A Guide to the Texas Press Association Records, 1880-1887, 1942

Biographical Note

After several aborted attempts to form a state press association in 1853, 1869, and 1873, 77 Texas newspaper publishers organized the Texas Press Association at Houston in 1880. J. W. Fishburn, publisher of the Mexia Ledger served as the association’s first president. Furthermore, the association is governed by a board of directors pulled from the boards of Texas’s five regional press associations. The association formed with the shared goal to preserve and promote the future of Texas newspapers. In addition, the association strives to meet journalism’s highest professional standards and serves as an advocate for open government and first amendment rights.

Sources:

Baillo, F. B. A History of the Texas Press Association, Dallas, Texas: Southwestern Printing Company, 1916.

Texas Press Association, “History,” Texas Press Association http://texaspress.com/index.php/about-us/tpa-history (accessed June 16, 2010).

Scope and Contents

Proceedings, a letter, and a photograph comprise the Texas Press Association Records, 1880-1887, 1942, which document the formation and early activities of the state association. The records contain the proceedings from the association’s annual meetings from 1880 until 1887. Furthermore, the records include an 1882 composite photograph depicting the Texas Press Association Excursionists on their trip from Texas to California.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research use.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Texas Press Association Records, 1880-1887, 1942, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.

Processing 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 "History Revealed: Bringing Collections to Light" project, 2009-2011.

Detailed Description of the Papers