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2020
Beckmann (Adolph Guenther and Milby Giles) Family Papers, 1850-1989
DRT Collection at Texas A&M University-San Antonio
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A Guide to the Adolph Guenther and Milby Giles Beckmann Family Papers, 1850-1989
Descriptive Summary Creator: Beckmann, Adolph Guenther, 1887-1954, and Beckmann, Mary Milby
Giles, 1890-1956 Title: Adolph Guenther and Milby Giles Beckmann Family Papers Dates: 1850-1989 Creator Adolph Guenther Beckmann (1887-1954) worked at Pioneer Flour Abstract: Mills in San Antonio, Texas, for forty-seven years, holding various positions at the company. His wife Milby Giles Beckmann (1890-1956) was an accomplished pianist who was involved in several local organizations. Content The Adolph Guenther and Milby Giles Beckmann Family Papers Abstract: contain correspondence, financial and property records, scrapbooks,
printed material, and photographs that document four generations of a San Antonio, Texas, family. Identification: Col 14629 Extent: 11.09 linear feet (10 document boxes, 6 oversize boxes) Language: Materials are primarily in English; some are in Kurrent German. Repository: DRT Collection at Texas A&M University-San Antonio
Biographical Note
Members of the Beckmann family were part of the early wave of German-speaking immigrants to Texas, where they became prominent in San Antonio business and society circles. Born in Westphalia, John C. Beckmann (1815-1907) immigrated to the United States in 1841 with his fiancé Regina A. Müller (1815-1905); the couple married soon after their arrival in New York. Settling in San Antonio, Texas, Beckmann established a blacksmith shop near the Alamo and became active in local organizations, particularly the many German-American institutions in the city.
Albert Felix Beckmann (1855-1900), the youngest of John and Regina’s seven children, studied architecture in Germany, returning to Texas to serve as a topographical assistant to the U.S. Army before establishing an architectural practice in San Antonio. Working in Page 1 of 24 partnership with James Wahrenberger and on his own, Beckmann’s designs were concentrated in San Antonio, though he was also involved in projects in Mexico, particularly Piedras Negras. In 1886, Albert married Marie Dorothea Guenther (1864-1921), whose father Carl Hilmar Guenther (1826-1902) had founded Pioneer Flour Mills and established the family’s prominence in San Antonio.
Adolph Guenther Beckmann, Albert and Marie’s oldest child, was born in San Antonio on 1887 November 20. Upon his father’s death, twelve-year-old Adolph assumed responsibility for his mother, sister Regina Augusta (1889-1959), and brothers Albert Erhard (1892-1951), Werner Noonan (1894-1962), and Kurt Detmar (1897-1976). Adolph Beckmann attended San Antonio’s German-English School and the Manual Training School at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. He worked at Pioneer Flour Mills for forty-seven years and held various positions at the company, including President and General Manager. Adolph Beckmann was involved in a number of San Antonio organizations, including the San Antonio School Board, San Antonio Manufacturers Association, San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, Order of the Alamo, and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.
Mary Milby Giles was born at Vance Ranch near San Antonio on 1890 January 22. Known to her family as Milby, she was the daughter of famed architect Alfred Giles (1853-1920) and Annie Laura James (1861-1909); her maternal grandfather John James (1819-1877) was a pioneer surveyor and developer. Milby was valedictorian of her class at Bonn Avon in San Antonio and attended Gunston Hall in Washington, D.C. Following her mother’s death in 1909, she returned home to care for her four siblings. Milby was treated for tuberculosis at San Antonio’s Grace Lutheran Sanatorium from 1945 until 1948; her daughter Annie Laura was with her for the same therapy during at least part of that time. An accomplished pianist, Milby was also involved in a several local organizations, including St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and the Military-Civilian Club, San Antonio Conservation Society, and King William Area Conservation Society.
Milby was a duchess in the Fiesta coronations of 1911 and 1912 and married her duke, Adolph Beckmann, in San Antonio on 1915 April 28. The couple had five children: Mary Marcella (1916-2000), Alfred Giles (1917-1984), Annie Laura (1920-1993), Charlotte Milby (1923- ), and Dorothy Guenther (1925- ).
Adolph Beckmann died on 1954 June 9; Milby died two year later on November 18. Both are interred at Mission Burial Park South in San Antonio.
Annie Laura Beckmann was born in San Antonio on 1920 January 1. She attended San Antonio's Jefferson High School and received a certificate in Costume Design from Sullins College in Bristol, Virginia (1939). An interior designer and realtor, Annie Laura was also involved in a number of social and civic organizations. With a lifelong interest in art, music, and Texas history, she assumed the role of family historian. Annie Laura Beckmann was married to Ernest Keith Langford from 1940 to 1947 and had one son; she later married Jess Maverick McNeel from 1959 to 1973. Annie Laura Beckmann died on 1993 January 3.
Page 2 of 24 Additional genealogical information about the Beckmann family is available as a PDF document accessible through the DRT Library's online catalog at http://69.63.217.28/elibsql08_D92004_Documents/00139gen.pdf.
References
Beckmann family biographical file, DRT Collection at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.
The Family of Carl Hilmar Guenther and Dorothea Pape Guenther. San Antonio, Texas: R. B. Hurst, 2001.
George, Mary Carolyn Hollers. "Alfred Giles." Handbook of Texas Online. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fgi15.
Gideon, Margaret Guenther. "Carl Hilmar Guenther." Handbook of Texas Online. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fgu02.
Long, Christopher. "Albert Felix Beckmann." Handbook of Texas Online. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fbe94.
Pease, S. W. "John Conrad Beckmann." Handbook of Texas Online. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fbe16.
Seidel, Jeff. "Pioneer Flour Mills." Handbook of Texas Online. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/dip03.
Strong, Bernice. "John James." Handbook of Texas Online. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fja17.
Scope and Content Note
The Adolph Guenther and Milby Giles Beckmann Family Papers contain correspondence, financial and property records, scrapbooks, printed material, and photographs that document four generations of a San Antonio, Texas, family.
