State Collections
The collections on this page represent a portion of our holdings related to those who held elected or appointed office in the United States at the state level.
State Collections
Donald G. Adams was born in 1938 in Jasper, Texas, to county judge T. Gilbert Adams and Dess Hart Adams. He attended Baylor University from 1957 to 1963, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Laws. After his graduation, Adams took up legal practice in Lufkin for two years before returning to Jasper and forming a legal partnership with his father.
Adams announced his candidacy for the Texas House of Representatives in 1968. After his nomination by the Democratic Party, Adams was elected unopposed. As the Representative from District 7, Adams represented Hardin, Jasper, Newton, and Tyler counties. During his time in the Texas House, Adams served on several committees including Agriculture, Counties, Criminal Law, Criminal Jurisprudence, Insurance, Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Motor Transportation, and Imported Fire Ant Infestation. Adams largely avoided the political fallout that accompanied the Sharpstown Bank scandal that ensnared Governor Preston Smith, Lieutenant Governor Ben Barnes, and House Speaker Gus Mutscher.
In 1972, Adams announced his candidacy for the Texas Senate, District 3. Adams endured a slightly contentious primary battle with J.C. Stallings, a radio station owner from Nacogdoches who attempted to play up Adams’s connections to the ousted Mutscher and the Sharpstown scandal. Regardless, Adams received his party’s nomination and ran unopposed in the general election. Adams served in the Texas Senate from 1973 to 1977, representing Anderson, Angelina, Cherokee, Hardin, Henderson, Jasper, Kaufman, Nacogdoches, Newton, Panola, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, and Tyler Counties. During his senatorial career, he was a member of the Administration, Finance, Intergovernmental Relations, and Jurisprudence Committees in addition to numerous subcommittees and temporary topical committees. In 1974, Adams served as a delegate to the Texas State Constitution Convention. In 1977, Adams was elected by the Senate as President Pro Tempore ad Interim for the 65th Legislature.
In 1978, Adams resigned from his Senate seat to become Chief Legal Counsel for the Governor of Texas. He was appointed to the Texas Industrial Commission (TIC) in October of the same year, was elected TIC Chairman in 1979, and was appointed to a full six-year term on the Commission in 1983.
Adams is also a member of various community organizations including Kiwanis Club, the Texas Bar Association, and Chamber of Commerce. Don and his wife, Linda Cullum Adams, have three children: Don Jr., Debra, and Dinah.
The Collection
The Donald G. Adams papers contain materials related to Adams’s political career in the Texas House of Representatives (61st and 62nd legislatures) and Texas Senate (63rd-65th legislatures). Included are correspondence between members of government and legislative constituents, copies of legislation, clippings, and campaign materials. Outlying materials provide additional context to Adams’s private life while working in state government.
Adams’s career coincided with a tumultuous series of events in Texas history. The Sharpstown Banking scandal became a salient issue in the 1972 election, leading to widespread disruption of the established legislative power structure and creating a more liberal legislature as many moderates became tarnished by their connections to this financial legislation/stock fraud scandal. Adams’s senate run skirted this issue fairly successfully despite his opponent J.C. Stallings’s consistent efforts to utilize the scandal against Adams in both print and radio advertisements. Stallings’s use of his personally-owned radio stations in the campaign became a part of the depiction of Stallings as an unscrupulous and litigious individual, which characterizes Adams’s approach to the issue. After defeating Stallings in the primary, Adams faced no opposition in the general election.
Adams’s Senate career also coincided with the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1974. Materials related to the Texas Constitution appear throughout Adams’s career. In addition to serving as an elected delegate at the convention, Adams proposed several amendments to the Constitution in the legislature and voted on other amendments introduced in legislative sessions. Along with constitutional amendments, Adams worked to amend the Texas Criminal Code and Family Code, especially as it related to parental rights of illegitimate children and foster families. In addition to these sweeping legislative issues, Adams was also a consistent advocate for both volunteer and professional firefighters, proposing legislation to improve their economic standing.
While in the legislature, Adams was a member of multiple committees and served as chairman of the Senate Administration Committee in the 64th and 65th sessions. Despite his varied and consistent committee membership, the only committees represented in this collection are the Administration, Jurisprudence, Intergovernmental Relations, and Counties Committees. Adams was a member of the House Counties Committee during the 62nd Legislature.
Adams diligently responded to constituent correspondence and appeared at community events when his schedule permitted it. This collection contains letters related to a broad range of legislative, community, and personal issues as well as a number of Adams’s responses.
The collection measures 37 linear ft.
Kip Averitt served in the Texas House of Representatives for 9 ½ years before being elected to the Texas Senate in 2002 where he served until he resigned in 2010. Following his time in state politics, Averitt formed Averitt & Associates, a public affairs and lobbying firm.
This collection consists of papers (1993-2010) and is closed.
