James Tyler (1844-1919), Architect
James Tyler was born in Usk, Monmouthshire, England on September 26, 1844 to parents George and Jane Price Taylor.[10][11] Before emigrating, Tyler was a stone-cutter and carver, described by Andreas as one of England's most distinguished stone-cutters, working on the remodel of Windsor Castle and other iconic English buildings. He came to America in 1868, settling in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was engaged in the construction of the Four Courts, after which he relocated to Chicago and erected St. James Church. By 1870 he was in Omaha, Nebraska, serving as master mechanic of the post office building there. He moved to Lincoln in 1875 to perform a similar role in the construction of Lincoln's U. S. Post Office and Courthouse. He was thus employed until June, 1879, when he was appointed superintendent of construction of the State insane asylum. [1][2][5] He married Emily Elizabeth Burgis in London in 1868, with whom he had five children, including a future partner in his firm, James Tyler, Jr.. Tyler died on November 1, 1919 in Lincoln.[5][10][11]
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.
Contents
Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings
Lincoln, Nebraska, 1878-1890, 1892-1919
Educational & Professional Associations
1870-1875: "master mechanic" for U. S. Courthouse & Post Office, Omaha, Nebraska.
1875-1879: "master mechanic" for U. S. Courthouse & Post Office, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1880-1883: architect and partner, Smith & Tyler, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1883-1892: architect and superintendent, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1894-1907: architect and partner, James Tyler & Son, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1903-1919: City of Lincoln water and light commissioner, Lincoln, Nebraska.[5][d]
1916-1919: architect and partner, Tyler, Brandt & Tyler, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Other Associations
1886-1892: Employed his son James Tyler, Jr., as a draftsman.
1903: Employed Eugene H. Brandt (1867-1918), brother-in-law of his son James Tyler, Jr., as a draftsman.
Buildings & Projects
1880-1883 (Lincoln, Nebraska)
Tyler's initial practice as an architect was in partnership with George A. C. Smith, who had worked on several post offices before coming to Lincoln in 1878 to take charge of the final stage of construction of the U. S. Courthouse and Post Office there. See Smith & Tyler, Architects for an account of the work of their partnership.
1883-1892 (Lincoln, Nebraska)
James Tyler practiced independently for a decade before forming a partnership with his son James around 1893. James Jr. was a draftsman in his father's office from 1886.
Townsend Block (1883), Lincoln, Nebraska.[10]
J. R. Johnson house (1885-1886), 1422 Boswell, Crete, Nebraska.[3] (SA01-12)
John R. Clark house (1886-1887), SW corner 20th & F, Lincoln, Nebraska.[6][8]
Burrs' Block (1887), NE corner 12th & O, Lincoln, Nebraska.[3][4][10] (LC13:C09-002)
Proposals for a wholesale house for John Fitzgerald (1888), SW corner of 10th & M, Lincoln, Nebraska.[16][f]
Fitzgerald Block (1888), 7th & P, Lincoln, Nebraska.[3][6][a] (L741-191)
School house (1888), Ulysses, Nebraska.[17]
Nebraska Stock Yards Company: new Store House, Chill Room, and other additions to Packing House #1 (1888), West Lincoln, Nebraska.[14]
William H. Tyler house (1890-1891), 808 D St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[7] (LC13:C07-001)
Sacred Heart Catholic Church (1892), NE corner 13th & Ivy, Crete, Nebraska.[3] (SA01-020)
Halter Block (1892-1893), SE corner of 11th & P Streets, Lincoln, Nebraska.[15][e]
1893-1907 (Lincoln, Nebraska)
The father and the son practiced together as James Tyler & Son for over a decade, with projects throughout Lincoln and Nebraska. As early as 1903, James Sr. also began to be listed in Lincoln city directories as City Water Commissioner, while his architectural practice apparently continued. See James Tyler & Son, Architects for an account of the projects of their partnership.
1908-1915 (Lincoln, Nebraska)
For several years the elder James Tyler was listed in Lincoln city directories solely as Lincoln's Water Commissioner and superintendent of the city's Lighting Plant. During the same period, his son James Tyler, Jr. formed a partnership Tyler & Brandt with Eugene H. Brandt. The wives of James, Jr. and Eugene--Julia and Jessie, respectively--were sisters, the daughters of W. W. and Mary E. Palmer.
1916-1919 (Lincoln, Nebraska)
In the last years of his life, James Tyler rejoined his son in architectural practice as Tyler, Brandt & Tyler. Eugene H. Brandt died in 1918 and James Tyler, Sr. in 1919, but the firm name continued unchanged until at least 1924. The works of that partnership are listed on a separate page for Tyler, Brandt & Tyler, Architects.
