This graphic is part of
The Medallion, September/October 2009 edition, available
here on the THC site.
My experience and my practice is to approve these markers, assuming they look real, even if the marker can't be found in the Atlas. These are the more recently placed markers. The most recent even say that they belong to the State of Texas.
Note that there are other kinds of markers that will be approved. The grey granite "gravestones" from 1936 may be valid if they say they're placed by the State of Texas (if they have an Atlas entry*). Same for the pink granite 1963-64 Civil War-related "gravestone" markers. Some of markers have been "adopted". These include the 1936 Texas Highway Department granite blocks, and other things. These will, at least in my practice, only be approved if there IS an entry in the Atlas clearly documenting them as an historical marker.
The Atlas also includes things OTHER than Markers, and those items do not belong in the Texas Historical Markers Category unless there's also an Historical Marker in the Atlas as well.
Other officers in the category are invited and requested to add to this discussion.
*Note that not all of these gravestones are in the Atlas. The Texas State Cemetery has LOTS of these that really are grave markers and are not in the Atlas.
These and other markers placed by the State of Texas but not listed in the Atlas are subject to Category Officer discretion (as are all submissions to the category).Also, please note that this may apply only to me and the markers that I will approve and not to any other officers in the group.