Charles W. Barrow was born September 22, 1921, in Poteet, Texas. He spent his youth in Atascosa, primarily in Jourdanton. Barrow graduated from the Baylor University School of Law in 1943 after which he joined the US Navy during World War II. He was active in the Pacific and European theaters, notably during the Normandy invasion, and earned seven battle stars. Barrow also served during the Korean War, retired as Captain, then continued to serve in the Navy Reserves until 1976.
In 1945, Barrow began practicing law in San Antonio, Texas, and by 1959, became a District Judge of the 45th Judicial District Court. Judge Barrow was appointed to the 4th Court of Civil Appeals in 1962, to fill the unexpired term left by the death of his father, Judge Hunter Barrow. In 1967, Charles Barrow was elected to the 4th Court of Civil Appeals and served in the position until 1977, the year he was appointed to the Texas Supreme Court.
Judge Barrow was twice elected to the Supreme Court, once in 1978, and again in 1982. While serving as Justice, Barrow received several accolades, including the Distinguished Jurist Gavel Award from the St. Mary’s University School of Law in 1978, the Greenhill Judicial Award from the Texas Municipal Courts Association in 1979, and the Distinguished Alumni award given by his alma mater, Baylor University, in 1982.
Justice Barrow resigned his position on the Texas Supreme Court to fill the post as Dean of the Baylor School of Law. He served in this capacity from 1984-1991. In 1991, he returned on a part-time basis as a Senior District Judge in San Antonio until his retirement in 1996. Barrow was widely regarded as a hard worker, evidenced by his 700+ written court opinions. Charles W. Barrow passed on June 25, 2006.
Charles Barrow was married to the former Sugie Williams. They had four sons, Charles Wallace (Wally), Jr., John Douglas, David Williams, and James Hunter.
The Collection
The Charles W. Barrow papers, dated 1939-2006, include campaign materials, photographs, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, and memorandums.
The Personal series includes General items such as family papers, military records, correspondence, event programs, and newspaper clippings. Also included are memorials and condolences kept by the Barrow family after the death of their son, Wally. The Campaigns subseries includes correspondence, general publications, and newspaper clippings. The clippings are of note due to their focus on Barrow’s opponents, Woodrow Wilson Bean and Don Yarbrough. The Certificates and Awards subseries contains diplomas, certificates, and other recognitions given to Barrow.
The Photographs and Scrapbooks series includes personal family photographs and photos taken while Barrow was a justice. Several scrapbooks are included and highlight his appointment as judge to the 45th District Court in San Antonio and several other judgeships. The Texas Supreme Court series contains Applications for Writ of Error presented while Barrow was a justice. Newsletters and Judicial Yearbooks are also present.
This collection consists of 9 document boxes and 3 oversize boxes, 4.5 linear ft.
Bob Bullock was a native Texan first and last, one who loved the state and its heritage and recognized the need to preserve its history. A third generation Texan, he began to put that love for the state and its people to work with his early service on the State Historical Commission in the 1960s.
His love for Texas and its history carried over to influence the preservation of his own records and the legacy of the 40 years he served the state.
The Bob Bullock Collection spans the years 1917-2003 with the bulk of the materials focusing on Bob Bullock’s political career from 1975-1999, when he was Comptroller of Public Accounts and the Lieutenant Governor of Texas. The Bullock Collection provides a comprehensive account of the last quarter of the 20th century in Texas politics, through the eyes, words and deeds of one of Texas’ most legendary politician and respected statesmen. Bob Bullock’s love for Texas was genuine…and that love is visible in the physical record of his collection. The Collection also includes personal items and artifacts from his life donated by Bullock, members of his family, and friends. Together, these materials provide a window to the public and private sides of Bob Bullock.
The Bob Bullock collection is divided into five series:
Campaign Series, 1974-1997; bulk 1990. (49 boxes)
Bullock Campaign PDF Version
This series details the Bullock’s four campaigns for Comptroller of Public Accounts in 1974, 1978, 1982 and 1986, and his campaigns for Lieutenant Governor in 1990 and 1994. The series include campaign files, correspondence, election results and polls, endorsements, questionnaires, financial material, invitations and issue files. Also found in the series are itineraries, position papers, brochures, newsletters, press releases, and assorted publications and reports.
The strength of the Campaign Series lies in the 1990 Campaign subseries, Bullock’s first run for Lieutenant Governor, which shows the development, detail and implementation of a winning political campaign. The attention to detail in researching issues and in preparation for opponents reflects Bullock’s drive and intensity. The embracing of different campaign techniques throughout the six campaigns show the growth and use of new mediums to reach constituents and influence voters.
Comptroller Series, 1975-1990. (337 boxes)
Bullock Comptroller PDF Version
This series charts Bob Bullock’s 16 years of public service as Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. The sheer transformation and growth of the Comptroller’s office is evident in the physical record of this series and is its strength. Bullock completely reformed the Comptroller’s Office, brought it into the computer age.
