A Guide to the Gebhardt Mexican Foods Company Records, 1896-1988
Descriptive Summary |
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| Creator: | Gebhardt Mexican Foods Company. | |
| Title: | Gebhardt Mexican Foods Company Records, | |
| Dates: | 1896-1988 | |
| Creator Abstract: | Gebhardt Mexican Foods Company, based in San Antonio, was famous for Eagle Brand Chili Powder. | |
| Content Abstract: | The records include advertisements, publicity photographs and administrative material. | |
| Identification: | MS 44 | |
| Extent: | 2.5 linear feet (approximately 1,900 items) | |
| Language: | Materials are in English. | |
| Repository: | Archives and Special Collections Department, The University of Texas at San Antonio Library | |
Historical Note
Gebhardt Mexican Foods Company had its beginnings in a small restaurant in New Braunfels, Texas, where Willie Gebhardt added a secret ingredient to his dishes. Mr. Gebhardt moved to San Antonio in 1890 and registered Eagle Brand Chili Powder in 1896. In 1911 the company, then called Gebhardt Chili Powder Company, received a meat license, which allowed the company the chance to expand its product line to include items such as tamales and chili. In 1959, Gebhardt Chili Powder Company became an independent division of the Beatrice Food Company of Chicago. By 1984, the renamed Gebhardt Mexican Foods Company had grown to five times its size before the merger. In the 1980's Texas accounted for about 60% of Gebhardt's sales, where its Eagle Brand Chili Powder was the dominant brand, however, at the same time business in California, Arizona, Oregon and Washington State was increasing. In 1986, Beatrice Foods was acquired by Kohlburg, Kravis and Roberts and it became part of the Beatrice/Hunt-Wesson division. Conagra Incorporated, a food production company headquartered in Omaha Nebraska, bought Beatrice/Hunt Wesson in 1990. As of 1997, Gebhardt Mexican Foods was part of Hunt Foods, a division within Conagra Incorporated.
Scope and Content Note
The Records of Gebhardt Mexican Foods Company date from 1896-1988 and consist of correspondence, financial records, newspaper clippings, printed material, film, sound recordings and photographs. The records are divided into three series: Administrative, Publicity, and Photographs.
Series List |
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| Administrative, 1896-1982 | ||
| Publicity, 1923-1988 | ||
| Photographs, 1931-1971 | ||
Restrictions
Access Restrictions
Researchers are required to wear gloves provided by the Archives when reviewing photographic materials.
Usage Restrictions
Permission to publish material from the Records must be obtained from the UTSA Archives.
Index Terms |
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| Subject(s): | ||
| Beatrice Foods Company. | ||
| ConAgra, Inc. | ||
| Gebhardt Chili Powder Company. | ||
| Chili powder--Manufacture and refining--Texas--San Antonio. | ||
| Food industry and trade--United States. | ||
| Advertising--Food. | ||
| Food--Marketing. | ||
| San Antonio (Tex.)--Commerce. | ||
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Gebhardt Mexican Foods Company Records, MS 44, Archives and Special Collections, Library, University of Texas at San Antonio.
Acquisition Information
The records were donated in 1989 (Acc 1989-004).
Processing Information
Processed by Eric Hartmann, Processing Archivist, April 1988.
Detailed Description of the collection