The bulk of Adolph and Milby's papers are financial and include ledger books, records documenting various family properties in and around San Antonio, income tax paperwork, and files pertaining to the administration of their estates.
Two noteworthy items in the collection are a ledger book maintained by John C. Beckmann between 1859 and 1866 for his blacksmith shop, located next to the Alamo, and an 1850 land patent to John James for land in Wilson County, Texas.
The collection also contains a significant number of photographs, some contained within albums assembled by Adolph and Milby. Most of the images are of Adolph, Milby, and
Page 3 of 24 their relatives, especially members of the Beckmann and Guenther families. The collection includes formal studio portraits and more informal photos. Almost all of the pictures have been labeled with the names of the individuals shown. Photographs document Albert Felix, Marie Guenther, Adolph Guenther, and Milby Giles Beckmann throughout their lives, from infancy or childhood through adulthood. Two noteworthy photographs are family portraits of Carl Hilmar and Dorothea Pape Guenther with their children, daughters- and sons-in-law, and grandchildren, dated 1893 and 1895. The collection also contains Albert Felix Beckmann architecture photographs; images of San Antonio, including many of early- twentieth-century floods; and pictures of the Guenther-Beckmann family business, Pioneer Flour Mills.
Organization of Collection This collection is organized into nine series.
Series 1: Adolph Guenther Beckmann papers Series 2: Milby Giles Beckmann (wife) papers Series 3: Adolph Guenther and Milby Giles Beckmann financial records Series 4: John Conrad Beckmann (grandfather) papers Series 5: Albert Felix Beckmann (father) and Marie Guenther Beckmann (mother)
papers Series 6: James family (in-laws) and Fort Davis papers Series 7: Annie Laura Beckmann Langford McNeel (daughter) papers Series 8: Miscellaneous family papers Series 9: Photographs and photo albums
Restrictions
Access Restrictions
No restrictions. The collection is open for research.
Usage Restrictions
Please be advised that the library does not hold the copyright to most of the material in its archival collections. It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure those rights when needed. Permission to reproduce does not constitute permission to publish. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright, literary property rights, and libel.
Page 4 of 24
Index Terms
Personal Names Beckmann, Adolph Guenther, 1887-1954. Beckmann, Mary Milby Giles, 1890-1956. Beckmann, John Conrad, 1815-1907. Beckmann, Albert Felix, 1855-1900. Beckmann, Marie Guenther, 1864-1921. Guenther, Carl Hilmar, 1826-1902. McNeel, Annie Laura Beckmann Langford, 1920-1993. Beckmann family. Guenther family. Organizations Pioneer Flour Mills (San Antonio, Tex.) Manual Training School (Saint Louis, Mo.) Washington University (Saint Louis, Mo.) Subjects Architects--Texas--San Antonio. Germans--Texas--San Antonio. Locations San Antonio (Tex.) Fort Davis (Tex.) Saint Louis (Mo.) Genres/Formats Personal papers. Artifacts. Correspondence. Estate records. Financial records. Ledgers (account books). Photograph albums. Photographs. Printed ephemera. Property records. Scrapbooks. Tax records.
Page 5 of 24
Related Material
Alfred Giles Family Papers, MS 325, University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.
Beckmann Family Papers, 1825-1958, Col 10931, DRT Collection at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.
John Herndon James Papers, 1812-1938, Col 4569, DRT Collection at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.
Ernst F. Schuchard Papers, 1832-1973, Col 926, DRT Collection at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Adolph Guenther and Milby Giles Beckmann Family Papers, 1850-1989, Col 14629, DRT Collection at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.
Acquisition Information
Gift of David and Myrna Langford, 2009 December.
Processing Information
Preliminary processing by Caitlin Donnelly and Kay Garsnett, 2010 January.
Processed by Caitlin Donnelly, 2012 November.
Finding aid encoded by Caitlin Donnelly, 2012 November.
Finding aid updated by Rebeka Delgado, 2020 April.
Page 6 of 24 Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Adolph Guenther Beckmann papers
Box Folder 1 Correspondence, 1914-1952 1 Postcard: probably Adolph Guenther Beckmann to Milby Giles,
Hillingdon Ranch, Comfort, Texas, 1914 July. Letters: Adolph Guenther Beckmann to Milby Giles, 3 items with
envelopes and enclosure, 1914-1916. 2 Letter: Albert Steves, Jr., San Antonio, Texas, to Adolph Guenther Beckmann, Pioneer Flour Mills, San Antonio, Texas, complimentary of his integrity, 1935 December 4. Letter: F. J. Maier, Fredericksburg, Texas, to Adolph Guenther Beckmann, San Antonio, Texas, regarding park to be at historic mill site, newspaper clipping enclosed, 1952 August 3. 3 Government records, 1917-1936 Registration certificate, 1917 War Department Notice of Classification, 2 items, 1918 Social Security card and paperwork, 1936 4 Business card: Pioneer Flour Mills, undated Certificates, 1907-1954 Box Oversize Diploma: Manual Training School, Washington University, St.
16 Louis, Missouri, removed from frame, 1907. Box Folder 1 5 Confirmation certificate: St. Marks Episcopal Church, San Antonio,
Texas, 1918. Membership certificate: San Antonio and Casino Club, 1927. Certificate: Texas Golf Association, runner-up, Senior
Championship Tournament, San Antonio Country Club, 1942. Membership certificate: Kiwanis International, Legion of Honor,
twenty-five years, 1946. Certificate of Award for Meritorious Service: San Antonio Chamber
of Commerce, 1954. 6 Program: Memorial Vesper Service, 37th Annual Convention, Texas-
Oklahoma District, Kiwanis International, 1954. 7 Scrapbook: newspaper clippings of San Antonio School Board work,
1929. Box Oversize Scrapbook: folio, patterned cloth album, printed architectural illustrations,
14 all cut from books and newspapers, poor condition, probably compiled by
Page 7 of 24 Adolph Guenther Beckmann, 1885-1916.
