In 1985, leaders from nonprofit preservation groups around the state of Texas met in Austin to discuss the vacuum created by the demise of the Texas Heritage Council, an arm of the Texas Historical Foundation, which had been the organizing force and voice for nonprofit preservation groups from 1977 to 1982. As a result, Preservation Texas, Inc. was incorporated in December 1985. The initial trustees of PT were Peter Brink, Galveston, Janet Francis, San Antonio, and James T. Bratton, Dallas.