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Texas Governors

Texas Governors

The governor of Texas is the chief executive officer of the state elected by citizens every four years. The duties and responsibilities of the governor include serving as commander-in-chief of the state’s military forces; convening special sessions of the legislature for specific purposes; delivering to the legislature at the beginning of each regular session a report on the condition of the state, an accounting of all public money under the governor’s control, a recommended biennial budget, an estimate of the amounts of money required to be raised by taxation, and any recommendations he deems necessary; signing or vetoing bills passed by the legislature; and executing the laws of the state.

Governors’ records in the TDA consist of digitized copies of certain early gubernatorial records, and born-digital records of recent governors.

Governors below are listed in chronological order based upon the period of their last term in office.

Houston, Sam | Lubbock, Francis Richard | Murrah, Pendleton | Pease, Elisha Marshall | Davis, Edmund Jackson | Coke, Richard | Campbell, Thomas Mitchell | Jester, Beauford H. | Shivers, Allan | Daniel, Price | Perry, Rick


Houston, Sam (1859-1861)

Portrait of Sam Houston

Creator: Texas. Governor (1859-1861 : Houston)
Title: Governor Sam Houston records
Dates: 1824-1862
Abstract: 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.

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Lubbock, Francis Richard (1861-1863)

Governor Francis Richard LubbockCreator: Texas. Governor (1861-1863 : Lubbock)
Title: Governor Francis Richard Lubbock records
Dates: 1861-1904, undated
Abstract: The governor of Texas is the chief executive officer of the state elected by citizens every four years. Francis Richard Lubbock served as governor from November 7, 1861, to November 5, 1863. Types of records are correspondence, proclamations, petitions, appointments, resolutions, broadsides, receipts, messages to the legislature, letterpress copybooks, orders, vouchers, and lists, dating from 1861 to 1904, undated, bulk 1861-1863. Materials are mainly Lubbock’s records as governor of Texas but also include a few letters dating from his service as a lieutenant colonel in the Confederate States Army and as state treasurer.

Only the letterpress copybooks have been digitized. See the online finding aid for information about additional Francis Richard Lubbock records.

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Murrah, Pendleton (1863-1865)

Governor Pendleton MurrahCreator: Texas. Governor (1863-1865 : Murrah)
Title: Governor Pendleton Murrah records
Dates: 1863-1865
Abstract: The governor of Texas is the chief executive officer of the state elected by citizens every four years. Pendleton Murrah served as governor of Texas from November 5, 1863, to June 17, 1865. Records of Pendleton Murrah’s term as governor of Texas from 1863 to 1865 relate predominantly to Texas and Confederate military affairs during the Civil War. Records are correspondence, including letters, petitions, reports, orders, and letterpress books, dating from January 1863 to May 1865.

Only the letterpress books of outgoing correspondence have been digitized. See the online finding aid for information about additional Pendleton Murrah records.

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Pease, Elisha Marshall (1865-1869)

Governor Elisha Marshall PeaseCreator: Texas. Governor (1867-1869 : Pease)
Title: Governor Elisha Marshall Pease records of his third term
Dates: 1865-1869
Abstract: The governor of Texas is the chief executive officer of the state elected by citizens every four years. Elisha Marshall Pease served his third term as governor of Texas from August 8, 1867, to September 30, 1869. Records of Governor Pease’s third term relate predominately to the progress of Reconstruction in post-Civil War Texas. A large portion of the correspondence consists of letters, telegrams, and reports sent to military officials in Texas, particularly Generals Griffin, Reynolds, and Canby, which were then forwarded to the governor’s office. Types of records are correspondence, including letters, petitions, telegrams, reports, lists, circulars, and letterpress books dating from September 1865 to September 1869 and undated, bulk 1867-1869.

Only the letterpress book of outgoing correspondence has been digitized. See the online finding aid for information about additional Elisha Marshall Pease records.

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Davis, Edmund Jackson (1870-1874)

Governor Edmund Jackson Davis, while serving as a Brigadier General in the Federal ArmyCreator: Texas. Governor (1870-1874 : Davis)
Title: Governor Edmund Jackson Davis records
Dates: 1869-1874
Abstract: The governor of Texas is the chief executive officer of the state elected by citizens every four years. Edmund Jackson Davis served as governor from January 8, 1870, to January 15, 1874. These records mainly document Governor Davis’ tenure during Reconstruction. Types of records include correspondence, proclamations, messages to and from the Texas Senate and House of Representatives, telegrams, orders, petitions from citizens of various counties, wrappers, and letterpress books, dating from 1869 to 1874.

