Ann Richards served as the first female Treasurer of Texas from 1983-1990. When she took office, Richards became the first woman in Texas to hold statewide office in fifty years. She updated the Treasury by installing computers and check-encoding machines that reduced the amount of time it took for money to be deposited into the Treasury from 36 hours to 90 minutes, thus gaining millions of dollars in additional interest revenue for the state. Richards also altered the system the office used to monitor the security of bank deposits and expanded the investment authority of the Treasury. During her terms as Treasurer, Richards made more money for the state of Texas than all previous Texas Treasurers combined. While in office, she increased hiring in the Treasury for women and minorities, and helped pass legislation requiring health insurers to cover alcohol and drug treatment. In 1986, Richards was reelected without opposition, becoming the first woman to serve two consecutive statewide terms in Texas. Records in this series include correspondence, Treasury staff files, legislative lists, press releases, and reports created during Ann Richards's terms as Treasurer from 1983-1990.