Food

Photographs documenting the Austex Chili Company. Formed in 1910, the company was famous for owning the world's only automated tamale-making device. "Austex” (or “AusTex” or “Aus-Tex") is a name formed from “Austin” and ‘Texas.” Walker’s Austex Chile Company existed in Austin from the 1910s ("Austex" is trademarked from 1930) until it was merged into the Frito Company (now Frito-Lay) of Dallas in 1961. “Austex” products are now distributed by Castleberry’s Brands. Austin’s Republic Square was formerly dubbed “Chili Square” because of the Austex Company. Austex was where Republic Square is now, framed by Guadalupe, 4th, San Antonio and 5th Streets. Walker’s Austex Chile Company had its office at 310 San Antonio and its plant at 500-502 W. 5th Street from the 1920s to the 1950s. Also, up until the 1920s, the blocks surrounding this square were populated by a large number of Mexican-Americans.

Photographs documenting Avenue B grocery store from the Austin Files collection

Photographs documenting food production and makers of food from the Austin Files collection

Photographs documenting Hobbit Hole Natural Foods from the Austin Files collection

Photographs documenting Pioneer Flour Mills from the Austin Files collection