A Guide to the Frank J. Bosshardt Papers, 1884-1933

Biographical Note

Frank J. Bosshardt, a prominent San Antonio, Texas attorney and property owner, was born in Austin, Texas in 1874. He came to San Antonio at the age of two. He was active in local San Antonio politics and served as Bexar County Commissioner. He also was a notary public and President of the Medina Highlands Toll Road Association. After receiving a law degree from Washington and Lee University, Bosshardt entered private practice, he kept promissory notes for people and conducted title research on various properties. Bosshardt also kept papers belonging to Horace Shelton, another San Antonio attorney and President of Industrial Bank and Trust.

Bosshardt married Hettie Koehler, niece of Emma and Otto Koehler, on April 29, 1914. The ceremony and reception were held in the Koehler family home at 310 W. Ashby Place. The Koehlers managed the City brewery for the San Antonio Brewing Association. The Brewery produced Pearl beer and was one of the largest breweries in Texas in the years before prohibition. In 1952, the name of the brewery was changed to Pearl Brewery. The Koehler house was deeded to the Alamo Community College District in 1968 and became the Koehler Cultural Center. Frank Bosshardt and his wife had one daughter, Margaret, in 1919. Mr. Bosshardt died in 1938 at the age of 64.

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Scope and Content Note

The papers of Frank J. Bosshardt consist of various legal documents from the early decades of the 20th century. These materials help to document the geographic and economic growth of San Antonio during this period.

The collection is divided into three series. The Financial and Law Practice series contains documents belonging to Mr. Bosshardt or held in trust by him for his clients. These documents include material such as promissory notes and San Antonio business receipts that help to illustrate the economy of San Antonio and South Texas in the early 20th century. Researchers should also be aware of the 1993 video, The Future of the Past: The Koehler Cultural Center narrated in part by Mr. Bosshardt's daughter Margaret. In the video, Margaret discusses her childhood and family history. The video is part of the Mary Carolyn Hollers George papers (RG 51).

The Property Series contains abstracts of title and other legal documents concerning land in Bexar and surrounding counties. Abstracts of title are documents that trace the ownership of a specific piece of land. They consist of copies of deeds, wills, judgements, and other public documents relating to the property. Some of the abstracts contain information about the estate of prominent San Antonio property owners such as Frank Diether. The will of Thos. H. Stribling and his wife is the collection as is the will of Samuel A. "Gus" Maverick. Some of the abstracts include information from the 18th and 19th centuries. Mr. Bosshardt owned some of these pieces of land. This material shows the growth and development of the San Antonio area over long periods of time. Researchers may also want to consult the Bexar Appraisal District Collection to examine more recent block maps of Bexar County.

The collection also includes information about the financial activities of San Antonio attorney Horace Shelton. The Horace Shelton series includes information about Industrial Bank and Trust of which Mr. Shelton was President. The material also provides information about the banking and money lending industry in San Antonio around World War I.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

This collection is housed at UTSA's Main Campus and must be accessed via the John Peace Library Special Collections reading room. To request access, please use the Collections Request Form.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Frank J. Bosshardt Papers, MS 48, University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.

Acquisition Information

Received in 1989 (Acc. 1989-01).

Processing Information

Processed by Eric Hartmann, February 1999

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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