Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas Office of the Governor Pat M. Neff:

An Inventory of Records at the Texas State Archives, 1920-1925



Overview

Creator:Texas. Governor (1921-1925 : Neff)
Title:Records
Dates:1920-1925
Abstract:Types of records are correspondence, letterpress books, index cards, financial records, messages, and telegrams, dating from 1920 to 1925. Documents are records of Pat M. Neff's terms as governor of Texas.
Quantity:2.84 cubic ft.
LanguageEnglish.
Repository: Texas State Archives

Biographical Sketch

Pat Morris Neff served as governor of Texas from January 18, 1921 to January 20, 1925. Neff was born near McGregor, Texas on November 26, 1871. He worked on his father's farm and ranch, attended a country school when time would allow, and then went to McGregor High School. Neff graduated from Baylor University in 1894. He taught school in Arkansas for two years and then entered the University of Texas Law School, receiving a degree in 1897. Neff began practicing law at Waco in 1897 while pursuing a Master of Arts degree at Baylor University. He was McLennan County representative from 1901 to 1905, and was speaker of the house for the 28th Legislature. From 1906 to 1912, Neff was prosecuting attorney of McLennan County. From 1912 to 1919, he practiced law in Waco and worked on civic, religious, and educational projects.

In 1920 and 1922 Neff won the gubernatorial elections. The first day Neff was in office, he abolished the Board of Pardon Advisors. He called for economy in government, lower taxes, and improved education. Although he had problems with the legislature, he worked for sizable appropriations for conservation, helped develop a State Parks Board, and recommended the creation of a State Historical Board. During his administration Neff also helped develop medical facilities, including the American Legion Hospital, and advanced education in rural areas. When Neff completed his service as governor, he resumed his law practice in Waco. President Calvin Coolidge appointed Neff to the United States Board of Mediation (1927-1929). Governor Dan Moody asked Neff to be chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission, a position he held from 1929 to 1931. He became president of Baylor University, serving from 1932 to 1947. Neff married Myrtie Mainer on May 31, 1899 at Lovelady, Texas. They had two children. Pat Neff died on January 19, 1952.


Scope and Contents of the Records

Types of records are correspondence, letterpress books, index cards, financial records, messages, and telegrams, dating from 1920 to 1925. Documents are records of Pat M. Neff's terms as governor of Texas. Subjects covered are free textbooks, reforms of the prison system, requests and recommendations for appointment to office and to represent Texas at various conferences, animal quarantines, and military training camps. Index cards abstract information about Neff's incoming correspondence for 1923 and 1924. Messages to the legislature include requests for legislation to be considered during special sessions, state of the state addresses, and issues of concern to the governor.


 

Organization of the Records

These records are organized into three series:
Correspondence and financial records, 1921-1925, 0.24 cubic ft.
Letterpress books, 1920-1925, 0.71 cubic ft.
Index cards, 1923-1924, 1.89 cubic ft.

Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

None.

Restrictions on Use

None.

Technical Requirements

None.


Index Terms

The terms listed here were used to catalog the records. The terms can be used to find similar or related records.
Personal Names:
Neff, Pat Morris, 1871-1952.
Corporate Names:
Texas. Office of the Governor.
Texas. Livestock Sanitary Commission.
Subjects:
Governors--Texas.
Quarantines--Texas.
Military training camps--Texas.
Places:
Texas--Politics and government--1865-1950.
Texas--Officials and employees--Selection and appointment.
Document Types:
Correspondence--Texas--Governors--1920-1925.
Letterpress copybooks--Texas--Governors--1920-1925.
Financial records--Texas--Governors--1921-1925.
Index cards--Texas--Governors--1923-1924 (bulk 1923).
Functions:
Appointing.

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 Secretary of State, Executive clemency records, 1840, 1845-2002, 103.62 cubic ft., 168 reels of microfilm (originals), 22 reels of microfilm (duplicates)
The Texas Collection, Baylor University, Waco, Texas
The archives division is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Research appointments are recommended. A box content listing of the Neff Papers is available from The Texas Collection.
Pat Morris Neff Papers, [189-]-[195-], 351 5 in. document boxes, 5 flat newspaper boxes, and 56 scrapbooks.
University of North Texas Archives, Denton, Texas
Oral History Collection, 1,100+ bound volumes of interview transcripts. [Transcripts from The Texas Political History Project concerning Neff include interviews of Fred H. Minor, H. Grady Perry, and Ghent Sanderford].

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item and cite the series), Records, Texas Governor Pat M. Neff. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession number: 1936/002

Three of Neff's letterpress books were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas Governor's Office on October 8, 1936. There is no accession data for the remainder of the records.

