As our archives staff work on an ongoing basis to arrange, preserve, describe, and make available to the public the materials under our care, we spotlight new additions to the website in a regular feature from Out of the Stacks. The column lists new and revised finding aids recently made available online, along with fresh uploads to the Texas Digital Archive, our repository of electronic items. For a comprehensive list of all recently added and updated finding aids visit Archives: Finding Aids (New & Revised).

FY2025 Q1

New Finding Aids

State Records

Texas Health Disparities Task Force meeting files
The Texas Health Care Disparities Task Force was established with the goal of identifying and eliminating inequalities in the delivery of health care to residents of Texas. It was administratively attached to the Texas Department of Health (TDH). Its purpose was to assist TDH in eliminating health care disparities among multicultural, disadvantaged, and regional populations. The task force had a close relationship with the Office of Minority Health Statistics and Engagement. These Texas Health Care Disparities Task Force meeting files consist of minutes, agendas, and supporting meeting documentation, dating 2002-2004.

Texas Health Care Information Council records
The Texas Health Care Information Council (THCIC) was established in 1995 (74th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, House Bill 1048) to develop a statewide health care data collection system to supply health care providers and the public with information on the cost and quality of health care programs. These records are minutes, agendas, and supporting documentation of meetings of the council held between 1996 and 2004, and the agency’s Sunset Commission review report and remarks from 1998; the bulk of the records date 1996-1997.

Texas Health and Human Services Commission Office of Inspector General organization charts – all records are electronic and are part of the Texas Digital Archive
The Texas State Health and Human Services Commission Office of Inspector General prevents, detects, audits, inspects, reviews, and investigates fraud, waste, and abuse in the provision and delivery of all health and human services in the state. Records consists of organizational charts showing the structure of the Office of the Inspector General, dated 2006-2022.

Texas Statewide Health Coordinating Council meeting records
The Texas Statewide Health Coordinating Council (SHCC) ensures health care services and facilities are available to all Texans through health planning activities. Based on these planning activities, the SHCC makes recommendations to the governor and the legislature through the Texas State Health Plan (TSHP). These Texas Statewide Health Coordinating Council meeting records, dating 1977-1996, consist of minutes, agendas, and supporting documents (including committee minutes, correspondence, council resolutions, and reports).

Texas Department of State Health Services Promotor(a) or Community Health Worker Training and Certification Advisory Committee minutes and agendas
The Promotor(a) or Community Health Worker Training and Certification Advisory Committee, part of the Texas Department of State Health Services, advises the executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission on issues related to the training and regulation of persons working as promotores(as) or community health workers. A promotora is a lay Hispanic/Latino community member who receives specialized training to provide basic health education in the community without being a professional health care worker. These Texas Department of State Health Services Promotor(a) or Community Health Worker Training and Certification Advisory Committee minutes and agenda, 2002-2013, document the work accomplished by the committee at its meetings.

Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services Council meeting records
The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) was created to administer long-term services and supports for aging people as well as for people with intellectual and physical disabilities. DADS also licensed and regulated providers of these services and administered the state’s Guardianship Program. The agency was under the leadership of a commissioner who was appointed by the executive commissioner for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) with the approval of the governor. The DADS commissioner led a council, consisting of seven members (later increased to nine) that oversaw and advised on the operations of the agency. These Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services Council meeting records, 2005-2016, contain minutes, agendas, and supporting documents of meetings of the DADS Council.

Texas Secretary of State labor records
The Texas Secretary of State Statutory Documents Section and its predecessor, the Texas Secretary of State Administrative Division, were responsible for receiving labor union annual reports and issuing labor organizer cards beginning in 1943. These Texas Secretary of State labor records, dating 1943-1979, consist of labor exemption orders (1943-1971) and labor organizer card applications as filed with the office of the Secretary of State between 1943 and 1979, along with related materials such as labor organizer card revocation files and correspondence. The records also include annual reports of Texas-based labor unions (1949, 1951, 1975-1978).

