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
Allison Mayfield records,
1898-1901,
1906-1908, 1916, 1922,
Ernest O. Thompson records,
1920-1966
(bulk [ca.
1930-ca. 1960]),
|
Railroad Commission of Texas:
An Inventory of Commissioners' Records at the Texas State
Archives,
1898-1901,
1906-1908, 1916, 1920-1966 (bulk [ca.
1930]-[ca. 1960])
| | |
|
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| Creator: | Railroad Commission of Texas. |
| Title: | Commissioners' records,
|
| Dates: | 1898-1901, 1906-1908, 1916, 1920-1966 |
| Dates: | (bulk [ca.
1930]-[ca. 1960]) |
| Abstract: | The records include
correspondence, speeches, press releases, newspaper clippings, magazine
articles and reprints, and pamphlets of two commissioners of the Railroad
Commission of Texas. The records date 1898-1901, 1906-1908, 1916, 1920-1966
(bulk [ca. 1930]-[ca. 1960]). The records of Allison Mayfield (1860-1923)
consist of four letterpress volumes of outgoing correspondence. Mayfield's
records date 1898-1901, 1906-1908, 1916, 1922. The records of Ernest O.
Thompson (1892-1966) include correspondence, speeches, press releases,
newspaper clippings, magazine articles and reprints, and pamphlets that
especially document his role as Commission spokesperson on oil and gas
conservation. Thompson's records cover the period 1920-1966 (bulk [ca.
1930]-[ca. 1960]). |
| Quantity: | 10.3 cubic
ft. |
| Language | English. |
The Railroad Commission of Texas had its origin in the demands of the
shipping public in the late 1880s which insisted that railroads be subject to
regulation based on public interest. An advocate for governmental regulation,
Attorney General James Stephen Hogg ran for Governor in 1890 with the issue of
railroad regulation as the focal point of the campaign. Hogg was elected
Governor in the general election and the voters also approved an amendment to
Article X, Section 2 of the Texas Constitution that empowered the Legislature
to enact statutes creating regulatory agencies. These elections paved the way
for the Legislature to enact on April 3, 1891 "An Act
to Establish a Railroad Commission of the State of Texas," that later was
placed in the Texas Revised Civil Statutes under article 6444 et seq. (House
Bills 1, 3, and 58, 22nd Legislature, Regular Session).
The Commission originally consisted of three members appointed by the
Governor for three-year terms. Governor Hogg appointed the first three
Commissioners in 1891, including John H. Reagan, who resigned as U.S. Senator
from Texas to serve as the first Chairman. The Texas Constitution, Article XIX,
Section 30 was amended in 1894 to provide for elective six-year overlapping
terms for the Commissioners. That same year John H. Reagan was elected and
served until his retirement in 1903.
The Texas Railroad Commission was the first regulatory agency created
in the State of Texas and originally had jurisdiction over the rates and
operations of railroads, terminals, wharves and express companies. The legal
focus was on intrastate passenger and freight activities. Interstate
jurisdiction fell under the U.S. Interstate Commerce Commission. For the first
twenty-five years of its existence, the Railroad Commission was largely
concerned with regulating railroads, setting rates, receiving complaints, and
making investigations. As other controversies arose where the Legislature
deemed that the public interest could best be served by regulation, additional
duties were assigned to the Railroad Commission.
The Railroad Commission's authority was broadened beginning in 1917
with the passage of the Pipeline Petroleum Law, Senate Bill 68, 35th
Legislature, Regular Session, that declared pipelines to be common carriers
like railroads and placed them under the Commission's jurisdiction. This was
the first act to designate the Railroad Commission as the agency to administer
conservation laws relating to oil and gas.
The Commission's regulatory and enforcement powers in oil and gas were
increased by Senate Bill 350 of the 36th Legislature, Regular Session, the Oil
and Gas Conservation Law, effective June 18, 1919. This act gave the Railroad
Commission jurisdiction to regulate the production of oil and gas. Acting upon
this legislation, the Commission adopted in 1919 the first statewide rules
regulating the oil and gas industry to promote conservation and safety,
including Rule 37. This rule requires minimum distances between wells at
drilling sites in order to protect field pressure and correlative rights.
