Summary
Classifications and reappraisments for school, university and asylums lands were undertaken to determine the value of the lands for sale or lease. Lands were classified and valued based on their natural attributes: agricultural, grazing, timbered, and mineral. Agricultural and grazing lands were further subdivided into watered or dry.
The School Land Classification and Reappraisment Records consist of 202 bound volumes and one unbound volume housed in 3 oversized boxes. The Records document work done by different GLO groups at different times from the end of the 19th century through the 1960s.
Biographical Note
The School Land Classification and Reappraisment Records consist of 202 bound volumes and one unbound volume housed in 3 oversized boxes. The Records document work done by different GLO groups at different times from the end of the 19th century through the 1960s.
School land classifications for the entire state were undertaken beginning in 1883 with the passage of an Act providing for the classification, sale and lease of school and asylum lands (Acts 1883, 18th R.S.,ch. 88, General Laws of Texas).
Prior to the Act of 1883, appraisal was done by the county surveyor and valuation could be changed by the county commissioners (Acts 1879, 16th 1st C.S.,ch. 28, General Laws of Texas).
Agents appointed by the Land Commissioner classified the Public School, University and Asylum Lands by their natural attributes by which the General Land Office could then determine the value of the land for sale or lease. Lands were classified as agricultural, grazing, timbered, and mineral. Agricultural and grazing lands were further subdivided into watered or dry.
Other legislation followed throughout the years directing the GLO to re-classify and reappraise the remaining unsold school and asylum lands.
Acts 1887, 20th R.S., p.83,ch. 99, General Laws of Texas Revision of the Act of 1883.
Acts 1895, 24th R.S., p.63,ch. 47, General Laws of Texas
Revision of the 1887 Act lowering the price and interest rate of all school lands.
Acts 1897, 25th R.S., p.184,ch. 129, General Laws of Texas
Revision of the Civil Statues related to classifications.
Acts 1899, 26th R.S., p.173,ch. 104, General Laws of Texas
"Providing for the recovery for the depredation upon timber and for the use or occupancy without lawful authority, and to prevent the free use and unlawful enclosure of any of the public lands owned or held in trust by the State."
Acts 1900, 26th 1st C.S.,ch. 11, General Laws of Texas
Reclassification of certain lands to school lands generating income for the Permanent School Fund.
Acts 1901, 27th R.S.,ch. 88, General Laws of Texas
Amending section 6 of the 1900 Act.
Acts 1901, 27th R.S.,ch. 125, General Laws of Texas
Revision of 1895 Act increasing the amount an individual could purchase from 1 to 4 sections, requiring 1/40th down payment and cutting the interest rate to 3 percent per annum. Sales made first come, first served. Repealed in 1905.
Acts 1905, 29th R.S.,ch. 103, General Laws of Texas
"Provide for the sale and lease of the public free school and asylum lands, and to charge certain fees incident thereto." Increased the amount an individual could purchase from 4 to 8 sections, increased the interest rate to 5 percent per annum. Sales made to highest bidder.
Acts 1907, 30th 1st C.S.,ch. 20, General Laws of Texas
Amendment to Sec. 5 & 6 of the Act of 1905 changing the amount of land an individual could purchase in select West Texas counties.
Acts 1913, 33rd R.S.,ch. 160, General Laws of Texas
"Provides that owners of public school lands which have been forfeited for non-payment of interest may
re-purchase." The Act also created a Board of Appraisers.
Acts 1915, 34th R.S.,ch. 150, General Laws of Texas Relating to sale of school lands in 15 select West Texas Counties.
Acts 1919, 36th R.S.,ch. 163, General Laws of Texas Revising the Civil Statutes of 1911 and directing the GLO to revalue and reclassify the unsold lands included in this Act.
Acts 1925, 39th R.S.,ch. 94, General Laws of Texas Revaluation Act of 1925.
Acts 1926, 39th 1st C.S.,ch. 25, General Laws of Texas As amended in 1926.
Acts 1937, 45th R.S.,ch. 332, General Laws of Texas Revaluation Act of 1937.
Scope and Content
Prior to the Act of 1883, appraisal was done by the county surveyor and valuation could be changed by the county commissioners (Acts 1879, 16th 1st C.S.,ch. 28, General Laws of Texas).
Agents appointed by the Land Commissioner classified the Public School, University and Asylum Lands by their natural attributes by which the General Land Office could then determine the value of the land for sale or lease. Lands were classified as agricultural, grazing, timbered, and mineral. Agricultural and grazing lands were further subdivided into watered or dry.
Other legislation followed throughout the years directing the GLO to re-classify and reappraise the remaining unsold school and asylum lands.
Acts 1887, 20th R.S., p.83,ch. 99, General Laws of Texas Revision of the Act of 1883.
Acts 1895, 24th R.S., p.63,ch. 47, General Laws of Texas
Revision of the 1887 Act lowering the price and interest rate of all school lands.
Acts 1897, 25th R.S., p.184,ch. 129, General Laws of Texas
Revision of the Civil Statues related to classifications.
Acts 1899, 26th R.S., p.173,ch. 104, General Laws of Texas
"Providing for the recovery for the depredation upon timber and for the use or occupancy without lawful authority, and to prevent the free use and unlawful enclosure of any of the public lands owned or held in trust by the State."
