Online Photo Collections

The Austin History Center has partnered with the University of North Texas' Portal to Texas History and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to bring selections from some of our most interesting photo collections online. Browse all of our images available on the Portal or use the links below to browse specific collections. A selection of photographs from our collections is also available on our Austin History Center Digital Collections site. Other online collections with digitized text-based materials are described on our Online Collections page.

General Collection Photographs (Austin Files)

The General Collection Photographs (also called the Austin Files) consist of files organized by subject, biography, and street address ranging from the beginnings of the city to the present day. The photographs come from local citizens, city departments or other organizations. The subject files cover a wide range of topics. Only a small portion of these photographs (about 650) have been digitized. Image: [Anderson High School Students], PICA 20859

Bergstrom-Austin Community Council Records Photographs

This collection contains photographs documenting over five decades of history of Bergstrom Air Force Base, originally known as Del Valle Air Base, from the 1940s until 1993. The photographs depict base buildings, personnel, aircraft, and events including drills, ceremonies, and festivals. More than 250 photographs from the collection are available online. Image: [Aircrew Class 69-10B], 1968, AR.2000.024(121)

Chalberg Collection of Prints and Negatives

The bulk of the Chalberg Collection images cover Austin from 1900 to 1941, although some images of 19th century Austin are included. The collection comes from the Ellison Photo Company. More than 250 images are viewable online. Image: Congress Ave. & Sixth Street, C02001

Dewey Mears Photograph Archive

Dewey Mears was a leading architectural photographer in Central Texas in the mid-20th century. More than hundreds of photographs are being digitized. Image: [Roessner Residence Interior], DM-53-C17562B

Frank Caldwell Collection

Frank Caldwell’s collection contains photographs documenting Texas towns, events, and people from the 1880s through the 1930s. More than 250 photographs are available online. Image: [Boy Dressed as a Cowboy], AR.X.016(D116)

Hubert Jones Glass Plate Collection

This collection contains 466 glass plate negatives documenting late 19th-century Austin life. Image: [Unidentified Family], J025

Jacob Bickler Family Papers

The Bickler Family Papers document Central Texas life from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Image: [Bickler Family], AR.Y.005(2046)

Neal Douglass Photograph Archive

The Neal Douglass Photograph Archive consists of more than 50,000 photographic negatives. Nearly 4,000 images are viewable online. Image: Cowboy Rope Trick, ND-nd-A001-06

Travis County Negro Extension Service Photograph Collection

This collection documents agricultural and community programs serving African-American residents during segregation. More than 250 photographs are available online. Image: [Children and Award-Winning Cow], AR.2000.025(053)

Austin History Center channel on HistoryPin

The AHC has a channel on HistoryPin which allows photographs to be geolocated on a map and searched by timeframe. Over 100 photographs are viewable.