TABLE OF CONTENTS
Descriptive Summary
Historical Note
Scope and Content Note
Series List
Restrictions
Index Terms
Administrative Information
Description of Series
Administrative, 1896-1982
Publicity, 1923-1988
Photographs, 1931-1971
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A Guide to the Gebhardt Mexican Foods Company Records, 1896-1988
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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.
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| 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 |
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.
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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.
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Series List
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| | Administrative, 1896-1982 |
| | Publicity, 1923-1988 |
| | Photographs, 1931-1971
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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.
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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. |
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[Identification of item], Gebhardt Mexican Foods Company Records, MS 44, Archives and Special Collections, Library, University of Texas at San Antonio.
The records were donated in 1989 (Acc 1989-004).
Processed by Eric Hartmann, Processing Archivist, April 1988.
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Administrative, 1896-1982
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| Material documenting the day to day operation of Gebhardt Mexican Foods Company is located in the Administrative series. Most of the material is from the company's early years, when it was called Gebhardt Chili Powder Company. This series includes a ledger dating from 1896. |
| Arranged by type of material and organized chronologically. |
| Box | Folder |
| 1 | 1 | | Correspondence, 1948-1982 |
| | | Financial |
| 2 | | | 1896 |
| 3 | | | 1917-1962 |
| 4 | | Miscellaneous, 1950-1982 |
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Publicity, 1923-1988
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| The Publicity series concerns Gebhardt's promotion efforts. Samples of advertisements are included, as are recipes for various dishes using Gebhardt products. The advertisements are in various formats, including print, film and sound recordings. |
| Arranged by type of material and organized chronologically. |
| Box | Folder |
| 1 | | | Advertising |
| | | | Clippings |
| 5 | | | | undated |
| Box | Folder |
| 2 | 1 | | | | 1940-1984 |
| 2 | | | History, 1960-1988 |
| 3 | | | Labels, undated |
| 4 | | | Films, undated |
| 5 | | | Records, undated |
| 6 | | | Slides and audio tapes, undated |
| 7 | | Awards, 1960-1988 |
| | | Recipes |
| 8 | | | undated |
| Box | Folder |
| 3 | 1 | | | 1923-1983 |
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Photographs, 1931-1971
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| Images in and around the Gebhardt Mexican Food Plant on Laredo Street comprise most of this series. There are also photographs of displays of Gebhardt products. An outsize folder contains large photographs. Shots in and around the processing plant provide insight into the working environment of Gebhardt. In addition, there are photographs of displays in grocery stores and other promotional photos. The majority of the photographs are not dated. |
| Arranged by subject and organized chronologically. |
| Box | Folder |
| 3 | 2 | | Advertising, undated |
| 3 | | Awards, 1964-1971 |
| 4 | | Gatherings, undated |
| | | Grocery stores |
| 5 | | | undated |
| 6 | | | 1975 |
| 7 | | People, 1931-1933 and undated |
| 8 | | Plant Exterior, undated |
| 9 | | Plant Floor, undated |
| 10 | | Recipes, undated |
| 11 | | Tour by Mexican Official, undated |
| Box | Folder |
| 4 | 1 | | Oversize photographs |
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