The purpose of the award is to promote suitable preservation of relics, appropriate dissemination of data, and research into our Texas heritage, with particular attention to the Spanish Colonial period. Material may be submitted concerning the influence on Texas culture of our Spanish Colonial heritage in laws, customs, language, religion, architecture, art, and other related fields. A total of $2,000 is available annually for winning participants in the competition, with a minimum first place prize of $1,200 for the best published book. At its discretion, the SRT may award a second place book prize. Research writings have proved in the past to be the most successful type of entry.