TABLE OF CONTENTS
Overview
Agency
History
Scope and Contents of the Records
Organization of the
Records
Restrictions
Index
Terms
Related Material
Administrative Information
Description of Series
Records of John
H. Money, Treasurer of Ayuntamiento of Austin,
1835,
Records of citizens meetings and committees of public safety,
1835-1836, undated,
Records of the Permanent Council,
1835, undated
Records of the Consultation,
1835, undated,
Records of the Provisional Government,
1835-1836,
Records of the Convention of 1836,
1835-1836, undated,
Records of Ad Interim Government,
1836,
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Texas (Republic). Department of State:
An
Inventory of Department of State Records of Legislative and Executive Bodies
Prior to the Republic at the Texas State Archives,
1835-1836, undated
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Creator: |
Texas (Republic). Dept.
of State. |
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Title: |
Department of State records of
legislative and executive bodies prior to the Republic |
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Dates: | 1835-1836, undated
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Abstract: |
Prior to the
regular goverment established by the Republic of Texas Constitution of 1836, a
variety of governmental entities, both legislative and executive, succeeded one
another. Types of records include correspondence, reports, resolutions,
decrees, ordinances, declarations, circulars, proceedings, minutes, delegate
rolls, records of votes, rules, presidential addresses, commissions issued, a
memorial, list of government officers, a resignation, and vouchers and
receipts, all of the various legislative and executive bodies prior to the
Republic. These governmental bodies include the following: the treasurer of the
Ayuntamiento of Austin, citizens meetings and committees of public safety, the
Permanent Council, the Consultation, the Provisional Government, the Convention
of 1836, and the Ad Interim government, dating 1835-1836 and undated.
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Quantity: |
2.64 cubic ft., 1
reel microfilm |
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Language: |
These materials are written
predominately in English. |
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Repository: |
Texas State Archives
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Sponsor: |
This
EAD finding aid was created in cooperation with Texas Archival Resources
Online. |
Ayuntamientos were the principal governing bodies of Spanish
and Mexican municipalities at the time of the Texas Revolution. They functioned
as town councils, and mediated between local and central authorities. The
particular ayuntamiento represented in these records is probably that of San
Felipe de Austin.
Committees of Safety and Correspondence were organized
by citizens in Mina (Bastrop), Gonzales, Viesca, and Columbia, and then in
nearly all Texas communities by the end of the summer of 1835. They would
ultimately make possible effective and organized resistance during the Texas
Revolution.
The Permanent Council, composed of the Committee of Safety
of San Felipe and representatives from other areas, assumed the powers of
government in the absence of a quorum of the Consultation, which had been
elected to meet there on October 16, 1835. It governed Texas from October 11,
1835, until a quorum arrived for the Consultation in early November. Richard R.
Royall was elected President and Charles B. Stewart Secretary. During the three
weeks it operated, the Council organized supplies and reinforcements for the
Army, set up a postal system, ordered the land offices closed, and attempted to
obtain a loan in the United States.
The Consultation, called for the
purpose of determining the stance Texas should take toward the Republic of
Mexico, was scheduled to meet at San Felipe on October 16, 1835, but a quorum
not being present, was forced to adjourn until November 1. However, a quorum
still did not arrive until November 3. When the Consultation organized on that
day, Branch T. Archer was elected President. The chief accomplishments of the
Consultation were the promulgation of the Declaration of November 7, 1835, in
which it established the policy of remaining within the Mexican Republic and
attempting to restore the Constitution of 1824, the establishment of the
Provisional Government, the appointment of Sam Houston as Commander-in-Chief of
the Texas Army, the appointment of Stephen F. Austin, Branch T. Archer, and
William H. Wharton as agents to the United States for the purpose of obtaining
a loan, and the ratifications of many of the acts of the Permanent Council. The
Consultation adjourned on November 14, 1835.
The Provisional Government
was created by the Consultation, which chose its members and appointed Henry
Smith Governor and James W. Robinson Lieutenant Governor. It governed Texas
from November 15, 1835 until March 1, 1836, operating under the authority of
the Organic Law formulated by the Consultation. The legislative body of the
Provisional Government was the General Council, composed of one member from
each municipality, and presided over by the Lieutenant Governor as ex-officio
president. Its membership was not stable however, as some men served during
only a few sessions, while others attended for nearly the full duration. The
number of members in attendance steadily declined, until by February 26, only
two were present. During the brief existence of the Provisional Government, the
Governor and General Council were in constant conflict, arising chiefly from
disagreement about their relative powers and about the stance Texas should
adopt toward Mexico. The dispute climaxed on January 10, 1836, when Governor
Smith attempted to dissolve the Council, which retorted by impeaching Smith and
naming Robinson as Governor. By February, the Provisional Government was almost
non-existent as an effective government, with two claiming the office of
governor and responsibility for directing the affairs of Texas, and with the
Council gradually dissolving as members abandoned their posts. In spite of its
uncertain authority and internal dissension, the Provisional Government
accomplished several things: the founding of the Texas Navy, the appointment of
Sam Houston and John Forbes to treat with the Cherokee Indians, the issuing of
its instructions to Stephen F. Austin, Branch T. Archer and William H. Wharton,
agents to the United States, and the calling of the Convention of 1836.
The Convention of 1836 met at Washington-on-the-Brazos from March 1 to March
17, 1836, on the call of the General Council over the veto of Governor Henry
Smith. Composed of 59 delegates, it elected Richard Ellis Chairman and Herbert
Simms Kimble Secretary. In the two weeks of its existence, the Convention wrote
the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the Republic, organized
an Interim Government and elected its officers, and confirmed Sam Houston as
Commander of the Republic military forces. Upon its hasty adjournment at the
news of the advancing Mexican Army, the powers of government were immediately
assumed by the Ad Interim Government, which was to serve until the Constitution
could be ratified by the people and a general election held for executive
officers.
