Affairs of the Association

Dear Texas History Lover,

In May of 2015, the Texas State Historical Association made the move from the University of North Texas in Denton back to the place of its founding at the University of Texas at Austin. We are fortunate as an organization to have been hosted by two prestigious Texas universities in our 120 years. The hospitality and nurturing TSHA has received from both these institutions have greatly contributed to the Association’s success over the years.

The relocation of existing staff occurred over a period of months, yet the transition to our new home will continue through the ensuing months. Because some of our existing staff was unable to make the move, we have been hiring and training new staff members. Although this process has been challenging, we are confident that the Association will be stronger in the near future. Unfortunately, additional but necessary expenses were incurred, and the act of moving is one that disrupts workflow for a lengthy period of time. With the ebb and flow of staff during this time, institutional knowledge has been lost, but the new staff is working diligently to get up to speed as quickly as possible. The new staff members are also working to become comfortable and efficient in their roles at TSHA.

This massive transition has generated many financial expenditures. Such expenditures did not appear in previous audits. This is due to the arduous relocation process and the many challenges with which it is associated. One example, you will see, is the reality of substantial costs associated with moving several families across the state. Another example is the cost associated with the purchase of new computers and office furniture.

Along with the cost of the move, our existing financial challenges continue. Thus, your membership and support have never been more vital. Your membership dues, purchases from shopTSHA.com, and gracious donations allow us to continue providing our publications, programs, and resources that celebrate the unique history of Texas. We are known for our award winning publications and resources like the Southwestern Historical Quarterly, the Texas Almanac, and the Handbook of Texas Online. Our educational programs, such as Texas History Day, impact more than 70,000 student annually. Another resource is TeachingTexas.org, which provides teachers with more than 500 lesson plans, 2,000 primary and secondary sources, and 200 books to meet their Texas history needs in the classroom. To maintain these exemplary publications and programs, as well as explore new opportunities, we continually rely on your support and generosity.

Given that the transition back to Austin is nearly over and our new staff continues to gain experience in their assignments, I can say that the changes made were for the good of the Association. I firmly believe that we are positioned to experience unparalleled successes in the years to come. The cost of the move has been great and will continue to affect our financials and processes in the near future. TSHA has experienced many challenges over the past year, but will continue to expand and grow as time goes on. Your passion for and continued involvement in Texas history is greatly appreciated.

With Texas pride,

Brian A. Bolinger
Chief Executive Officer

TEXAS STATE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Years ended August 31, 2015 and 2014 with Report of Independent Auditors

TEXAS STATE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION

STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

	August 31,
	2015	2014
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 216,978	$ 33,237
Investments	196,521	739,129
Trade receivables	58,181	72,376
Grants receivable, net	390,185	1,570,185
Pledges receivable, net	86,176	182,076
Inventory	109,081	105,695
Prepaid expenses and other assets	9,609	11,930
Fixed assets, net of accumulated depreciation of $25,849 and $26,523, respectively	93,835	1,793
Endowment investments	3,559,377	2,609,109
Total assets	$ 4,719,943	$ 5,325,530

Liabilities and Net Assets

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$ 632,299	$ 90,476
Line of credit	350,000	350,000
Total liabilities	982,299	440,476

Net assets (deficiency):
Unrestricted	(1,052,245)	(367,269)
Temporarily...