H and H Coffee

Dedicated to the history of the Hoffmann-Hayman Coffee Co. founded 1899 in San Antonio, Texas.

Cover image pending capture. PDF held at /assets/pdfs/c1915-greater-san-antonio-city-of-destiny.pdf (Internet Archive scan); physical-copy cover not yet photographed.

Higher Publicity League of Texas, San Antonio · c.1915 · self-published booster volume (150 pp)

Bibliographic detail

  • Title: Greater San Antonio: The City of Destiny and Your Destination
  • Issuer: Higher Publicity League of Texas, San Antonio (booster organization)
  • Year: c.1915 (curator estimate — to be verified via Internet Archive catalog record)
  • Publisher: Higher Publicity League of Texas, San Antonio (self-published)
  • ISBN: N/A (predates ISBN system)
  • Pagination: 150 pages
  • Format: Promotional / booster volume; heavily illustrated booster-press style typical of pre-WWI city promotion
  • Digital surrogate: Internet Archive scan, held locally as a PDF

Physical description

150-page promotional volume in the pre-WWI booster-press style. Original physical copy: format and binding to be confirmed in-hand. The digital surrogate from the Internet Archive is the immediately readable working version; the physical copy is held for primary-source authentication.

Provenance

Physically in-hand prior to formal library accessioning; registered to the library 2026-05-24. Accessioned as HH-BOOK-2026-0008. PDF added to the resources track separately at an earlier date.

Why it matters

This is a period booster volume from the exact window when Hoffmann-Hayman was establishing itself in chartered form (February 1912) — the c.1915 year places it ~3 years after the H and H corporate charter and in the 1912–1916 window between the first two documented plant addresses (1223 W. Commerce 1912 → 307 N. Medina 1916).

Potentially high research value, pending verification by direct read. Specifically worth checking:

  1. Industrial-section directory listings. If the book includes a list of San Antonio manufacturers ca.1915, both Hoffmann’s wholesale coffee, tea and spice business (1899–1912 predecessor) and the chartered Hoffmann-Hayman Coffee Co. are candidates. Period naming was inconsistent — try “Hoffmann,” “Hayman,” “Coffee” entries.
  2. Address verification. A 1915 booster volume would land in the 1912–1916 window and could confirm 1223 W. Commerce occupancy.
  3. Photographs. Booster-press volumes often included downtown streetscape photographs that could capture H and H signage or buildings.

Open question: the c.1915 year is a curator estimate based on the title and publisher. The Internet Archive catalog record for the source should give an exact year and printing.

Notable contents

  • Industrial / manufacturing directory section (expected; the named candidate for H and H mentions).
  • Downtown / district streetscape photographs.
  • Civic and commercial promotional copy typical of Higher Publicity League output.
  • Maps and trade-statistics (likely; verify on close read).

Open questions

  • Exact year — confirm via Internet Archive catalog record.
  • Industrial-section H and H entry — direct read needed for Hoffmann, Hayman, Coffee entries.
  • Streetscape photographs at 1223 W. Commerce or other H and H-relevant addresses.

Related: Hoffmann-Hayman Coffee Company · William R. Hoffmann · Downtown San Antonio (Korte & Pech) · Saving San Antonio (Fisher) · Library