The Ad Interim government served from March 16, 1836 to
October 16, 1836, between the adjournment of the Convention of 1836 and the
ratification of the Constitution and election of Sam Houston as the first
President of the Republic of Texas. Appointed by the Convention, it contained
no legislative or judicial departments. David G. Burnet was appointed President
and Lorenzo de Zavala Vice-President along with Secretary of State Samuel P.
Carson, Secretary of the Treasury Bailey Hardeman, Secretary of War Thomas J.
Rusk, Secretary of the Navy Robert Potter, and Attorney General David Thomas.
The activities of the Ad Interim government revolved chiefly around attempts to
obtain financial and military assistance from foreign nations, and around
organizing the citizens of Texas into a military force. Fleeing with the Texas
population before the advancing Mexican Army, the temporary government was
located successively at Washington-on-the-Brazos, Harrisburg, Galveston Island,
Velasco, and Columbia.
The records of the Permanent Council were turned
over to the Provisional Government, which subsequently turned its records over
to the Convention of 1836 pursuant to a resolution of March 10, 1836. By 1854,
the "Archives of the Congresses and
Legislature" which were required to be arranged, copied, and filed in the
General Land Office, included the records of the Provisional Government. An act
of December 14, 1863 made the Secretary of State "the
custodian of the records of the Senate and House of Representatives;" and
an act of March 25, 1887 provided that "the entire
archives of the late Republic of Texas, . . . together with the records, books,
and journals of said Congress" would be "deposited in the Office of the Secretary of State,"
and "declared to be Archives of said office."
The Secretary of State is a constitutional officer of the executive
branch of state government, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the
senate for a term concurrent with the governor's (a two-year term at first, a
four-year term since 1974). The office was first created by the Constitution of
the Republic of Texas in 1836 (Article VI, Section 10), and has been continued
by each succeeding Constitution.
The only duty of the Secretary of
State specified by the Constitution of 1836 was to receive
"returns of all elections for officers who are to be
commissioned by the President" (General Provisions, Section 2). The 1st
Congress approved a Joint Resolution on December 13, 1836
"defining the duties of the heads of departments of
the government." However, the duties of this cabinet (composed of the
Secretaries of State, War, Navy, and Treasury, and the Attorney General) were
expressed in extremely vague terms, i.e.: "to conform
to and execute the instructions of the president, whether general or
particular; and to give respectively and collectively, such needful aid and
counsel whenever required so to do by the chief magistrate of the republic, as
may be requisite to a firm, wholesome and harmonious administration of the
government." Much of our knowledge of what the Secretary of State did
during the Republic period derives from the existing records themselves.
Although never so stated in law, obviously a major function of the Secretary of
State under the Republic of Texas was diplomatic, a function unique to Texas'
history as an independent nation.
During the next nine years of the
Republic's existence, Congressional acts added little in the way of explicit
duties: to receive from the chief justices of the county courts
"a description of their county boundaries, and such
other information and observations relative to the same, as they may conceive
conducive to the convenience of their citizens" (December 17, 1836); to
furnish Texan consuls with instruction for the proper regulation of foreign
trade (December 18, 1837); to contract for the printing of the laws and
journals of the Republic of Texas, and to arrange for their distribution
(December 18, 1837 and later dates); to contract for the translation and
compilation of Republic laws into Spanish ("the
Castilian language") (December 18, 1837 and January 12, 1842); to become
the depository for a Library purchased for the Republic of Texas (January 24,
1839); to create a Patent Office, as a bureau of the office of Secretary of
State, and to grant patent rights "for any new and
useful art, machine, instrument or composition of matter, liberal arts,
sciences or literature, books, maps or charts, or any new and useful
improvement of the same . . . invented or discovered" (January 28, 1839);
to draw from the war department funds appropriated to run a boundary line
between the Republic of Texas and the United States (November 26, 1840); to
assume the duties of the Postmaster General, appointing and supervising a clerk
for a bureau called the "General Post Office,"
and to receive from the former Postmaster General all records of the abolished
Post Office Department (January 18, 1841); to issue writs of election to fill
certain vacancies in counties (December 7, 1841).
(Sources include: the
Secretary of State Republic of Texas records
appraisal report
(December 1998); and the enabling legislation
(1836-1887).)
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Prior to the regular
goverment established by the Republic of Texas Constitution of 1836, a variety
of governmental entities, both legislative and executive, succeeded one
another. Their functions and activities are documented by these records. Types
of records include correspondence, reports, resolutions, decrees, ordinances,
declarations, circulars, proceedings, minutes, delegate rolls, records of
votes, rules, presidential addresses, commissions issued, a memorial, list of
government officers, a resignation, and vouchers and receipts, all of the
various legislative and executive bodies prior to the Republic. These
governmental bodies include the following: the treasurer of the Ayuntamiento of
Austin, citizens meetings and committees of public safety, the Permanent
Council, the Consultation, the Provisional Government, the Convention of 1836,
and the Ad Interim government, dating 1835-1836 and undated.
One series
consists of receipts issued to and by John H. Money, Treasurer of the
Ayuntamiento of Austin, date January 1-July 20, 1835.
Records of
citizens meetings and various committees of public safety consist of circulars,
proceedings, and correspondence dating August 30, 1835-January 19, 1836. These
records are not specifically addressed to any of the governing bodies of the
Revolutionary period, and it is uncertain whether they came into their custody
during their existence or were later added to their records. Copies of
circulars, proceedings, and letters specifically addressed to one of the
Councils or the Consultation are filed with other communications received by
those bodies in other subseries. The papers of the Committee of Safety of
Austin were required to be received by the Secretary of the Consultation by a
resolution approved November 3, 1835 and are filed with the records of that
body.
Records of the Permanent Council consist of correspondence,
reports, resolutions, and vouchers and receipts, dated between August 19 and
November 2, 1835. There are letters and reports from citizens of Texas and
Mobile, Alabama, and government agencies relating to their activities and the
state of the country. There are also signed copies of letters, addresses, and
commissions sent to the citizens of the United States and Texas, army officers,
and government agents, communicating instructions and appeals for aid.
