A Guide to the Texas Family Land Heritage Program Records, 1974

Historical Note

In 1974, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) established the Family Land Heritage Program in order to honor families who have continuously operated Texas farms and ranches for at least 100 years. That same year, the TDA printed the first registry of honorees and hosted the first Family Land Heritage Day, during which the families received certificates by the Agricultural Commissioner. The program still continues, with new honorees accepted to the registry every year. Applicants submit a form with information about when the land was settled and by whom, how the applicant relates to the founder, information about the crops and buildings of the farm or ranch, historical significance of the land, and a brief family history. Supplemental documentation, such as deeds or photographs, is required to prove the founding year and the family ownership of the farm or ranch.

Scope and Contents

The Texas Family Land Heritage Program Records, 1974, document the first year of Texas Department of Agriculture’s Family Land Heritage Program and include an unbound copy of the first registry of farming and ranching families, application forms with supplemental documentation, and news releases. Organized alphabetically by county, the applications concern the histories of land ownership and development as well as the family histories of Texas farmers and ranchers. Supplemental materials contain correspondence, genealogical information, and photocopies of deeds. In addition, news releases for each county discuss families recognized by the program.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research use.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Texas Family Land Heritage Program Records, 1974, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.

Processing Information

This collection contains unprocessed materials.

Detailed Description of the Papers