Manuscripts

Friends of the Governor’s Mansion records – includes digitized records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive
In 1979, Texas Governor William P. Clements Jr. and First Lady Mrs. Rita Clements established Friends of the Governor’s Mansion, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization committed to maintaining and preserving the historical and cultural significance of the Texas Governor’s Mansion, preserving the historical collections, beautifying the gardens, and educating the public about the home and its history. The Governor’s Mansion’s docents educate the public about the mansion and serve as trained guides for mansion tours and hostesses during special events held there. These Friends of the Governor’s Mansion records are tour schedules, function sheets, docent manuals, historians’ notebooks, correspondence, notes, oral histories, agendas, newsletters, electronic newsletters, invitations, financial reports, meeting minutes, renovation documents, historical information about the mansion, furniture and furnishing inventories, loan documentation, photographs, film reels and a VHS videotape about the history of the mansion, and ephemera related to the Docent’s Committee. Materials date 1937, 1964-2023, and undated, bulk 1979-1995. A portion of these materials have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive.

Sharpstown stock-fraud litigation case file
Joe Shannon Jr. was one of the attorneys who represented Texas State Representative Thomas Clifton “Tommy” Shannon during the legal proceedings of Mutscher v. State , also known as the Sharpstown stock-fraud case. This scandal centered on Texas Speaker of the House Gus Mutscher Jr., Representative Tommy Shannon, and Rush McGinty, who were found guilty of conspiracy for taking bribes from businessman Frank Sharp. Although the convictions were confined to these three individuals, the scandal affected many other officials, resulting in resignations and electoral losses. The aftermath prompted legislative reforms requiring income disclosure from public officials. These papers assembled by Shannon, spanning 1970 to 1974, are a case file encompassing subpoena records, trial testimony, trial notes, opening witness documents, closing jury arguments, appellate research, and appellate briefs submitted to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals pursuant to the trial in Abilene, Texas. The papers also include the opinion issued by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals at the conclusion of the appeal.

W. Lee O’Daniel collection – a portion of the materials have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive
W. Lee O’Daniel served as Texas governor from 1938 to 1941 and as United States senator from 1941 to 1948. His work in radio advertising and country music programming made him a popular figure in Texas. This collection, dating 1937-1948 and undated, consists of photographs, artwork, maps, scrapbooks, and a lacquer disc recording of his “Hillbilly Boys” radio show. These document O’Daniel’s family; political campaigns; his farm near Burleson, Texas; and news of the day. A portion of these materials have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive.

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Revised Finding Aids

State Records

Texas Attorney General’s Office Howard Hughes estate litigation case file

Texas Attorney General’s Office litigation case files – includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Attorney General’s Office, Office of the Solicitor General litigation case files

Texas Capitol Building Commission administrative records and architectural drawings – includes digitized records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Department of Water Resources water planning files

Texas Ethics Commission records – includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas House of Representatives recordings – all recordings are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Secretary of State deed files

Texas Secretary of State Elections Division election returns (precinct-by-precinct)

Texas Department of Transportation Right of Way Division records – all records are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Board of Criminal Justice minutes and meeting files – includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Bureau of State Health Planning and Resource Development records

Texas Historical Commission Community Heritage Development Division records

Texas Secretary of State legislative bills and resolutions filed (General and special laws) – includes digitized records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Water Development Board Office of Project Finance and Construction Assistance records – includes electronic records are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation records – includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners records– includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Department of Agriculture audiovisual materials – majority of the materials have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Secretary of State bonds and oaths – majority of the records have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Water Commission minutes

Texas Water Development Board meeting files

Texas Department of Agriculture audiovisual materials – majority of the materials have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Secretary of State bonds and oaths – majority of the records have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Water Commission minutes

Texas Water Development Board meeting files

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation records – includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners records– includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Republic claims: We now have an improved researcher experience available for the Republic claims portion of our Texas Comptroller’s Office claims records, which is now a revised TSLAC finding aid available on the TARO website. The Republic claims portion of the records has been digitized and is part of the Texas Digital Archive.

Local Records

Galveston County (Tex.) County Clerk’s Office records

Manuscripts

Beauford H. Jester Railroad Commissioner campaign recordings and transcripts – all materials have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Price Daniel audiovisual materials and related papers – all materials have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Texas Brewers’ Institute records – includes digitized materials that are part of the Texas Digital Archive

Zarh Pritchard collection – includes digitized materials that are part of the Texas Digital Archive

A new TSLAC finding aid is now available on the TARO website for the Henry Arthur McArdle scrapbooks, which have been newly digitized and are available on the Texas Digital Archive. In addition, the online exhibit for the McArdle scrapbooks has been revised and redesigned, and the scrapbook images are also available there. We think you’ll like the new look of this very popular online exhibit.