Correspondents include Stephen F. Austin, Thomas F. McKinney, and Richard R.
Royall.
Records of the Consultation consist of minutes, proceedings,
resolutions, declarations, reports, correspondence, and delegate rolls, dating
between October 11 and November 14, 1835. Also present are the papers of the
Committee of Public Safety of Austin, dated September 21 and October 1, 1835.
Some of the proceedings are signed by P. B. Dexter, Secretary of the
Consultation; R. R. Royall, Chairman; or Samuel Whiting, Secretary Pro Tem.
Also prominent in these records are Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, and Thomas
F. McKinney. Correspondence was received from citizens meetings, the Permanent
Council, Committees of Vigilance and Safety, and agents of government
pertaining to defense, land claims, and other affairs of state. Letters
addressed to the Permanent Council that arrived after it had adjourned were
handled by the Consultation and are included in these records.
Records
of the Provisional Government include correspondence, reports, commissions,
accounts and receipts, proceedings, ordinances, decrees, resolutions, and
legislative addresses, from the Governor, Auditor, Treasurer, and General
Council, dating 1835-1836. These records include a letter book containing
copies of the Declaration of November 7, 1835, Organic Law, ordinances and
resolutions of the General Council, correspondence of the Executive and General
Council, and correspondence and reports laid before the council. Dates covered
are November 1835-February 1836. Also present are "Papers belonging to the Political Chief of the Department
of Brazos, 1835-1836." Records of the Governor consist of correspondence,
reports, commissions, and receipts, dating November 1835-March 1836. The
correspondence chiefly relates to finances and supplies for the government.
Correspondents include the provisional governors Henry Smith and James W.
Robinson, and Sam Houston. Records of the Auditor are accounts and receipts
submitted for approval, dating October 1835-March 1836. Records of the
Treasurer include receipts given to and by the treasurer of the Provisional
Government, dating December 1835-January 1836. Records of the General Council
consist of proceedings, correspondence, committee reports, ordinances, decrees,
resolutions, legislative addresses of the Governor, and accounts and receipts,
covering the period September 1835-March 1836. These records concern the
actions of the General Council, including the establishment of the Texas Navy,
the organization and supplying of the Army, the appointment of Sam Houston and
John Forbes to treat with the Cherokee Indians, and the preparation of
instructions of the agents to the United States, Stephen F. Austin, Branch T.
Archer, and William H. Wharton. It also passed the act calling for the
Convention of 1836. Correspondents and other figures involved here include the
provisional governors Henry Smith and James W. Robinson, Sam Houston, and
Stephen F. Austin. Proceedings of the Permanent Council are included in this
series as is a copy of the proceedings of the Consultation.
Records of
the Convention of 1836 consist of proceedings, a convention roll, rules of the
convention, records of votes, committee reports, auditor's reports,
correspondence, memorials, and acts of the convention, include the Declaration
of Independence and the Constitution. Dates covered are primarily March 1-17,
1836, with some correspondence dating back to November 1835. Correspondents
include S. Rhoads Fisher, George M. Collinsworth, Governor Robinson, the
General Council, members of the convention tendering resignations, and
individuals offering services to the Republic. Subjects include the
organization and supplying of the militia and other military forces, land
concerns, and declaration of Texas' independence from Mexico.
Records of
the Ad Interim government consist of copies of presidential addresses,
correspondence, commissions issued, a memorial, list of government officers, a
resignation, and a receipt. Also included are some private letters, including
ones to James Fannin, R. R. Royall, and Stephen F. Austin, from Santa Anna,
Robert Triplett, and Edward Hall, relating to loans, supplies, and other
subjects. Dates covered are March-September 1836. Correspondents and others
represented here also include David G. Burnet, Mirabeau B. Lamar, Lorenzo de
Zavala, and Robert Triplett. The majority of the records of the Secretary and
the President for this period have been dispersed among several different
series of Republic records.
[Note: During
most of their life in the Texas State Archives, these records have been
referred to by "series" numbers (33 thru 79)
established when the Special Lists were created at some time in the 20th
century. Those series numbers are used in this inventory in lieu of folder
numbers (often a series contained multiple folders). The term
"series" here does not necessarily mean the
same as it would to the archival community.]
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Organization of the
Records |
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The records are organized by State Archives staff into seven
series: |
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Records of John H. Money, Treasurer of Ayuntamiento of
Austin, 1835, fractional |
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Records of citizens meetings and
committees of public safety, 1835-1836, undated, fractional |
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Records
of the Permanent Council, 1835, undated, 0.1 cubic ft. |
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Records of
the Consultation, 1835, undated, 0.15 cubic ft. |
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Records of the
Provisional Government, 1835-1836, 1.79 cubic ft., 1 reel microfilm |
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Records of the Convention of 1836, 1835-1836, undated, 0.5 cubic
ft. |
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Records of Ad Interim Government, 1836,
fractional |
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Restrictions on
Access
Materials do not circulate, but may be used in the State
Archives search room. Materials will be retrieved from and returned to storage
areas by staff members.
Restrictions on Use
Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted and may be
freely used in any way. State records also include materials received by, not
created by, state agencies. Copyright remains with the creator. The researcher
is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).
Technical
Requirements
The Provisional Government letterbook is restricted due
to its fragile physical condition, so researchers must use the microfilmed copy
of the volume.
Microfilm readers are available in the Lorenzo de Zavala
State Archives and Library Building. Ask staff members for exact locations.
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The terms listed here were used to
catalog the records. The terms can be used to find similar or related
records. |
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Personal Names: |
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Archer, Branch Tanner, 1790-1856.
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Austin, Stephen F.
(Stephen Fuller), 1793-1836. |
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Burnet, David Gouverneur,
1789-1870. |
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Collinsworth, George Morse, 1810-1866. |
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Dexter, P. B. (Peter
B.) |
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Fannin, James
Walker, 1804?-1836. |
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Fisher, Samuel Rhoads, 1794-1839. |
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Hall, Edward, fl.
