AUSTIN, Texas— Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D., was pleased to announce that the Texas General Land Office's (GLO) Archives and Records Division has completed a new digital index of the Sketch Files collection. This new digital index will provide better access to the most extensive record group in the GLO's vast map collection.
"As a proud ninth generation Texan, I am honored to be a steward of our state's rich history which has been preserved by the GLO since its founding in 1836 through the preservation of thousands of precious records, maps and documents," said Commissioner Buckingham. "The more than 8,000 unique documents that make up the sprawling Sketch Files collection offer unique perspectives on the surveying processes that continue to shape the Lone Star State. I thank our incredible staff in the Archives and Records Division for their unwavering dedication to bringing this vital collection into the 21st century, making it easily searchable for surveyors, researchers and Texas history enthusiasts."
Sketch File Index at the Texas General Land Office
The Sketch Files collection is an eclectic mix of items, including sketches, surveyor reports and statements, field notes, correspondence, court judgments, and other records relating to original surveys and boundaries. It includes 8,122 unique records dating from the 1830s to the present. It is also an active collection, which means surveyors continuously create and submit new material for the GLO Surveying Services Division to file within the collection.
This exhaustive effort took nearly three years to complete as Archives and Records staff worked tirelessly to modernize and digitize this massive collection while adding and updating metadata, such as alternate titles, contributors, and dates crucial to locating specific sketches.
Click the button below to download a free PDF of the GLO's digitized Sketch Files Collection Index:
Sketch Files Collection Digital Index
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Dr. Dawn Buckingham made history in 2022, winning a statewide election to become Texas' first female Land Commissioner. As Land Commissioner, Dr. Dawn Buckingham is committed to helping Texans after a disaster, supporting Texas energy, ensuring that every child in Texas receives a high-quality public education, serving Texas Veterans, and securing the border to keep our communities safe.