Processing Information

October 1985

Tonia J. Wood, January 1996


Detailed Description of the Collection

 

Correspondence and financial records, 1921-1925 (bulk 1922-1924),
0.24 cubic ft.

Records are correspondence, accounts, bills, and receipts, dating from 1921 to 1925 (bulk 1922-1924), of Texas Governor Pat M. Neff. The accounts, bills, and receipts pertain to the personal and official expenses of the governor, primarily for 1922 and 1923. The correspondence concerns two subjects: the Citizen's Military Training Camp and the work of the Livestock Sanitary Commission. The training camp correspondence includes letters from President Warren G. Harding, Secretary of War John W. Weeks, the Adjutant General's Office in Washington, D.C., and military officers associated with the program. The records of the Livestock Sanitary Commission include correspondence of chairman J.E. Boog-Scott, reports of cattle scabies eradication, tick eradication, and anthrax problems.
Arrangement
Files are divided among financial records, Citizen's Military Training Camp records, and Livestock Sanitary Commission records, and are then in chronological order.
Preferred Citation
(Identify the item), Correspondence and financial records, Records, Texas Governor Pat M. Neff. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession Information
No accession information for these records was located.
Accounts, Bills, Receipts:
BoxFolder
301-3941. February 19 - August 12, 1921
2. April 29 - October 30, 1922
3. November 1 - December 30, 1922
4. January 4 - 31, 1923
5. February 1 - 28, 1923
6. March 1 - 31, 1923
7. April 2 - 30, 1923
8. May 1 - 31, 1923
9. June 1 - 30, 1923
10. July 1 - 31, 1923
11. August 1 - 31, 1923
12. September 1 - 8, December 6 - 8, 1923
Citizen's Military Training Camp:
BoxFolder
301-39413. September 21 - October 7, 1921
14. May 18 - August 25, 1922
15. April 4 - Sept. 18, 1923
16. June 30 - December 11, 1924
Livestock Sanitary Commission:
BoxFolder
301-39417. February 25, December 29, 1923
18. January 5 - February 25, 1924
19. March 1 - 31, 1924
20. April 1 - 29, 1924
21. May 9 - 31, 1924
22. June 3 - 30, 1924
23. July 2 - 26, 1924
24. August 5 - Sept. 19, 1924
25. October 1 - November 7, 1924
26. January 3, 1925
27.Miscellaneous correspondence, October 21, 1922



 

Letterpress books, 1920-1925,
0.71 cubic ft.

Records are letterpress books, containing outgoing correspondence, telegrams, and messages, dating from January 1920 to January 1925. Letterpress books contain records of Texas Governor Pat M. Neff, with several including correspondence, messages, and telegrams of Governor William P. Hobby. Subjects of letters and telegrams include requests and recommendations for appointments to office, pardons, paroles, and extraditions. Messages relate to free textbooks for public school children, improving the efficiency of state agencies, and legislation. The letterpress book of telegrams dated December 8, 1920 to September 12, 1921 also contains correspondence for Governor Hobby.
Arrangement
Arrangement is by type and then chronological.
Preferred Citation
(Identify the item), Letterpress books, Records, Texas Governor Pat M. Neff. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession Information
Accession number: 1936/002
Three of Neff's letterpress books were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas Governor's Office on October 8, 1936. There is no accession data for the remainder of the records.
Box
301-394Governor's messages, January 6, 1920 - January 16, 1925
Box
301-538Unnumbered volume, December 10, 1920 - March 8, 1922
Box
301-395Correspondence, January 19, 1921 - October 14, 1922
Correspondence, January 11, 1923 - December 31, 1924
Telegrams, December 8, 1920 - September 12, 1921



 

Index cards, 1923-1924,
1.89 cubic ft.

Records are index cards containing information pertaining to incoming correspondence for Texas Governor Pat M. Neff, dating from 1923 to 1924, although primarily for 1923. Information on the cards includes the name and address of the sender, date, and a brief description of the letter. The cards in boxes 301-396 through 400 are for letters written after January 5, 1923, and up to September 5, 1923. Cards in 301-401 through 406 are for letters written after September 1923, up to the year 1924.
Arrangement
Cards are arranged in two chronological groupings, both in alphabetical order.
Preferred Citation
(Identify the item), Index cards, Records, Texas Governor Pat M. Neff. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession Information
No accession information for these records was located.
January 1923 to September 1923
Box
301-396A - Coz
Box
301-397Cr - Han
Box
301-398Har - McK
Box
301-399McL - Sca
Box
301-400Se - Wiz
September 1923 to 1924
Box
301-401Aa - Con
Box
301-402Coo - Han
Box
301-403Har - Ma
Box
301-404Me - Se
Box
301-405Sh - We
Box
301-406Wh - Z