The Photographic Archives Database contains records of photographs selected from approximately four million images in the Houston Metropolitan Research Center's (HMRC) archival collections. The searchable records offer glimpses of day-to-day life in Houston and Texas from the 1860s to the 1980s, and cover subjects such as farming, industry, oil exploration, transportation, festivals, parades, natural disasters, and cultural, civic and sporting events.

Strengths

• Work by commercial photographers such as William Fritz, George Beach, Frank Schlueter, Bert Brandt, and Joseph Litterst
• Street, park and bayou scenes in Houston, as well as aerial views and skylines
• Architecture: residences, businesses, hotels, churches, theaters and schools
• Famous Houstonians like Jesse H. Jones, Howard Hughes, Colonel House, Alfred C. Finn, Mr. and Mrs. Hobby, and Rev. Jack Yates
• Early twentieth century postcards and cartes de visite portraying Houstonians from the 1860's and early 1870's on photographic visiting cards
• Local news photographs

Note:
The Special Collections Division of the Houston Public Library System is pleased to announce that the Houston Metropolitan Research Center (HMRC) is on schedule in making preparations to move into its new home, a state-of-the-art archival facility. In order to provide outstanding customer service and speedy access to collection materials when the new facility opens, HMRC will be suspending public services beginning at the close of business on Wednesday, November 25th and resuming at our re-opening in spring 2010. We apologize for the inconvenience and look forward to serving you in the new facility.

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