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.