President's House at Texas College
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1942 on the campus of Texas College, an African American institution in Tyler, this red brick house served as the home of the college's presidents and their families until about 2000. It is a 1½-to-two-story Colonial Revival dwelling with a symmetrical facade, a pedimented portico, a balconet over the entry and original 6/6 wood windows. Tyler contractor J.S. Johnson built it for about $5,000 during the tenure of President Dominion Robert Glass. The plans came from an unknown source, though the Nashville firm McKissack & McKissack is believed to have been involved. Exterior changes are limited to a replaced front door and rear air conditioning equipment, and a brick garage stands nearby. The house is considered the most intact historic-era building on campus and the only known surviving single-family dwelling linked to African American education in Tyler. It reflects both Colonial Revival design and the college's growing stability during segregation.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a good local example of Colonial Revival architecture and the most intact historic-era building on the campus. It is also the only known surviving single-family dwelling tied to African American education in Tyler. It symbolizes the college's stability and educational aims under President D. R. Glass during segregation.
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 07000131, listed March 7, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2404 N. Grand Ave., Tyler |
|---|---|
| County | Smith County |
| Listed | March 7, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000131 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1942-1956 |
| Architect / builder | Architect: McKissack & McKissack (attributed); Builder: J.S. Johnson |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals/Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Education, Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant since about 2000; described as preserved in good condition with high integrity. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 32.46296, -95.31373 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 07000131.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002653
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.