Old Sherman Public Library
Also known as: Sherman Historical Society
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Why it's listed
Built in 1914-1915 at 301 South Walnut, this brick Carnegie library served Sherman as its public library for 57 years. Andrew Carnegie offered the city $20,000 in 1914, following years of effort by the Sherman Shakespeare Club to establish a free library. Local architect John Tulloch designed the Classical Revival building, and contractor Jerry Wall built it. A limestone aedicule with Tuscan columns marks the entrance, and Tuscan columns also divide the main reading room. Only 16 of the 33 Carnegie libraries built in Texas survive. In 1934 Dallas artist Jimmie Swann presented three Greek-themed murals of the muses of music, painting, and literature, which remain in the building. After the library moved in 1973, the city declared the building surplus, and a citizen group converted it into the Sherman Historical Museum, which opened on July 4, 1976. The building remains largely unaltered and is still used for museum exhibits and civic meetings.
Significance in brief: The building is argued to be the major surviving example of Classical Revival architecture in Sherman and the city's first permanent public library facility. It is one of only 16 remaining Carnegie-funded libraries of the 33 built in Texas. Its 1934 Public Works of Art murals of Greek muses add to its importance.
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 86002927, listed October 23, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 301 S. Walnut, Sherman |
|---|---|
| County | Grayson County |
| Listed | October 23, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002927 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1914-1915 |
| Architect / builder | John Tulloch/Jerry Wall |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Art, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as the Sherman Historical Museum; exterior essentially unchanged since 1915 apart from added wrought-iron burglar bars and a banister. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.63473, -96.60706 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 86002927.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107321848
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.