Official Handbook, Art Department, State Fair of Texas, 1912

This collection contains the catalogues or handbooks of the art exhibition installed by the Art Department of the State Fair of Texas for 1905-1934. From 1909-1934 the Art Department exhibitions were held in the Textile and Fine Arts Building, displacing the Dallas Art Association permanent collection and exhibitions. In 1936, with the construction of the new Dallas Museum of Fine Arts in Fair Park, the museum took over installing a special art exhibition during the State Fair. The collection comprises a complete set of Art Department catalogues from 1905-1934. There was no State Fair was held in 1918 (WWI) or 1935 (Centennial preparations).

Prior to 1905, the public fair in Fair Park was organized by the Dallas State Fair & Exposition (1886) and then the Texas State Fair & Dallas Exposition (1887). It is unknown if either organizer included and art exhibition as part of their fairs (1886-1903). [https://bigtex.com/about/history/]