Lieutenant Governor Series, 1991-1999. (526.25 linear ft.)
Bullock Lt. Gov. PDF Version without Alpha Correspondence
Bullock Lt. Gov. PDF of Alpha Correspondence
This series is arranged chronologically by year and legislative session. During the years 1992-1995, the Texas Capitol was under an interior restoration and expansion project. The Lieutenant Governor’s Office was relocated, thus the files from the 73rd and 74th Legislatures were combined. While Administrative files are present, the bulk of this series are correspondence to and from state offices, legislators, elected officials, and ex-elected officials. Also included are issue files and travel itineraries.
Media Series, 1971-1998. (260 boxes, 130 linear ft.)
This series is comprise of audio/visual material from Bullock’s years as Comptroller and Lieutenant Governor. Formats include audio and video cassettes, tapes and reels; digital information on CDs, DVDs, and computer backups; microfilm; newspaper clippings and press releases; political cartoons; and speeches.
Personal Series, 1917-3003; bulk 1970-1999. (600 boxes, 302.25 linear ft.)
Over his career, Bullock was honored with dozens of awards by national, state, civic and government organizations and associations. With each award came certificates, plaques and trophies Bullock treasured. Most of them are in the collection, along with his education and law degrees, military records and the commissions for each of the offices he held during his 40 years of state service.
Some of the treasures in the memorabilia are the personal photographs and family scrapbooks kept by Bullock's mother, family letters, correspondence and genealogical materials compiled by Bullock and his older brother, Tom.
The W. R. Poage Legislative Library also has videos featuring Bob Bullock hosted by YouTube.
James R. “Jim” Dunnam served as the Texas State Representative for District 57 from 1997-2011. He was born December 12, 1963, in Waco, Texas, where he continues to reside. Dunnam attended Baylor University where he attained his BBA in 1986 and JD from Baylor Law School in 1987. He began working as a member of his family’s law practice, Dunnam & Dunnam, L.L.P. in 1988.
Dunnam ran as the Democratic candidate in the 1996 election, won, and served until losing his bid for re-election in November 2010. Considered a leader in the Democratic Party, he was named the leader of the House Democratic Caucus from 2003-2011. Dunnam’s major bills included charter-school reform and restrictions on open containers of alcohol in cars. Additionally, he worked to improve public schools, economic development, affordable health care, focused on the Bosque River, higher education, and oversaw the evaluation and re-authorization of the State Bar of Texas and the State Board of Law Examiners. In 2003, he led the controversial Killer Ds walkout to Ardmore, Oklahoma to stall Republican Tom DeLay’s mid-decade redistricting plan.
Dunnam was appointed to several committees and acquired numerous awards. He served on the Texas Supreme Court Rules Advisory Committee, 1998-2003, Texas Sunset Advisory Committee, 2001-2005, House Select Committee on Judicial Interpretation of Law, and the House Committee for Oversight of Family Law and Texas Family Code. He served as Chair of the Interim Committee on Charter Schools, the Select Committee on Federal Economic Stabilization Funding, and as Vice-Chair of the Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence. Dunnam was named Baylor’s Young Lawyer of the Year in 2001, and one of Texas’s Ten Best Legislators in 2001 by Texas Monthly and in 2005 by Capitol Inside. He is certified as a civil trial law and family law attorney.
The Collection
The Jim Dunnam papers cover an expanse of 1982-2011, though the bulk of the papers are from 1997-2011. These years span the 75th through the 81st Texas Legislatures. Materials document Dunnam’s service as a Texas Representative during these sessions. The papers cover a wide variety of topics pertinent to Texas House District 57 during this time, including the Bosque River, charter schools, education, health, lawsuit reform, redistricting, school finance, Supreme Court of Texas, taxes, the Texas Youth Commission, and tort reform. There is a significant amount of material related to the Killer Ds walkout to Ardmore, Oklahoma, led by Representative Dunnam, and a variety of unique campaign material items.
Each of these topics present themselves in various formats throughout the collection. Series I, Administrative, consists of office paperwork related to everyday functions, appointments, travel, campaigns, and biographical material. Series II, Correspondence, covers a wide array of topics, as well as McLennan County-specific letters and correspondence between members of the legislature. Series III, Constituents, refers to materials on cities and counties within District 57, phone logs, questionnaires on education funding, reading files, Dunnam’s speeches, and thank you notes. Series IV, Legislative, is the largest series and is organized by subseries representing each session of the Legislature in which Dunnam participated. Each of these subseries contain sub-subseries, including House Bills, Senate Bills, Joint Resolutions, Commemoratives and Commendations, and Topical. Series V, Newspapers, includes copied clippings about Dunnam, the Texas Legislature, politics, and the state. Series VI, Personal, holds material about the Texas/Oklahoma Bar Grievance, and Series VII, Press Releases, contains topical material. Series VIII, Audio-Visual, is the last series, and includes four types of media: cassettes, CDs, photographs, and VHS tapes.
