-4535. 
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Photograph of a man on a horse with a cowboy hat and black vest looking to his right. Ranger mounted for duty, about 1890. William Deming Hornaday photograph collection, 1975/70-1072.

Ranger mounted for duty, about 1890. William Deming Hornaday photograph collection, 1975/70-1072. Click or tap on image to view larger version.
 



A large group of men standing in front of a building with two large doors. The men are all wearing different size cowboy hats and holding rifles. Many of them have moustaches. A group of armed rangers, 1896. William Deming Hornaday photograph collection, 1975/70-1071.

A group of armed rangers, 1896. William Deming Hornaday photograph collection, 1975/70-1071. Click or tap on image to view larger version.

After the turn of the twentieth century and the Mexican Revolution of 1910, more rangers were needed along the border. A dramatic increase in numbers of untrained and undisciplined rangers contributed to violent and criminal behavior that led to the Canales Investigation in 1919. As a result, the legislature reduced ranger forces and enhanced requirements to join.

A photograph of seven men wearing cowboy hats, jeans tucked into their boots, and holding rifles standing in front of a ranch style house. Company of Texas Rangers, Company H stationed at Harlingen, Texas, 1904. Texas Department of Public Safety photographs, 1983/112 R-323-2.

Company of Texas Rangers, Company H stationed at Harlingen, Texas, 1904. Texas Department of Public Safety photographs, 1983/112 R-323-2. 
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A photograph of a large group of men mounted on horseback wearing cowboy hats and holding rifles in front of a stone outcropping. A number is drawn above their heads and a corresponding key is written below. Co. E. on horseback, eight miles west of Del Rio, May 3, 1918. Texas Department of Public Safety photographs, 1983/112 R-447-1.

Co. E. on horseback, eight miles west of Del Rio, May 3, 1918. Texas Department of Public Safety photographs, 1983/112 R-447-1. 
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The Department of Public Safety was created in 1935 and the rangers moved out of a military structure and into the new police agency. Rangers would investigate major crimes and may be called upon to suppress riots and apprehend fugitives.

A photograph of a group of men wearing cowboy hats, ties, jackets, and gun holsters, with some in the background sitting on a fence. Headquarters co., informal group by corral, October 21, 1952. Texas Department of Public Safety photographs, 1983/112 R-380-1.

Headquarters co., informal group by corral, October 21, 1952. Texas Department of Public Safety photographs, 1983/112 R-380-1. 
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Men on horses wearing ties and cowboy hats and holding American flags and Texas flags. Rangers on parade in Killeen, Texas, July 26, 1957. Texas Department of Public Safety photographs, 1983/112 R-465-1.

Rangers on parade in Killeen, Texas, July 26, 1957. Texas Department of Public Safety photographs, 1983/112 R-465-1. 
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A photograph of three pin back badges in the shapes of stars with a circle around them, one blue, one silver, and one rust colored. Texas Rangers badge, Texas Department of Public Safety. Artifacts collection, ATF0260.

Texas Rangers badge, Texas Department of Public Safety. Artifacts collection, ATF0260. View larger image of Texas Ranger badge, Texas Department of Public Safety on our Texas Digital Archive Site. ""

Rangers were not issued an official badge until they joined the Department of Public Safety in 1935. Badges worn by rangers in the 1800s were a simple star and circle design crafted from a Mexican coin. Like many ranger supplies during this era, they were purchased by the individual.



A photograph of a legal sized piece of paper with cursive handwriting on it. Letter of application to the State Police, June 27, 1870. Texas Adjutant General’s Department Reconstruction records, 401-863.

Letter of application to the State Police, June 27, 1870. Texas Adjutant General’s Department Reconstruction records, 401-863. 
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 A letter addressed to Governor Edmund J. Davis petitioning for a position as captain in the state police. The petitioner includes a reference and the signatures of several senators and representatives.
 


A photograph of a piece of paper with cursive handwriting on it. Letter of recommendation for the position of lieutenant in the State Police, June 30, 1870. Texas Adjutant General’s Department Reconstruction records, 401-863.

Letter of recommendation for the position of lieutenant in the State Police, June 30, 1870. Texas Adjutant General’s Department Reconstruction records, 401-863. Click or tap on image to view larger version.

A letter to Adjutant General James Davidson recommending William Garrison of Uvalde County for a position as lieutenant on the state police. Under reconstruction governor Edmund J. Davis (1870-1874), the legislature established a new state police force that operated in a similar fashion to Texas Rangers. This act detailed the composition of each company, the pay rate of every man, and named the adjutant general as the chief of the state police. The force was disbanded in 1873.


A photograph of a piece of paper with cursive handwriting on it. Correspondence on paper with Company “C” Frontier Battalion header, February 5, 1882. Texas Adjutant General's Department Texas State Troops records, 401-830.

Correspondence on paper with Company “C” Frontier Battalion header, February 5, 1882. Texas Adjutant General's Department Texas State Troops records, 401-830. Click or tap on image to view larger version.

A letter notifying Adjutant General W.H. King of the intention to set off for Wheeler County with eight men now that the snow has melted, sent by G.W. Arrington. 


Photograph of a piece of paper with cursive handwriting on it. Correspondence seeking appointment as captain of a company in the Frontier Forces, September 7, 1870. Adjutant General’s Department departmental correspondence, 401-389.

Correspondence seeking appointment as captain of a company in the Frontier Forces, September 7, 1870. Adjutant General’s Department departmental correspondence, 401-389. Click or tap on image to view larger version.

 A letter addressed to Governor Edmund J. Davis applying for a position as captain in the “Mounted Ranger Service.” The legislature in 1870 provided for twenty ranger companies to be raised for what became known as the Frontier Forces. 

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Page last modified: May 30, 2023