Series 2: Milby Giles Beckmann (wife) papers
Box Folder 1 Correspondence, 1910-1950 8 Letters: John James to cousin Milby Giles Beckmann, 6 items, 1910,
1946, 1950. 9 Letter: Chas B. Gaddis, San Antonio, Texas, to Milby Giles, San Antonio, Texas, complimentary even though she’s not Queen, 1913 May 2. Letter: Mary Maverick Myers, New Orleans, Louisiana, to Milby Giles, San Antonio, Texas, two clippings enclosed, postmarked 1914 February 26. 10 Letter: Irene Reynolds, Maxwell, Nebraska, to Milby Giles Beckmann, San Antonio, Texas, regarding purchase of Maxwell
State Bank, on back of flyer, Keith Neville, Democratic candidate for Governor, and his family, 1916 November 8. Card: Aunt Emme, El Paso, Texas, to Milby, Adolph and baby, San
Antonio, Texas, 1916 December. Postcard: Agnes James, Guanajuato, Mexico, to Milby Giles
Beckmann, Hillingdon Ranch, Comfort, Texas, 1926 July 1. 11 Letter: Carrie C. Price, San Antonio, Texas, to Milby Giles Beckmann, Grace Lutheran Sanatorium, San Antonio, Texas, 1945 November 16. Letter: Carrie Steves, San Antonio, Texas, to Milby Giles Beckmann, Grace Lutheran Sanatorium, San Antonio, Texas, postmarked 1946 December 3. Letter: W. N. Beckmann, en route by “Clipper,” to Milby Giles Beckmann, Grace Lutheran Sanatorium, San Antonio, Texas, 1947 August 18. Typescripts: “Memoirs of Mrs. Florida Tunstall Sharpe,” “Copy of notes taken by Mrs. Flood of statements made to her by Mrs. Florida Tunstall Sharpe,” “Recollections of General Ranald Slidell MacKenzie by Mrs. Pattie Lockwood Ingersoll,” apparently from W. B. Booth, San Antonio, Texas, to Milby Giles Beckmann, Grace Lutheran Sanatorium, San Antonio, Texas, postmarked 1948 March 27. Card: Aunt Marie, Mexico City, Mexico, to Milby Giles Beckmann,
1948 October 15. Birthday card: Jansen H. Preston, New York, New York, to Milby
Giles Beckmann, San Antonio, Texas, postmarked 1949 January 24.
Page 8 of 24 Box Folder 1 12 Wedding invitation and marriage service, Adolph Guenther Beckmann
and Mary Milby Giles, 1915. 13 “Carnival Record, Lady Milby, of the House of Giles, Duchess of Candida,” San Antonio Fiesta, bound souvenir booklet with ephemera and handwritten entries, 1912. Books, 1915-1956 14 The Combined Standard Diary and Memorandum: contains daily notes on wedding and honeymoon, including California trip, 28
April-19 May, with calculations of trip expenses and other notes, 1915. 15 Any One Can Bake: compiled by the Educational Department of the Royal Baking Powder Co., includes handwritten recipes and inserts, 1928. 16 Date Book for 1930: includes buffet lists, attendees, and recipes. Birthdays: includes inserted item, 1936. Friendship’s Calls address book: includes numerous references to
military, circa 1941-1945. All Occasion Address Book, 1947. 17 Daybook: includes lists of people who sent Milby letters and cards at
Grace Lutheran Sanatorium, 1945-1948. Forward Day by Day, devotional booklets, 2 items, 1950, 1951. Aladdin Composition Book No. 3144: includes list of callers and
people who sent letters and flowers, undated. Box Folder 2 18 Funeral guest book, 1956. Box Oversize Scrapbook: includes wedding invitations, debut, Fiesta, clippings, social 12 news, civic society, World War II, weddings, family news, printed brochure about Vance Ranch, 1890-1946. Box Oversize Scrapbook: includes debut, Fiesta, clippings, social news, civic society,
14 weddings, family news, 1920, 1940-1953.
Series 3: Adolph Guenther and Milby Giles Beckmann financial records
Box Folder 2 Adolph Beckmann ledgers, 1912-1956 19 Cash book: money received and expenses, missing first 50 pages,
1912-1919. 20 Estate accounting: Marie Guenther Beckmann estate, Adolph
Page 9 of 24 Guenther Beckmann trustee, includes furniture disbursements, 1921-1922. 21 Financial statement: Adolph Guenther and Milby Giles Beckmann, includes summary of estate and division of Milby’s inheritance, 1923-1945. 22 Balance sheet: Adolph Guenther and Milby Giles Beckmann, 1925-
1936. 23 Financial statement: Adolph Guenther and Milby Giles Beckmann,
1946-1956. Box Folder 3 24-31 Income tax records: returns, calculations, 1099 forms, 1926-1949 Deeds, liens, and titles, 1850-1949 and undated 32-34 Wilson County, Texas, property: abstracts of title, 7 parts, 1901-
1928. Box Folder 4 35 Wilson County, Texas, property: miscellaneous land records, 1899-
1949. 36 Calaveras property, Wilson County, Texas: miscellaneous land
records, 1892-1947. Box Oversize Calaveras property, Wilson County, Texas: land patent to John 16 James, assignee of Claiborne Rector, signed by Gov. Peter Hansborough Bell, Austin, Texas, 1850 December 23. Calaveras/Wilson County property: maps, 5 items, undated. Box Folder 4 Deeds, liens, and titles, 1850-1949 and undated (continued) 37 529 Madison Street, San Antonio, Texas, 1886-1925 38 Grandview James-Sullivan partition deed, 1915 39 Kendall County, Texas, property: school land deed, 1915 40 Livestock inventory: includes cattle and sheep, concerns vaccinations
and inventory, 1954. 41 Financial analysis: Clifton George, Jr. for Milby Giles Beckmann,
includes file of reference financial accounting, 1955. Wills, estate settlements, and probates, 1915-1986 42 Wills: Adolph Guenther and Milby Giles Beckmann, 1954-1958 Adolph Beckmann estate, 1935-1957 43 Federal and state estate tax returns, 1954-1957 44 Engelke note, The Laurels Ranch, 1935-1954 45 Alamo National Bank statements, 1955 46 Miscellaneous, 1953-1955 Milby Giles Beckmann estate, 1915-1986 47 Bills paid, 1934-1964
Page 10 of 24 48 Federal and state inheritance returns, 1956-1958 49 Credit book, 1954-1964 Box Folder 5 50 Check stubs, 1956-1965 51-53 Groos National Bank statements and deposit slips, 1956-1965 54 Distributions: includes Alfred Giles Beckmann’s note
payments, 1956-1961 55 Hillingdon Ranch appraisal, 1951 56 Land and legal records: Marcella and Walter Booth, 1925-
1956 57 Application to probate will and supporting documentation
[photocopy], 1956-1971 58 Miscellaneous: includes wills of Alfred Giles and V. L.
