Historic General Land Office Photographs

GLO on Hilltop 1870-1874

General Land Office on hilltop, ca. 1870-1874. (SPB 200.11)

GLO ca.1871-1874

West facade of General Land Office with photo studio on the north end of the building, ca. 1871-1874. (TSLA #1/150-12)

GLO with Photo Lab 1871-1874

North view of the General Land Office and photographic studio, ca. 1871-1874. (TSLA #1/103-75)

GLO Employees 1876

Land Office employees outside the south entrance, ca. 1876. Courtesy Austin History Center (PICA 13289)

GLO ca.1879

General Land Office, ca. 1879. Courtesy Austin History Center (PICA 05196)

O.Henry with Group 1880s

Drafting Room on the second floor. O. Henry is pictured in the back row, third from the right, ca. late 1880s. (TSLA 1962/274-4)

Hill City Quartette 1885

In 1885, William Sydney Porter (O. Henry, 2nd from left) joined the Hill City Quartette, a dapper group of young men who played at parties and church events, and sang at the windows of the young ladies of their set. Courtesy Austin History Center, Austin Public Library (CO3374)

GLO Draftsmen 1890s

Group photo of General Land Office employees on west steps of building, March 2, 1907. Courtesy Austin History Center (PICA 13290)

GLO Drafting Room 1890

The crowded drafting room on the second floor, ca. 1890. Courtesy Austin History Center (AHC L1300, PICA 13286)

GLO Employees 1893

Land Office employee photo, on the west entrance steps, ca. 1893. Courtesy Austin History Center (PICA 13287)

GLO Employees 1907

Group photo of General Land Office employees on west steps of building, March 2, 1907. Courtesy Austin History Center (PICA 13290)

O.Henry 1909

The General Land Office's most famous draftsman William Sydney Porter, who would later enjoy success as the famed short story writer O. Henry, carefully guarded his privacy. The only interview he ever gave was in 1909, when this photo was taken. Even then, he gave only a sketchy biography that omitted his prison experience. O. Henry died from cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes and a greatly enlarged heart in 1910. He was not yet forty eight years old. Courtesy Center for American History, Prints and Photographs Collection (CN 01058)

GLO Interior and Workers 1913

Drafting Room on the second floor. Notice the additional storage space to the right, on an elevated mezzanine, ca. 1913. Courtesy Austin History Center (PICA 13293)

Chief Clerks Office 1913

Chief Clerk's Office, 2nd floor, January 15, 1913. Courtesy Austin History Center (PICA 13295)

GLO with Awnings

General Land Office. Date unknown. Courtesy Austin History Center (PICA 05213)

GLO Attic 1920s

General Land Office attic, ca. 1920s. Courtesy Austin History Center (CO 9583)

O.Henry Exhibit 1950s

O. Henry's drafting table on display at the Daughters of the Republic O. Henry exhibit, ca. 1950s Courtesy Austin History Center, Neal Douglass Collection.

GLO Exhibit Room 1961

Photo of collections kept by the Daughters of the Republic Museum, ca. Oct. 1961. This room is currently home to the Welcome Center of Capitol Visitors Center. (HABS #TX 397-20)