Archival Collections
The El Paso County Historical Society preserves and makes available a wide range of materials chronicling the El Paso Region’s history and culture. We aim to collect and preserve; provide access and interpretation; and engage in education and outreach. Over 20,000 pictures have been digitally archived at the El Paso County Historical Society. They range from the 1880s to current times. They are arranged by subject matter including the city, buildings, businesses, people, churches, time periods, street scenes, the Mexican revolution, various wars, slides, and others. We also have the Risinger Photo Studio Collection. Other photo collections Include some family collections of the Ponce, Burges, Perrenot, Shield, Wensley, Love,Usiner, Servin, Anderson, and Ashley's families.
Our archives contain thousands of documents including Chamber of Commerce reports, government reports, private reports, bank publicity, notifications, sheet music, letters, and small publications. Some of the oldest documents include a Spanish survey of the Land and Water Rights of the City of Concepcion, Chihuahua dated 1639; and legal documents signed by members of the Franklin Coons Family, one of the early El Paso settlers. These documents include legal papers that are dated 1826. We are honored to have the William Deane Hawkins Collection including his Congressional Medal of Honor. Some of our other collections include the Pioneer Association, Sun City Promenades Square Dance Club, Lower Vally Woman's Collection, Paul O. Lance, Burges-Perrenot Family, White-Rickard Family, Hague Family, Anita Blair, Elizabeth Hooks Kelly, Taft-Diaz Meeting, Mary R. Haynes, Felix Martinez, Frances Segulia, Elias Bonillas, James Waddell, the Chamzial Settlement, Harry Mitchell, Helen Shea Keleher, Larry Francis Collections and the El Paso Ministerial Alliance Records. We also have business records for Neff-Stiles, Albert Mathias, Upstairs Theatre, El Paso Brick Company, and Kelly and Pollard Pharmacy. Maps in our collection range from the beginning of El Paso in 1859 to approximately the 1980s and cover the city, neighborhoods, and southern New Mexico.
The Society has various publications including over 500 annuals, representing most of El Paso’s schools, and city directories dating backing to 1886 to 2011 available to researchers. We also have past issues of the Password (1956-Present), New Mexico Historical Review/The Journal of Arizona History/Southwestern Historical Quarterly, El Paso & Juarez History Manuscripts, UTEP Southwestern Studies Series, and the Pipeliner (El Paso National Gas Newsletter).
We also have hundreds of books including many rare, and antique books including a collection of illustrated historic children's books collected by El Paso Librarian, Elizabeth Hooks Kelly. The Society has scores of 3-D items like a textile collection and historic furniture.
The El Paso County Historical has more than 50 scrapbooks relating to the El Paso Genealogy Society, area garden clubs, 3 mayoral scrapbooks, family memories, school, and special events including the Sun Carnival, Mexican Revolution, and Taft-Diaz Meeting. Other scrapbooks include Harry Mitchell, The McGinty Cub, Otis Aultman, Pan American Pilot Club, Souvenir of El Paso, Stevens-Darybshire Family, and the Julius Buckler Photographic Album. Maps in our collection range from the beginning of El Paso in 1859 to approximately the 1970s and cover the city, neighborhoods, and southern New Mexico.