James, 1915-1960 Box Folder 6 59 317 Arcadia Place, San Antonio, Texas, 1956-1986 60 Adolph Beckmann settlements with attorney, 1932-1936 61 Miscellaneous legal documents, 1931 and 1933
Series 4: John Conrad Beckmann (grandfather) papers
Box Folder 6 62 Ledger: contains separate pages for each client and itemized costs of blacksmith work, wagons, and horses, primarily in English with some German, 1859-1866. 63 Envelope, in German, postmarked 1899 December.
Series 5: Albert Felix Beckmann (father) and Marie Guenther Beckmann (mother) papers
Box Folder 6 Correspondence, 1893-1921 64 Letter: Albert Felix Beckmann, Chicago, Illinois, to Adolph Guenther Beckmann, San Antonio, Texas, in German, 1893 October 12. Letter: Albert Felix Beckmann, San Antonio, Texas, to Adolph
Guenther Beckmann, Alice, Texas, in German, 1899 August 1. 65 Letter: Marie Guenther Beckmann to son Albert Erhard Beckmann,
Page 11 of 24 regarding farm, Werner, mill and bees, Schuchards, Austin trip, Milby and baby, Herffs, and others, 1917 June 14. 66 Christmas card: Marie Guenther Beckmann to Milby Giles
Beckmann, regarding a gift, 1919 December. Letter: Marie Guenther Beckmann to Milby Giles Beckmann, San
Antonio, Texas, regarding recent birth of a baby, 1921 May 4. 67 Sketches: Albert Felix Beckmann, 1867-circa 1900 Building, pencil, 1867. Camel, pencil, 1868. “Residence for Mr. A. Staacke, Soledad St., San Antonio, Tex., Albert F. Beckmann, Architect,” pen and blue ink, with explanation possibly by Laura McNeel, circa 1875-1900. Cow, pencil, “AFB” brand, sketches and “John A. Beckmann” on
back, circa 1875-1900. 68 Newspaper article: “Sudden Death of Albert Beckmann,” The San
Antonio Daily Express, 1900 February 6. 69 Ephemera, circa 1875-1900 and undated Envelope: Albert Felix Beckmann, circa 1875-1900. Calling card: Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Beckmann, circa 1886-1900. Tickets: “good for one fare in the District of Columbia,” 3 items,
undated. Pocket calendar: front cover partly missing, back cover torn, 1900. Artifacts, 1896 and undated Information from the donor indicates that the ownership of these items is unknown, but they were previously boxed with Albert Felix Beckmann material. 70 Brass door name: Albert Felix Beckmann, undated. 71 Copper coin: awarded to Albert Felix Beckmann for Express
Building design, San Antonio Midwinter Fair, 1896. Ruler: Alamo Iron Works, undated. Slide ruler, undated. Wrench, undated. Brush, undated. Box Folder Oversize Map: Llano County, Texas, rock formations, 1 large sheet with 4 copies,
16 rolled [photocopy], undated.
Page 12 of 24 Series 6: James family (in-laws) and Fort Davis papers
Box Folder 6 72 Report: Alfred Giles, San Antonio, Texas, to Judge J. H. James, San Antonio, Texas, “Report on Fort Davis,” newspaper clipping and “The
Climate of Fort Davis, Texas” by W. T. Jones, M.D. enclosed, 1906 January 20. 73 Correspondence, 1931-1936 Letter: John A. James to H. D. Bloys, Fort Davis, Texas, unsigned
lease agreement enclosed, 2 copies, 1931 September 19. Letter: D. E. Colp, Chairman, Texas State Parks Board, Austin, Texas, to Adolph Guenther Beckmann, San Antonio, Texas, regarding Fort Davis, 1935 October 25 and November 21. Letters: Herbert D. Bloys, Fort Davis, Texas, to John A. James, San
Antonio, Texas, plans to widen highway, 2 items, 1936 January 2. Note: John A. James and Adolph G. Beckmann to H. D. Bloys, Fort
Davis, Texas, 1936 [possibly May 18]. 74 Field notes and right-of-way maps, 1935 and undated. Box Oversize Manuscript map: "Map of Reservation of Fort Davis, Texas, and 16 Adjoining Surveys," ink and modern pencil tracings on coated cartographic linen, undated.
