Dobie, J. Frank, House
Why it's listed
Close to the northeastern edge of the University of Texas campus in Austin, this 1 1/2-story Colonial Revival house was built in 1925-26 on sloping land beside Waller Creek. Builder C.H. Toungate put up the white weatherboard house as a speculative project, and J. Frank and Bertha Dobie bought it in November 1926. Dobie, a University of Texas English professor, wrote there the books and articles that drew national attention to the folklore and literature of Texas and the Southwest, including Coronado's Children and The Longhorns. He often signed his prefaces "On Waller Creek," and he gathered with fellow writers Walter Prescott Webb and Roy Bedichek under the great elm in the backyard. A 1950 addition designed by architect Carlton Brush enlarged his library and office while matching the original materials and details. A detached garage also contributes. After years of deferred maintenance, the property was rehabilitated in 1988-89. It is recognized for its statewide importance in literature.
Significance in brief: The house was the home of author and University of Texas professor J. Frank Dobie from 1926 until his death in 1964. He wrote the works that brought national attention to Texas and Southwest folklore there, and many of his prefaces are signed "On Waller Creek." The nomination argues statewide significance in literature under Criterion B, and the house retains its integrity because the 1950 remodelling matched the original materials and detailing.
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 91000575, listed May 20, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 702 E. 26th St., Austin |
|---|---|
| County | Travis County |
| Listed | May 20, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000575 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1926-1964 |
| Architect / builder | Builder: C.H. Toungate; Architect: Carlton Brush (1950 remodelling) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Literature |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Returned to excellent physical condition by a rehabilitation in 1988-89; still used as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.28949, -97.73256 (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 91000575.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14710531
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.