Gov. Perry Appoints de la Teja as Texas State Historian

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry appointed Jesús F. de la Teja of Austin as Texas State Historian, pursuant to Senate Bill 1787 of the 79th Legislature. He retains this designation for two years from the date of the ceremony.

De la Teja is a professor and chair of the Department of History at Texas State University-San Marcos. He previously served as director of archives and records at the Texas General Land Office and he assisted novelist James A. Michener with research. He authored a catalog of books, journal and reference articles, reviews and scripts. De la Teja is a member of the East Texas History Association, the Western History Association, and the Texas Institute of Letters. He also serves as president of the Texas State History Association.

De la Teja received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Seton Hall University and a doctoral degree in history from the University of Texas at Austin.