Series 7: Annie Laura Beckmann Langford McNeel (daughter) papers
Box Folder 6 Correspondence, 1954-1981 75 Pioneer Flour Mills resolutions: deaths of Adolph Guenther and
Milby Giles Beckmann, newspaper clippings enclosed, 1954-1956. 76 Letter: Ben Gearhart, Gearhart Ranches, Marfa, Texas, to Laura B. McNeel, San Antonio, Texas, “Mr. James’ cattle drives came right
across my ranch,” two maps [photocopies] enclosed, 1975 March 28. 77 Letter: Alfred Giles, Midland, Texas, to Annie Laura McNeel, San Antonio, Texas, 1978 March 27; includes photocopy of letter, cattle
driver Michael Erskine, San Francisco, California, to son Andrew, 1855 July 31. Letter: Alfred Giles, Midland, Texas, to Annie Laura McNeel, San Antonio, Texas, 1978 May 11; includes photocopy of Kendall County, Texas, land record, Hillingdon purchase, 1886 June 26. 78 Note: Alice Giles, Midland, Texas, to Annie Laura McNeel, San
Antonio, Texas, "Notes on John James" included, postmarked 1979
Page 13 of 24 February 3. 79 Letter: J. Evetts Haley, The Nita Stewart Haley Memorial Library, The J. Evetts Haley History Center, Midland, Texas, to Annie Laura McNeel, San Antonio, Texas, brochure enclosed, 1978 March 29. Letter: Annie Laura McNeel, San Antonio, Texas, to J. Evetts Haley, The Nita Stewart Haley Memorial Library, Midland, Texas, 1978 March 31. Letter: J. Evetts Haley, Canyon, Texas, to Annie Laura McNeel, San
Antonio, Texas, 1978 April 14. Letter: Annie Laura McNeel, San Antonio, Texas, to J. Evetts
Haley, 1978 May 9. Letter: Nancy R. McKinley, Secretary, The Nita Stewart Haley Memorial Library, The J. Evetts Haley History Center, Midland,
Texas, to Annie Laura McNeel, San Antonio, Texas, 1978 October 5. Letter: Nancy R. McKinley, Curator, The Nita Stewart Haley Memorial Library, The J. Evetts Haley History Center, Midland, Texas, to Annie Laura McNeel, San Antonio, Texas, 1979 April 12. 80 Letter: Amanda Hurst Ochse and Laura Beckmann McNeel, San Antonio, Texas, to Col. Donald J. Palladino, District Engineer, U.S.
Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth, Texas, regarding Upper Mill of C. H. Guenther & Son, newspaper article enclosed, 1981 July 17. Letter: Donald J. Palladino, Col., CE, Commander and District Engineer, Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth,
Texas, to Laura Beckmann McNeel, San Antonio, Texas, regarding Upper Mill of C. H. Guenther & Son, 1981 August 14. Letter: Rebecca Cate, Assistant to Manager, San Antonio River Authority, San Antonio, Texas, to Laura McNeel, San Antonio
Texas, regarding Upper Mill of C. H. Guenther & Son, documents enclosed, 1981 August 19. Letter: Laura Beckmann McNeel and Amanda Hurst Ochse, San Antonio, Texas, to Col. Donald J. Palladino, District Engineer, U.S.
Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth, Texas, regarding Upper Mill of C. H. Guenther & Son, 1981 September 1. Letter: Arthur H. Muir, Jr., Calabasas, California, to Annie Laura
McNeel, San Antonio, Texas, 1981 September 9. 81 Invitation and program participants: Groundbreaking Ceremony, San Antonio Channel Improvement Project Unit 8-3-2 and Channel Paving for Unit 8-3-1, 1981 October 24. 82 List: family members involved in Fiesta, circa 1986. 83 Miscellaneous notes, previously paper-clipped together. Box Oversize Scrapbook: debut invitations, clippings, Hurst and Herpel, Sullins
15 College, 1939-1940.
Page 14 of 24
Series 8: Miscellaneous family papers
Box Folder 6 Genealogical information 84 Charts: Guenther, Giles, Beckmann, and James branches, prepared
by Annie Laura Beckmann Langford McNeel. 85 Article: "Crosskill vs Kent" by James F. Smith. Notes: "Combats and Conquests of Immortal Heroes" by Charles
Merritt Barnes, typed excerpt on John James. Report: "Milby family, Northampton and Accomack Counties, Virginia," from a report made by Mark C. Lewis for Cousin Josie Hamman of Houston, Texas. 86 Poem: Erhard Rosini Guenther seventieth birthday, 1938 October 30. 87 Memorial obituary: Werner Noonan Beckmann, includes tribute
published in the San Antonio Light, 1962 October 1. 88 Newspaper clippings and brochures: Kurt Detmar Beckmann, Christmas
toys at the Institute of Texan Cultures and obituaries. 89 Note: "For a good mother of our children," unknown author and
recipient, undated. Notes: anecdote of Werner Beckmann and Palmer Giles at Hillingdon
Ranch, undated. 90 Pioneer Flour Mills and Guenther House printed material. Box Folder 7 Books, booklets, and articles, circa 1887-1980 91 Souvenir of San Antonio, Texas. San Antonio, Texas: Paul
Wagner's Bazaar, circa 1887. 92 Beckmann, Albert Felix. Architectural Beauties of San Antonio, Texas (2 copies). San Antonio, Texas: Johnson Bros. Printing Co., 1896. 93 Picturesque San Antonio, front cover missing, back cover detached,
undated. 94 Souvenir photographs of San Antonio, Texas, buildings, accordion
hinged, undated. 95 Hinga, Don. "King William Street." Texas Parade, 1948 July. McGregor, Jack R. "Historic Preservation: The King William
Section of San Antonio." Antiques in Texas, 1975 September. 96 100th Anniversary, Southern Moving & Storage Co., 1880-1980.
San Antonio, Texas: Southern Moving & Storage Co., 1980. 97 "City of San Antonio, John W. Tobin, 1925," photocopied images
of early San Antonio buildings and scenes. 98 "Views of the Panama Pacific International Exposition, San
Page 15 of 24 Francisco, 1915." Newspaper clippings, 1911-1989 99 Family, 1932-1986 100 Pioneer Flour Mills, 1923-1989 and undated 101 Pioneer Flour Mills, workers strike, 1966-1967 102 Guenther House, 1988 103 Upper Guenther Mill, 1981, 1986 Box Oversize Fiesta: Pioneer Flour Mills, Civic and Trades Display Parade, 16 Order of the Alamo Court of Carnival Flowers, Helena Dorothea
Guenther, Milby Giles Beckmann, 1 item, oversize, San Antonio Light, 1911 April 21. Architectural plans: St. Mark's Episcopal Church, San Antonio, Texas, parish house, by Kurt Detmar Beckmann and Palmer Giles, 23 large
sheets, rolled, given to Annie Laura Beckmann McNeel by Vernon Helmke in 1987, 1926.
