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From: "Trevia W Beverly" <>
Subject: Re: [TX-BEXAR-CEM] Texas Historical Commission at the county level
Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2005 12:13:36 -0500
References: <071801c59974$292bf590$8c719b18@yourxu5v9frokn> <007101c599b8$70b576e0$6401a8c0@oemcomputer> <00cc01c599d3$1496bf20$8c719b18@yourxu5v9frokn>


In answer to Sarah's requests:

<< Hi Trevia, I think most people have the idea that those markers somehow
just appear. They don't realize that they are submitted by local
genealogical and historical organizations, or interested individuals like
me. Then they have to go to the County THC person for approval, who sends
them on to the State
Historical Commission. Would you mind expanding on your comment, and explain
to us the duties of
the local County Historical Commission? >>

Happy to, although the first thing to remember is that each county
commission has some leeway to act within their own requirements and rules.
You know how us Texans are <g> - we are pretty independent so I doubt that
all of our 254 counties operate exactly the same.
Those serving on county commission are appointed and serve without
remuneration. Individual members consists of those 'name only' who like to
be 'attached' and those who participate to some varying degree - more
for some than others.
Speaking only for Harris County, but probably the same for most. If an
individual or some type of organization wishes to apply for any Texas
Historical Marker (Historic Texas Cemetery, Subject Marker, RTHL, etc.) they
can 1) go to the Texas Historical Commission website at
http://www.thc.state.tx.us/ and find most of the information and appropriate
applications or 2) come to the Commission Chairman or the Secretary (Harris
County: Al Davis is chairman and I am secretary) and we will be glad to
provide information.
Actually it is most desirable to contact the local commission before
going too far. We can often save you a lot of time and will offer help
where needed, and take you through the various steps from applying to the
maker dedication.
The application is prepared with narrative, photos, etc. and comes to
the local county commission. In Harris County we have a "Marker Committee"
made up of three people. When the marker application arrives we send it to
our Committee. They in turn look over it, check facts, make suggestions -
all prior to the application coming before the county commission as a whole
to be voted upon. Once we have approved it on the local level, the Chairman
signs off on it and forwards to Austin.
In Austin, another committee takes a look at it, it is approved and the
appropriate county chairman and the applicant is notified of that. (** In
the case of the Historic Texas Cemetery designation, $25 must accompany the
application. If an interpretative plaque is desired then this is applied
for an paid for later.)
At this time (for subject marker, etc.) you will be asked to pay for the
marker before the historian writes up the interpretative plaque, but no
money goes with the application. When this is done, the text is sent to the
county chairman and the applicant so that it can be proofed. While the text
cannot be substantially change (in other words, the applicant does not get
to write it), corrections can be made and if something is really important
to change, the historian will consider it. The text is sent back ---- no
changes, it is then sent to the foundry. If changes need to be made, the
historian submits a rewritten text to the chairman and applicant.
The process takes time. The last count I heard was that THC receives
some 300 applications every year.
so it is vital that if you are seeking, for instance, a marker for a 100th
year anniversary of your church, or you want a marker for your next family
reunion, you should begin early ---- a year out is not too soon!
Once the marker is cast and ready for shipment, again the applicant
needs to confer with the local commission. In our case, we like to have a
dedication for every marker that goes up in Harris County. We can't and
don't enforce that but we'd like to see it done and have a part in it. The
ceremony can be as small or as large as you want it. We've had some really
great ones with color guards, bands, dignitaries, refreshments,etc.........
Prior to the marker dedication we provide mailing labels for all our
commission members to receive an invitation and I normally will suggest
other city and county officials who should also receive one (not that they
all come).