1836. |
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Houston, Sam,
1793-1863. |
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Lamar,
Mirabeau Buonaparte, 1798-1859. |
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McKinney, Thomas F.,
1801-1873. |
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Money, John
H. |
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Robinson, James W.,
1800-1857. |
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Royall,
Richardson Royster, 1798-1840. |
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Santa Anna, Antonio Lopez
de, 1794?-1876. |
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Smith,
Henry, 1788-1851. |
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Triplett, Robert. |
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Wharton, William H. (William Harris),
1802-1839. |
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Whiting,
Samuel, d. 1862? |
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Zavala, Lorenzo de, 1788-1836. |
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Corporate Names: |
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Texas.
Permanent Council. |
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Texas.
Convention (1836) |
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Texas
(Provisional Government, 1835) |
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Texas
(Ad Interim Government, 1836) |
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Texas.
Consultation. |
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Subjects: |
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Legislative
bodies--Texas. |
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Places: |
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Texas--Politics and
government--1835-1836. |
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Texas--History--Revolution--1835-1836. |
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Document Types: |
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Correspondence--Texas--Politics
and government--1835-1836. |
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Reports--Texas--Politics and
government--1835-1836. |
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Receipts--Texas--Politics and
government--1835-1836. |
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Resolutions--Texas--Politics and
government--1835-1836. |
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Functions: |
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Legislating. |
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The following materials are offered as possible sources of
further information on the agencies and subjects covered by the records. The
listing is not exhaustive. |
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Texas State Archives |
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Texas Department of State diplomatic
correspondence, 1831-1832, 1835-1846, undated, 6.9 cubic ft., 3 reels microfilm
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Texas Secretary of State consular
correspondence, 1836-1850, 1873-1875, bulk 1836-1846, 2.26 cubic ft.
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Texas
Secretary of State general correspondence of the Department of State, Republic of Texas (both domestic correspondence,
1822-1845, 1860, 2.40 cubic ft. and home letters, 1835-1847, 1.28 cubic ft.)
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Texas Secretary of State records relating to public printing,
1835-1905, bulk 1874-1897, 3.05 cubic ft.
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Records relating to Indian affairs, 1825-1957, bulk 1825-1880, 3.62
cubic ft.
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Publications |
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Gammel, H. P. N. (comp. and arr.), Laws of
Texas, Austin, the Gammel Book Company, 1898, vol. 1, pp. 549-813,
905-1060
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Daniel, Price and James C. Martin (eds.), Legislative Messages of the Chief Executives of Texas, Austin, Texas State Library, 1972, volume 1
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Binkley, William C. (ed.),
Official Correspondence of the Texas
Revolution, 1835-1836 , New York, D. Appleton-Century Co., 1936, 2 volumes.
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Jenkins, John H. (ed. and comp.),
Papers of the Texas Revolution,
1835-1836, Austin, Presidial Press, 1973, 10 volumes
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(Identify the item and cite the series), Texas Department of State records
of legislative and executive bodies prior to the Republic. Archives and
Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession numbers: 1905/004, 1905/006
These records were transferred to the Texas Department of Insurance,
Statistics, and History (the predecessor of the Texas State Library and
Archives Commission) by the Texas Secretary of State on May 24, 1906; and May
21, 1906.
Processed by State Archives staff, dates unknown
Finding aid encoded by Tony Black in EAD Version 2002 as part of the TARO
project, June 2010
Authority name and other changes by Tony Black, February 2011.
Texas State Archives staff completed an appraisal of the
Texas Secretary of State holdings already in the custody of the Texas State
Archives in December 1998. Fifty-seven series of these holdings were determined
to be archival, including records of legislative and executive bodies prior to
the Republic. The complete appraisal report (in two parts: Republic of Texas
records, and non-Republic records) is available for consultation online at
http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/appraisal/sosrepublic.html
and
http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/appraisal/sosstate.html
, and also in the search room of the Texas State Archives.
The Provisional Government
letterbook was microfilmed (35mm) due to its fragile physical condition, so
researchers must use the microfilmed copy of the volume.
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Records of John
H. Money, Treasurer of Ayuntamiento of Austin,
1835,
fractional |
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Ayuntamientos were the principal
governing bodies of Spanish and Mexican municipalities at the time of the Texas
Revolution. They functioned as town councils, and mediated between local and
central authorities. The particular ayuntamiento represented in these records
is probably that of San Felipe de Austin. These records are receipts issued to
and by John H. Money, Treasurer of the Ayuntamiento of Austin, dating January
1-July 20, 1835. |
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Arrangement |
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These records are arranged by State Archives staff
chronologically. |
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Preferred Citation |
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(Identify the item), Records of John H.
Money, Treasurer of Ayuntamiento of Austin, Texas Department of State records
of legislative and executive bodies prior to the Republic. Archives and
Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission. |
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Series 34: Receipts issued to and by J.H. Money,
1835
[8
items] |
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Records of citizens meetings and committees of public safety,
1835-1836, undated,
fractional |
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Committees of Safety and
Correspondence were organized by citizens in Mina (Bastrop), Gonzales, Viesca,
and Columbia, and then in nearly all Texas communities by the end of the summer
of 1835. They would ultimately make possible effective and organized resistance
during the Texas Revolution. These records are circulars, proceedings, and
correspondence from citizens meetings and various committees of public safety.
