Difference between revisions of "James Tyler, Jr. (1869-1961), Architect"

Revision as of 19:34, 25 February 2018

James Tyler, Jr. was born in August 1869 in London, England. He was the son of Lincoln architect and later firm partner James Tyler. He was a longtime Lincoln architect, selected state architect on June 4, 1903 by the Board of Public Lands & Buildings.[1][2][11] For the first three decades of his practice as an architect, he typically worked in partnership with his father, his brother-in-law Eugene Brandt, or with both men as Tyler, Brandt & Tyler, Architects. However, he appears to have practiced alone briefly in 1915 when Brandt went into the office of A. W. Woods, and was again a solo practitioner after the death of Brandt in 1918 and his father in 1919. Like his father, Tyler was an active Mason and helped organize Lincoln Liberty Lodge 300-AF&AM, and served as its first master in 1918-1919. In 1947, Tyler was made a life member of Sir Galahad Priory No. 7, he received the Knights of the York Cross of Honor (the highest honor the York Rite of Masonry can bestow), was a past eminent commander of Mt. Moriah Commandery 4, past high priest of Lincoln Council 4, and member of Scottish Rite and Sesostris Temple. [4][5] In 1952, Tyler was honored at a banquet for 50 years of service to the masonry. He was married to Blanche.[10] Tyler died on February 21, 1961, survived by his daughter, Mrs. Marian Matthews of San Jose; his son, Claire P. of San Jose; his brother, Edward of Los Angeles; sisters, Mrs. F. M. Ryan of Lincoln and Mrs. Ethel Gaylord of Fort Meyer, Florida; 3 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, and his cousin, Gertrude A. Tyler of Lincoln.[8][9][10]

This page is a contribution to the publication, Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. See the format and contents page for more information on the compilation and page organization.

Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings

Lincoln, Nebraska, 1915, 1926-1930, 1926-29, 1930-31, 1934-39, 1940-42, 1945, 1947, 1950

Educational & Professional Associations

1889: travel to England with Charles Chowins.[13]

1894-1907: architect, James Tyler & Son, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.

1903-1905: State Architect of Nebraska.[1][2][11]

1908-1915: architect and partner, Tyler & Brandt, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.

1915, 1925-1950: architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.

1916-1924: architect and partner, Tyler, Brandt & Tyler, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Buildings & Projects

Dated Projects

Plumbing & Heating for Soldiers & Sailors Home (1905), Milford, Nebraska.[3][a]

W. A. Wooster residence (1915), Fairbury, Nebraska.[14]

Parsonage (1927), Vine Congregational Church, 530 N 25th, Lincoln, Nebraska. (LC13:D09-411)

Park School (1930), NE corner of Charles & W 4th Streets, Fairbury, Nebraska. (JF04-431)

Undated Projects

Elks Club (n.d.), 13th & P., Nebraska.[10]

St. Elizabeth Hospital (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[10]

Castle, Roper & Mathews Mortuary (n.d.), south side of N Street between 13th and 14th Streets, Lincoln, Nebraska.[10][12] LC13-C08-009

Woolworth Store (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[10]

Remodel of Beatrice St. Home (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[10]

Disputed Attributions

Little Block (n.d.), 11th & "O" St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[10][b]

Honors & Awards

1947: Knights of the York Cross of Honor, York Rite of Masonry.[4][5]

Notes

a. Tyler did this work while he was State Architect.[3]

b. The firm Fiske & Dieman, Architects designed the Little Building in 1907 and Fiske's successor Meginnis & Schaumberg, Architects remodeled the building and designed the additional 6th story in the 1930s.

References

1. Board of Public Lands & Buildings, records in the State Archives, Nebraska State Historical Society.

2. Lincoln Trade Review 2:1 (1903): 4. "James Tyler, Jr., of the firm of J. Tyler & Son, has been appointed State Architect by the Board of Public Lands & Bldgs. The appointment was much desider (sic) by many architects in the state owing to the prestige attaching to the office and Mr. Tyler is to be congratulated on his appointment."

3. Heating & Plumbing Specifications, Soldiers & Sailor's Home, Milford, Nebraska. State Archives, Nebraska State Historical Society.

4. “James Tyler Funeral Set For Monday,” Lincoln Star (February 23, 1961), 32:4.

5. “Tyler,” Lincoln Star (February 23, 1961), 32:7.

6. “Tyler,” Lincoln Star (February 24, 1961), 24:6.

7. “Tyler,” Lincoln Star (February 25, 1961), 14:5.

8. “Tyler,” Lincoln Star (February 26, 1961), 4B.

9. “Tyler,” Lincoln Star (February 27, 1961), 12:6.

10. 1900 United States Census, s.v. “James J. Tyler,” Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, accessed through AncestryLibrary.com.

11. Mrs. Maryan Tyler Matthew. Personal interview. November 27, 1978.

12. David Royce Murphy, "South Side of N Street.." Photo, August 1975.

13. "Personal," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (July 14, 1889), 5.

14. "Lincoln, Neb...James Tyler, Jr...is preparing plans for a residence in Fairbury, Neb., for W. A Wooster," Improvement Bulletin (April 17, 1915), 15.

Additional Sources

Portrait in Nebraskans, 1854-1904 (Omaha: Bee Publishing Co., 1904), 168. [978.2.B39n]

Page Citation

D. Murphy, “James Tyler, Jr. (1869-1961), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, February 25, 2018. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, April 20, 2024.

Contact the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office with questions or comments concerning this page, including any problems you may have with broken links (see, however, the Disclaimers link at the bottom of this page). Please provide the URL to this page with your inquiry.