Series 9: Photographs and photo albums
Box Folder 7 Family portraits and photographs, 1851-circa 1960 and undated 104 John Conrad Beckmann, 1 photograph, undated. 105 Regina Müller Beckmann, 4 photographs, undated. 106 John A. Beckmann, 2 photographs, undated. Also pictured: George R. [Steinberg?], Charles [Klein?], and Hans
L. Degener. 107 Albert Felix Beckmann, 14 photographs, 1871-1898 and undated. Also pictured: Hans Degener, Theo Thielepape, Udo Rhodius,
August Nette, and Adolph Wagner. 108 Marie Dorothea Guenther Beckmann, 9 photographs, circa 1865-
1913 and undated. Box Folder Tall 10 152 Marie Dorothea Guenther Beckmann, 1 oversize photograph, 1886. Also pictured: Mathilda Hulda "Tillie" Guenther, Adde Sartor, Miss Degen, Bertha Baer, Julia and Anna Heusinger, Alma and [Mary?]
Siemering, Minnie [Haarmann?], Emma Kohler, and Minnie Duerler. Box Folder 7 109 Albert Felix and Marie Guenther Beckmann, 1 photograph, 1886.
Page 16 of 24 Box Folder Tall 10 153 Christmas, Albert Felix and Marie Dorothea Guenther Beckmann with children Adolph, Regina, and Albert, 1 oversize photograph, 1893. Christmas, probably Adolph, Werner, and Kurt Beckmann, 1
photograph, 1898. Box Folder 7 110 Albert Felix Beckmann and Carl Hilmar Guenther, 1 photograph,
undated. Box Oversize Marie Dorothea Guenther Beckmann with her children Adolph, 16 Regina, Albert, Werner, and Kurt, 1 oversize photograph, 1 note, circa 1906. Box Folder 7 111 Adolph Guenther Beckmann, 10 photographs, circa 1887-1953 and
undated. Box Folder Tall 10 154 Adolph Guenther Beckmann, 1 oversize photograph, undated. Box Folder 8 112 Milby Giles Beckmann, 9 photographs, 1893-1912 and undated. Box Folder Tall 10 155 Milby Giles Beckmann, 2 oversize photographs, 1904 and undated. Box Folder 8 113 Adolph Guenther and Milby Giles Beckmann, 4 photographs, 1915
and undated. Box Folder Tall 10 156 Adolph Guenther and Milby Giles Beckmann with their wedding
party, 1 oversize photograph, 1 list, 1915. Pictured: Marcella Giles Booth, Werner Beckmann, Lucile James Hartwell, Albert Beckmann, Maix Maverick McGaraugh, Arthur Muir, Julia Spencer Westervelt, Alfred Giles, Diana Dickinson Marucheau, Geoffrey Giles, John Engleking, Regina Beckmann Hurst, John A. James, and Annie Bryan Park. 157 Alfred Giles with his daughter Milby on her wedding day, Giles home, Avenue E and Third Street, San Antonio, Texas, 1 oversize photograph, 2 copies, 1915. 158 Milby Giles Beckmann with her children Mary Marcella, Alfred Giles, Annie Laura, Charlotte Milby, and Dorothy Guenther and servant Mattie at the coast, 1 oversize photograph, circa 1925. 159 Adolph Guenther and Milby Giles Beckmann with their children Mary Marcella, Alfred Giles, Annie Laura, Charlotte Milby, and Dorothy Guenther, 1 oversize photograph, circa 1935-1939.
Page 17 of 24 Box Folder 8 114 Adolph Guenther and Regina Augusta Beckmann, 3 photographs, 1
note, 1891. Box Folder Tall 10 160 Milby Giles Beckmann and Regina Augusta Beckmann Hurst going down to the swimming place, Barksdale James place, 1 oversize photograph, undated. Box Folder 8 115 Adolph Guenther Beckmann and Wagners, 1 photograph, undated. 116 Albert Erhard Beckmann, 2 photographs, 1893. 117 Albert Erhard Beckmann, Jr., 1 photograph, undated. 118 Werner Noonan and Geraldine Smith Beckmann, 9 photographs,
circa 1895-circa 1960 and undated. Box Folder Tall 10 161 Werner Noonan Beckmann, 1 oversize photograph, undated. Box Folder 8 119 Beckmann family at Helotes, John Beckmann, Hermann Schuchard, Albert Beckmann, and Martinas pictured, others unidentified, 8 photographs, 1 envelope, possibly 1907 and undated. 120 Bernhard von Beckmann, 1 photograph, undated. Box Folder Tall 10 162 Carl Gottfried Guenther, father of Carl Hilmar Guenther, 1 oversize
photograph, undated. Box Folder 8 121 Carl Hilmar Guenther, 6 photographs, 1851-1899 and undated. Box Folder Tall 10 163 Carl Hilmar Guenther, 1 oversize photograph, from a portrait by
Carl von Iwonski, 1873. Box Folder 8 122 Dorothea Wilhelmine Henriette Pape Guenther, 1 photograph,
undated. Box Folder Tall 10 164 Dorothea Wilhelmine Henriette Pape Guenther, 1 oversize
photograph, from a portrait by Carl von Iwonski, 1873. Box Oversize Guenther family portrait, 1 oversize photograph, 1 note, 1893.