The collection consists of 73 document boxes and 9 oversized boxes, 32.69 linear ft.
Chet Edwards served in the Texas Senate from 1983-1989 before entering federal politics. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991 to 2011, representing District 11 until 2005, and District 17 after redistricting. He served on the Appropriations, Armed Services, Budget, Financial Services, and Veterans Affairs committees, was vice chair of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, and co-chaired the House Army Caucus.
Edwards championed US military veterans. After becoming Chair of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee in 2007, Edwards secured increased funding for veterans’ healthcare and benefits. He also played a key role in enacting the 21st Century GI Bill of Rights into law.
Edwards advocated for federal investments in Fort Hood (now Fort Cavazos), the Central Texas Veterans’ Health Care System, and research programs at Baylor and Texas A&M Universities. He opposed massive federal deficits. In 2008, Edwards was vetted and became a finalist to serve as Barack Obama's vice-presidential running mate.
The Collection
This collection consists of records covering Chet Edwards’ congressional service from 1991 to 2011. Material types include radio and television campaign advertisements and other audiovisual material, mailers, press releases, newsletters, speeches, voting records, and constituent correspondence. The topics addressed in this collection reflect Edwards’ legislative priorities such as agriculture, appropriations, armed services, budget, homeland security, and veterans’ affairs. The Waco Siege of 1993, President Bill Clinton’s impeachment, and legislation on religious liberty (i.e. Charitable Choice, Religious Freedom Amendment, and Religious Liberty Protection Act) are also represented in the collection.
Jack E. Hightower served in the US Navy during World War II. After returning home, he earned a B.A. (1949) and LL.B. (1951) from Baylor University. Upon admittance to the Texas Bar, Hightower began a long, diverse political career as the District Attorney for the 46th Texas Judicial District (1951-1961). He simultaneously served a term in the 53rd Legislature of the Texas House of Representatives (1953-1955). Hightower later served in the Texas Senate, representing the 23rd District (1965-1967) and the newly created 30th District (1967-1974).
Hightower then set his sights on the national stage, serving as a delegate to the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. After an unsuccessful run for Congress earlier in his career (1961), Hightower won five consecutive terms from 1975-1985, representing TX-13, a rural region of west Texas including Amarillo and Wichita Falls.
After a Congressional defeat in 1985, Hightower became the first Assistant Attorney General of Texas under Jim Mattox (1985-1987) before serving as a justice on the Texas Supreme Court (1988-1995). President Bill Clinton appointed Hightower to the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, a position he held from 1999 to 2004.
The Collection
This collection is currently being processed. A new finding aid will be available once the project is complete. Please email bcpm@baylor.edu if you have any questions about the collection.
Lola Hopper was born near Houston and grew up there before moving to San Marcos prior to the start of high school. She was involved in high school student government, introducing a bill to desegregate extracurricular activities such as sports. The bill passed and sports were desegregated after she graduated. Hopper attributes her love for politics to the success of this early effort.
Hopper studied English and history at Austin Community College for one year before leaving school in 1965 to work as a secretary for Terrell Blodgett, Administrative Assistant to Texas Governor John B. Connally. In 1969, she became the office manager for Donald Adams, working for Adams during his time as a State Representative and a State Senator. When Adams left office in 1978, Hopper took a job in the TXU lobbying office until 1987 when she became office manager for State Senator Judith Zaffirini for two years. In the 1990’s, Hopper worked for Texas Attorney General Jim Mattox in his Outreach for the Blind Project, then for Attorney General Dan Morales’ Child Support Division. Finally, she worked for Texas Mental Health and Mental Retardation in Austin.
After a lengthy career working for various politicians and political organizations, Hopper retired in 2002. However, she remained an active volunteer for various Democratic Party politicians and political causes. Most notably, she was an early volunteer for the Hillary Clinton 2008 Presidential Campaign, coordinating volunteers when Clinton visited Waco on the campaign trail and recruiting veterans to attend the event. She was so active in Clinton’s campaign that she was chosen as a delegate to attend the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, casting her vote for Clinton in the race eventually won by Barack Obama.
The Collection
The papers and materials collected by Lola Hopper were donated to the Baylor Collections of Political Materials in the summer of 2012. The collection contains mostly campaign materials from various campaigns Lola Hopper supported over 50 years of political activity, including yard signs, T-shirts, bumper stickers, and a large collection of political buttons. Also included are a large number of photographs taken at various occasions.
