THE ORGANIZATION AND OBJECTS OF THE TEXAS STATE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
Organization. On the evening of Feb. 13, 1897, a number of gentlemen interested in Texas history met in one of the rooms of the University of Texas to discuss the organization of a State Historical Association. The result of the meeting will be seen in the following circular letter, which was issued a few days later and sent to some 250 persons in Texas:
You are cordially invited to be present and take part in a meeting to be held in the rooms of the Commissioner of Insurance, Statistics and History, at 8:30 p. m., March 2, 1897, for the purpose of organizing a State Historical Association. The general object of this Association will be the promotion of historical studies; and its special object the discovery, collection, preservation, and publication of the materials for the history of Texas. The proposed annual fee for membership is two dollars.
We feel the duty of immediate action in order that the sources of Texas history may be preserved, and we sincerely hope that you will be able to lend your aid.
If you are unable to attend the meeting, but wish to become a member, kindly signify the same on the attached blank, which you will please mail in the enclosed envelope.
O. M. Roberts, F. R. Lubbock, Jno. H. Reagan, Geo. T. Winston, Dudley G. Wooten, A. J. Rose, George P. Garrison.
The number of responses to this letter was indeed gratifying; nearly one-half the persons invited either attended the meeting or sent their names for membership.
The Association was organized on the evening of March 2, some twenty or thirty persons present. Before proceeding to business, ex-Governor O. M. Roberts, in response to repeated calls, pleasantly entertained those present with several anecdotes illustrative of the character of General Thomas J. Rusk. The meeting was then called to order by Professor George P. Garrison of the State University. Judge Z. T. Fulmore of Austin was made temporary chairman, and Professor Garrison secretary, and the following constitution was adopted:
CONSTITUTION.
Art. I. Name
This Society shall be called The Texas State Historical Association.
Art. II. Objects.
The objects of the Association shall be, in general, the promotion of historical studies; and, in particular, the discovery, collection, preservation, and publication of historical material, especially such as relates to Texas.
Art. III. Membership.
The Association shall consist of Members, Fellows, Life Members, and Honorary Life Members.
a.Members. Persons recommended by the Executive Council, and elected by the Association, may become Members.
b.Fellows. Members who show, by published work, special aptitude for historical investigation may become Fellows. Thirteen Fellows shall be elected by the Association when first organized, and the body thus created may thereafter elect additional Fellows on the nomination of the Executive Council. The number of Fellows shall never exceed fifty.
c.Life Members. Such benefactors of the Association as shall pay into its treasury at one time the sum of ($50) fifty dollars, or shall present to the Association an equivalent in books, MSS., or other acceptable matter, shall be classed as Life Members.
d.Honorary Life Members. Persons who rendered eminent service to Texas previous to annexation may become Honorary Life Members upon being recommended by the Executive Council and elected by the Association.
Art. IV. Officers.
The affairs of the Association shall be administered by a President, four Vice Presidents, a Librarian, a Secretary and Treasurer, and an Executive Council.
The President, Vice Presidents, and Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected annually by the Association from among the Fellows.
The Professor of History in the University of Texas shall be ex officio Librarian of this Association.
The Executive Council, a majority of which shall constitute a quorum, shall consist of the following:
- The President.
- The four Vice Presidents.
- The Librarian of the Association.
- The State Librarian.
- Three Fellows.
- Five Members
The Association, immediately after organizing, shall elect three Fellows to serve on the Executive Council, one, two, and three years, respectively, the term of each to be decided by lot. Thereafter, one Fellow shall be elected annually by the Association for the term of three years.
The Association, immediately after organizing, shall likewise elect five members to serve on the Executive Council, one, two, three, four, and five years, respectively, the term of each to be decided by lot. Thereafter, one Member shall be elected annually by the Association for the term of five years.
Art. V. Dues.
Each Member shall pay annually into the treasury of the Association the sum of two dollars.
Each Fellow shall pay annually into the treasury of the Association the sum of five dollars.
Life Members and Honorary Life Members shall be exempt from all dues.
Art. VI. Publication Committee.
A Publication Committee, consisting of five persons, shall have the sole charge of the selection and editing of matter for publication. The President and Librarian of the Association shall be ex officio members of this committee; the remaining three members shall be chosen annually by the Fellows from the Executive Council.
Article VII. Amendments.
Amendments to this Constitution shall become operative after being recommended by the Executive Council and approved by two-thirds of the entire membership of the Association, the vote being taken by letter ballot.
Fellows and officers were then elected, 10 and the meeting adjourned.
The Executive Council met at the University building in Austin, May 28th, and decided that the first annual meeting of the Association should be held at the same place on Thursday, June 17. The meeting was held as appointed, and the papers printed in this number of The Quarterly were read before the Association. Three or four hundred names were added to the list of members and a few to the list of Fellows, and a Publication Committee was elected, as the Constitution directs. The surviving veterans of San Jacinto and previous battles, together with ex-Governor O. M. Roberts, Hon. John H. Reagan, Colonel Guy M. Bryan, Colonel John S. Ford, Mrs. Julia Lee Sinks, Mrs. Anson Jones, and Mrs. A. J. Briscoe, were elected honorary life members.
It is hoped that the Association will stimulate the production of much historical matter of real worth for presentation at its meetings, and it is intended to publish such matter, as well as original documents, as fast as the finances of the Association will allow. Original articles on any period of Texas history, or on any subject connected with Texas history, will be gladly received; a number of such papers will be read before the Association at each meeting.
It is also hoped to ascertain the present location, ownership, condition, etc., of the vast mass of MSS. now in the hands of private persons in Texas, and, if possible, to secure for the Association possession of the originals. Suitable fire-proof vaults will be provided as soon as possible, where such papers as the Association shall acquire may be safely stored. Private diaries, family letters, journals of travel, old newspapers, genealogical notices, etc., etc., are of quite as much value in recovering the history of Texas as are state papers and public documents. Members of the Association are especially urged to report to the Secretary any information which they may have concerning such documents.
The Association also hopes to acquire a library and museum. It has already made a good beginning. Books and historical relics will be gratefully received, and it is especially desired that every Texas author should present to the Association a copy of his works.
How to cite:
"THE ORGANIZATION AND OBJECTS OF THE TEXAS STATE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.", Volume 001, Number 1, Southwestern Historical Quarterly Online, Page 71 - 74. http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/publications/journals/shq/online/v001/n1/back_12.html
[Accessed Mon Dec 1 18:48:37 CST 2008]