The Gas Utilities Act of 1920, House Bill 11, 36th Legislature, 3rd
Called Session, gave the Commission regulatory and rate authority over
individuals and businesses producing, transporting, or distributing natural gas
in Texas. In 1937, following a large natural gas explosion in a school in New
London, Texas, the 45th Legislature passed legislation giving the Railroad
Commission the authority to adopt rules and regulations pertaining to the
odorization of natural gas or liquefied petroleum gases (House Bill 1017,
Regular Session). The passage of the Public Regulatory Act of 1975 (PURA),
House Bill 819, 64th Legislature, Regular Session, required certain state
regulatory agencies, including the Commission, to set the overall revenues of a
utility based on its "cost of service."
Regulation of liquefied petroleum was added to the Commission's
responsibilities in 1939 by House Bill 792, 46th Legislature, Regular Session.
The legislation authorized the Commission to adopt and enforce safety rules and
standards in the storage, handling, transportation, and odorization of butane
or LP-gases. Regulation of compressed natural gas was added to the Railroad
Commission's responsibilities in 1983 (Senate Bill 617, 68th Legislature,
Regular Session).
The Oil and Gas Division works to prevent
the waste of oil, gas, and geothermal resources and to prevent the pollution of
fresh water from oil and gas operations. The division holds statewide hearings
on market demand and provides for equitable production among operators by
establishing monthly production allowables. It issues drilling permits, reviews
and approves oil and gas well completions, collects data on oil and gas
operations, and promotes public safety. It also protects underground drinking
water through regulation of the underground injection of fluids in oil field
operations, a program approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act. It oversees well plugging
operations, site remediation, underground hydrocarbon storage, hazardous waste
management, and maintains a large amount of data on wells - their location,
production, etc. The division also investigates complaints and conducts other
investigations. This division maintains 10 district offices where field
enforcement and support personnel monitor oil and gas operations. The
commission does not have the authority to set oil and gas prices at the
wellhead. The departments within the Oil and Gas Division are: Administration,
Permitting/Production Services, Information Management Services, Environmental
Services, Compliance, and the Oil Field Cleanup Operations Unit, which includes
Site Remediation and Special Response, and Well Plugging.
In 1999, the agency had approximately 848 FTE (full-time equivalent)
employees. Legal authority for the Railroad Commission is the Texas
Constitution, Art. X, Sec. 2 and Art. XVI, Sec. 30; and the Natural Resources
Code, Chapter 81.
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The records include correspondence, speeches, press releases,
newspaper clippings, magazine articles and reprints, and pamphlets of two
commissioners of the Railroad Commission of Texas. The records date 1898-1901,
1906-1908, 1916, 1920-1966 (bulk [ca. 1930]-[ca. 1960]). The records of Allison
Mayfield (1860-1923) consist of four letterpress copybooks of outgoing
correspondence. Most of the letters in the first two volumes are personal
family or business correspondence and date 1898-1901, 1906-1908. The third and
fourth volumes concentrate on Mayfield's reelection efforts to the Railroad
Commission in 1898, 1916 and 1922. The records of Texas Railroad Commissioner
Ernest O. Thompson (1892-1966) include correspondence, speeches, press
releases, newspaper clippings, magazine articles and reprints, and pamphlets
that especially document his role as Commission spokesperson on oil and gas
conservation. The records cover the period 1920-1966 (bulk [ca. 1930]-[ca.
1960]).
This finding aid describes two series of the Railroad Commission of
Texas records. See
Railroad Commission of Texas: An Overview of
Records for more records series.
Return to the Table of Contents
| | |
Organization of the Records
|
| These records are organized into two series. |
| |
| | Allison Mayfield records, 1898-1901, 1906-1908, 1916, 1922, 0.5
cubic ft. |
| | Ernest O. Thompson records, 1920-1966 (bulk [ca. 1930]-[ca.
1960]), 9.8 cubic ft. |
Return to the Table of Contents
Restrictions on Access
None.
Restrictions on Use
Letter press volumes are extremely fragile and need to be handled with
care.
Researchers are required to wear gloves provided by the Archives when
reviewing photographic materials.
