Help! ?'s about The Brady Building - from 1960 to present. (Houston: apartments, house)

[ratchet19]

Hi! I'm searching for information about the Brady Building in San Antonio... Recently, my sister and I found an old portrait of our dad from when he was in the Air Force in the early sixties. The picture isn't in the greatest shape, but on the back it lists:

Robins Portrait Studio,
Mezz. Floor Brady BLDG.
San Antonio, Texas

as where the photo came from, along with a portrait number and a message detailing that the original photos and negatives from this picture are with the studio and to contact for more information.

I know it is definitely a long shot, but I was hoping to contact this old portrait studio and just at least find out what happened to all the old photos they used to carry (if they were thrown out or what?). I don't think that Robins Portrait Studio is still in business, as I can't find any information about them on the internet, so I was hoping maybe some people could help me out! Does anybody remember this business? Do you know if they are, in fact, out of business or maybe the name has changed? Or perhaps you know someone or a number I could contact to find more information? It would be greatly appreciated! I'm not sure where else to search for information! We live in Ohio and I've never even been to Texas...I'm not sure exactly what to search for!

Thanks!
-Rachel

[dvlpr]

The Brady Building is at the southeast corner of St. Mary's & Houston street, in the heart of downtown. Currently, the building has an empty bar space (most recent operating bar left about a year ago) at the ground level/mezzanine, and apartments above. I've lived here for 10 years, and I've never known the Brady building to have a photography studio.

[wCat]

I found a classified ad in March of 1961 for portrait photographers at Robins Portrait Studio. Just as you listed, the only address for any of their classified ads was the Mezzanine Floor of the Brady Bldg. 1961 was the last advertisement I could locate for the Robins Studio.

You might want to try contacting the Institute of Texan Culture photographic archives. They have an online catalog, but you will get a lot more help by talking to the librarian. They may have acquired photos and even negatives from old studios. Their photographic library is extensive and you can order copies of almost anything they have.

Here's a link:

Library - Photo Archives (http://texancultures.com/library/photoArchives.html - broken link)

Good luck!

[elnina]

Downtown San Antonio Apartments Just Off the Riverwalk - Welcome to Towers at the Majestic ! !

http://www.themajestic.com/overview.htm

http://www.themajestic.com/bdy_bldg.htm

[gdevloo]

I live in a house built by frank brady in 1929 in Boerne
and looking for historical info

[togalala]

I know there was a portrait studio there, because I was in the Air Force and had my portrait made there in December 1958, I was trying to locate it to get copies of myself in my uniform as the one I have has seen its better days over the last 55 years. Any one have any suggestions as to where the negatives went if this studio (Robins Portrait Studio) is out of business

[ged_782]

A 1969 directory doesn't list Robins Studio (or any other portrait or photography business) as a tenant in the Brady Building, nor is there a listing under the name "Robins" for any such business. A 1975 directory also doesn't show any listing.

Finding the whereabouts of any negatives (if they still exist) from an apparent independent business that disappeared maybe 50 years ago is indeed a longshot, but it doesn't hurt to inquire.