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The architectural firm of Trost & Trost, led by chief architect and designer, Henry C. Trost, left an indelible mark across the Southwest with their vast catalog of building projects. Over 600 buildings have been attributed to Trost & Trost or Henry Trost. The firm was formed in 1903 in El Paso, Texas after Henry moved to El Paso to join his brother Gustavus Adolphus Trost. In 1908, a third brother, Adolphus Gustavus Trost joined them. Together, the brothers mastered a variety of architectural styles, including Classical, Art Deco, Pueblo, Romanesque, and Mission Revival. Trost & Trost designed every building imaginable: office, residential, apartment, government, religious, public schools and universities, banks, warehouses, hospitals, department stores, hotels, theatres, and fraternal lodges. Even after the passing of Henry Trost in 1933, the firm endured until 1946.

Trost & Trost's extensive collection of architectural drawings and plans, along with documentary photographs of buildings and correspondence were acquired by Ponsford Brothers, General Contractors and Builders after the firm dissolved. In 1979, Ponsford Brothers donated the collection to the El Paso Public Library in order to make it available for study. For the past 46 years, the library has preserved and made accessible the collection to a wide spectrum of users. The library, however, recognized the need for even greater accessibility. The El Paso Public Library's Border Heritage Center applied for a TexTreasures Original Grant from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to digitize a portion of the Trost Collection in order to provide free digital access to the collection to a multitude of users worldwide. The project was funded!

The building projects featured in this first installment of the collection are of residences, commercial buildings, theatres and public schools. Elevations, floor plans, section drawings, heating and electrical plans, and decorative details are included. Most projects are of El Paso buildings, but projects from other West Texas towns and cities are included. Digitization and cataloging of the collection continue. Additional assets will be added to the collection in the future.

This project is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (Grant # LS-256843-OLS-24) to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act. (2025)