Return to the Table of Contents
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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. |
| Personal Names: |
| | Mayfield, Allison,
1860-1923. |
| | Thompson, Ernest O.
|
| Subjects: |
| | Railroads and state--Texas.
|
| | Conservation of natural
resources--Texas. |
| | Natural
gas--Conservation--Texas. |
| | Petroleum
conservation--Texas. |
| | Gas industry--Texas.
|
| | Petroleum industry and
trade--Texas. |
| Document Types: |
| | Letterpress
copybooks--Texas--Railroads and state--1898-1922. |
| | Correspondence--Texas--Gas
industry--1933-1961. |
| | Speeches--Texas--Gas
industry--1933-1961. |
| | Press releases--Texas--Gas
industry--1933-1961. |
| | Clippings--Texas--Gas
industry--1933-1961. |
| | Correspondence--Texas--Petroleum industry and
trade--1933-1961. |
| | Speeches--Texas--Petroleum
industry and trade--1933-1961. |
| | Press
releases--Texas--Petroleum industry and trade--1933-1961. |
| | Clippings--Texas--Petroleum industry and
trade--1933-1961. |
| | Letterpress
copybooks--Railroads and state--1898-1922. |
| Functions: |
| | Regulating
railroads. |
| | Regulating the gas
industry. |
| | Regulating the petroleum
industry. |
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Table of Contents
(Identify the item and cite the series), Commissioners' records,
Records, Railroad Commission of Texas. Archives and Information Services
Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession numbers: 1970/025 and unknown
These records were transferred to the Archives and Information
Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the
Railroad Commission of Texas, Central Records on October 7, 1969 and by the
Railroad Commission of Texas along with letterpress copybooks of outgoing
correspondence on an unknown date.
Inventoried by Archives staff in the 1970s.
Described by Paul B. Beck, May and August 1986.
Return to the Table of Contents
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
Allison Mayfield records,
1898-1901,
1906-1908, 1916, 1922,
0.5 cubic ft.
|
| The records consist of four letterpress copybooks of outgoing
correspondence. Most of the letters in the first two volumes are personal
family or business correspondence and date 1898-1901, 1906-1908. The third and
fourth volumes concentrate on Allison Mayfield's reelection efforts to the
Railroad Commission in 1898, 1916 and 1922. |
| Allison Mayfield (1860-1923) was a member of the Railroad
Commission for 26 years, from 1897 to 1923, serving the last twelve years as
chairman. Subjects of the first two volumes of his records consist of personal
business, family and political correspondence. The correspondence includes
letters to friends, family, political supporters and advisors, newspapers,
city, county, state and federal officials, judges, and railroad agents and
officers. Correspondents of note include Edward M. House and Texas governors
Charles A. Culberson, Josept D. Sayers and Oscar B. Colquitt. In some of these
personal letters, Mayfield does write about Railroad Commission matters
including the role of the Railroad Commission and its relationships with the
railroads. Usually, though, the correspondence deals with more personal items
such as his finances, family trips, invitations to speak, or requests for
endorsements. Many of these are on behalf of friends and acquaintances running
for elected office or seeking employment with the state. |
| The third and fourth volumes concern Mayfield's reelection
campaigns of 1898, 1916, and 1922. The correspondence consists of letters
announcing his reelection bid, acknowledging offers of support, and payments to
place his name on the ballot. Also present are lists of people who were sent
reelection letters. The lists include judges, district attorneys, newspapers,
organizations, companies, and "representative
citizens" of towns and cities throughout Texas. |
| Arrangement |
| These records are arranged in two groups: personal and campaign,
then chronologically. |
| Preferred Citation |
| (Identify the item), Allison Mayfield records, Commissioners'
records, Records, Railroad Commission of Texas. Archives and Information
Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission. |
| Accession Information |
| Accession number: unknown |
| These records were transferred to the Archives and Information
Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the
Railroad Commission of Texas along with letterpress copybooks of outing
correspondence on an unknown date. |
| Restrictions on Access |
| None. |
| Restrictions on Use |
| Letterpress copybooks are extremely fragile and need to be
handled with care. |
| Processed by |
| Described by Paul B. Beck, August 1986. |
| | | Personal: |
| volume |
| 4-2/1208 | | | | October 10, 1898-August
15, 1901 |
| volume |
| 4-2/1210 | | | | June 1, 1906-October 9,
1908 |
| | | Campaign: |
| volume |
| 2-23/671 | | | | February 1-May 20,
1898 |
| volume |
| 4-2/1209 | | | | February 10, 1916-July
25, 1916; May 3, 1922-July 19, 1922 |
Return to the Table of Contents
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
Ernest O. Thompson records,
1920-1966
(bulk [ca.