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As our archives staff work on an ongoing basis to arrange, preserve, describe, and make available to the public the materials under our care, we spotlight new additions to the website in a regular feature from Out of the Stacks. The column lists new and revised finding aids recently made available online, along with fresh uploads to the Texas Digital Archive, our repository of electronic items. For a comprehensive list of all recently added and updated finding aids visit Archives: Finding Aids (New & Revised).

FY2024 Q3-Q4

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New Finding Aids

State Records

Texas Air Control Board records
The Texas Air Control Board (TACB) was created by the Texas Clean Air Act in 1965 to monitor and regulate air pollution in the state as a part of the Texas Department of Health. In 1973, the Texas Legislature removed the TACB from the Department of Health and made it an independent state agency. These TACB records are the agency’s meeting minutes and agenda, correspondence on paper and microfiche, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant files on microfilm, executive office files, and permit applications, dated 1963-1993 and undated.

Texas Department of Agriculture producers board records
The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) promotes production agriculture, consumer protection, economic development, and healthy living. These Texas Department of Agriculture producers board records, dating 1965-2007, and undated, bulk 1976-1991, document the creation, activities, and occasional dissolution of the local Texas producer boards operating under the oversight of TDA. The records include agendas, annual reports, audits, ballots, budgets, bylaws, correspondence, election returns, financial records, financial statements, forms, membership lists, minutes, oaths, plans, press releases, research proposals, and reports concerning the boards’ administrative tasks, such as obtaining certification, developing and managing budgets, assessing fees, and holding local referendums, elections, and meetings.

Local Records / Manuscripts

Caroline Roget papers
Caroline Roget became the secretary and romantic partner of Texas Governor Beauford H. Jester from 1940 until his death in 1949, after her earlier life in which she had trained and performed as a professional singer. The Caroline Roget papers, which date 1917-1958, bulk 1940-1949, document Roget’s personal and professional activities in Texas society and political circles. The papers consist of Roget’s personal and professional correspondence, personal and printed materials, and political office materials for Jester, along with photographs taken of him, Roget, and others at events and as portraits. Correspondence comprises the bulk of the papers, the majority of which is personal correspondence between Roget and Jester. A significant amount of clippings, a scrapbook covering Jester’s political career, and two of Roget’s diaries are also included. Hand-sketched floor plans and letters within the papers document Roget’s acquisition and renovation of the historic Bowie-Watson House in Austin, Texas.

Nacogdoches archives – digitized version of the microfilm is part of the Texas Digital Archive
Texas has been governed by six sovereign countries, including Spain from 1690 to 1821 and Mexico from 1821 to 1836. The Nacogdoches archives consists of records maintained by national, regional, and local officials—both political and military—of the Spanish and Mexican governments documenting their rule of Texas from the mid-eighteenth into the early nineteenth century, dating 1729-1836, undated. The bulk of the records consists of correspondence and copies of letters.

The records include Spanish colonial and Mexican national government correspondence, decrees, and reports; correspondence and reports of military and political officials stationed in the Provincias Internas (1776-1824) and later, the State of Coahuila y Texas; records of the Department of Nacogdoches (northeastern area of Texas), 1830-1836; and municipal records of Nacogdoches and vicinity. Until the 1830s, the records are written almost entirely in Spanish. The records of the Municipality of Nacogdoches (not to be confused with the Department of Nacogdoches) are a mixture of both English- and Spanish-language documents after 1830. Portions of these records have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive.

Revised Finding Aids

State Records

Texas Historical Commission meeting records – includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive
The Texas Historical Commission protects and preserves the state’s historic and prehistoric resources for the use, education, economic benefit, and enjoyment of present and future generations. Records are minutes, agenda, and exhibits of the Texas State Historical Survey Committee meetings, from 1953 to 1973; and of the Texas Historical Commission meetings, dating 1973-2018.

Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission records – includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) inspects, supervises, and regulates the business of manufacturing, importing, exporting, transporting, storing, selling, advertising, labeling, and distributing alcoholic beverages in Texas. These records date 1964-2022 and include copies of minutes, agenda, and transcripts of meetings of the Texas Liquor Control Board (TABC’s predecessor from 1935 to 1969) and the TABC; correspondence, memorandums, and reports from the executive division; and press releases issued by the agency.