Hopper worked as a secretary for Texas State Senator Donald G. Adams during the 1970's. The materials in this collection include letters from Adams and his wife Linda, some office materials, photographs of Adams and his staff, and newspaper clippings. The collection also includes several items related to the State of Texas honoring Donald Adams as Governor for a Day on October 15, 1977. This includes several photographs, some certificates and commendations, stationary and programs, clippings, coffee cups, and the gavel and block which “Governor” Adams used that day.
Hopper collected several artifacts from various renovations of the Texas Capitol Building, starting in the 1960's and continuing all the way to the 1980's. These artifacts include bricks, chunks of masonry, nails, and a light fixture. The stones and bricks have had one side covered in felt so that the artifacts can be displayed, and Hopper kept them out of a respect for their historical value.
The collection is comprised of 4 document boxes and 14 oversized boxes.
Richard A. Jenson, President of Jenson Research and Communications, founded his Austin-based business in 2005. Jenson had previously served as a consultant for political candidates in Texas, including Texas Supreme Court Justice Bill Kilgarlin.
Jenson extensively collected political campaign materials from the 1980s and 1990s. These include all branches and levels of government, but Jenson's prime areas of interest were the Texas Supreme Court and Appellate Court judicial races. Jenson donated the collection in 2014.
The Collection
The Richard A. Jenson collection dates from 1982 to 1997, with the bulk of the records being from 1988 to 1992. Collection materials are largely related to Texas political campaigns for all levels and branches of government, primarily focusing on the judicial and legislative branches, which comprise the two largest series. Material types include correspondence, fliers, clippings, posters, buttons, VHS tapes, and audio cassettes. There is a notable geographic focus on campaigns in the Travis County area, including local politics. Political candidates represented in the collection whose materials are housed at Poage Library include Jack Hightower, Chet Edwards, Bob Bullock, and Bill Vance.
Ernest Ray Kirkpatrick was born in Trenton, Fannin County, Texas, on July 9, 1922. He was a graduate of Trenton High School in 1940, and served in the United States Army from 1942-1945. His tour of duty included stops in Italy, France, and North Africa.
After his return home, Ray Kirkpatrick, a Democrat, was elected to represent the 41st District in the Texas House of Representatives. He represented this district during the 50th, 51st, and 52nd Legislatures from 1947 to 1952. Kirkpatrick served on several committees, including Contingent Expenses, Federal Relations, and Military and Veterans Affairs. He was also a member of the Appropriations Committee and appointed Chairman, a record-setting accomplishment reached at the age of 26.
Ray Kirkpatrick graduated from the Baylor School of Law in 1958, and held a private practice until 1963 when he joined the State Board of Insurance. He was active with the Masons, American Legion, and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Kirkpatrick died on November 3, 1998.
The Collection
The Ray Kirkpatrick papers include certificates, diplomas, photographs, scrapbooks, news clippings, correspondence, and subject files. Many items are personal in nature, however some of the topical items and photographs highlight the work he did while serving in the Texas House of Representatives. Also included are items documenting his time as a student at Baylor University, his business with the State Board of Insurance, and participation with the Masons.
This collection consists of 2 document boxes and 1 oversize box, 1 linear ft.
John Nesbett Leedom was born in Dallas, Texas on July 27, 1921. He attended Rice University, earned an electrical engineering degree in 1943, and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. In the 1950’s, Leedom established Wholesale Electronic Supply, Inc., which he ran as CEO. In March 1956, John married his wife of 55 years, Betty Harvey Leedom.
In 1961, Leedom ran for and won a position in the Republican Party as Dallas County Chairman, a position he held for several years. In 1974, Leedom ran for Dallas City Council, where he served until 1980. In 1980, he successfully ran for Texas State Senate, serving on committees such as Education, Economic Development, and State Affairs, among many others. During his time in office, Leedom most famously wrote the Texas “Rainy Day Fund” law. Leedom served as a delegate for the 1976 and 1988 presidential elections, supporting Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush respectively. Throughout his political career, Leedom supported many Republican candidates for office at a local and national level, including Barry Goldwater, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush. He retired from the legislature in 1996 and continued work as a lobbyist and author until his death on May 31, 2011.
Craig Pardue, an alumnus of Baylor University, donated the John Leedom papers to the W. R. Poage Legislative Library in April 2022. Like John Leedom, Pardue resided in Dallas, Texas and worked in Texas politics. Pardue, a lobbyist, worked for Dallas County as an Assistant County Administrator of Governmental Affairs for thirty years. Prior to that, he worked for the Texas House of Representatives.
The Collection
The John Leedom papers span nearly 40 years. The earliest documents begin in 1954, and the collection ends with materials related to the campaign and election of President George H. W. Bush in 1989.
