These records comprise copies of minutes of the meetings of the Texas State Tax Board, dating 1959-1979. Usually, there were two meetings a year at which the preliminary and then the final intangible tax assessments were set. Minutes also include notices of meetings, correspondence, and memos, but the bulk of the minutes consist of a list of taxpayers and their intangible property valuation assessments for that year (usually preliminary and final). This list is divided into four types of taxpayers that the board assessed: railroads, toll bridges, pipelines, and motor carriers. Each category is in alphabetical order by name of taxpayer and includes an account number and the intangible value.

Minutes were created to document in a thorough but summary fashion the official actions of the board in its meetings.

Published biennial reports (titled annual reports) of the Texas State Tax Board to the governor and the legislature, which date 1955-1962 and 1967-1970, contain comments and exhibits (charts and graphs) relative to the intangible assessments of the railroads and toll bridges; of the common carrier oil pipelines and oil pipe line companies; of the motor bus, common carriers, contract carriers and specialized motor carriers; comments relative to the summary of all intangible assessments for the years 1920 to 1956, inclusive [increased in each report, up to 1970]; and valuation of lands owned by the University of Texas.

Also included is an undated pamphlet (compiled under Ex Officio Tax Commissioner Robert S. Calvert), constituting a copy of the Intangible Tax Law (Chapter 4, Title 122, Revised Civil Statutes, 1925, with all amendments).

Railroads were required by law to make an annual report to the Texas State Tax Board which included current assets and liabilities, income account for the year, assessed value by counties, and a summary of gross and net earnings. These reports are in two bound volumes, dating 1974 and 1975. Each report contains sections giving details on the history of the railroad, corporate control, principal officers, comparative balance sheets showing assets and liabilities for the entire system, capital stock, unmatured long-term funded and unfunded debt, road operated, mileage, taxes levied and paid on assessed values, assessed value by counties, actual value by counties, summary of gross and net earnings, and true, book and other valuations.

The statements of intangible value were sent by the Texas State Tax Board to railroads, toll bridge, and pipeline companies, but not to motor carriers. These statements (bound into one volume dating 1976-1979) were sent to inform the companies of their final intangible assessments, including the total intangible value, the total county miles, the average per mile, and then (broken down for each county in which they did business) the mileage in that county and the assessment in that county. The following explanation accompanies each statement: Acting under the provisions of chapter 4, Title 122, R.C.S. 1925, with subsequent amendments thereto, [Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 7113 (1960) beginning in 1979,] the State Tax Board set your final Intangible value in the amount as shown below as of the date shown on this report. This is after hearing all evidence, arguments, etc., together with any reports that may have been filed by you. No further changes or reductions can be made for this year. These values have been certified to the respective counties on the basis as shown below. The County Tax Collectors of said counties will send you statements of the amounts of taxes due thereon.