By:  Carona                                            H.R. No. 789
       73R11698 SDU-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to honor
    1-2  the founders and supporters of the Texas Heritage Archives and
    1-3  Library, one of the finest private collections of Texana ever to be
    1-4  unveiled to the public; and
    1-5        WHEREAS, This distinguished institution was established by
    1-6  the  B. B. Barr Foundation, a Dallas-based nonprofit organization
    1-7  that was founded in 1988 for the express purpose of creating a
    1-8  unique facility that could serve as a museum, a repository for
    1-9  historic documents, and a meeting place for lectures, seminars,
   1-10  symposia, and other functions; and
   1-11        WHEREAS, After unavoidable delays, the site of the proposed
   1-12  facility was shifted from Dallas to Jefferson, where in August 1992
   1-13  the foundation purchased the historic Haywood House, whose
   1-14  suitability to contain a Texana collection was enhanced by its own
   1-15  colorful past; and
   1-16        WHEREAS, Following its completion just before the outbreak of
   1-17  the Civil War, the Haywood House was regarded by many as the finest
   1-18  hotel west of the Mississippi; although the four-story structure
   1-19  was severely damaged by fire in 1868, it would continue to serve as
   1-20  a residence for members of the Haywood, Moseley, and Braden
   1-21  families for 90 years, and after the death of its last resident,
   1-22  Clarence Braden, in 1962, more than $55,000 in coin was found
   1-23  scattered throughout the building; and
   1-24        WHEREAS, Among the priceless items in the museum's catalog
    2-1  are letters and other documents signed by Moses Austin, Stephen F.
    2-2  Austin, Sam Houston, William B. Travis, James Fannin, and other
    2-3  notable Texians and the 1513 Waldseemuller map, which is widely
    2-4  regarded as the first map of the territory that would later be
    2-5  known as Texas; and
    2-6        WHEREAS, Many hardworking and dedicated individuals have
    2-7  contributed to the Texas Heritage Archives and Library's extensive
    2-8  collections;  B. B. Barr, the founder and chairman of the
    2-9  foundation, and John Rowe III, the president of Southwest
   2-10  Numismatics in Dallas, have spent decades assembling a Texana
   2-11  library and collecting old banknotes and maps; and
   2-12        WHEREAS, The Amon Carter estate contributed "The Texas
   2-13  Emigrant," a superb collection of documents dating from the early
   2-14  Empresarial Period through Reconstruction and consisting of 150
   2-15  original manuscripts, grants, surveys, and certificates; and
   2-16        WHEREAS, In March 1993, the Texas Bankers Association
   2-17  contributed to the museum its own fine collection of artifacts and
   2-18  archives chronicling the first 100 years of banking in Texas, as
   2-19  well as equipment and exhibit materials; and
   2-20        WHEREAS, Through their diligence, determination, and
   2-21  generosity, those who have helped to bring the Texas Heritage
   2-22  Archives and Library into being have preserved a lasting legacy
   2-23  that will be enjoyed by present and future generations of Texans
   2-24  for many years to come, and this exemplary achievement is truly
   2-25  deserving of special legislative recognition; now, therefore, be it
   2-26        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
   2-27  Legislature hereby commend the founders and supporters of the Texas
    3-1  Heritage Archives and Library and extend to them sincere best
    3-2  wishes for continued success in the future; and, be it further
    3-3        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
    3-4  prepared for the Texas Heritage Archives and Library as an
    3-5  expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.