State Bar of Texas Archives Department

The Archives Department of the State Bar of Texas serves as the official repository for the permanently valuable records of the State Bar of Texas (1939 – present), as well as the Texas Bar Association (1882 – 1939) and donated legal history materials.

Archives are places where people can go to get information about the history of a person, community, or organization from unique primary sources. Primary sources are the artifacts, records, photographs, or recordings created to document activities and events as they happen. These records are the most accurate source of information for historical study. People turn to our archives to find primary source information about the routine business of the State Bar and the history of the legal profession in Texas.

The Archives Department also serves as the Governor Bill and Vara Daniel Center for Legal History.

Our holdings include the records of:

• The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors
• The Texas Bar Journal and its morgue files
• Committees and Sections of the Bar, including their newsletters and journals
• Departments and Programs
• Texas Bar Foundation
• TexasBarCLE and its predecessor, the Professional Development Program
• Texas Bar Books
• Texas Bar Historical Foundation

We are open to the public, Monday through Friday. We are closed for all official State of Texas holidays. Please call ahead to confirm staff availability and to make an appointment. Appointments are not necessary, but will allow Archivists to prepare materials before your arrival and reserve any needed resources. Patrons will be furnished with a copy of additional research policies upon arrival.  

Our Archives Department also conducts educational tours of the Texas Supreme Court and the Texas Law Center. These tours are by appointment only, and can be scheduled together. Each tour is approximately 30 minutes.

Read about the work of the Archives Department (March 2012, Texas Bar Journal)

Contact Us

For more information about the history of the State Bar of Texas, or to initiate a research request, please contact us. We also welcome inquiries to plan archival donations.

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