Ann W. Richards Papers, 1933-2000, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.
Records are clippings, printed material, publications, correspondence, legislation, and other research materials, dating from 1986-1995. These are the files of Christie Bourgeois, who served as the Director of Research for Governor Ann Richards. The Research Division was created as a division of the Office of the Governor in 1992, and as Research Director, Christie Bourgeois worked closely with Policy Council staff on a variety of topics. Some files complement or overlap files created by the Policy Council. Subjects include juvenile justice, education, the environment, crime, the economy, legislation, transportation, base closures, welfare reform, and the budget. Files are arranged in no particular order, although similar subjects are grouped together. Clipping files are arranged alphabetically by topic.
Records are correspondence, memoranda, agenda, minutes, budget material, agreements, studies, strategic plans, project manuals, printed material, bids, contracts, reports, audit reports, timelines, brochures, forms, and a few color photographs dating from 1989-1995. These are the files of Governor Richards, who served as chairman of the State Preservation Board, and the Governor's Office staff representative to the board. Records relate to the Capitol expansion, interior and exterior restoration of the Capitol, and restoration of the Old General Land Office Building. Subjects covered include problems with contractors, wage rate issues, board meetings, furnishings, development of the Capitol Complex Visitor's Center, and administration of the restoration and expansion project and the agency. Files contain correspondence and memos from Dealey Herndon, executive director of the Preservation Board, and Allen McCree, Architect of the Capitol. Included are agenda and minutes for the Permanent Advisory Committee to the State Preservation Board, and reports of the Governor's Advisory Committee on the Capitol Restoration and Expansion Project. Ben Delgado (and later Chris Howe) served as the Governor's staff representative to the board. Some material contains notations by Governor Richards. Records are arranged in the order received.
Records are subject files relating to topics of legislation. Types of materials include correspondence, legislative bills, bill analyses, bill histories, floor reports, press releases, fiscal notes, impact statements, lists, executive orders, memos, reports, plans, printed material, clippings, speeches, newsletters, statutes, notes, proclamations, and resolutions, dating from 1991-1994. These are subject and bill files from Governor Ann Richards' legislative liaison office. Topics include criminal justice, economic development, education, the environment, federal issues, transportation, and various state agencies. Also included are bills of interest to the governor and legislation that the governor wanted sponsored. Sam Russell had replaced Jim Parker as legislative director for the Governor's Office by January 1993. Subject files are arranged alphabetically (files Fl-Pr are missing), followed by files on several state agencies. Bill files are divided between House and Senate bills and then arranged by bill number. Executive orders are in reverse numerical order.
The Governor of Texas appoints the Secretary of State, the Adjutant General, executive directors of several agencies, members of numerous state boards and commissions, ship pilots and pilot boards at ports, and regents of universities; the Governor also fills vacancies in district attorney offices, judgeships and various other posts. These files include appointment files with information about and from appointees and applicants, the files of Chris Howe, the assistant director of Governor Richards' appointments office, material concerning resignations of appointees, and reccomendations on appointees from the Texas Board of Commerce.
Types of records include application forms, correspondence, biographical information sheets, financial statements, photographs, phone messages, questionnaires, and related materials. Records date from 1990 to 1995 and are the governor's appointments office files on nominees for appointed positions. Red dots on folder labels denote persons appointed to positions, and these files contain a full range of documents, including state appointment applications, background applications, financial statements, biographical information sheets, letters and biographical data from applicants, letters from the appointments office, letters of recommendation, letters of resignation, questionnaires, and other material supplied by the nominees, including photographs, clippings, printed material, and press releases. Folders without dots generally contain letters of interest from individuals, letters of recommendation, and letters from the appointments office noting the individual's interest in a position. Files with black dots denote persons interested in appointments during the transition period in late 1990 and early 1991. Appointment files complement, but are not the same as, Press Office appointments releases. These appointments files do not contain press releases. Arrangement is alphabetical by last name of individual. Files on appointed judges follow the other appointments. Correspondence relating to the appointment of Senator Lloyd Bentsen's successor is included at the end as well as status reports, 1992, and a listing of appointments by counties, 1994.
Records are correspondence, legislative bills and related documents, lists, notes, forms, memos, resumes, and other material relating to the appointment process. Materials date from 1991 to 1994 and appear to be the files of Chris Howe, assistant director of Governor Richards' appointments office. Subjects include information on appointees, senate approval of appointments, regional review committees, volunteers, ethics of state officials, private industry councils (PICs), and letters regarding denial of parole for McGhee when one member of the parole board knew the victims. Several letters, clippings, and printed material also relate to the fight to protect archeological sites on Galveston Island from residential development by a Richards' appointee. Files are not well-organized. Some materials are grouped by agency or purpose.
Records are memoranda and some related correspondence from the executive director of the Texas Department of Commerce or her staff to Governor Richards through Richards' chief of staff, dating from 1990-1994 [bulk 1991]. Memos are recommendations for appointments to local private industry councils. Arrangement is somewhat chronological by year.
Records are letters of resignation, letters from Governor Richards accepting resignations, several letters to the governor regarding vacancies on boards and commissions due to death, and a few envelopes and business cards. Files date from 1991 to 1994 and are the resignation correspondence from Richards' appointments office. Arrangement is alphabetical by last name of the person who resigned.