Latta, Rev. M.L., House
Why it's listed
Two-story Queen Anne house built about 1905 on a two-acre lot at 1001 Parker Street in Oberlin, a freedmen's village later absorbed into Raleigh. Its irregular massing, cross gables, slate roof and wraparound porch with Tuscan columns are classical touches on the style. The house is associated with Reverend Morgan London Latta, born enslaved in 1853, who founded Latta University in 1892 as a privately funded school independent of any church. Latta raised money through travel and speeches and promoted the school through an 1903 autobiography. The university closed around 1922, and Latta lost his Oberlin property by 1931. The nomination treats the house as the only surviving building linked to the school and to Latta's life in the community. Its size and fashionable design are cited as evidence of his prominence, set against the modest housing typical of Oberlin at the time.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is the sole surviving resource associated with Latta University and its founder, Reverend Morgan L. Latta. It is also described as one of the largest and most fashionable houses in Oberlin and an intact example of Queen Anne design in the community.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 02000502, listed May 16, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1001 Parker St., Raleigh |
|---|---|
| County | Wake County |
| Listed | May 16, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000502 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1905-1922 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Queen Anne with Colonial Revival (classical) influence |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black, Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house is in fair condition and retains sufficient integrity; it is occupied by a present owner. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 35.79820, -78.66281 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 02000502.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7317686
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.