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Home My WebLink AboutSave Texas History!THE TEXAS GENERAL LANT) OFF I( "!; 3' i l l C. eneraliand()lpre Dhhe Berth c ake RICEADD 8, MUT apt JESSE E: DUD llIsToaic1Rsi'ivATIoN ('O IMISSIONER .JERRY I'ATTT;RSON SAVE TEXAS HISTORY! * * GENERAL LAND OFFICE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROD' at :s ave exas . .istory r' 0 ne of the first tasks faced by Sam Houston as President of the Texas Republic was collecting all the land records of the new country. By act of the first Congress in 1837 he created the General Land Office and asked its new Commissioner John Borden to travel the countryside collecting every scrap of paper related to Texas land. From old Spanish land grants to Stephen F. Austin's field notes, Borden's collection grew into the Archives of the Texas General Land Office. Now that collection is home to 35 million maps and doc- uments, some dating back to 1720, and is considered one of the most significant resources for historical research in the state. The Archives of the Texas General Land Office serves as the state repository for the history of Texas land. But many of these documents are crumbling into dust due to age, overuse and poor storage conditions. An effort is needed to preserve these Texas treasures for future generations. Created by Commissioner Jerry Patterson, the Texas General Land Office "Save Texas History" campaign is a statewide initiative utilizing groundbreaking visual, print and electronic media to rally public support and private funding for the preservation of these historic maps and documents. The "Save Texas History" mission: * Educate all Texans about our colorful past. * Promote the study of Texas history at all ages. * Promote the Save Texas History program with the ultimate goal of preserving more historic documents. Seek sponsor partnerships to help further the mission of the program. It is important to remember NO general revenue money is used for conservation. The future of these historic documents depends on the generosity of our public support. Please do your part to Save Texas History. Contributions may be tax- deductible. D OFFICE • JERRY PATTER f he newly conserved map of Austin's Colony returned to the Land Office in early August 2002, after spending seven months undergo- ing professional conser- vation. The Austin map ,•;, was particularly diffi - J InIT cult to conserve due to its age, size and brittle condition. It had spent most of its 165 years rolled up on top of filing cabinets because of lack of proper storage facilities. The conservation process for these his- toric documents is del- icate and time -con- suming. For most maps, the treatment includes removal of surface dirt, water baths, deacidification, flattening, mending tears, reducing stains, removing old repair materials such as tape and varnish, and replacement of old backings with special Japanese kozo paper. Through this process, the General Land Office has already saved hun- dreds of historic maps. H v 6v PROJECTED COMMISSIONER onservation of historic maps and documents is only the beginning at the Texas General Land Office. As the guardian of 35 million historic docu- ments dating back to Spanish rule, the GLO also seeks to preserve these treasures for future generations. The Digital Preservation Project is a Land Office initiative to digitally scan its entire archive for safekeeping and availability via the Internet. More than 69,000 maps and documents, representing more than 616,000 digi- tal images, have been posted online in a searchable cat alogue. 1.800.998.4GLO WWW. SAVE TEXASHIS TOR Y.ORG i c 7Z C.144 SAVE TEXAS H ISTORY! * This Week In Texas History This Week in Texas History is a new 60- second, weekly radio feature produced by the Texas General Land Office Save Texas History pro - gram that brings to life little -known episodes in the story of Texas. From political scandals, war heroes, heat waves and hurricanes to shoolouts, rivalries, boom towns and barons — This Week in Texas History tells the stories that made Texas great! The radio feature airs on radio affili- ates across Texas; date and time may vary —check local listings. It is available for broadcast sponsorship by corporations or organizations. To become a sponsor or a radio station affiliate, please contact the Texas General Land Office Office of Communications at (512) 475 -1685. * online Donations and Map Sales S ave Texas History allows Texans to do their part to preserve the treas- ures of the past directly over the World Wide Web! View the thousands of historic maps in our collection, learn more about conservation efforts and purchase full size, color replicas instantly with a credit card. Statewide and county historic maps make great gifts for your favorite history buff. You can also make a direct online credit card contribution to Save Texas History and help us raise public awareness of the need to save these Texas treasures. SAVE TEXAS HISTORY! GENERA IAN D OFFICE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAM .1• a i t4r!T v .the, 6faaat Mihta!Y Map al Taxae .