Stephen Fuller Austin was born on November 3, 1793 in Virginia to Maria and Moses Austin. He was educated in Connecticut and at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky. He later became involved in his father's lead mining business in Missouri. Austin also studied law in New Orleans. During his time in Missouri, Austin served in the state legislature for five years.
Following his father's death in 1821, Austin took over the responsibilities of his father's land grant of 200,000 acres from the Spanish, obtaining ratification for the grant from the newly established Mexican government. Austin succeeded in settling hundreds of families in his colony, creating Anglo-Texas. Austin attempted to prevent his colony from being entangled in the constant political turmoil in Mexico during the 1820s and first years of the 1830s. Austin worked to establish formal relations with Native Americans in the area.
Unable to prevent colonists from fighting against Mexican rule, Austin participated in the Texas Revolution in 1835 as commander of the volunteer army from his colony's region. Austin also acted as a Commissioner, responsible for raising support for Texas from the United States during the Revolution. Following the Revolution, Austin was defeated in his bid for the presidency of Texas. He served as the Secretary of State under President Sam Houston, the man who had defeated him in the election. Austin died on December 27, 1836.
Sources:
Dan L. Thrapp.
The Stephen F. Austin collection is composed of 46 items including letters, articles, and broadsides, which represent various aspects of Austin's life. The collection begins with an account of Moses Austin's ill-fated business ventures in Virginia, reported in the August 2, 1790 edition of the Hartford, Conn. AMERICAN MERCURY. The collection includes a broadside dated December 28, 1836 announcing Austin's death.
Letters in the collection written by Stephen Austin are from the period during which his colony was established in Texas and the subsequent struggle for independence from Mexico. Included are documents related to his work as Commissioner. Transcriptions and translations have been placed with some materials. Materials are arranged in the order in which they arrived.
Terms are either Library of Congress Subject Headings or taken from local sources.
Open for research.
The material in this collection is in the public domain. However, Special Collections owns the physical items in our collections, and all reproduction restrictions apply.
Stephen F. Austin Collection, Courtesy of Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries
Most items donated by Mr. Frell Albright in 1982 - item in folder # 9 donated by Mr. and Mrs. George Britton in 1978.
Andrea Bean, 1994
Front-page article on the Austins' lead mine and shot manufacturing.
Advertisement for the Moses Austin, and Co. shot factory. Fragments.
Letter to Stephen F. Austin regarding commercial affairs. 1 p.
Order for flour.
Fragment of promissory note.
Check in the amount of $14.70.
Check to self for $494.67.
This folding map shows the empresario grants of Texas. Streeter 1178.
Printed format permitting persons to colonize Austin's colony. Includes five regulations for settling colony. Streeter 1082.
An original
Plan de Arbitrios for Ayuntamiento de Austin. 3 pp.
Ordenanza for the municipality of Austin. 7 pp.
Land document signed by Austin as a witness. See Streeter 225, 225A, and 226.
Pages 33-34 from 71-page imprint. Streeter 12.
Census document for the State of Coahuila and Texas.
Letter to T. F. Leaming regarding his map and empresarial matters. 4 pp.
Letter to Governor Viesca regarding the illegal settling of families in Austin's colony. 3 pp.
Printed safe conduct certificate for entry into Austin's colony, signed Samuel M. Williams. Streeter 20.
Promissory note to Austin to be used by settlers in regards to their land title. Streeter 10.
Title to one quarter league of land to James Lindsey. 2 pp.
Order for disbursement to Samuel May Wiliams.
Election document certified by Austin.
Third page article regarding Austin and the Fredonian Rebellion. 4 pp.
Legal designation of municipalities in the Departments of Saltillo, Monclova, and Bejar.
Second page article on Austin's efforts toward a separate statehood for Texas. 4 pp.
Letter to Thos. F. Leaming regarding separate statehood for Texas. 3 pp.
Text of a letter by the Representative of the State of Coahuila and Texas regarding Austin's meeting with Santa Anna. Streeter 786.
Letter to George Fisher regarding his status in prison, Beale's colony, etc.
Military discharge of John S. Black.
Signed by Henry Smith, James W. Robinson, William H. Wharton, partial signature of E. M. Pease. Streeter 84.
Loan to the people of Texas. 4 pp. Streeter 1233.
Texian loans.
No. 271, issued to Robert Triplett.
No. 516, issued to Alfred Penn.
No. 489, issued to Paul Anderson.
No. 594, issued to James M. McCulloch.
No. 454, issued to James N. Morrison.
No. 396, issued to Thomas D. Carneal.
No. 449, issued to Lewis Whiteman.
No. 554, issued to Wm. F. Gray.
Letter to C. E. Hawkins introducing Col. Edward Harcourt.
Voucher for expenses as Commissioner.
Receipt to Austin.
Document relating to fundraising in New Orleans for Texian cause.
Letter to unnamed individual regarding efforts as Commissioner, independence for Texas.
Includes address by Stephen F. Austin. 56 pp. Streeter 1260.
Announces the death of Stephen F. Austin. Streeter 129A. Accompanied by printed portrait of Austin, signed and dated Dec. 18, 1836.
Austin family crest. Painted paper portrait of Austin.