Dates covered in these records are August 30, 1835-January 19, 1836. These
records are not specifically addressed to any of the governing bodies of the
Revolutionary period, and it is uncertain whether they came into their custody
during their existence or were later added to their records. Copies of
circulars, proceedings, and letters specifically addressed to one of the
Councils or the Consultation are filed with other communications received by
those bodies in other subseries. The papers of the Committee of Safety of
Austin were required to be received by the Secretary of the Consultation by a
resolution approved November 3, 1835 and are filed with the records of that
body. |
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Arrangement |
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These records are arranged by State Archives staff
chronologically. |
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Preferred Citation |
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(Identify the item), Records of citizens
meetings and committees of public safety, Texas Department of State records of
legislative and executive bodies prior to the Republic. Archives and
Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission. |
| Box |
| 2-9/17 |
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Series 35: Circulars, proceedings, and correspondence,
August 30, 1835-January 19, 1836, undated
[15
items] |
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Records of the Permanent Council,
1835, undated
0.1 cubic ft. |
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The Permanent Council, composed
of the Committee of Safety of San Felipe and representatives from other areas,
assumed the powers of government in the absence of a quorum of the
Consultation, which had been elected to meet there on October 16, 1835. It
governed Texas from October 11, 1835, until a quorum arrived for the
Consultation in early November. Richard R. Royall was elected President and
Charles B. Stewart Secretary. During the three weeks it operated, the Council
organized supplies and reinforcements for the Army, set up a postal system,
ordered the land offices closed, and attempted to obtain a loan in the United
States. |
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These records consist of correspondence, reports, resolutions,
and vouchers and receipts of the Permanent Council, dated between August 19 and
November 2, 1835. There are letters and reports from citizens of Texas and
Mobile, Alabama, and government agencies relating to their activities and the
state of the country. There are also signed copies of letters, addresses, and
commissions sent to the citizens of the United States and Texas, army officers,
and government agents, communicating instructions and appeals for aid.
Correspondents include Stephen F. Austin, Thomas F. McKinney, and Richard R.
Royall. |
|
The records of the Permanent Council were turned over to the
Provisional Government, which subsequently turned its records over to the
Convention of 1836 pursuant to a resolution of March 10, 1836. By 1854, the
"Archives of the Congresses and Legislature"
which were required to be arranged, copied, and filed in the General Land
Office, included the records of the Provisional Government. An act of December
14, 1863 made the Secretary of State "the custodian
of the records of the Senate and House of Representatives;" and an act of
March 25, 1887 provided that "the entire archives of
the late Republic of Texas, . . . together with the records, books, and
journals of said Congress" would be "deposited
in the Office of the Secretary of State," and "declared to be Archives of said office." |
|
Arrangement |
|
These records are arranged by State Archives staff by type of record, and
therein chronologically. |
|
Preferred Citation |
|
(Identify the item), Records of the
Permanent Council, Texas Department of State records of legislative and
executive bodies prior to the Republic. Archives and Information Services
Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission. |
| Box |
| 2-9/17 |
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Series 36: Resolutions,
October 19 and 27, 1835, undated
[7
items] |
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Series 37: Communications received,
August 19-November 1835
[20
items] |
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Series 38: Communications sent,
October 9-31, 1835
[15
items] |
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Series 39: Vouchers and receipts issued
by and drawn on Permanent Council,
Ocrtober 17-31, 1835, undated
[5
items] |
Return to the Table of Contents
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Records of the Consultation,
1835, undated,
0.15 cubic ft. |
|
The Consultation was called for
the purpose of determining the stance Texas should take toward the Republic of
Mexico. These records consist of minutes, proceedings, resolutions,
declarations, reports, correspondence, and delegate rolls of the Consultation,
dating between October 11 and November 14, 1835. Also present are the papers of
the Committee of Public Safety of Austin, dated September 21 and October 1,
1835. Some of the proceedings are signed by P. B. Dexter, Secretary of the
Consultation; R. R. Royall, Chairman; or Samuel Whiting, Secretary Pro Tem.
Also prominent in these records are Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, and Thomas
F. McKinney. Correspondence was received from citizens meetings, the Permanent
Council, Committees of Vigilance and Safety, and agents of government
pertaining to defense, land claims, and other affairs of state. Letters
addressed to the Permanent Council that arrived after it had adjourned were
handled by the Consultation and are included in these records. |
|
The
Consultation, called for the purpose of determining the stance Texas should
take toward the Republic of Mexico, was scheduled to meet at San Felipe on
October 16, 1835, but a quorum not being present, was forced to adjourn until
November 1. However, a quorum still did not arrive until November 3. When the
Consultation organized on that day, Branch T. Archer was elected President. The
chief accomplishments of the Consultation were the promulgation of the
Declaration of November 7, 1835, in which it established the policy of
remaining within the Mexican Republic and attempting to restore the
Constitution of 1824, the establishment of the Provisional Government, the
appointment of Sam Houston as Commander-in-Chief of the Texas Army, the
appointment of Stephen F. Austin, Branch T. Archer, and William H. Wharton as
agents to the United States for the purpose of obtaining a loan, and the
ratifications of many of the acts of the Permanent Council. The Consultation
adjourned on November 14, 1835. |
|
Arrangement |
|
These records
are arranged by State Archives staff by type of document, and therein
chronologically. |
|
Preferred Citation |
|
(Identify the item), Records of the
Consultation, Texas Department of State records of legislative and executive
bodies prior to the Republic. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas
State Library and Archives Commission. |
| Box |
| 2-9/17 |
|
|
Series 40: Proceedings,
November 3-14, 1835
[14
items] |
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Series 41: Proceedings,
October 15-November 7, 1835
[10
items] |
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Series 42: Acts of the Consultation,
October 30-November 14, 1835, undated
[40
items] |
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Series 43: Committee reports,
November 6, 13, 1835
[9
items] |
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Series 44: Letters received,
October 11-November 11, 1835
[9
items] |
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Series 45: Communications sent,
November 13-14, 1835
[2
items] |
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Series 46: Delegate rolls,
November 1 and 13, 1835
[2
items] |
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Series 47: Papers of the Committee of
Public Safety, Austin,
September 21, October 1, 1835, undated
[3
items] |
Return to the Table of Contents
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Records of the Provisional Government,
1835-1836,
1.79 cubic ft., 1 reel
microfilm |
|
The
Provisional Government was created by the Consultation, which chose its members
and appointed Henry Smith Governor and James W. Robinson Lieutenant Governor.