The collection is largely composed of documents dealing with the Texas Republican Party, particularly as it relates to Dallas County. The John Leedom papers hold newspaper clippings from the Dallas Morning News and the Dallas Herald, amongst many other local publications. The scrapbooks housed notes and correspondence between Leedom and his friends, constituents, and significant political figures including Barry Goldwater, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Betty Ford, Ronald Reagan, Nancy Reagan, and George H.W. Bush. As local chair of the Republican Party and a Dallas City Councilor, Leedom also collected materials pertaining to the Republican Party and its operations in the City of Dallas. As Leedom was involved in Texas politics for decades, the collection covers several Republican National Conventions, presidential campaigns, and local Texas elections, including his own.
While most of the collection relates to Leedom's political career, his papers also contain personal family photos, vacation packets, notes and artwork from his children, and several documents from his wife, Betty.
The collection contains 3 document boxes.
The Baylor Collection of Political Materials is the official repository for the third largest political party in Texas, The Libertarian Party of Texas (LPTexas). In 1972, LPTexas became one of the thirteen original founding state parties at the first Libertarian Party convention. Currently, the collection is closed.
Caso March was born March 9, 1911, in Saginaw, Texas. He was a graduate of North Side High School in Fort Worth, Texas, and completed bachelors, masters, and law degrees at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. After graduating from Baylor, March was employed by the Federal Power Commission in Washington, DC from 1934-1942. While in Washington, March earned an additional master’s of law and doctorate in judicial science at the American University and National University, respectively.
In 1942, March enlisted in the Army during World War II. He served as an infantry officer, primarily in Southeast Asia. After his service, March and his family moved to Waco. During this time March began work as a faculty member in the Baylor School of Law and completed his first campaign for governor of Texas.
Caso March was a perpetual candidate for Texas Governor. He ran unsuccessfully in 1946, 1948, and 1950, once using the slogan “For every man, a tax-free home.” Prior to the 1950 election, he resigned his post at Baylor to pursue the campaign full time. Without a win, March returned to a career as an attorney for the National Labor Relations Board.
Caso March was married to the former Hattie Mae Yelvington and had two children, Ben and Ann.
The Collection
The papers of Caso March include personal files, news clippings, photographs, scrapbooks, and several large diagrams from March’s time with the Federal Power Commission.
Most of the materials are dated circa 1930-1950, and trace March’s course from college at Baylor University through his three runs for governor of Texas in 1946, 1948, and 1950. Items from his high school days in Fort Worth, Texas, are also present. March’s time with the Federal Power Commission, 1934-1942, his service in the military during World War II, 1943-1945, at Baylor as a law professor, 1946-1948, and campaign materials from his races and other political campaigns of the late 1940s and early 1950s are also present.
The personal files contain mostly business, family, and campaign correspondence. Family correspondence is well represented with his wife Hattie Mae, amid their courtship during World War II and beyond. Also included are news clippings, scrapbooks, and limited photographs.
George Moffett served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1931-1938 and the Texas Senate from 1939-1965. His 34 years in the Texas Legislature saw him closely identified with agricultural, livestock, oil, gas, and veterans’ legislative issues.
Allen Dwain Place, Jr. was born on September 22, 1955, in Gatesville, Texas. He graduated from Baylor University with a bachelor's in Business Administration in 1977, and a Juris Doctorate in 1979. Place passed the bar exam that same year and began practicing law in Gatesville.
In a 1990 special election, Place, a Democrat, was selected to replace Bob Melton as the Texas State Representative for the 57th District. From 1990-1992, this district represented Bosque, Coryell, and Hill Counties. Redistricting occurred in 1992 after which Place represented the 59th District, comprised of Comanche, Coryell, Erath, and Hamilton Counties.
Allen Place, Jr. was a member of the 71st-75th Legislatures, from 1990 to 1999. He served on the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee throughout his tenure, fulfilling the role of chair for three terms. Place also sat on the Calendars, Corrections, and Elections Committees, among others. In 1997, he chaired the Senate Bill 97 Select Committee which revised stalking laws in Texas.
Allen D. Place, Jr. is currently an attorney in Gatesville, Texas.
The Collection
The Allen D. Place, Jr. papers include correspondence, news clippings, legislation, and committee work dated 1991-1998, when Place was a Texas State Representative.
The Administrative Organizations series includes materials collected by Place while working on legislative issues in Texas. The Agencies subseries includes correspondence, annual reports, memos, and meeting agendas from entities such as the Texas Commission of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, the Texas Department of Health, and the Governor’s office. The Interstate Commerce Commission subseries is primarily composed of documents related to the merger of the Burlington Northern, Inc. and the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe railways.
The Correspondence series is divided into two subseries: Individuals and Subject. The Individuals subseries covers topics such as firearms, education, and the criminal justice system with politicians, educational representatives, and others. The Subject subseries relates directly to topics such as education, school funding, tort reform, and youth issues. Some inmate correspondence is present but has been restricted.
