Preserving Local History: El Paso County Historical Society 1953-1986. Since 1954 the El Paso County Historical Society has been the driving force of the historic scene of El Paso. EPCHS strives to foster research into the history of the El Paso area; share that history with the public; publish and encourage historical writing pertaining to […]
Photo Collections and Archives
The Lorenzen Family Collection: ‘How We Cook in El Paso;
By Joseph Longo This copy of the 1926 cookbook “How We Cook in El Paso” is part of the Lorenzen Family Collection. It belonged to Ada Lane Lorenzen, who was an active civic leader and served as president of the El Paso Woman’s Club. She was also a charter member of the El Paso County […]
Here’s how Texas women received right to vote and what role El Paso had
Article 1, Section 4 of the Constitution of the United States of America says that the “…Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof: but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations…” Amendment X strengthens state control […]
Women as Agents of Social Change: El Paso’s Social Housekeepers, 1886-1930
Women as Agents of Social Change: El Paso’s Social Housekeepers, 1886-1930 Red Cross women organizing for a magazine drive during World War I. (Image located in El Paso County Historical Society archives) 2020 EPCHS Women’s History Exhibit During the late 19th century and early 20th century, El Paso women found their public and […]
Hague Collection: The Century Cookbook
Hague Collection: The Century Cookbook One of the early recipe books that the El Paso County Historical Society has in its archive is the Century Cookbook by Mary Ronald. It was first published in 1895 in England. This book is considered by scholars to be culturally significant to American Culinary history. The cookbook was republished […]
Ashley’s Mexican Restaurant and Canning
Ashley’s Mexican Restaurant and Canning was founded in 1931 by George Ashley. The sole investor in the business was George’s business-minded mother, Ida Ashley. Ashley’s Mexican Restaurant was considered a pioneer in the reinvention of Mexican restaurants in El Paso. The business was family run, with George’s wife and children playing a role. Some of the […]
Photos: Ernst and Olga Kohlberg
Ernst Kohlberg, founder of the first cigar factory in the Southwest, was born in 1857 in Prussia came to El Paso with Solomon C. Schutz in 1875. Kohlberg agreed to work for Schutz, without pay for up to a year, to pay for his passage to Texas. After working for Schutz for eight months, Schutz […]
The El Paso Humane Society: Organized Dec 29, 1947
The El Paso Humane Society was first organized in 1903 in the office of Col. Bean in the Mills Building and they got the city council to pass a law against animal cruelty the next year. The Society, however, wandered astray and was reorganized in 1906 by a group of women including Mrs. W.S. Tilton. […]
Harry Mitchell Brewery
Many people don’t know about El Paso’s rich beer history. Take a look at some photos we have of El Paso’s prominent post-prohibition brewery owned by Harry Mitchell, as well as others of beer aficionados around town.