Only the letterpress books of outgoing correspondence have been digitized. See the online finding aid for information about additional Edmund Jackson Davis records.

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Coke, Richard (1873-1877)

Portrait of Governor Richard CokeCreator: Texas. Governor (1874-1876 : Coke)
Title: Governor Richard Coke records
Dates: 1873-1877, undated
Abstract: The governor of Texas is the chief executive officer of the state elected by citizens every four years. Richard Coke served as governor from January 15, 1874, to December 1, 1876. These records mainly document Governor Coke’s tenure during Reconstruction. Types of records include correspondence, proclamations, messages to the Texas Legislature, printed material, letterpress books, petitions, and reports, dating from 1873 to 1877 and undated.

Only the letterpress books of outgoing correspondence have been digitized. See the online finding aid for information about additional Richard Coke records.

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Portrait of Governor Thomas Mitchell CampbellCampbell, Thomas Mitchell  (1906-1911)

Creator: Texas. Governor (1907-1911 : Campbell)
Title: Governor Thomas Mitchell Campbell records
Dates: 1906-1911, undated
Abstract: The governor of Texas is the chief executive officer of the state elected by citizens every four years. Thomas Mitchell Campbell served as governor of Texas from January 15, 1907, to January 17, 1911. Records of Governor Campbell’s term in office relate to the state penitentiary, the Santa Fe railroad merger, relations with Mexico, and state agency business. Types of records are correspondence, attorney general opinions, reports, invitations, telegrams, financial records, petitions, clippings, and letterpress books, dating from 1906 to 1911 and undated. Only the letterpress books have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive.

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Shivers, Allan (1949-1957)

Governor Allan Shivers, January 1953

Creator: Shivers, Allan, 1907-1985
Title: Allan Shivers audiovisual materials
Dates: 1949-1956
Dates: undated
Dates: bulk 1954
Abstract: Allan Shivers served as governor of Texas from 1949 to 1957. These audiovisual materials mainly document Shivers’s 1954 gubernatorial campaign for reelection and consist of 16mm films, open reel audiotapes, instantaneous recordings, and phonograph records dating 1949-1956, bulk 1954.

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Jester, Beauford H. (1947-1949)

Creator: Jester, Beauford Halbert, 1893-1949
Title: Beauford H. Jester gubernatorial campaign recordings
Dates: 1946
Abstract: Beauford H. Jester ran for and won the Democratic Party nomination for Texas governor in 1946 against primary opponent Homer P. Rainey. Jester became governor of Texas in 1947. These sound recordings were created in 1946, the bulk between May 4 and August 24, 1946. The recordings are pre-recorded and live radio broadcasts leading up to and including election day. The recordings consist of radio addresses from Beauford H. Jester covering issues such as taxes, healthcare, education, agriculture, old-age pensions, and veterans’ affairs. A portion of the recordings are the People’s Path radio program hosted by Kendall B. McClure that was created in support of Jester, and recorded testimonials from Texans in support of Jester’s candidacy. These materials have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive.

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Daniel, Price (1957-1963)

Price Daniel

Creator: Daniel, Price
Title: Price Daniel audiovisual materials and related papers
Dates: 1952-1962, 1980, undated
Abstract: Price Daniel served as Texas attorney general, US senator, and Texas governor. These audiovisual materials and related papers date 1952-1962, 1980, undated, and encompass Daniel’s service in these offices, as well as his US Senate and Texas gubernatorial campaigns, and contain one item from after his political career. Topics covered include narcotic laws, segregation, states’ rights, traffic safety, and Texas business and agriculture. The most common film format is 16mm black-and-white film, and audio materials include open reel audiotapes and instantaneous recordings. Some audiovisual materials include accompanying documents.

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More images, audio, and film of Governor Price Daniel can be found in the Bradford Smith audiovisual materials in the Manuscripts Collection. Click here to access the collection


Perry, Rick (2000-2015)

Governor Perry 2014

Governor Perry 2014

Creator: Texas. Governor (2000-2015 : Perry)
Title: Governor Rick Perry records
Dates: 2000-2015
Abstract: James Richard “Rick” Perry was the 47th governor of Texas. He was elected lieutenant governor in 1998, taking office in January of 1999. Perry became governor to complete the term of Governor George W. Bush who left the office in December 2000 to become president of the United States. Perry was first elected governor of Texas on November 5, 2002, and then reelected on November 7, 2006 and November 2, 2010. Rick Perry served as governor of Texas from December 20, 2000 to January 20, 2015.

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