The Legislative Series is divided into four subseries and covers the 72nd-75th Legislatures (1991-1997). The General sub-subseries includes reports, lists, calendars, and policies. Bills are organized numerically and include House Bills, Senate Bills, and other bills formerly considered for legislation. Correspondence houses inquiries about bills under consideration, and the Legislative Clipping Service sub-subseries contains articles from various newspaper outlets used to research topics related to current legislation.
The collection consists of 84 document boxes, 35.28 lin. ft.
Finding Aid (PDF) | Finding Aid (Online) | Digital Collection
W. R. "Bob" Poage Personal Papers | PDF
Bob Poage first tasted public service when he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1924, where he served for four years. He left the political stage for a time but returned in 1931 when he was elected to the Texas Senate, serving there until 1936 when he was elected to his first term in the U. S. House of Representatives, where he served until his retirement in 1978.
This collection consists of 9 document boxes. 3.75 linear ft.
Bob L. “Bobby” Thomas was born in Hill County, Texas on February 27, 1937, and moved to Waco, Texas in 1941. At fifteen years old, Thomas showed promise as a track athlete, winning several awards. However, at that same age he contracted Polio which affected his legs and surrendered his life to a wheelchair.
This disability did not deter him. He was a 1955 graduate of Waco High School, completed a BBA in Accounting at Baylor University in 1958, and graduated first in his class from Baylor Law School in 1960. He began his law practice in Waco during 1961, working in tax law as well as general law.
From 1967-1970, Thomas served as a state legislator in addition to his law practice. He ceased both when he was elected as County Judge of McLennan County. He served in this position until 1982, when he became a Justice of the Tenth Court of Appeals.
Bob Thomas was active in his community as well as his profession. He was twice awarded by the Jaycees as an “Outstanding Young Man of Texas” and honored as Texas “Disabled Person of the Year.” Thomas was also a member of the Task Force to revise the Texas Mental Health Code and a consultant to the Commissioner of Texas Rehabilitation Commission, both of which were appointed positions.
In 1989, Thomas was appointed Chief Justice of the Tenth Court of Appeals where he served until his death, February 21, 1996.
The Collection
The Bob L. Thomas papers include personal papers as well as court opinions. The personal papers hold correspondence, biographical information, and clippings. An early clipping shares a peek into Thomas’ life prior to contracting Polio, but several are obituaries and memorials written upon his death. Handwritten notes and research materials are also included and were most likely used as Judge Thomas was preparing his Court Opinions. The bulk of this collection consists of Court Opinions prepared for both Civil and Criminal Cases while Thomas served as Justice of the Tenth Court of Appeals.
The collection consists of 10 document boxes, 4.17 linear ft.
Byron M. Tunnell was born on October 14, 1925, in Tyler, Texas. He was educated in the Tyler public school system and attended Tyler Junior College. Following military service in the Naval Air Corps during World War II, Tunnell attended Baylor University where he earned a law degree in 1952. Tunnell then returned to his hometown of Tyler and served as an assistant district attorney before entering private practice. In 1959, Bob Bullock, future Texas Comptroller and Lieutenant Governor, joined the practice. Tunnell and Bullock developed a close friendship over the next forty years, sharing a passion for public service to their native Texas. When Bullock passed away in 1999, Tunnell delivered one of two eulogies at the funeral.
Tunnell was active with the Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycee’s) and by the 1950's turned his attention toward politics. He was elected to serve in the Texas House of Representatives from 1956 to 1965 and was appointed Speaker of the House from 1963 to 1965 by his peers. A second term as Speaker was projected, but to the surprise of many, Tunnell joined the Texas Railroad Commission in 1965. His tenure with the Railroad Commission coincided with the energy crisis of the early 1970's which led to his collaboration with the Interstate Oil Compact Commission.
On September 15, 1973, Tunnell resigned from the Railroad Commission to become a vice-president and lobbyist for Tenneco Inc., an oil and gas company based in Houston. In the 1990's, Tunnell returned to public service, first as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Employee Retirement System of Texas, and then as a member of the State Conservatorship Board. He was appointed by George W. Bush as a co-conservator to overhaul the struggling Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
Tunnell died of cancer at his home in Lake Palestine, Texas, on March 7, 2000.
The Collection
The timeline of the Byron Tunnell papers begins in the early 1950's and concludes in 1999, shortly before his death. Materials in the collection depict his years of public service, primarily as a member and Speaker in the Texas House of Representatives and later as Texas Railroad Commissioner. Additional materials related to his time as Vice President of Tenneco, Inc., are also housed in this collection, as well as items from his appointments to the Employee Retirement System and State Conservatorship Board.
Tunnell's papers are arranged in eleven series and include awards, certificates, biographical materials, campaign materials, correspondence, legislation, photographs, and press files.
