The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 15, July 1911 - April, 1912 Page: 151

                                
Destruction of H'istorical Archives of Texas

The burning of the Treasurer's Office in this city, and the ex-
aggerated reports of the quantity and importance of the papers
lost on that occasion, have caused apprehensions in other quarters
that the Government would suffer serious loss by the accident.
For the satisfaction of the public, I will here mention that such
is not the case. A large amount of promissory notes and audited
drafts were there consumed, but they had all been previously can-
celled, they are, moreover, on register in other offices, among the
other liabilities of that class issued-though in the sum registered,
it would be difficult to identify the separate bills of the amount
destroyed, since the detailed register of their cancelment was
burnt with them. The other papers consumed, all of which be-
longed exclusively to the Treasury Bureau, have in other offices
either duplicates or a detailed registry which will answer the same
purpose."
II. BURNING OF THE OFFICE OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL OF TEXAS
Through a misprint, a footnote on page 327 of THE QUAR-
TERLY for April, 1911, gives the date of the burning of the Ad-
jutant General's Office incorrectly as October 10, 1853. The office
burned in 1855. The writer has made an effort to collect all in-
formation obtainable in regard to this disaster. One of the prin-
cipal documents has thus far eluded him in his search, but it is
hoped that by submitting this fragmentary account attention will
be drawn to this missing paper and its discovery assured.
1. Condition of the Archives of the Adjutant General's Office
in 1852.-A special committee from the house of representatives,
appointed to examine and report on the condition of the Adjutant
General's Office, made a report on January 16, 1852, from which
the following extract is made :2
The committee are compelled to notice the want of sufficient
means or conveniences to protect and preserve the papers and
books in that office, and in view of the great importance to the
country that the archives of this office should be effectually pre-
served. we recommend such an appropriation for this purpose as
may be deemed necessary by the legislature. And they would fur-
ther represent that the books containing the muster rolls, are in a
'Appendx to the Journal of the Senate of the first Legislature of the
State of Texas, p. 16.
2House Journal, 4th Legislature, pp. 566, 567.

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