< It costs $25 or $35 to apply, and it isn't necessary to purchase a
marker, they are expensive. Can you get the original paperwork on the first
marker from your local commission? I did find out that if a marker is
stolen, you have to start all over. When I called the librarian in Austin,
she was very helpful. The forms themselves are somewhat intimidating to a
novice like me, but after I talked to her I felt better, made it thru, and
am now encouraging others to do the same.>>

The cost for the designation for Historic Texas Cemetery is $25. The seal
is extra, as is the interpretative plaque. Yes, you can obtain the marker
file - for a fee - if a subject marker has been done. Here in Harris County
we keep a file and it can be obtained from me (there is still a copying
cost).
I am positive that our librarian was helpful. However, we encourage
people to come to us rather than to Austin. Your county chairman and
secretary should be your first contact - for a number of reasons. One is
that you have no way of knowing if someone else has already contacted us and
has an application in the mail. Second, we can give the advice needed ...
and in fact, when an applicant does not feel capable of writing the required
narrative, I often do that or refer it to some other member with a
particular interest, or can suggest someone outside the commission to help.
In my case there is no charge for writing the application narrative.
But you should remember that Austin is short staffed with many other
duties. Go to your local county commission! That is what we are here for.
And many of us also serve on committees through the Austin office.
Regarding the forms for Historic Texas Cemetery, the application
requirements have changed a bit so take another look.
*** of course, the county commission comes in to play again. At least in
Harris County, we believe that if it is worth doing, we want to see
references, source citations, etc. There are county commissions that do not
require anything other than basic need. However, that does not mean you
cannot make your narrative more definitive.

For the Subject Marker, etc. there are different prices per size and if you
want a mounting post or not. While expensive for an individual to bear the
cost alone, remember that you can instigate the possibility but your church,
your family members, an organization, a 'passing of the hat,' etc. may bear
the cost. The fine art of PR may be needed here to get what you want, but
it can be done.

For any cemetery that already has the old Subject Marker, it would be nice
to have the Historic Texas Cemetery designation and the seal attached to a
gate or wall, or wherever it can be readily seen.

If you have a family cemetery that you would like to mark you may wish to
think about an alternative. Apply for the Subject Marker so that your family
is remembered with the pertinent facts, and then apply for the Historic
Texas Cemetery designation and obtain the seal. Your Subject Marker can go
inside the cemetery - giving you the best of two worlds.

Hope I covered it all --- If anyone has specific questions to ask, please
contact me. Perhaps off line is best so that others do not tire of the
subject.

Trevia Wooster Beverly



----- Original Message -----
From: "Sarah" <>
To: <>
Sent: Friday, August 05, 2005 10:33 AM
Subject: [TX-BEXAR-CEM] Texas Historical Commission at the county level


> >>I think perhaps some may get the idea that the Texas Historical
Commission
> >>is here to contact individuals/counties to encourage them to apply for
the
> >>Texas Historic Cemeteries designation ... or even insist that they do
so.
> >>This is not our function.<<Trevia Wooster Beverly; Houston. (Secretary,
> >>Harris County Historical Commission)
>
> Hi Trevia, I think most people have the idea that those markers somehow
just
> appear. They don't realize that they are submitted by local genealogical
and
> historical organizations, or interested individuals like me. Then they
have
> to go to the County THC person for approval, who sends them on to the
State
> Historical Commission.
>
> Would you mind expanding on your comment, and explain to us the duties of
> the local County Historical Commission?
> >>>Some have chosen to go back and apply for the new Historic Texas
Cemetery
> >>>designation; many have not. It is easy enough to do at this point but
> >>>there is time and cost
> involved ... and perhaps no one who was active in applying for the subject
> marker is still around or knows about the newer designation.<<<
>
> It costs $25 or $35 to apply, and it isn't necessary to purchase a marker,
> they are expensive. Can you get the original paperwork on the first
marker
> from your local commission? I did find out that if a marker is stolen,
you
> have to start all over. When I called the librarian in Austin, she was
> very helpful. The forms themselves are somewhat intimidating to a novice
> like me, but after I talked to her I felt better, made it thru, and am now
> encouraging others to do the same.
>
> I would encourage everyone to read thru that entire website. Most of us
are
> on the list probably to find our relatives buried in a Bexar County
> cemetery, but hopefully we can all see the bigger picture and start
> preserving our cemeteries for the future.
>
> Sarah on a soapbox
>
>
>
>
> ==== TX-BEXAR-CEM Mailing List ====
> We have few rules other than the list is for the discussion of Bexar Co.
Cemeteries and that I expect you to try and be respectful of one another.
>
> ==============================
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> areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months.
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>

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