It governed Texas from November 15, 1835 until March 1, 1836, operating under
the authority of the Organic Law formulated by the Consultation. These records
include correspondence, reports, commissions, accounts and receipts,
proceedings, ordinances, decrees, resolutions, and legislative addresses of the
Governor, all of the Provisional Government, dating 1835-1836. |
|
These
records include a letter book containing copies of the Declaration of November
7, 1835, Organic Law, ordinances and resolutions of the General Council,
correspondence of the Executive and General Council, and correspondence and
reports laid before the council. Dates covered are November 1835-February 1836.
Also present are "Papers belonging to the Political
Chief of the Department of Brazos, 1835-1836." |
|
Records of the
Governor consist of correspondence, reports, commissions, and receipts, dating
November 1835-March 1836. The correspondence chiefly relates to finances and
supplies for the government. Correspondents include the provisional governors
Henry Smith and James W. Robinson, and Sam Houston. |
|
Records of the
Auditor are accounts and receipts submitted for approval, dating October
1835-March 1836. |
|
Records of the Treasurer include receipts given to and
by the treasurer of the Provisional Government, dating December, 1835-January,
1836. |
|
Records of the General Council consist of proceedings,
correspondence, committee reports, ordinances, decrees, resolutions,
legislative addresses of the Governor, and accounts and receipts, covering the
period September 1835-March 1836. These records concern the actions of the
General Council, including the establishment of the Texas Navy, the
organization and supplying of the Army, the appointment of Sam Houston and John
Forbes to treat with the Cherokee Indians, and the preparation of instructions
of the agents to the United States, Stephen F. Austin, Branch T. Archer, and
William H. Wharton. It also passed the act calling for the Convention of 1836.
Correspondents and other figures involved here include the provisional
governors Henry Smith and James W. Robinson, Sam Houston, and Stephen F.
Austin. Proceedings of the Permanent Council are included in this series as is
a copy of the proceedings of the Consultation. |
|
The legislative body of
the Provisional Government was the General Council, composed of one member from
each municipality, and presided over by the Lieutenant Governor as ex-officio
president. Its membership was not stable however, as some men served during
only a few sessions, while others attended for nearly the full duration. The
number of members in attendance steadily declined, until by February 26, only
two were present. During the brief existence of the Provisional Government, the
Governor and General Council were in constant conflict, arising chiefly from
disagreement about their relative powers and about the stance Texas should
adopt toward Mexico. The dispute climaxed on January 10, 1836, when Governor
Smith attempted to dissolve the Council, which retorted by impeaching Smith and
naming Robinson as Governor. By February, the Provisional Government was almost
non-existent as an effective government, with two claiming the office of
governor and responsibility for directing the affairs of Texas, and with the
Council gradually dissolving as members abandoned their posts. In spite of its
uncertain authority and internal dissension, the Provisional Government
accomplished several things: the founding of the Texas Navy, the appointment of
Sam Houston and John Forbes to treat with the Cherokee Indians, the issuing of
its instructions to Stephen F. Austin, Branch T. Archer and William H. Wharton,
agents to the United States, and the calling of the Convention of 1836. |
|
The Provisional Government turned its records over to the Convention of 1836
pursuant to a resolution of March 10, 1836. By 1854, the
"Archives of the Congresses and Legislature"
which were required to be arranged, copied, and filed in the General Land
Office, included the records of the Provisional Government. An act of December
14, 1863 made the Secretary of State "the custodian
of the records of the Senate and House of Representatives;" and an act of
March 25, 1887 provided that "the entire archives of
the late Republic of Texas, . . . together with the records, books, and
journals of said Congress" would be "deposited
in the Office of the Secretary of State," and "declared to be Archives of said office." |
|
Arrangement |
|
These records are organized by State Archives staff into five subseries:
- Provisional Government letterbook, 1835-1836, 0.39 cubic ft., 1
reel microfilm
- Records of the Governor, 1835-1836, 0.15 cubic
ft.
- Reports of the Auditor, 1835-1836, fractional
- Records of the Treasurer, 1835-1836, fractional
- Records of
the General Council, 1835-1836, 1.25 cubic ft.
|
|
Preferred Citation |
|
(Identify
the item and cite the subseries), Records of the Provisional Government, Texas
Department of State records of legislative and executive bodies prior to the
Republic. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and
Archives Commission. |
|
|
|
Provisional Government letterbook, 1835-1836,
0.39 cubic ft., 1
reel microfilm |
|
|
|
This record is
a letter book containing copies of the Declaration of November 7, 1835, Organic
Law, ordinances and resolutions of the General Council, correspondence of the
Executive and General Council, and correspondence and reports laid before the
council. Dates covered are November 1835-February 1836. Also present are
"Papers belonging to the Political Chief of the
Department of Brazos, 1835-1836." |
|
|
|
Preferred Citation |
|
|
|
(Identify
the item), Provisional Government letterbook, Records of the Provisional
Government, Texas Department of State records of legislative and executive
bodies prior to the Republic. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas
State Library and Archives Commission. |
|
|
|
Technical Requirements |
|
|
|
The
Provisional Government letterbook is restricted due to its fragile physical
condition, so researchers must use the microfilmed copy of the volume. |
|
|
|
Microfilm readers are available in the Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and
Library Building. Ask staff members for exact locations. |
| Reel |
| 3472 |
|
|
|
Series 48: Provisional
Government letterbook,
November 1835-February 1836
[1 volume, on
microfilm] |
|
|
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Records of the Governor, 1835-1836,
0.15 cubic
ft. |
|
|
|
Records of the Governor
were created to document the work (especially the financial business) of the
executive branch of the Provisional Government, which governed Texas during
most of the period of the Revolution, November 1835-March 1836. These records
consist of correspondence, reports, commissions, and receipts, dating November
1835-March 1836. The correspondence chiefly relates to finances and supplies
for the government. Correspondents include the provisional governors Henry
Smith and James W. Robinson, and Sam Houston, and is with citizens of Mobile,
Alabama; Edward Hall, purchasing agent; municipal judges; and others. An
ordinance approved November 26, 1835 required the treasurer to file with the
provisional governor copies of receipts issued to and by
him. |
|
|
|
Preferred
Citation |
|
|
|
(Identify the item), Records of the Governor, Records of the
Provisional Government, Texas Department of State records of legislative and
executive bodies prior to the Republic. Archives and Information Services
Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission. |
| Box |
| 2-9/17 |
|
|
|
Series 49: Governor's
correspondence,
November 18, 1835-March 6, 1836
[64
items] |
| Oversize |
Folder |
| Box
22 |
8. |
|
|
Provisional
Government,
December 1835
|
| Box |
| 2-9/17 |
|
|
|
Series 50: Register of commissions
issued by Governor, and copies of commission,
November 28, 1835-February 23, 1836
[13
items] |
| Box |
| 2-9/18 |
|
|
|
Series 51: Reports of Treasurer and
Auditor to Governor,
December 31, 1835-March 3, 1836
[9
items] |
|
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Series 52: Duplicate Treasurer's
receipts filed in the Executive Department,
December 1, 1835-January 9, 1836
[8
items] |
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|
Reports of the Auditor, 1835-1836,
fractional |
|
|
|
Records of the auditor were created for the purpose of the auditing and
approval of financial accounts of the Provisional Government, which governed
Texas during most of the period of the Revolution, November 1835-March 1836.