16 Pictured: Albert Felix Beckmann, Albert Erhard Beckmann, Marie Guenther Beckmann, Arthur Guenther, Elise Groos Guenther, Adolph Beckmann, Mathilda "Tillie" Guenther Schuchard, Hermann
Schuchard, Dorothea Pape Guenther, Regina Beckmann, Fritz Guenther, Helena Peltzer Guenther, Fritz Pape, Helena Dorothea Guenther, Erhard Guenther, Carl Hilmar Guenther, Ernst Otto
Page 18 of 24 Guenther, Marie Bachmann Guenther, Amanda Guenther Wagner, Hilmar Gustav Guenther, Hilmar Louis Guenther, and Adolph Wagner. Box Folder Tall 10 165 Guenther family portrait, 1 oversize photograph [copy], 1 note,
1895. Pictured: Arthur Guenther, Hermann Schuchard, Hilmar Louis Guenther, Erhard Guenther, Adolph Wagner, Amanda Guenther Wagner, Fritz Guenther, Albert Felix Beckmann, Hilmar Gustav Guenther, Elise Groos Guenther, Mathilda "Tillie" Guenther Schuchard, Marie Bachmann Guenther, Dorothea Pape Guenther,
Carl Hilmar Guenther, Helena Peltzer Guenther, Adolph Beckmann, Marie Guenther Beckmann, Ernst Guenther, Ernst Schuchard, Dorothea Marie Guenther, Helena Dorothea Guenther, Regina Beckmann, Amanda Ilse Guenther, Albert Erhard Beckmann, and Marie Schuchard. Box Folder 8 123 Friederich "Fritz," Katherine Voges, and Louis V. Pape, parents and brother of Dorothea Wilhelmine Henriette Pape Guenther, 3 photographs, 1921 and undated. 124 Fritz Gottfried, Arthur William, and Hilmar Louis Guenther, 4
photographs, undated. 125 Adolph and Amanda Auguste Guenther Wagner, 8 photographs,
1931 and undated. Box Folder Tall 10 166 Adolph and Amanda Auguste Guenther Wagner, 1 oversize
photograph, undated. Box Folder 8 126 Amanda Auguste Guenther Wagner and Helena Virginia Peltzer
Guenther, 1 photograph, undated. 127 Erhard Rosini and Josephine Charlotte "Lottie" Harnisch Guenther,
3 photographs, 1886 and undated. Box Oversize Erhard Rosini Guenther, 1 oversize photograph, 1914.
16 Box Folder 8 128 Ernst Fritz and Marie Charlotte "Mitzie" Schuchard, 1 photograph,
undated. 129 Ernst Fritz Schuchard, Albert Erhard Beckmann, Werner Noonan Beckmann, Kurt Detmar Beckmann, and Erhard Rosini Guenther, San Antonio International Fair, 1 photograph, circa 1905. Group including Albert and Marie Guenther Beckmann, Adolph and Amanda Guenther Wagner, and Mathilda Hulda "Tillie" Guenther, 1 photograph, circa 1885-1886.
Page 19 of 24 Box Folder 8 130 Alfred and Annie Laura James Giles, 7 photographs, circa 1861-
1882 and undated. 131 Charlotte "Lottie" James Sehorn, sister of Annie Laura James Giles,
1 photograph, 1894. 132 Unidentified group, "the jolly crew, taken April 5th, West End, New
Orleans," Louisiana, 1 photograph, undated. Unidentified people, 1 photograph, 1898. Unidentified child, 1 photograph, undated. Unidentified group, "Sunday June 1st at Devils River, Valverde to Texas, crossing of Southern Pacific Railway," 1 photograph, undated. Unidentified children, 1 photograph, undated. Unidentified couple, Christmas, 1 photograph, undated. Unidentified group, Christmas, 1 photograph, undated. 133 Unidentified people, Camp Esperanza, 3 photographs, undated. Box Oversize Family photo albums, 1902-circa 1929
13 Adolph’s: pre-marriage, labeled by Adolph Beckmann, Rockport, swimming, San Antonio flood, brothers and mother with goat, 1902- 1903. Adolph’s: pre-marriage, labeled, Pioneer Flour Mills, Rockport fishing, St. Louis football, Forest Park, Creve Coeur Lake, Manual
Training School, Helotes, hunting, San Pedro Park, New Braunfels, Mexico, family elders and siblings, 1904-1907. Milby’s: some pre-marriage, some labeled, young people, Alfred Giles, Hillingdon Ranch, Avenue E in San Antonio, trip to England, Gunston Hall, as young married woman, 1909-1927. Milby’s: honeymoon labeled, portraits of her children Mary Marcella, Alfred Giles, Annie Laura, Charlotte Milby, and Dorothy Guenther, 1915-1926. Milby’s: all her babies and others, labeled, Hillingdon, San Antonio,
Rockport, circa 1920-1925. Box Oversize Milby’s: mostly her children, some labeled, Hillingdon, San
12 Antonio, Rockport, 1922-1926. Box Oversize Later: very assorted, not labeled, several of Alfred Beckmann as
13 teenager, deer, hunting, ranch.
