Capitol Collection

African-American Politicians from 19th Century, composite, 2013.
Capitol Historical Artifact Collection, State Preservation Board

After emancipation following the Civil War until 1900, 52 African Americans served as delegates to Constitutional Conventions or as legislators. This composite of these trailblazing African-Americans hangs in the South Foyer. The Honorable Paul B. Ragsdale commissioned the original composite in the early 1970s. Many contributors provided new information for the 1997 Capitol exhibit, "Forever Free: Nineteenth Century African-American Legislators and Constitutional Convention Delegates of Texas," which lead to a second composite. The current composite includes a photograph of J.J. Hamilton provided by Wallace Lumpkin in 2013. If you locate an image of any of the seventeen individuals without a photograph, please contact us.

Texas State Senate Composite, 15th Legislative Session, 1876.
Capitol Historical Artifact Collection, State Preservation Board

Legislative composites featured individual images of Senators who served in each legislature. This composite from 1876 is the oldest composite featuring the Senate by itself. It currently hangs in Senate Sergeant of Arms Office, just outside the Senate Chamber.

Texas House of Representatives, 15th Legislative Session, 1876.
Capitol Historical Artifact Collection, State Preservation Board

Legislative composites featured individual images of Hose of Representative members who served in each legislature. This composite from 1876 is the oldest composite featuring the House by itself. It currently hangs in the west wing of the Ground Floor.