The Kerrville photography of A. E. Self -- from the early 1900s.

Mountain Street (now Earl Garrett Street), November 1908,
by Alonzo E. Self.
Click on any image to enlarge.

Photographs of Kerrville and Kerr County make up an important part of my collection of historical items from our area, and they’re probably the items I most like to receive and study.

I’ve written elsewhere about early photographers here. It turns out, though, I’ve never written about one early photographer, though several of his images are important parts of my collection.

A. E. Self storefront, Mountain Street

There were many photographers working here at the turn of the last century, including Ellen O’Neal, who had a portrait studio at the turn of the century on Kerrville’s Main Street. Mrs. O’Neal also ventured beyond her studio and took images of the countryside, some at considerable effort, climbing hills to take photos of remote places, like Bandera Pass and Camp Verde.

Spencer Hinsdale Huntington was also had a photography studio here around 1901, at the intersection of Water and Sidney Baker, where the municipal parking building stands today. In addition to portraits, he also took shots outdoors, often along the river.

Interior, Self's Jewelry

Jesse Edward Grinstead, the publisher of the Kerrville Mountain Sun, also produced a significant number of early Kerr County photographs. Arriving here in 1899, he published many of his photographs in his newspaper, and also as postcards.

Eugene Thornton Butt, the middle son of Florence and Charles Butt, was an amateur photographer, and several of his early photographs document his family and the start of what is now H-E-B Grocery Company. His family arrived here around 1905.

Starr Bryden, of course, has received attention in many of my columns, for his photography work from around 1915 to 1956. 

But the photographer I’d like to focus upon this week is Alonzo E. Self.

Emma and Lon Self

Mr. Self was a jeweler, who also sold and repaired watches, sold musical instruments, and offered film developing services. He and his family arrived in Kerrville around 1903.

That many of these photographers were working at about the same time is interesting. Photography was becoming more mainstream and popular here, and several of the photographers offered film developing as a side business, like Mr. Self, Gene Butt and Starr Bryden.

Of course, at the turn of the last century, the photos show a very different Kerrville than what we see today. There are no automobiles in these images – those really didn’t arrive here until around 1908 – so there are many photos of horses and various wagons, buggies, and buckboards. 

Self was born in Indiana in 1865. Around 1889, he married Emma Teaford. 

800 Block of Water Street, ca. 1908

In 1903, Mr. Self placed an advertisement in the “Keystone’ magazine, a trade magazine, looking for a jewelry business in the “South or West.” A jeweler from Kerrville, Charles S. Kyle, responded with details about his business, which was for sale, and information about Kerrville.

Mr. Self and his family moved to Kerrville and purchased Kyle’s store, which was housed in a small frame building on Earl Garrett Street, between the Masonic Building (now home to Turtle Creek Olives and Vines) and the Weston Building (now home to Francisco’s Restaurant).

He moved his business later, in the 1920s, into a new building near today’s Arcadia Live! Theater on Water Street. For more than 45 years he and his family operated that business here.

Self served on the Kerrville city council, and also on the Kerrville school board. He was active in the Methodist Church here, and also was a long-time Mason, and took leadership positions in both organizations.

Of the photographs in my collection taken by Mr. Self which I most admire are an image of an incredibly busy Earl Garrett Street (then called Mountain Street), a photograph of his first business building, and various photos of downtown Kerrville.

A. E. Self was a good photographer, and I’m thankful to the many different folks who’ve shared his images with me. They tell an important part of our story here.

Until next week, all the best.

Joe Herring Jr. is a Kerrville native whose first camera was a 127 Kodak Hawkeye Flashfun, which was manufactured from 1961 to 1967. Of course, he still has it. This column originally appeared in the Kerr County Lead February 8, 2024.

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