Municipal Archives

Dallas City Charter, 1871-Current

​Collection 1991-074

​Overview

​Repository
​Office of the City Secretary
Dallas Municipal Archives
1500 Marilla Street, 5D South
Dallas, Texas 75201
Creator City Manager's Office
Title Dallas City Charter
Dates 1871-Current
Quantity 5.42 linear ft. (14 boxes)
Abstract City charters
Identification 1991-074
​Language Records are in English


Scope and Content

Collection contains original copies of the various charters from 1871 to 1907 and amendments through 1993.  As changes continue to be made, amendments and or new charters will be added to the collection.  Dallas received its first charter on February 2, 1856, as the Town of Dallas.  The charter for the City of Dallas was granted on April 20, 1872.

A charter, granted by the State Legislature, is the written document that creates and defines the powers of a city.  Included in the charter are the composition of the City Council, election procedures, and the establishment of various departments​ and other functions of government.

In Texas, as governmental needs vary, a charter can be amended through popular election and State Legislature approval every two years.  The various charters and amendments in this collection, between 1871 and 1993, reflect the growth and changes of Dallas as a governmental body.

Charter Changes

To see both proposed and actual changes to the City Charter from 1968 to the current charter, click here. 

The changes of 1968 added so much new content that using the current Charter to straightforwardly track changes before 1968 is difficult; the chapter and section numbers are significantly different.

Organization

The collection is organized chronologically.

Access

The fragile nature of the materials means that photocopies cannot be made from these documents.

Access to these materials is subject to the use of archive materials policies of the Office of the City Secretary.  For more information concerning these policies, contact the Archives for an appointment.

Citation

Dallas City Charter, 1871-Current (Box <#>, Folder <#>), Dallas Municipal Archives

Related Materials

1991-016 Dallas City Code, 1911-Current

Index Terms

Dallas -- Texas -- History
Dallas (Tex.) Charter, city of Dallas, Texas
Municipal government -- Texas -- Dallas

Container List

Box Folder Title, Date
1  Bound Volume Charter Ordinance and Record 1871-72
2
 1 An Act to Incorporate the City of Dallas, April 20, 1871, Certified copy/Secretary of State, May 9, 1871

 2 An Act to Incorporate the City of Dallas, signed and sealed by Texas Secretary of State, June 1, 1871

 3 Amendment to an Act to Incorporate the City of Dallas, April 20, 1871, March 8, 1873

 4 Dallas Charter and Code of Ordinances, c. 1871

 5 Special Laws of State of Texas 1876 ‑ includes an act to incorporate the City of Dallas and to grant a new charter, August 9, 1876

 6
 Charter 1​​876

 7 Charter and Ordinances, City Attorney's copy, April 1881.  Covers only, no text, charter notations on the cover

 8 Dallas City Charter and Ordinances, 1884

 9 Charter and Ordinances, 1884

 10 Charter of the City of Dallas, Granted by Act of the Legislature of the State of Texas, Approved March 13, 1889

 11 Charter of the City of Dallas 1889 with Amendments 1891 and 1893, partial copy; very fragile.
3
 1 Part of Charter of 1889, Amended 1891 and 1893

 2 Partial pages of 1896

 3 Photocopy 1897 Special Laws of Texas, pages 15-51 New Charter City of Dallas

 4 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1897, fragile

 5 Charter of the City of Dallas, Approved May 9, 1899.  Took effect August 26, 1899

 6 Charter of the City of Dallas, Approved May 9, 1899.  Took effect August 26, 1899

 7 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1899, fragile

 8 Charter of 1899.  Partial copy.
​
​9
​Charter of 1899.  Partial copy. 
4 1 Charter 1899 ‑ Partial copy, heavily damaged

 2 Charter of 1899 ‑ Title page only

 3 Loose pages

 4 Revised Charter of the City of Dallas 1899 with all amendments down and including the year 1905

 5 Revised Charter of the City of Dallas 1899 with all amendments down and including the year 1905

 6 Revised Charter of the City of Dallas 1899 with all amendments down and including the year 1905

 7 Revised Charter of the City of Dallas 1899 with all amendments down and including the year 1905

 8 Revised Charter of the City of Dallas 1899 with all amendments down and including the year 1905

 9 Revised Charter of the City of Dallas 1899 with all amendments down and including the year 1905

 10 Charter of 1907, Bound with Introductory Act of the Legislature ‑ Corporation Bill

 11 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907,  Fragile.

