The Austin History Center's Photograph Collection contains over a million images ranging in date from the mid-19th century to the present. These images illustrate the changes in the people, events, and natural and built environment that Austin has seen through the years. 

How to Find and Use

Find and view items in person, or use the links above to view some photos online. Use Photography Resources Guide to browse what is available. Many photos are available in the vertical files. The Austin American-Statesman Photo Morgue contains images from the long running daily newspaper.

Online Photographs

The Austin History Center's extensive photographic holdings are divided among many collections. The majority are only viewable in person, but some are available online. This is a selection of photographs that are available online.

• Aerial Photographs - available using the City of Austin's Property Profile site going back to 1940. Search by address.
  • Some historic aerial photos are available for download from the City of Austin. Assistance may be needed to navigate the photos.
  • See an inventory PDF for detailed information. Please note that the Inventory is in draft form and contains internal links that are only accessible to AHC staff.
• Bergstrom-Austin Community Council Records Photographs - 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.
  • Photographs depict base buildings, personnel, aircraft, and events including drills, ceremonies, and festivals.
  • More than 250 photographs from the collection are available online.
• Chalberg Collection of Prints and Negatives - covers Austin from 1900 to 1941. Some images of 19th century Austin are included. The collection comes from the Ellison Photo Company.
  • More than 250 images are viewable online.
• Dewey Mears Photograph Archive - Dewey Mears was a leading architectural photographer in Central Texas in the mid-20th century.
  • More than one thousand photographs have been digitized.
• Frank Caldwell Collection - contains photographs documenting Texas towns, events, and people from the 1880s through the 1930s.
  • More than 250 photographs are available online.
• Hubert Jones Glass Plate Collection - contains 466 glass plate negatives documenting late 19th-century Austin life.
• Neal Douglass Photograph Archive - consists of more than 50,000 photographic negatives.
  • Nearly 4,000 images are viewable online.
• Travis County Negro Extension Service Photograph Collection - documents agricultural and community programs serving African-American residents during segregation.
  • More than 250 photographs are available online.

See also