Descriptive Summary
Tyler, George W.
Tyler, George W. Papers
1840-1926
Materials are written in English.
73-164
7 ft., 11 in.
Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The
University of Texas at Austin
Letters, diaries, notes, account
papers, and research on Bell County comprise the George W. Tyler Papers (1840-1926),
which document Tyler’s activities as a lawyer, politician, local historian, regent
for the University of Texas, and Free Mason.
Biographical Note
George W. Tyler was a Texas historian, attorney, and politician born in Coryell
County in 1851. He graduated from Salado College in 1871, and attended law school in
Tennessee, graduating in 1874. He practiced law in Belton, Texas. From 1888 to 1892,
Tyler represented the 23rd district in the Texas Senate. During this time, he
authored the Texas Arbor Day law and may have originated the idea for the Railroad
Commission. Dedicated to education, Tyler was the president of the board of trustees
for the Belton public schools and from 1925 to 1927 served on the Board of Regents
for the University of Texas. Tyler was the Grandmaster of the Grand Lodge of Texas,
and helped create the first Masonic lodge in Mexico. Upon his retirement in 1912 and
before his death in 1927, Tyler devoted his time to the study of local history. His
History of Bell County was edited and published
posthumously by Charles W. Ramsdell in 1936.
Source:
Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. “George W.
Tyler,” http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/TT/fty1.html
(accessed May 12, 2010).
Scope and Contents
Letters, diaries, notes, account papers, and research on Bell County comprise the
George W. Tyler Papers (1840-1926), which document Tyler’s activities as a lawyer,
politician, local historian, regent for the University of Texas, and Freemason. The
papers primarily consist of letterpresses and letters from 1871 to 1926 and relate
to Tyler’s business and personal dealings, such as his legal practice and his
involvement with the University of Texas Board of Regents. The papers also pertain
to the Texas Railroad commission. Furthermore, the papers contain materials
concerning the history of Bell County and Tyler’s book on the subject.
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research use.
Index Terms
Subjects (Persons)
Tyler, George W., 1851-1927--Archives.
Ramsdell, Charles W. (Charles William),
1877-1942.
Subjects (Organizations)
Railroad Commission of Texas.
University of Texas at Austin. Board of
Regents.
Texas. Legislature. Senate
Subjects
Local history--Texas.
Freemasonry--Texas.
Places
Belton (Tex.)--History.
Bell County (Tex.)--History
Preferred Citation
George W. Tyler Papers, 1840-1926, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The
University of Texas at Austin.
Processing Information
Basic processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with funds from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) for the Briscoe Center’s History Revealed: Bringing Collections to Light project, 2009-2011.
Separated Material
A map of Belton, Texas has been separated to the Map Collection.
Processing Information
Subsequent revisions were made by Ralph Elder, May 1979.
Detailed Description of the Papers
INVENTORY:
2H89
Transcript of court minutes, Bell County, 1850-1918
2H90
Letters, 1856-1926
Literary productions concerning Bell County history
2H91
Newspaper clippings
2H92
Newspaper clippings
Notes on the Belton Masonic Lodge
2H93
Notes of the Belton Masonic Lodge
2H94
Newspaper clippings, 1896-1924
2H95
Newspapers clippings, 1924
2H96
Newspaper clippings, 1924
2H97
Newspaper clippings, 1924
Letter presses:
1871-1876
1876-1880
2H98
1876-1877
1878
1878-1880
1880-1881
2H99
1882-1884
1884-1885
1887-1889
1891-1893
2H100
1893
1894
1894-1895
1895
1895-1896
2R101
1896
1896-1897
1897-1898
2H102
1898-1900
1901-1901
1902-1903
2H103
1905-1906
1906-1907
1908-1909
Letter book:
M-K-T, 1895
1895-1897
2H104
M-K-T, 1897-1900
1901-1905
1905
2H105
Walter E. Manteith, 1901-1911
Notes on Bell County
2H106
Letters, 1909-1926
Clippings, 1924
4J265
Notes on the History of Bell County, [ca. 1923]:
List of contents
Introduction
Pre-Bell County history to 1850
Bell County history, [ca. 1850-1874]
4J266
Bell County history, [ca. 1874-1923]
Biographical sketches, A - Y
Appendices
Miscellaneous notes and clipping
Fire Side Tales; or, Tales of Early Texas, by Colonel Hermon Aiken
Plat map [copy] of Belton, 1850
The Belton Independent:
June 10, 1858
June 28, 2858
July 3, 1858
July 10, 1858 [incomplete]
March 26, 1859
April 2, 1859
April 9, 1859