TEXAS MUSEUM DIRECTORY
1985
Compiled and Published by the
Field and Museum Services Department
of the
Texas Historical Commission
Texas Historical Commission
P.O. Box 12276
Austin, TX 78711
TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
The Texas Historical Commission (THC) was created by the state legislature in 1953 toserve as the official state agency for historical preservation. During the first years of itsexistence, the Commission administered an aggressive program of surveying and markinghistoric sites. Subsequent legislation has broadened the activities and responsibilities of theagency to include different aspects of historical preservation, such as archeology, downtownrevitalization, publications, work with county historical commissions and other nonprofitheritage groups, and museums.
The Field and Museum Services Department of the THC provides professional servicesto the more than 700 museums across Texas. The department assists in regional workshops,produces publications, provides on-site consultations, and maintains extensive reference filesfor museums. The Winedale Museum Seminar, a 10-day, intensive training session formuseum professionals and volunteers, is cosponsored by the department. Another program ofthe department is the administration of a state-funded grants program for history museums.One museum—the Sam Rayburn House Museum in Bonham—is maintained and administeredby the THC.
The Texas Historical Commission consists of 18 governor-appointed members whofunction as a board of directors, overseeing a staff of historians, archeologists, architects,museologists, and experts in related fields. Current Commission members are listed below.
George E. Christian, Austin, Chairman
Mrs. H.L. Long, Kilgore, Vice-chairman
Duncan E. Boeckman, Dallas, Secretary
John M. Bennett, San Antonio
Mrs. James F. Biggart, Jr., Dallas
Richard H. Collins, Dallas
Barney M. Davis, Sr., Somerville
T.R. Fehrenbach, San Antonio
Maxine E. Flournoy, Alice
Woodrow Glasscock, Jr., Hondo
Harry A. Golemon, Houston
Mrs. Albert G. Hill, Dallas
Dr. Robert D. Hunter, Abilene
James S. Nabors, Lake Jackson
Gay Ratliff, Austin
Louis P. Terrazas, San Antonio
Evangeline L. Whorton, Galveston Island
Dr. Dan A. Willis, Fort Worth
PREFACE
Perhaps one of the words that best describes Texas is variety. Whether one is consideringweather, geography, cultural groups, or architecture, a variety is available in the Lone StarState.
Texas museums offer a microcosm of the state’s varied cultural and historical resources.Ranging from small county history museums kept alive by volunteer efforts to well-endowed,sophisticated art institutions in metropolitan areas, Texas museums offer something foreveryone.
These museums contain the cultural treasures of Texas. They often feature valuablecollections of antiquities, documents, and photographs. Many museums display unusualexhibits that are educational, entertaining, and valuable to researchers. The wealth of variedinformati