History of University Lands & The PUF Lands
The PUF Lands have a rich history dating back to the early days of the Republic of Texas, when President Mirabeau B. Lamar, the "Father of Texas Education," called upon Congress to take action.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1838 | President Mirabeau B. Lamar addressed the Third Congress of the Republic of Texas, urging the Congress to establish the foundation of a vast system of education |
| 1839 | The Republic of Texas Congress set aside fifty leagues (220,000 acres) of land for the establishment and endowment of a university (Grant #1) |
| 1876 | The State of Texas Constitution Congress called for the creation of the University of Texas and appropriated 1 million acres of land for the establishment of a Permanent University Fund (Grant #2) |
| 1883 | An additional 1 million acres were added to the PUF Lands (Grant #3) |
| 1923 | Oil was discovered from the first completed well, Santa Rita No. 1, in Reagan County |
| 1929 | The Board for Lease of University Lands was created by the Texas Legislature, transferring oil and gas management authority to the Board from the Texas General Land Office |
| 1949 | The management authority for all minerals other than oil and gas was transferred from the Texas General Land Office to the University of Texas System Board of Regents |