�...' Yana13+5_ €4MLaM PJ _Se_6reatr'xmnMay. r- wwwsaYetexashistoryorg Texas and Commissioner Jerry Patterson's GREAT MILITARY MAP T� S AVAILABLE NOW! * Historic Hatt os and Etpodlioos * Miflary Ports and Camps • Riyors, Monk, Tom fog & hoot • 300 Yoors of History * HosoaTCbod by 6ild O to Hislorioos • Now IHosatioos • So_o of Map 1101ps Sayo Togas History Pood 1- 800- 998 -4GL0 SAYETEXASHISTORY.ORG A A.A An, v,nnn GLO Archives I I I ® Name of individual, company, school Of organization: ® Mailing / Physical Address: city state zip Phone Number (with area code): E -mail Address II I have enclosed a check or money order for: Please return this form with your tax- deductible contribution. You may make checks payable to the Texas General Land Office P.O. Box 12873 Austin, Texas 78711 -2873 Mail Code 131 or contribute online w ww savetexashistory.org By proof of this form, it is my desire to make a donation to the Texas General Land O ffice for the Save Texas History program. I understand the Commissioner has authority to accept gifts on behalf of the agency (Nat. Res. 31.065). This donation is purely voluntary, and I have no expectation of compensation. Jacob de Cordova's 1849 Texas map HOUSTON. is II. Stephen F Austin Registro and Signature ® Just in case we need to reach you about your contribution: 1720 Spanish land grant establishing Mission San Jose Alamo defenders Bowie, Crockett and Travis MEN TO WHOM THESE PRESEN /.:s �, 4 D, v ,, by crier t Land Office mapmaker and inventor Robert Creuzbaur, this map is perhaps the finest map of early statehood. Due to its importance, it was one of the first maps to be conserved. Digitally scanned, copies are now available to the public. A monument to Austin's determi- nation to preserve the records o his colony, the `Registro" records the "Old 300" land titles. He si as Emp resario "—one of the ew times he describes himself with the term. One of the oldest documents in the Archives of the General Land Office is the 1720 grant estab- lishing the Mission San Jose. On permanent loan from the Moody Foundation. The Land Office contains land records of many Alamo defenders, James Bowie's Spanish land grant is here, with his characteristic sig- nature, Also here is a certificat granting the heirs of David Crockett 1,280 acres of Texas land due to his "honorable discharge by death" at the Alamo. William Barret 7iavis' signature he fOund on an 1835 colony ter in the Archives, S 4t t ' t-1'ct-t f4- f t1 - 7°I11 7 COMMISSIONER JERRY PAT1'Is RSON T he history of Texas is what sets Texans apart, makes us who we are. It lengthens our stride, swells our hearts with pride. It gives us the courage to accomplish great things. Our unique history proves Texas is a special place, with a story like no other. But part of that history is in danger of being lost forever. The maps and documents of the Texas General Land Office Archives are under siege by the forces of age and use, and they cannot continue the fight without our help. Right now, invaluable his- toric maps of Texas are disintegrating. Historic documents bearing the original signatures of Jim Bowie, William B. Travis, Stephen F. Austin and other Texas heroes are becoming danger- ously brittle. Without proper care, these Texas treasures could be lost forever to future generations of Texans. The General Land Office's Save Texas History campaign is a unique public /private partnership to allow Texans an opportu- nity to help stop the damaging effects of time. Corporations, organizations, schools and individual Texans can make a finan- cial contribution to pay for the professional conservation and preservation of these documents. Thanks for your interest. I hope you will stand your ground" and help Save Texas History. (1 ONI. IISSION I li CiENI. :I- I. Lk \I) 't NT A TouR? ('AIA, 512- 463 -5277 SAVE TEXASHISTORY.ORG