Page 20 of 24 Box Folder 8 Albert Felix Beckmann architecture photographs, 1898 and undated 134 Express Building, San Antonio, Texas, Albert Felix Beckmann,
architect, 2 photographs, 1898. C. Harnish, house, 1 photograph, 1898. First Building of the Lone Star Brewing Association, San Antonio,
Texas, Albert Felix Beckmann, architect, 1 photograph, undated. Residence of Dr. Alfred C. McDaniel, San Antonio, Texas, 1
photograph, 2 copies, undated. Unidentified buildings, San Antonio, Texas, Albert Felix Beckmann,
architect, 3 photographs, undated. Unidentified commercial building, possibly San Antonio, Texas,
Albert Felix Beckmann, architect, 1 photograph, undated. Unidentified house, 1 photograph, undated. Box Folder Tall 10 167 Aduana Fronteriza de Cuidad Porfirio Diaz, Custom House, Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, Albert Felix Beckmann, architect, 4 oversize photographs, undated. 168 Post office and telegraph office, Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico,
Albert Felix Beckmann, architect, 1 oversize photograph, undated. 169 Residence of C. Harnisch, Esq., King William Street, San Antonio, Texas, Albert Felix Beckmann, architect, 1 oversize photograph, undated. Residence of Jos. Eikel, Esq., Richmond Avenue, San Antonio, Texas, Albert Felix Beckmann, architect, 1 oversize photograph, undated. Residence of C. Voechting, Esq., Crofton Avenue, San Antonio, Texas, Albert Felix Beckmann, architect, 1 oversize photograph, undated. 170 Juan Cram residence, Eagle Pass, Texas, 1 oversize photograph, 2
copies, undated. 171 Staacke residence, 2 oversize photographs, undated. 172 Unidentified house, possibly San Antonio, Texas, Albert Felix
Beckmann, architect, 1 oversize photograph, undated. Unidentified commercial building, Saspamco, Texas, Albert Felix
Beckmann and Dr. Rochs pictured, 1 oversize photograph, undated. 173 Unidentified buildings, 2 oversize photographs, undated. 174 Tombstone of Henry and Ernestine Taubert Haberman, Dignowity
Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas, 1 oversize photograph, undated. Box Folder 8 Homes, 1887, 1908, and undated 135 Guenther House, 1 photograph, undated. Harnisch House, possibly 525 King William Street, San Antonio,
Page 21 of 24 Texas, 1 photograph, undated. Unidentified house, 1 photograph, undated. Unidentified house, 1 photograph, 1887. Box Folder Tall 10 175 529 Madison Street, later 222 E. Guenther Street, San Antonio,
Texas, 1 oversize photograph, 1908. 176 Parlor, unknown Guenther family house, removed from frame, 1
oversize photograph, undated. Box Folder 9 136 BEM Brick Co., San Antonio, Texas, 1899 San Antonio Fair, 3 photographs, 1899. Brickyard, 1 photograph, 1899. Battle of Flowers Parade float, 1 photograph, 1899. Pioneer Flour Mills and Upper Mill, 1884-1935 and undated 137 Mill, 1 photograph, 1884. Bathing at Pioneer Flour Mills, 2 photographs, 1900. Mill buildings, 2 photographs, 1904. Trades Parade float, 1 photograph, 1935. “Lower Mills of C. H. Guenther & Son (Incorp.) Merchant Millers,
San Antonio, Texas,” postcard, 1 photograph, undated. Mill buildings including Upper Mill, 5 photographs, undated. Flour bags, 2 items, undated. Box Folder Pioneer Flour Mills and Upper Mill, 1884-1935 and undated (continued) Tall 10 177 Battle of Flowers Parade float, San Antonio, Texas, 1 oversize
photograph, 1904. Fair booth, San Antonio, Texas, 1 oversize photograph, 1909. Box Folder 9 138 Construction and miscellaneous, 32 photographs, 1 envelope,
undated. 139 Adolph Guenther Beckmann at Pioneer Flour Mills event, 4
photographs, 1 envelope, 1949. 140 Mill buildings and Upper Mill, 3 photographs [photocopies], 1926
and undated. Box Oversize Mill crew, 1 panoramic photograph, rolled, cracked and in poor
14 condition, undated. Box Oversize Guenther’s Upper Mill, 1 oversize photograph, taken by Otto
16 Hegemann's father, undated. “C. H. Guenther’s Live Oak Mill,” copy of a painting by Hermann
Lungkwitz, 1 oversize photograph, 1853.
Page 22 of 24 Box Folder 9 141 Live Oak Mill, 1 photograph, undated. San Antonio, Texas, 1873-1926 and undated 142 Items from Cliff and Harriet George estates, Alamo Plaza, Sunken Garden, San Antonio Country Club, and snow along river pictured, 10 photographs, 1 envelope, circa 1910, 1926, and undated. 143 Flood, 3 items, 1913. 144 “Flood Views of San Antonio, Texas, Sept. 9th-10th, 1921,” 9
photographs, accordion hinged in envelope, 1921. 145 Items from Cliff and Harriet George estates, flood, 12 items, 1
envelope, undated. 146 Buildings and scenes, flood at St. Mary’s Street, Brackenridge Park, Southern Pacific Depot, and Bexar County Courthouse pictured, 6 items, undated. 147 Buildings and scenes, Alamo Plaza, City Hall, San Fernando
Cathedral, and San Pedro Springs pictured, 6 items, undated. 148 Items from John Tobin scrapbook, Houston Street bridge, Military Plaza, and San Pedro Springs Weeping Willow Alley pictured, 3 photographs, 2 envelopes, undated. 149 San Antonio views, includes flood, 14 photographs, 1 envelope,
undated. 150 Aerial view, 1 item, undated. San Antonio, Texas, 1873-1926 and undated (continued) 151 Photographs taken by Hope Mitchell Thompson’s father, West Texas Military Academy, Mission Concepcion, Alamo National Bank, Sutherland Springs bath house and pool, Ed. Steves and Sons Planing Mill, City Brewery (Pearl Brewery), Lone Star Brewery, Battle of Flowers Parade, Frost National Bank, Alamo Plaza, and Groos Bank pictured, 17 items [photocopies], 1 envelope, circa 1910. Box Folder Tall 10 178 “Bird’s Eye View of the City of San Antonio, Bexar County,
Texas,” 1 oversize photograph, 1873. Box Oversize Separated negatives
11 Family portraits and photographs Marie Dorothea Guenther Beckmann, 1 item. Marie Dorothea Guenther Beckmann with her children, 1 item. Milby Giles Beckmann, 5 items. Alfred Giles with his daughter Milby on her wedding day, 1
item. Adolph Guenther and Regina Augusta Beckmann, 2 items.
Page 23 of 24 Guenther family portrait, 1 item, 1893. Amanda Guenther Wagner, 1 item. Annie Laura James Giles, 4 items. Alfred and Annie Laura James Giles, 1 item. Family photo albums Adolph's, 1904-1907, 68 items. Milby's, 1909-1927, 23 items. Milby's, 1915-1926, 41 items. Milby's, circa 1920-1925, 5 items. Pioneer Flour Mills, 56 items. San Antonio, Texas Items from John Tobin scrapbook, 5 items. San Antonio views, 7 items. Photographs taken by Hope Mitchell Thompson’s father, 6
items.
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