History and Archives
History of the Archives Research at the Archives Our Collections Education & Outreach Digitization Our Services How Do I? Visit the Archives Buy Maps NowEnergy and Minerals
Oil & Natural Gas Hard Minerals Energy Marketing Renewable Energy Border Energy Forum Royalty Reporting Resource Management Codes ELLIS Delay Rental Payments How Do I? Energy Field InspectorsState Lands
Real Estate Sales Leasing and Easements Surveying Permanent School Fund State Land Reports Lease Payments How Do I? Field Offices General Land Office - How Do I?
How do I schedule a meeting with Commissioner Patterson?
How do I invite Commissioner Patterson to speak at my event?
How do I schedule a meeting with Chief Clerk Larry Laine?
How do I learn about available jobs at the Land Office?
How do I contact the Texas General Land Office?
How do I request a signed picture of Commissioner Patterson?
How do I find the General Land Office budget?
How do I find the General Land Office mission statement?
How do I view Public Notices?
How do I submit a compliment or complaint?
History and Archives - How Do I?
How do I buy a historic map reproduction from the Land Office Archives?
How do I learn about the history of public lands in Texas?
How do I learn about the history of the Texas General Land Office?
How do I learn more about Save Texas History?
How do I find out what records are housed in the Archives of the Texas General Land Office?
How do I search the Land Office digital archival records online?
How do I order certified or non-certified copies of archival records?
How do I contact or visit the Archives of the Texas General Land Office?
How do I organize a tour of the Archives for my school, organization or business?
How do I request a historian or expert from the Archives to address my group?
How do I order Save Texas History publications and collectibles?
How do I donate historical documents or maps to the Land Office Archives?
How do I help preserve and conserve maps and documents in the Archives?
How Do I buy Land Office Archives Research Guides?
Coastal - How Do I?
How do I find information on available coastal grants including CEPRA, CMP and CIAP?
How do I report an oil spill?
How do I dispose of my contaminated bilge water?
How do I report an abandoned or submerged vessel?
How do I pay a penalty assessed for an oil spill?
How do I get information on water quality and beach conditions?
How do I find information on the Open Beaches Act and my rights to access the beach?
How do I find out about the erosion rate in my area of the coast?
How do I get a beach dune permit and other permitting assistance if needed?
How do I learn more about the line of vegetation?
How do I get copies of the Land Office Beach & Bay Access Guide?
How do I find out about upcoming coastal events?
How do I find coastal GIS data including aerial photography?
How do I register my residential pier?
Energy - How Do I?
How do I obtain oil and gas or hard mineral leases from the Land Office?
How do I nominate tracts for an upcoming state lease sale?
How do I administer my lease on state lands?
How do I perform geophysical surveys on state-owned lands?
How do I learn more about the State Power Program?
How do I learn more about the State Natural Gas Program?
How do I know if I am eligible to purchase electricity or gas from the Land Office?
How do I learn about the advantages of the State Energy Marketing Program?
How do I do a Request for Proposal (RFP) for competitive electricity rates through the Land Office?
How do I view a typical Land Office gas or power contract?
Managing State Lands - How Do I?
How do I find out if a property is owned by the state?
How do I buy state land?
How do I find out the process for buying or leasing a property from the state?
How do I get title to the minerals under land I buy from the state?
How do I get access to land that is land locked or has no legal access?
How do I donate land to the state?
How do I get the state to sell what appears to be abandoned or seldom used property?
How do I find a map with locations of all state owned property along with property info?
How do I purchase a tax foreclosure?
How do I get on a list to be notified of future land sales?
Veterans Land Board - How Do I?
How do I reserve a burial space in a Texas State Veterans Cemetery?
How do I find the Texas State Veterans Home closest to my area?
How do I apply to the Texas State Veterans Home in my area?
How do I apply on-line for a VLB Loan?
How do I get help filling out VLB forms?
How do I apply for a Home Improvement Loan?
How can I learn how the Land Loan program works?
How do I apply for a Home Loan?
How can I use the VLB Home Loan Program to finance a home selling for $475,000?
How do I find a VLB approved lender in my area?
How can I find out about a discount for disabled veterans?
Disaster Recovery
Forms Housing Nonhousing Action Plans Methods of Distribution Fair Housing Issues HUD Reports Wildfires How Do I? Training
History of the Archives
In late June 1837, colonist and Texas Revolution veteran John P. Borden, received an unexpected letter informing him new Republic president Sam Houston had appointed him the first commissioner of the nation’s General Land Office. Having neither sought the appointment, nor attended the meeting when the appointment was made, Borden relocated to the capital Houston and accepted the appointment. He immediately set about his first pressing task, collecting the scattered records of Spanish and Mexican land grants in Texas.
Yet before the records could be collected, they had to be found. The task was complicated by the fact that the land records were in the hands of diverse, sometimes recalcitrant parties (empresarios, commissioners, agents, and political authorities) and that in many cases they had been removed far from their point of origin.
The hasty collection and confused state of the archives was one of the many obstacles faced by Borden. Although slow and time-consuming, the work of arranging these records progressed to the point where, in 1838, the Land Office was able to print a list called “An Abstract of the Original Land Titles of Record in the General Land Office” that provided the name of the grantees, dates, quantities, and general location of the tracts.
The beginning of the Land Office as a functioning government agency can be traced to the acquisition of these records through the tireless efforts of Commissioner John P. Borden.
Interested in learning more about the Land Commissioners? Learn More
The Texas General Land Office has been housed in many offices over the years. Learn More
Helpful Info
Contacts
Kevin Klaus© 2012 Texas General Land Office
1700 Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78701-1495
1.800.998.4GLO (4456)
1700 Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78701-1495
1.800.998.4GLO (4456)