Undated
1st National Bank State Block, 10th/9th & "O" St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[10][c]
Lancaster Block (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[3]
John Fitzgerald house (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[6]
R. C. Moore residence (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[3][b]
Masonic Temple (n.d.), Fremont, Nebraska.[3]
Donald H. Pegler Garage Bldg. (n.d.), 17th & P, Lincoln, Nebraska.[9]
State Penitentiary (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[10]
Mental Asylum (n.d.), Nebraska.[10]
Ganter Block (n.d.), [10]
Sacred Heart Catholic Church (n.d.), 13th & Ivy, Crete, Nebraska. (SHO1-20)
Johnston/Muff House (n.d.), Crete, Nebraska.[13]
Notes
a. This work was undertaken for the firm Smith & Tyler.
b. Source [6] calls this the R. E. Moore residence.
c. Tyler is credited [10] with the design of the First National Bank/State Block in Lincoln, but the date commonly ascribed to that building (1873) precedes Tyler's relocation from Omaha to Lincoln.
d. Tyler's obituary notes he had been Lincoln's water commissioner for 16 years.[5]
e. The Lincoln Daily Call of January 1, 1893 notes "Among the improvements in the building line, with which Lincoln has been blessed during the past year, none can outclass the new Knights of Pythias Castle Hall block, which is being erected by Alexis Halter on the corner of 13th and P streets, and a cut of which appears in this paper." The column is headed "The Halter Block" and the illustration is captioned the same. The estimated cost of the 5-story building, with an elevator, is cited at $110,000. It is also noted that "The plans have been prepared by James Tyler architect, of this city, and the work is being done under his supervision."[15]
f. When local business titan John Fitzgerald bought the northeast quarter of Block __ (Original Plat of Lincoln, SW corner of 10th & M) in 1888, rumors flew as to how he would develop the site. Lincoln Daily Call of May 9, 1888 suggested a grand hotel and opera house, to which Nebraska State Journal on May 12, 1888 rather tartly replied "THE JOURNAL would like to corroborate that report this morning, but finds that it cannot do so and still remain in the straight path of truth that has been followed so faithfully for twenty years." The Journal then goes on to announce that Fitzgerald "will put up a fine block on the corner in question, completing the same in time for occupancy this year," and describes in detail "Plans for the structure...now being prepared by Architect James Tyler." The structure was to be four stories tall, above a basement, and built to house two wholesale establishments. Two alternatives are described for the exterior: "One is in the strict classical style" but "The design that seems to meet with the most general favor, however, follows the modern Romanesque style."[16]
References
1. A. T. Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882), 1080.
2. A. T. Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882), 1056.
3. "James Tyler," in Pen & Sunlight Sketches of Lincoln (Chicago: Phoenix Publishing, 1893), 108.
4. Lincoln, Nebraska: Why We Grow (1893), 74.
5. "James Tyler Passes Away," Sunday State Journal (November 2, 1919), 8A:6 (and portrait); (Lincoln) Evening State Journal (November 1, 1919), 1 (with portrait).
6. Ed Zimmer, email to David Murphy, October 26, 2000; regarding Fitzgerald Block at 7th & P: (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (September 4, 1888), 8 ("Work will commence next week...")
7. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
8. William Wood, “Postcard from Lincoln,” Newsletter of the Preservation Association of Lincoln 17:1 (Spring 2009), 3.
9. Thomas Lee Kaspar (1951-____), Architect, comp. Inventory of architectural records in the archives of Davis Fenton Stange Darling, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska. 1996. Nebraska State Historical Society, RG3748, Box 16.
10. Mrs. Maryan Tyler Matthew. Personal interview. November 27, 1978.
11. England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Accessed through Ancestry.com
12. 1900 United States Census. s.v. “James Tyler,” Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska. E.D. 57, sheet 4, line 57.
13. Photos by David Murphy, October 1975. NSHS 7510/1:25
14. Contract between Mr. William R. Berger, Mr. James Tyler, and the Nebraska Stock Yard Company president and other employees. Signed February 13, 1888.
15. "The Halter Block," Lincoln (Nebraska) Daily Call (January 1, 1893), 5; with illustration.
16. Lincoln (Nebraska) Evening Call (May 9, 1888), 3; "The Fitzgerald Block," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (May 12, 1888), 7.
17. "Notice to Contractors," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (July 20, 1888), 2.
Page Citation
D. Murphy & E. Zimmer, “James Tyler (1844-1919), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, December 25, 2017. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, November 23, 2024.
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