Texas Governor Sam Houston records – the manuscripts, some typescripts, and the letterpress book of outgoing correspondence have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive
The governor of Texas is the chief executive officer of the state elected by citizens every four years. Sam Houston served as governor from December 21, 1859, to March 16, 1861. These records mainly document Governor Houston’s term in office. Types of records are correspondence; petitions from citizens of various counties; memorandums; proclamations; broadsides; resolutions; requisitions; military orders; minutes; a letterpress book; messages to and from the Texas Senate and House of Representatives; clippings; and related records, dating from 1824 to 1862, bulk 1859-1861. The manuscripts, some typescripts, and the letterpress book of outgoing correspondence have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive.

Texas Judicial Advisory Council meeting files – includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive
The Judicial Advisory Council advises the director of the Community Justice Assistance Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Texas Board of Criminal Justice on matters of interest to the judiciary. These files contain the minutes and agendas of the Texas Judicial Advisory Council and accompanying reports and documents presented to the council at its meetings, 1990-2022.

Texas Municipal Retirement System minutes – includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive
The Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS), created in 1948, administers a retirement and disability pension system for employees of participating Texas cities. Records of TMRS are minutes of its Board of Trustees and committees, 1947-2022, that were created to document in a thorough but summary fashion the actions of the board and committees at their meetings. Minutes since 2019 are in electronic format and are in the Texas Digital Archive.

Texas State Board of Dental Examiners records – includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive
The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners serves the following functions: to license qualified dentists and dental hygienists (by examination and/or by credentials); to register dental assistants after examination; to register qualified dental laboratories; to renew licenses and registrations annually; to investigate all complaints; to prosecute complaints through informal or formal disciplinary means; and to monitor on-going compliance of disciplined licensees/registrants with board orders. Those functions are documented by these records, which include copies of minutes, agenda, transcripts, press releases, committee membership lists, and a brochure, dating 1961-2005, 2018-2020.

Texas Department of Insurance State Fire Marshal’s Office fire insurance maps – includes digitized records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive
The Texas State Fire Marshal is a division of the TDI that promotes fire safety through prevention, education and protection. These Department of Insurance State Fire Marshal fire insurance maps are commercially printed and hand-drawn, and were used by the State Fire Marshal’s office to determine fire insurance rates for Texas cities and towns. Maps date from 1906 to 1992, undated, bulk dating from 1920 to 1980.

Texas Historical Commission History Programs Division records – includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive
The History Programs Division of the THC provides preservation assistance to county historical commissions, museums, nonprofit preservation organizations, state and federal agencies, local governments, students, educators, and the general public. Records in these files include correspondence, memos, minutes, surveys, inscriptions, lists and project files of historical markers, membership lists and activity reports of county historical commissions, clippings, county historical commission newsletters and other publications, programs of local events, photographs, slides, negatives, maps, lists of donors to the Texas Historical Foundation, contracts, bids, and specifications for building historical markers, and electronic records. Dates covered are about 1880-2016, undated, with the bulk dating 1960-1975, 2007-2016. 

Texas Health and Human Services Commission advisory committee meeting files – includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is the oversight agency for certain state agencies with health or human services functions. Services provided include Medicaid for families and children, long-term care for people who are older or who have disabilities, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash assistance for families, behavioral health services, services to help keep people who are older or who have disabilities in their homes and communities, and services for women and people with special health needs. Records are the meeting files of many of the commission’s advisory committees, dating 1996-2022.

Local Records / Manuscripts

Texas Library Association records – includes electronic records that are part of the Texas Digital Archive
The Texas Library Association (TLA) is a non-profit organization whose goal has been to promote, support and improve services for academic, public, school, and special libraries in Texas since its establishment in 1902. These records document the TLA’s own work and its history with other organizations such as the American Library Association, the Southwestern Library Association, and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Records of the Texas Library Association consist of executive board and TLA Council reports, planning and promotional material for annual conferences, meeting minutes, and documentation relating to the nomination and selection of their numerous annual awards. The records are dated 1902-2018 and undated, bulk 1970-2017.

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Contact ref@tsl.texas.gov or 512-463-5455 with questions about using TSLAC’s archival resources. For a comprehensive list of all recently added and updated finding aids visit Archives: Finding Aids (New & Revised).