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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAC035_CITY_OF_BEAUMONT_CHARTERSDescriptive Sheet r, �I� 1 � n The City of Beaumont Charters AC -035 Inventory Available General Type: Records Physical Description: 9 folders inclusive Dates: 1919-1986 Donor: Unknown DESCRIPTION The city of Beaumont was first given a charter after being incorporated on December 16, 1838. However, there are no existing records of city government between August 1840 and October 1860. During the first half of the twentieth century, Beaumont revised its charter five times: 1905, 1909, 1919, 1935, and 1947. This collection contains copies of the 1919, 1935, 1939, and 1947 charters. The most important revisions occurred in 1919 and 1947. In 1912, the Home Rule Amendment to the constitution of Texas was adopted, permitting a city of 5000 people to acquire a new charter or amend an old one by means of a popular referendum. In 1919, Beaumont's first exercise in Home Rule resulted in no major changes to the city's charter and did not conjure up popular enthusiasm. The charter of 1919 was attacked by critics soon after its adoption and two decades of persistent efforts were made to amend it or replace it with an entirely new document. The 1947 Charter was approved on December 6, 1947. This charter was much shorter than the 1919 charter. It appeared to be an attempt to provide Beaumont with a simplified, efficient city government. One aspect of the 1947 Charter was to relinquish all control by the city over the Beaumont Independent School District. For further study of Beaumont's city charter please see A History of the Charters of Beaumont (Tex 352.008 Isa), Beaumont: A Chronicle of Promise (T976.4145 Lin), and The City of Beaumont Mayor and City Manager's Scrapbook Collection (AC -010). No restrictions apply.