Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Records Management Division:
An Inventory of Correspondence and Memoranda at the Texas State Archives, 1965-1989 (bulk 1975-1984)
Overview | ||
| Creator: | Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Records Management Division. | |
| Title: | Correspondence and memoranda | |
| Dates: | 1965-1989 | |
| Dates: | (bulk 1975-1984) | |
| Abstract: | These records consist of administrative correspondence and memoranda received by or sent from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission's Records Management Division, especially the division director. Materials date from 1965 to 1989, with the bulk of the materials dating between 1975 and 1984. The correspondence includes items to and from other Texas state agencies, other states, businesses, and private citizens; this correspondence concerns such topics as microfilming, records retention, records destruction, training, and maintenance of the State Records Center's physical plant. The interoffice memoranda concern mostly routine business such as purchasing, transfers of funds, job postings, job analysis, and policy changes, with an occasional item of greater significance, such as an attorney general opinion, an interagency agreement, or a staff report. | |
| Quantity: | 1.47 cubic ft. | |
| Language | English. | |
Agency History
The Records Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission was originally created in 1933 as a part of the State Board of Control (House Bill 847, 43rd Legislature); in 1947 it was transferred to the State Library and Historical Commission (House Bill 250, 50th Legislature). State Library Records Division personnel were not named until 1952, when an active inventory of the state's permanent records was begun. Formerly housed in the State Highway Building, these records had been dumped in an abandoned dairy barn on the State Hospital grounds, and were transferred in 1952 into rented storage space in south Austin. Legislation by the 59th Legislature in 1965 (Senate Bills 244, 245, and 246) authorized a move--which never occurred--into the new State Finance Building (now known as the LBJ Building); required each state agency to classify and index their records, establish retention schedules, and request destruction of worthless records; established a Records Preservation Advisory Committee; and required the microfilming of essential state records. In 1972, the Records Management Division moved into a new Records Center Building at 4400 Shoal Creek Boulevard. Expansion of that building in 1988 more than doubled the storage space. The number of agencies storing their semi-active records with the Records Management Division has increased from 15 (in 1952) to 39 (in 1976) to 72 (approximately 55% of all state agencies, in 1990). The functions of the Records Management Division of the Texas State Library are to issue policies, guidelines, and standards for the efficient management of the state's public records; to operate the State Records Center for the storage and disposition of noncurrent state records; and to provide microphotographic laboratory services for the preservation of essential vital state records.
Scope and Contents of the Records
These records consist of administrative correspondence and memoranda, mostly from 1975 to 1984, received by or sent from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission's Records Management Division, especially the division director. The correspondence includes items to and from other Texas state agencies, other states, businesses, and private citizens; this correspondence concerns such topics as microfilming, records retention, records destruction, training, maintenance of the State Records Center's physical plant, and so forth. The interoffice memoranda concern mostly routine business such as purchasing, transfers of funds, job postings, job analysis, and policy changes, with an occasional item of greater significance, such as an attorney general opinion, an interagency agreement, or a staff report. Beginning in 1979, the memos are divided into those to "the Library" (i.e., all other divisions of the agency, housed in the building next to the State Capitol), those from the Library, those to and from department managers, and those to and from employees.
To prepare this inventory, the described materials were cursorily reviewed to delineate series, to confirm the accuracy of contents lists, to provide an estimate of dates covered, and to determine record types.
Arrangement of the Records | ||
| Correspondence is placed first, then memoranda, and arrangement within each type of record is chronological. Beginning in 1979, the memos are divided into those to the Library, those from the Library, those to and from department managers, and those to and from employees. | ||
Restrictions
Restrictions on Access
None.
Restrictions on Use
None.
Index Terms | ||
| The terms listed here were used to catalog the records. The terms can be used to find similar or related records. | ||
| Corporate Names: | ||
| Texas. State Records Center (Austin, Tex.). | ||
| Subjects: | ||
| Records--Texas--Management. | ||
| State libraries--Texas. | ||
| Document Types: | ||
| Correspondence--Texas--Records--1965-1989. | ||
| Memorandums--Texas--Records--1965-1989. | ||
| Functions: | ||
| Managing records. | ||
Related Material
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. |
||
| Texas State Archives | ||
| Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Records, 1857-1979, 40 linear ft. | ||
| Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Records Management Division, Administrative correspondence, 1965-1989, 1.24 cubic ft. | ||
| Texas State Library and Archives Commission, State and Local Records Management Division, Administrative correspondence and memoranda, 1990-1992, 1 cubic ft. | ||
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
(Identify the item), Correspondence and memoranda, Records Management Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession Information
Accession number: 1991/148
These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Records Management Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission on May 6, 1991.
Processing Information
Tony Black, May 1992
Detailed Description of the Records