Acts 1900, 26th 1st C.S.,ch. 11, General Laws of Texas
Reclassification of certain lands to school lands generating income for the Permanent School Fund.
Acts 1901, 27th R.S.,ch. 88, General Laws of Texas
Amending section 6 of the 1900 Act.
Acts 1901, 27th R.S.,ch. 125, General Laws of Texas
Revision of 1895 Act increasing the amount an individual could purchase from 1 to 4 sections, requiring 1/40th down payment and cutting the interest rate to 3 percent per annum. Sales made first come, first served. Repealed in 1905.
Acts 1905, 29th R.S.,ch. 103, General Laws of Texas
"Provide for the sale and lease of the public free school and asylum lands, and to charge certain fees incident thereto." Increased the amount an individual could purchase from 4 to 8 sections, increased the interest rate to 5 percent per annum. Sales made to highest bidder.
Acts 1907, 30th 1st C.S.,ch. 20, General Laws of Texas
Amendment to Sec. 5 & 6 of the Act of 1905 changing the amount of land an individual could purchase in select West Texas counties.
Acts 1913, 33rd R.S.,ch. 160, General Laws of Texas
"Provides that owners of public school lands which have been forfeited for non-payment of interest may
re-purchase." The Act also created a Board of Appraisers.
Acts 1915, 34th R.S.,ch. 150, General Laws of Texas Relating to sale of school lands in 15 select West Texas Counties.
Acts 1919, 36th R.S.,ch. 163, General Laws of Texas Revising the Civil Statutes of 1911 and directing the GLO to revalue and reclassify the unsold lands included in this Act.
Acts 1925, 39th R.S.,ch. 94, General Laws of Texas Revaluation Act of 1925.
Acts 1926, 39th 1st C.S.,ch. 25, General Laws of Texas As amended in 1926.
Acts 1937, 45th R.S.,ch. 332, General Laws of Texas Revaluation Act of 1937.
The School Land Classification and Reappraisment Records consist of 202 bound volumes and one unbound volume housed in 3 oversized boxes. The Records document work done by different GLO groups at different times from the end of the 19th century through the 1960s.
The ledgers record section and block; part of section; certificate number, original grantee; watered or dry; agriculture, grazing, timbered or mineral; price per acre; remarks; and in some cases, the file number.
The handwritten ledgers were bound in the 2000s often with inaccurate and misleading spine labels. It is incumbent upon the researcher to know which Act the desired volume falls under in addition to its volume label.
The 55 handwritten classification ledgers created by the Act of 1887 classify public free school, asylum and university lands. It appears that there was more than one agent working a county as some information is duplicated in separate volumes covering the same counties. In addition to classifications, forfeitures are noted either along with the classification or in a separate section within a county.
The 6 Agent Reports of the 1899 Act contain the same information as the other classification ledgers and also include correspondence between lease holder and the GLO.
There are two sets of classification ledgers that were transcribed from the handwritten ledgers. There are 2 copies of a 3-volume set that transcribes the original 1887 classifications into single typed lines leaving out any remarks or notes from the original.
There are 2 copies of a later 10-volume set that captures classifications done through the 1960s. In addition to the 2 copies, there is a third copy of Books 1 & 2 of the 10-volume set.
Date
The ledgers record section and block; part of section; certificate number, original grantee; watered or dry; agriculture, grazing, timbered or mineral; price per acre; remarks; and in some cases, the file number.
The handwritten ledgers were bound in the 2000s often with inaccurate and misleading spine labels. It is incumbent upon the researcher to know which Act the desired volume falls under in addition to its volume label.
The 55 handwritten classification ledgers created by the Act of 1887 classify public free school, asylum and university lands. It appears that there was more than one agent working a county as some information is duplicated in separate volumes covering the same counties. In addition to classifications, forfeitures are noted either along with the classification or in a separate section within a county.
The 6 Agent Reports of the 1899 Act contain the same information as the other classification ledgers and also include correspondence between lease holder and the GLO.
There are two sets of classification ledgers that were transcribed from the handwritten ledgers. There are 2 copies of a 3-volume set that transcribes the original 1887 classifications into single typed lines leaving out any remarks or notes from the original.
There are 2 copies of a later 10-volume set that captures classifications done through the 1960s. In addition to the 2 copies, there is a third copy of Books 1 & 2 of the 10-volume set.
1880-1960s
Extent
177.00 Linear feet (202 bound volumes, 7 oversized boxes)
Language
English
Arrangement
Individual volumes are arranged alphabetically by county. Then by block in no particular order, then by section sequentially.
Groups of volumes are arranged by the most recent Act by the Texas Legislature governing the sale and lease of school lands.
Preferred Citation
Groups of volumes are arranged by the most recent Act by the Texas Legislature governing the sale and lease of school lands.
School Land Classification and Reappraisment Records (LGR.SCH). Archives and Records Program, Texas General Land Office, Austin.
Access Restrictions
Unrestricted access.
Use Restrictions
Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted and may be freely used in any way. State records also include materials received by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains with the creator. The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).
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