We Are Texans Helping Preserve Texas. From the time that our ancestors struggled for independence, Texans have been self-reliant.
THF, which was established in 1954, continues that tradition as one of the only groups in the state that carries on its mission without taking state or federal funds.
What We Do The mission of the Texas Historical Foundation is to serve past, present, and future Texans by supporting
research in and publication of Texas history, assisting in the preservation of historic and prehistoric artifacts and information,
and raising and providing funds for these purposes.
Mission
1. Promote history education through publication of Texas HERITAGE magazine and support of video and print projects
2. Conduct fundraising to provide preservation grants to organizations working to save the Lone Star story
Our History The Texas State Historical Survey Committee (now the Texas Historical Commission) was created by the Fifty-
third Legislature and approved and filed on June 4, 1953. Its objectives were to survey the State of Texas to identify active
private preservationists, the endangered artifacts, shrines, and sites, and the location of these treasures. Governor Allan
Shivers appointed 18 members to the committee and assigned eight mandates. One of these directives was the creation of
the Texas Historical Foundation for the purpose of funding the endeavors of the Committee.
For the first 10 years, until the State began to appropriate funds for the preservation projects undertaken by the TSHSC,
most funding came from the THF. In 1965 the TSHSC and THF became two separate organizations, but the relationship
remained as it had started, with the THF raising money to implement the programs of the TSHSC.
In 1971 as the Legislature began to fund a fairly comprehensive program for the Survey Committee, the THF began to
move from its original purpose as a funding vehicle into an activist role of its own, seeking worthy projects and exploring
some of the critical needs in the preservation field. Several endowments have been established within the THF that give the
organization a greater opportunity to support preservation projects statewide.
Since 1971 the THF has continued to pursue these projects, raise money to fund them, and help create an awareness of
preservation through the quarterly publication Texas HERITAGE magazine.