 12 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907

 13 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907,  including amendments of 1909, 1911, 1916, 1919, 1921, and 1923, 1923.  Fragile bound volume.
​
​14
​Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907.  Fragile condition.
5 1 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909

 2 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909

 3 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909

 4 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909

 5 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909

 6 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911 and 1914

 7 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911 and 1914

 8 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911 and 1914

 9 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911 and 1914

 10 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911 and 1914

 11 Printed Proposed Charter Amendments to be voted on December 15, 1927

 12 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911, 1916, 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, and 1930, printed 1931

 13 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911, 1916, 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, and 1930, printed 1931

 14 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911, 1916, 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, and 1930, printed 1931.
6 1 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911, 1916, 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, and 1930, printed 1931

 2 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911, 1916, 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, and 1930, printed 1931, with amendments through 1949 stapled in the back

 3 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911, 1916, 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, and 1930, printed 1931

 4 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911, 1916, 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, and 1930, printed 1931

 5 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911, 1916, 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, and 1930, printed 1931

 6 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911, 1916, 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, 1930, 1945, 1947, 1949 and 1952

 7 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911, 1916, 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, 1930, 1945, 1947, 1949, and 1952

 8 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911, 1916, 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, 1930, 1945, 1947, 1949, and 1952

 9 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911, 1916, 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, 1930, 1945, 1947, 1949, and 1952

 10 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911, 1916, 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, 1930, 1945, 1947, 1949, and 1952

 11 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911, 1916, 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, 1930, 1945, 1947, 1949, and 1952

 12 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911, 1916, 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, 1930, 1945, 1947, 1949, and 1952

 13 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911, 1916, 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, 1930, 1945, 1947, 1949, and 1952, with pasted changes on various pages, date of changes unknown.
7 1 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911, 1916, 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, 1930, 1945, 1947, 1949, and 1952

 2 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911, 1916, 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, 1930, 1945, 1947, 1949, and 1952

 3 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911, 1916, 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, 1930, 1945, 1947, 1949, and 1952

 4 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911, 1916, 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, 1930, 1945, 1947, 1949, and 1952

 5 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911, 1916, 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, 1930, 1945, 1947, 1949, and 1952

 6 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911, 1916, 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, 1930, 1945, 1947, 1949, and 1952

 7 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 including amendments of 1909, 1911, 1916, 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, 1930, 1945, 1947, 1949, and 1952

 8 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 as Amended in 1968

 9 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 as Amended in 1968

 10 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 as Amended in 1968

 11 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 as Amended in 1968

 12 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 as Amended in 1968

 13 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 as Amended in 1968
8
 1 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 as Amended in 1968

 2 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 as Amended in 1968

 3 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 as Amended in 1968

 4 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 as Amended in 1968

 5 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 as Amended in 1968

 6 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 as Amended in 1968

 7 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 as Amended in 1968

 8 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 as Amended in 1968.
9 1 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 as Amended in 1968

 2 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 as Amended in 1968

 3 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 as Amended in 1968

 4 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 as Amended in 1973 with 1976 supplements

 5 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 as Amended in 1973 with 1976 supplements

 6 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 as Amended in 1973 with 1976 supplements

 7 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 as Amended in 1973 with 1976 supplements and 1981 amendments

 8 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 as Amended in 1973 with 1976 supplements and 1981 amendments

 9 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907 as Amended in 1973 with 1976 supplements and 1981 amendments.
10 1 Charter supplement, Files 85-3688 and 89-2643.
​
2
Charter supplement #1 1985, effective 4/11/1983

 3 Charter supplement 1, 9/1991
​
​4
​Charter supplement 2, 9/1991
​
5
​Charter supplement #1 1, 1993
​
​6
​Charter supplement #1 2, 1993
​​
​7
​Charter supplement, 2001
​
​8
​Charter supplement, 4/2006​
11 1 Charter Guidelines - State of Texas

 2 State Law on Annexations, 1875

 3 Amendments, 1882

 4 Amendments, 1882

 5 Amendments ‑ H. B. #628 ‑ Act to Amend the Charter of the City of Dallas, 1905

 6 Amendments, 1914

 7 Amendments to the City Charter, approved, April 4, 1916, certified copy by the Secretary of State,  4/26/1916

 8 Amendment to the Charter Approved/Election April 2, 1918, certified copy by the Secretary of State, 5/18/1919

 9 Amendment to the Charter Approved/Election April 1, 1919, certified copy by the Secretary of State, 5/26/1919

 10 Amendments ‑ Pamphlet guides, 1920s

 11 Amendments to Charter ‑ Approved/Election April 5, 1921, certified by Secretary of State, 4/23/1921

 12 Amendments to Charter ‑ Approved/Election April 3, 1923, certified by Secretary of State, 4/13/1923

 13 Amendments, 1928

 14 Amendments to the Charter ‑ Approved/Election October 10, 1930, certified by Secretary of State, 11/25/1930

 15 Amendments, 1930

 16 Amendments - ​newspaper articles, 1930

 17 Amendments, 4/3/1945

 18 Amendments, 1/29/1952

 19 Miscellaneous Sheets-Amendments
12  Amendments Bound Volume Dallas City Charter Amendments. Volume 1, 1914‑1928
Amendments Bound Volume Dallas City Charter Amendments. Volume 2, 1930-1965
13 Amendments Bound Volume Dallas City Charter Amendments. Volume 3, 1968-1989​
Amendments Bound Volume Dallas City Charter Amendments. Volume 4, 1993 forward
14
Bound volumes
1907 Charter
Proposed Charter Amendments for election, 12/15/1927
1907 Charter including amendments from 1909, 1911, 1916, 1921, 1923, 1927, and 1930
​​1907 Charter including amendments from 1909, 1911, 1916, 1921, 1923, 1927, 1930, 1945, 1947, 1949, and 1952​
1907 Charter including ​amendments from 1945, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1956, 1965, and 1968
​Charter supplement #1 1976
Charter supplement #2 1981