1930-ca. 1960]),
9.8 cubic ft.
|
| The records include correspondence, speeches, press releases,
newspaper clippings, magazine articles and reprints, briefs, maps, blueprints,
photos, and pamphlets for the period 1920-1966 (bulk [ca. 1930-ca. 1960]).
These records of Texas Railroad Commissioner Ernest O. Thompson (1892-1966)
especially document his role as Commission spokesperson on oil and gas
conservation. |
| Ernest O. Thompson (1892-1966) was a member of the Railroad
Commission of Texas from 1932 to 1965. Thompson was an authority on oil and gas
matters, especially conservation, and a spokesperson for the Commission. He
also served on the Interstate Oil Compact Commission in the 1930s, several
times was a representative to the World Petroleum Congress, and made surveys of
Middle East oil fields for the United State Department of Defense in 1945 and
1955. The records contain materials on these activities but the bulk concerns
Commissioner Thompson's 32 years on the Commission. |
| First appointed to the Commission in 1932, Thompson was
immediately involved in the Commission's efforts to control production in the
East Texas oil field. Thompson made many speeches promoting conservation,
preventing waste, and defending the use of prorationing -- the limiting of oil
production to market demand. He also testified before governmental committee
hearings, state and federal, was a witness at trials, and led the opposition to
federal control of oil and gas production. |
| Thompson was in contact with many government officials and members
of their staffs, both federal and state, but the actual amount of
correspondence is small. Correspondents include President Franklin Roosevelt,
Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes, Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson,
Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn, Senator Tom Connally, and other elected Texas
officials. |
| Arrangement |
| These records are not arranged. |
| Preferred Citation |
| (Identify the item), Ernest O. Thompson, Commissioners' records,
Records, Railroad Commission of Texas. Archives and Information Services
Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission. |
| Accession Information |
| Accession number: 1970/025 |
| These records were transferred to the Archives and Information
Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the
Railroad Commission of Texas, Central Records on October 7, 1969. |
| Restrictions on Access |
| None. |
| Restrictions on Use |
| Researchers are required to wear gloves provided by the Archives
when reviewing photographic materials. |
| Processed by |
| Inventoried by Archives staff in the 1970s. |
| Described by Paul B. Beck, May 1986. |
| box |
| 4-3/318 | | | Addresses, speeches, press releases, correspondence, and
miscellaneous material by Ernest O. Thompson,
1933-1961 |
| | | | Includes presidential correspondence, material
concerning proration with newspaper clipping and photograph. |
| box |
| 4-3/319 | | | Addresses, articles, speeches, press releases,
correspondence, and miscellaneous material by Thompson,
1947-1961 |
| | | | Includes presidential correspondence, material concerning
the Connally Act, resolution, and testimony. |
| box |
| 4-3/320 | | | Addresses, articles, speeches, press releases, and
correspondence by Thompson,
1947-1948,
1959 |
| | | | Includes newspaper clippings and miscellaneous
material. |
| box |
| 4-3/321 | | | Addresses, articles, speeches, press releases,
correspondence, and miscellaneous material by Thompson,
1946-1950,
1956 |
| | | | Includes photographs, newspaper clippings, testimony, and
reelection material. |
| box |
| 4-3/322 | | | Addresses, articles, speeches, correspondence, and
miscellaneous material by Thompson,
1932-1933, 1935,
1939-1950 |
| | | | Includes Federal Power Commission hearing. |
| box |
| 4-3/323 | | | Articles, speeches, press release, correspondence, and
miscellaneous material,
1943-1946 |
| | | | Includes correspondence, newspaper clippings, and
numerous maps of West Europe and the Middle East regarding Thompson's Middle
East trip. |