These are accounts and receipts submitted for approval, plus a memorandum of
report to the provisional governor, dating October 1835-March 1836.
|
|
|
|
Preferred
Citation |
|
|
|
(Identify the item), Reports of the Auditor, Records of the
Provisional Government, Texas Department of State records of legislative and
executive bodies prior to the Republic. Archives and Information Services
Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission. |
| Box |
| 2-9/18 |
|
|
|
Series 53: Accounts and
receipts submitted for approval,
October 20, 1835-March 17, 1836
[42
items] |
| Oversize |
Folder |
| Box
25 |
7. |
|
|
Provisional
Government,
January 1836
|
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|
Records of the Treasurer, 1835-1836,
fractional |
|
|
|
Records of the Treasurer were created to document the moneys received and
spent by the Provisional Government, which governed Texas during most of the
period of the Revolution, November 1835-March 1836. These records are receipts
given to and by the treasurer of the Provisional Government, plus one voucher,
dating December 1835-January 1836. |
|
|
|
Preferred Citation |
|
|
|
(Identify
the item), Records of the Treasurer, Records of the Provisional Government,
Texas Department of State records of legislative and executive bodies prior to
the Republic. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library
and Archives Commission. |
| Box |
| 2-9/18 |
|
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|
Series 54: Receipts given to and by the
Treasurer,
December 1, 1835-January 19, 1836
[25
items] |
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|
Records of the General Council, 1835-1836,
1.25 cubic
ft. |
|
|
|
Records of the General
Council were created to document the work of the legislative branch of the
Provisional Government, which governed Texas during most of the period of the
Revolution, November 1835-March 1836. These records consist of proceedings,
correspondence, committee reports, ordinances, decrees, resolutions,
legislative addresses of the Governor, and accounts and receipts, covering the
period September 1835-March 1836. These records concern the actions of the
General Council, including the establishment of the Texas Navy, the
organization and supplying of the Army, the appointment of Sam Houston and John
Forbes to treat with the Cherokee Indians, and the preparation of instructions
of the agents to the United States, Stephen F. Austin, Branch T. Archer, and
William H. Wharton. It also passed the act calling for the Convention of 1836.
Correspondents and other figures involved here include the provisional
governors Henry Smith and James W. Robinson, Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin,
Lorenzo de Zavala, Jose Antonio Mexia, and James W. Fannin. Proceedings of the
Permanent Council are included in this series, as is a copy of the proceedings
of the Consultation, prepared for the president of the General Council by
William S. Fisher by resolution of Council passed November 3, 1835.
|
|
|
|
Preferred
Citation |
|
|
|
(Identify the item), Records of the General Council, Records
of the Provisional Government, Texas Department of State records of legislative
and executive bodies prior to the Republic. Archives and Information Services
Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission. |
| Box |
| 2-9/18 |
|
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|
Series 55: Journal,
November 14, 1835-March 11, 1836
[3 folders, including 2 volumes and 3
items] |
|
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Series 56: Ordinances, decrees, and
resolutions,
November 16, 1835-January 19, 1836
[1
folder] |
| Oversize |
Folder |
| Box
22 |
9. |
|
|
Provisional
Government,
November-December 1835
|
| Box |
| 2-9/19 |
|
|
|
Series 56: Ordinances, decrees, and
resolutions,
November 16, 1835-January 19, 1836
[2
folders] |
| Oversize |
Folder |
| Box 22 |
9. |
|
|
Provisional Government,
December 1835
|
| Oversize |
Folder |
| Box
22 |
8. |
|
|
Provisional
Government,
December 1835
|
| Box |
| 2-9/19 |
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|
Series 57: Committee reports,
November 14, 1835-January 26, 1836
[2
folders] |
| Oversize |
Folder |
| Box 22 |
10. |
|
|
Provisional Government,
January 1836
|
| Box |
| 2-9/19 |
|
|
|
Series 58: Communications received,
November 14, 1835-March 7, 1836
[2
folders] |
| Oversize |
Folder |
| Box 22 |
8. |
|
|
Provisional Government,
December 1835
|
| Box |
| 2-9/20 |
|
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|
Series 58: Communications received,
November 14, 1835-March 7, 1836
[1
folder] |
|
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|
Series 59: Messages from the Governor,
November 14, 1835-March 7, 1836
[46
items] |
| Oversize |
Folder |
| Box
22 |
10. |
|
|
Provisional
Government,
January 1836
|
| Box |
| 2-9/20 |
|
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|
Series 60: Accounts and receipts
submitted to General Council for approval,
November 14, 1835-December 29, 1836
[35
items] |
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Series 61: Private correspondence and
correspondence of government offices later transferred to custody of General
Council,
September 20, 1835-February 8, 1836
[25 items] |
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Includes letters of (among others) Sam Houston, Stephen F.