Series 1. Appointments covers the positions to which Tunnell was assigned duties later in life. As a member of the Employee Retirement System and State Conservatorship Board, he created reports, commissions, funding manuals, newsletters, clippings, and other materials. Series 2. Campaign materials, which are arranged chronologically, include Tunnell’s races for the Texas House of Representatives (1956-1964) and for the Railroad Commission (1966-1972).
Series 3. Correspondence includes topical and personal letters, including some from Tunnell’s friend and former law partner, Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock. Series 4. Court Cases highlights Tunnell’s appearance in the U.S. Supreme Court for the 1958 case Hawkins v. United States as well as other cases from the 1990's.
Materials in Series 5. Elected Positions are divided according to Tunnell's service on the Railroad Commission and in the Texas House of Representatives. Tunnell was Railroad Commissioner from 1965 to 1973 during an energy crisis, therefore, the materials are primarily focused on topics such as oil and gas. The Texas House of Representatives Subseries is divided according to each legislature and includes administrative files, correspondence, commemorative legislation, publications, and topical materials.
Series 6. Events chronicle Tunnell's attendance at banquets, luncheons, receptions, conferences, conventions, and several Texas inaugurations. The Lobbyist Series reflects Tunnell’s experiences at Tenneco, Inc., an oil and gas company based in Houston. The series includes awards and certificates presented to Tunnell, travel itineraries, guestbooks, day planners, political cartoons, and other related items.
Series 9. Photographs ranges in date from 1935 to 1999, and documents personal and business moments throughout Tunnell's life. Campaign headshots, golf outings, Christmas photos, and several hunting and fishing trips are represented. The Press Series includes news clippings and newsletters from Tunnell’s career. Series 11. Speeches includes nearly 200 speeches given by Tunnell, including a eulogy for Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock. These items, dated 1961-1999, kept in Tunnell's original order, highlight the number of organizations and individuals he was involved with during his life.
The collection consists of 28 document Boxes and 3 oversized boxes.
William R. “Bill” Vance was born in Bryan, Texas in 1939. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Texas A&M before attending the University of Texas School of Law, from which he graduated in 1963. Having been admitted to the bar the year of his graduation, Vance worked as the Assistant District Attorney for Brazos County from 1964-1967, and as County Judge from 1967-1978. From 1978-1990, Vance engaged in private legal practice, founding his own firm in 1982. In 1990, Vance defeated incumbent Terry Means to assume a seat on the 10th Court of Appeals, the first native of Brazos County to achieve the office. He won unopposed reelection twice, additionally making an unsuccessful bid for the presiding judgeship of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. His last term was marked by accounts of discord and strife within the 10th Court, as Chief Justice Tom Gray became notorious for his markedly uncivil dissents. Vance retired from the court in 2009.
In addition to his court activities, Vance was active in both regional and statewide organizations. He organized and chaired the Brazos Valley Mental-Health-Mental Retardation Board of Trustees while serving as County Judge in Brazos County, and was director/chairman of the Brazos Valley Development Council. While practicing law privately, he served as a member of the State Depository Board (1982-1985) and State Finance Commission (1985-1986). He was elected president of the Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce in 1988 after two years as its Treasurer.
Vance married Barbara Thomas and the couple have three children: Bill Jr., Karen (Atkinson), and Brett.
The Collection
The William R. “Bill” Vance papers range from 1972-2009, and cover a portion of Vance’s public life as a court justice and candidate for state office. Included are a number of press clippings from throughout Vance’s career. Correspondence related to campaigns for both the 10th Court and Court of Criminal Appeals, as well as some correspondence from Vance’s time on the 10th Court, provide additional context for some of the clippings. Also enclosed are several awards and honors Vance earned over the course of his career.
The 1990 campaign was not particularly ideologically driven and focused instead on the disparity between the qualifications of the two candidates. In contrast, Vance’s 2000 campaign was framed heavily around broader discussions of the state of the American justice system. The clippings and letters in the collection display the negative view Texas media held toward the Court of Criminal Appeals, characterizing it as a partisan body so obsessed with “law and order” that it ignored evidence that might exonerate (or at least demand a new trial for) its appellants. Of particular interest are the campaigns’ existence in the context of debates surrounding the usefulness of DNA testing for overturning convictions (the Roy Criner case, in which the CCA explicitly ignored DNA evidence, is mentioned multiple times). Vance’s opponent, Sharon Keller, was indicted as the ringleader and mouthpiece for this unsympathetic court.
Vance’s time in court was mostly productive, and his statements to the press consistently emphasize his ability to work through his assigned caseloads. However, with the ascension of Tom Gray to the position of chief justice in 2003, tensions began to show in the court’s internal workings. Gray was consistently critical of the number of cases being overturned by the court, noting that a number of these overturned cases were also being overturned by higher courts. His dissenting opinions took jabs at the other sitting justices, eventually drawing significant attention from the popular press.
The collection consists of 2 document boxes, 1 oversize box, and 2 oversize signs.