James Tyler, Jr. (1869-1961), Architect
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 H. 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 married Julia Blanche Palmer in 1894; they had two children before they divorced in 1926.[19][20][21] He married Anna Grothe in Chicago in 1928.[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]
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, 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][16]
Farmers' State Bank (1915), Loomis, Nebraska.[12]
Remodeling and extensions to First Baptist Church (1915), Fairbury, Nebraska.[15]
Remodeling and addition to a bungalow for B. F. McLucas (1915), Fairbury, Nebraska.[17]
Remodeling and addition to a residence for Geo. W. Hansen (1915), Fairbury, Nebraska.[18]
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
Woolworth Store (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[11]
Remodel of Beatrice St. Home (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[11]
Disputed Attributions
Little Block (n.d.), 11th & "O" St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[11][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. "Society Personals...Mr. and Mrs. James Tyler have returned from their honeymoon..." Lincoln (Nebraska) State Journal (July 8, 1928), B-4.
11. Mrs. Maryan Tyler Matthew. Personal interview. November 27, 1978.
12. "Lincoln, Nebr....Bank: 1 sty. & bas. 35x60. $6M. Loomis, Nebr. Archt. James Tyler, Jr....Owner Farmers' State Bank," American Contractor (February 27, 1915), 69A.
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.
15. "Lincoln, Nebr....Church (rem. & extensions, seating 800-900, inc. school rm. & aud. with gallery)," American Contractor (February 27, 1915), 69A.
16. "Lincoln, Nebr....Res.: 1 1/2 sty. & bas 45x32, Fairbury, Nebr. Archt. James Tyler, Jr....Owner W. A. WOoster, Fairbury," American Contractor (February 27, 1915), 69A.
17. "Lincoln, Nebr....Bungalow (rem. & add).: 1 sty. & bas. 48x57. $4M. Fairbury, Nebr. Archt. James Tyler, Jr....Owner B. R. Lucas, Fairbury," American Contractor (April 24, 1915), 77; "McLucas" in American Contractor (May 1, 1915), 107.
18. "Lincoln, Nebr....Res. (rem. & add.): 2 sty. & bas. $2M. Fairbury, Nebr. Archt. James Tyler, Jr....Owner Geo. W. Hansen," American Contractor (May 15, 1915), 92.
19. Ancestry.com. Nebraska, Marriage Records, 1855-1908, [database on-line]. s.v. "James Tyler Jr." Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017.
20. "Mere Mention...James Tyler filed a divorce action...," Lincoln (Nebraska) State Journal (September 9, 1925), 8; "Here in Lincoln...Granted Divorce--James Tyler...from Julia B. Tyler," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (March 9, 1926), 6.
21. "Julia Blanche Tyler Dies," (Lincoln, Nebraska) Evening State Journal (July 7, 1924), 1 (illustrated).
Additional Sources
Portrait in Nebraskans, 1854-1904 (Omaha: Bee Publishing Co., 1904), 168. [978.2.B39n]
Page Citation
D. Murphy & E. F. Zimmer, “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, March 6, 2018. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, November 22, 2024.
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