Austin, Lorenzo de Zavala, Jose Antonio Mexia, and James W. Fannin.
|
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Series 62: Letters and addresses sent,
November 19, 1835-February 12, 1836
[29
items] |
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Series 63: Copy of the proceedings of
the Consultation,
October 16-November 14, 1836
[39
items] |
Return to the Table of Contents
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Records of the Convention of 1836,
1835-1836, undated,
0.5 cubic ft. |
|
The Convention of 1836 met at
Washington-on-the-Brazos from March 1 to March 17, 1836, on the call of the
General Council. These records include proceedings, a convention roll, rules of
the convention, records of votes, committee reports, auditor's reports,
correspondence, memorials, and acts of the Convention of 1836, including the
Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Dates covered are primarily
March 1-17, 1836, with some correspondence dating back to November 1835.
Correspondents include S. Rhoads Fisher, George M. Collinsworth, Governor
Robinson, the General Council, members of the convention tendering
resignations, and individuals offering services to the Republic. Subjects
include the organization and supplying of the militia and other military
forces, land concerns, and declaration of Texas' independence from Mexico. |
|
The Convention of 1836 met at Washington-on-the-Brazos from March 1 to March
17, 1836, on the call of the General Council over the veto of Governor Henry
Smith. Composed of 59 delegates, it elected Richard Ellis Chairman and Herbert
Simms Kimble Secretary. In the two weeks of its existence, the Convention wrote
the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the Republic, organized
an Interim Government and elected its officers, and confirmed Sam Houston as
Commander of the Republic military forces. Upon its hasty adjournment at the
news of the advancing Mexican Army, the powers of government were immediately
assumed by the Ad Interim Government, which was to serve until the Constitution
could be ratified by the people and a general election held for executive
officers. |
|
William A. Faris was secretary pro tem of the Convention on
March 1, until the election of William S. Kimble as permanent secretary. On the
following day the convention passed a resolution that he
"be allowed to take a seat at the Secretary's table,
to note and report the proceedings of the Convention...." This was not
rescinded, and presumably he continued to perform this duty until the close of
the convention. Only those documents marked as his notes are included here.
|
|
Arrangement |
|
These records are arranged by State Archives staff by type of document, and
therein chronologically. |
|
Preferred Citation |
|
(Identify the item), Records of the
Convention of 1836, Texas Department of State records of legislative and
executive bodies prior to the Republic. Archives and Information Services
Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission. |
| Box |
| 2-9/20 |
|
|
Series 64: Proceedings,
March 3-17, 1836
|
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|
|
Series 65: Willis A. Faris transcripts
of proceedings,
March 7-11, 1836
[7
items] |
|
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|
Series 66: Convention roll,
March 12, 14, 1836
[3
items] |
|
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|
Series 67: Rules of Convention,
March 1, 1836
[13
items] |
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|
Series 68: Records of votes,
March 16, 1836 and undated
[3
items] |
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|
Series 69: Acts of Convention,
March 3-17, 1836
[1
folder] |
| Box |
| 2-9/21 |
|
|
Series 69: Acts of Convention,
March 3-17, 1836
[1
folder] |
|
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|
Series 70: Appointments and
commissions,
March 12, 1836
[1
item] |
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|
Series 71: Communications sent,
March 15, 1836
[1
item] |
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|
Series 72: Committee reports,
March 2-15, 1836, undated
[7
items] |
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|
Series 73: Communications received,
November 25, 1835-March 11, 1836
[22
items] |
|
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|
Series 74: Memorials to Convention,
March 1836
[1
item] |
|
|
|
Series 75: Auditor's reports submitted
to Convention,
March 2-14, 1836
[3
items] |
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|
Series 76: Private manuscripts taken
into archives of Convention,
March 4, 1836
[1
item] |
Return to the Table of Contents
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Records of Ad Interim Government,
1836,
fractional |
|
The Ad Interim government served
from March 16, 1836 to October 16, 1836, between the adjournment of the
Convention of 1836 and the ratification of the Constitution and election of Sam
Houston as the first President of the Republic of Texas. These records consist
of copies of presidential addresses, correspondence, commissions issued, a
memorial, list of government officers, a resignation, and a receipt, all of the
Ad Interim government that served March 16-October 16, 1836. Also included are
some private letters, including ones to James Fannin, R. R. Royall, and Stephen
F. Austin, from Santa Anna, Robert Triplett, and Edward Hall, relating to
loans, supplies, and other subjects. Dates covered are March-September 1836.
Correspondents and others represented here also include David G. Burnet,
Mirabeau B. Lamar, Lorenzo de Zavala, and Robert Triplett. The majority of the
records of the Secretary and the President for this period have been dispersed
among several different series of Republic records. |
|
Appointed by the
Convention, the Ad Interim government contained no legislative or judicial
departments. David G. Burnet was appointed President and Lorenzo de Zavala
Vice-President along with Secretary of State Samuel P. Carson, Secretary of the
Treasury Bailey Hardeman, Secretary of War Thomas J. Rusk, Secretary of the
Navy Robert Potter, and Attorney General David Thomas. The activities of the Ad
Interim government revolved chiefly around attempts to obtain financial and
military assistance from foreign nations, and around organizing the citizens of
Texas into a military force. Fleeing with the Texas population before the
advancing Mexican Army, the temporary government was located successively at
Washington-on-the-Brazos, Harrisburg, Galveston Island, Velasco, and
Columbia. |
|
Arrangement |
|
These records are arranged by State Archives staff
by type of document, and therein chronologically. |
|
Preferred Citation |
|
(Identify
the item), Records of Ad Interim Government, Texas Department of State records
of legislative and executive bodies prior to the Republic. Archives and
Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission. |
| Box |
| 2-9/21 |
|
|
Series 77: Records of the Secretary of State,
March 29-September 28, 1836
[20
items] |
|
|
|
Series 78: Records of the President,
March 11-August 19, 1836
[14
items] |
|
|
|
Series 79: Private manuscripts,
March 27-June 20, 1836
[5
items] |
Return to the Table of Contents
|
