The Philosophical Society of Texas was founded on December 5, 1837, in the capitol of the Republic of Texas, Houston, by Mirabeau B. Lamar (president); Ashbel Smith, Robert A. Irion, Anson Jones, Joseph Rowe, and David S. Kaufman (vice presidents); William Fairfax Gray, David G. Burnet (secretaries); Augustus C. Allen (treasurer); and John Birdsall (librarian). The purpose of the society was to collect and discuss information regarding morals, social conditions, financial situations, political and military history, climate and other natural productions, and any other topics deemed interesting to the members. Activities of the organization ceased prior to annexation in 1845, but the society was revived in 1935, by George Waverly Briggs, James Quayle Dealey, Herbert P. Gambrell, Samuel Wood Geiser, Umphrey Lee, Charles Shirley Potts, Ira Kendrick Stephens, Lucius Mirabeau Lamar IV, William Alexander Rhea, and William Embry Wrather.
The purpose of the society is to encourage the research and preservation of
historical, literary, and philosophical materials, as well as keeping the memory and
spirit alive of the men who founded the initial organization. The rules for
membership and initiation have been amended several times; initially membership was
by invitation only, and was limited to those born within, or residents of, the
boundaries of the Republic of Texas. By the 1990s, when the society had moved its
offices to Austin, Texas, the bylaws had expanded to allow for 200 active members
and varying numbers of emeritus and associate members. Meetings of the organization
occur in early December, every year, and consist of addresses and symposia on
current topics of interest in the world. Since 1937, the society has published its
The records of the Philosophical Society of Texas, 1838, 1935-1998, consist of the organization’s administrative records, including membership nominations and ballots, files on individual members, proceedings, dues assessments, files on the history of the society, invitations to the society’s annual meeting, certificates, correspondence, annual meeting records, financial records, brochures and pamphlets, by-laws, forms, and memoranda. The records also include sound recordings of meetings and presentations on phonotape and audiocassette. The records relate to the history, founding, revival, and purposes of the society, including the collection, discussion, research, and preservation of topics of interest and historical, literary, and philosophical materials. Furthermore, the records relate to the society’s day-to-day functioning and administration.
Use of reel-to-reel tapes by appointment only; please contact sound archivist.
Philosophical Society of Texas Records, 1838, 1935-1998, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.
An original newspaper,
This collection is unprocessed. Contact repository for more information.
Basic processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with funds from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) for the Briscoe Center’s