| box |
| 4-3/324 | | | Addresses, articles, speeches, correspondence, and
miscellaneous material by Thompson,
1937-1961 |
| | | | Includes report, resolutions, and other
materials. |
| box |
| 4-3/325 | | | Addresses, articles, speeches, press releases,
correspondence, and miscellaneous materials by Thompson,
1940-1943,
1956-1963 |
| | | | Includes briefs, oil maps, newspapers clippings, and
other material. |
| box |
| 4-3/326 | | | Addresses, articles, speeches, press releases, and
correspondence by Thompson,
1938-1940 |
| | | | Includes report and other material. |
| box |
| 4-3/327 | | | Addresses, articles, speeches, press releases, and
correspondence by Thompson,
1936-1938, 1956,
1959-1960 |
| | | | Includes a brief. |
| box |
| 4-3/328 | | | Addresses, articles, speeches, press releases, report,
and correspondence by Thompson,
1920, 1933-1939,
1942-1949, 1959-1961 |
| | | | Includes oil maps, an index of speeches from 1934 to
1948, and other material. |
| box |
| 4-3/329 | | | Addresses, articles, speeches, press releases by
Thompson,
[ca. 193-] |
| | | | Includes presidential correspondence, resolution, and
other material. |
| box |
| 4-3/330 | | | Articles, correspondence, annual report, newspapers and
newspaper clippings, and miscellaneous material,
1932-1935 |
| | | | Includes material of an investigating committee,
regulation of production, oil conservation, miscellaneous suits, Texas oil
maps, and Senate bills. |
| box |
| 4-3/331 | | | Articles, speeches, press releases, correspondence, and
miscellaneous materials,
1933-1935 |
| | | | Includes presidential correspondence, resolutions and
numerous House and Senate bills, Congressional
Record, reports, newspapers, and testimony. |
| box |
| 4-3/332 | | | Addresses, articles, speeches, press releases, and
correspondence by Thompson,
1943, 1949, 1954-1957,
1960 |
| | | | Includes Congressional
Record, reports, newspaper clippings, testimony, and other
material. |
| box |
| 4-3/333 | | | Addresses, articles, speeches, press releases, and
correspondence by Thompson,
1950-1953 |
| | | | Includes report, Congressional
Record, photo of American Petroleum Institute Certificate of Gold Medal,
and other material |
| box |
| 4-3/334 | | | Addresses, articles, speeches, and correspondence by
Thompson,
1939-1951,
1961-1963 |
| | | | Includes briefs concerning the oil and gas industry, the
Commission, or Thompson. Also includes article by Senator Lyndon B. Johnson and
Ernest O. Thompson, U.S. oil map, Attorney General opinions, newspaper
clipping, testimony, and other material. |
| box |
| 4-3/335 | | | Addresses, articles, speeches, press releases, and
correspondence by Thompson,
1933-1939, 1942-1943,
1948-1949, 1951-1957, 1959, 1961, 1966 |
| | | | Most of the material is correspondence concerning the oil
and gas industry and includes presidential correspondence. Also includes
Congressional Record, U.S. oil map, numerous
articles and speeches, photostat copies, and other material. |
| box |
| 4-3/336 | | | Articles, press releases, and correspondence,
1933-1936 |
| | | | Includes briefs concerning the oil and gas industry, the
Commission, or Thompson. Also includes report, House and Senate resolutions,
material concerning Texas oil fields, Texas maps, photostat copies, and
forms. |
| box |
| 4-3/337 | | | Articles, press releases, hearings, and correspondence
by Thompson,
1933-1945 |
| | | | Includes addresses, reports, hearings and briefs
concerning the oil and gas industry and the Commission, opinions, Texas oil
maps, photostat copies, blue prints of University of Texas oil lands, material
concerning Texas oil fields and production, legislative investigating committee
report of oil industry, and testimony |
| box |
| 4-3/338 | | | Addresses, articles, speeches, press releases, and
correspondence by Thompson,
1935-1936, 1939, 1947,
1955-1961 |
| | | | Includes report, briefs concerning the oil and gas
industry and the Commission, opinions, Senate resolution, material concerning
the Interstate Oil Compact Commission, and other material. |
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