Tyler, Then and Now
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Credits

Every picture and old map on this site, with who made it, who holds it, the rights the holder states, word for word, and the credit line we print beside it. Pictures of then are shown in the plate’s ink; each links to the holder’s original, which is only resized here.

The old maps under the plate

Shown under the home plate in their years, and under each year’s plate. How each was placed, and how far off it is, is on the sources page.

  1. Sanborn map, May 1885

    Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Tyler, Smith County, Texas, 1885 (3 sheet images). Sheet 1, the blocks west of the public square (no key map that year); under the plate from 1885 to 1888.

    Made by
    Sanborn Map & Publishing Co., Limited (cartouche on sheet 1; LOC catalogs it as Sanborn Map Company)
    Date
    1885-05
    Held by
    Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division
    Rights
    published before 1931. The content of the Library of Congress online Sanborn Maps Collection is in the public domain and is free to use and reuse. Credit Line: Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection. More about Copyright and other Restrictions. For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.
    Credit line
    Sanborn Map Company, Tyler, Smith County, Texas, 1885. Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection.

    The item pageThe sheet as downloadedOpen 1885 on the ruler

  2. Sanborn map, November 1889

    Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Tyler, Smith County, Texas, 1889 (5 sheet images). Sheet 1, the key map; under the plate from 1889 to 1892.

    Made by
    Sanborn Map Company
    Date
    1889-11
    Held by
    Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division
    Rights
    published before 1931. The content of the Library of Congress online Sanborn Maps Collection is in the public domain and is free to use and reuse. Credit Line: Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection. More about Copyright and other Restrictions. For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.
    Credit line
    Sanborn Map Company, Tyler, Smith County, Texas, 1889. Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection.

    The item pageThe sheet as downloadedOpen 1889 on the ruler

  3. Sanborn map, January 1893

    Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Tyler, Smith County, Texas, 1893 (8 sheet images). Sheet 1, the key map; under the plate from 1893 to 1897.

    Made by
    Sanborn Map Company
    Date
    1893-01
    Held by
    Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division
    Rights
    published before 1931. The content of the Library of Congress online Sanborn Maps Collection is in the public domain and is free to use and reuse. Credit Line: Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection. More about Copyright and other Restrictions. For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.
    Credit line
    Sanborn Map Company, Tyler, Smith County, Texas, 1893. Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection.

    The item pageThe sheet as downloadedOpen 1893 on the ruler

  4. Sanborn map, September 1898

    Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Tyler, Smith County, Texas, 1898 (11 sheet images). Sheet 1, the key map; under the plate from 1898 to 1901.

    Made by
    Sanborn Map Company
    Date
    1898-09
    Held by
    Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division
    Rights
    published before 1931. The content of the Library of Congress online Sanborn Maps Collection is in the public domain and is free to use and reuse. Credit Line: Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection. More about Copyright and other Restrictions. For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.
    Credit line
    Sanborn Map Company, Tyler, Smith County, Texas, 1898. Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection.

    The item pageThe sheet as downloadedOpen 1898 on the ruler

  5. Sanborn map, November 1902

    Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Tyler, Smith County, Texas, 1902 (14 sheet images). Sheet 1, the key map; under the plate from 1902 to 1906.

    Made by
    Sanborn Map Company
    Date
    1902-11
    Held by
    Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division
    Rights
    published before 1931. The content of the Library of Congress online Sanborn Maps Collection is in the public domain and is free to use and reuse. Credit Line: Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection. More about Copyright and other Restrictions. For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.
    Credit line
    Sanborn Map Company, Tyler, Smith County, Texas, 1902. Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection.

    The item pageThe sheet as downloadedOpen 1902 on the ruler

  6. Sanborn map, September 1907

    Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Tyler, Smith County, Texas, 1907 (20 sheet images). Sheet 1, the key map; under the plate from 1907 to 1911.

    Made by
    Sanborn Map Company
    Date
    1907-09
    Held by
    Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division
    Rights
    published before 1931. The content of the Library of Congress online Sanborn Maps Collection is in the public domain and is free to use and reuse. Credit Line: Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection. More about Copyright and other Restrictions. For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.
    Credit line
    Sanborn Map Company, Tyler, Smith County, Texas, 1907. Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection.

    The item pageThe sheet as downloadedOpen 1907 on the ruler

  7. Sanborn map, February 1912

    Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Tyler, Smith County, Texas, 1912 (27 sheet images). Sheet 1, the key map; under the plate from 1912 to 1918.

    Made by
    Sanborn Map Company
    Date
    1912-02
    Held by
    Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division
    Rights
    published before 1931. The content of the Library of Congress online Sanborn Maps Collection is in the public domain and is free to use and reuse. Credit Line: Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection. More about Copyright and other Restrictions. For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.
    Credit line
    Sanborn Map Company, Tyler, Smith County, Texas, 1912. Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection.

    The item pageThe sheet as downloadedOpen 1912 on the ruler

  8. Sanborn map, August 1919

    Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Tyler, Smith County, Texas, 1919 (14 sheet images). Sheet 1, the key map; under the plate from 1919 to 1927.

    Made by
    Sanborn Map Company
    Date
    1919-08
    Held by
    Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division
    Rights
    published before 1931. The content of the Library of Congress online Sanborn Maps Collection is in the public domain and is free to use and reuse. Credit Line: Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection. More about Copyright and other Restrictions. For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.
    Credit line
    Sanborn Map Company, Tyler, Smith County, Texas, 1919. Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection.

    The item pageThe sheet as downloadedOpen 1919 on the ruler

  9. Sanborn map, March 1928

    Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Tyler, Smith County, Texas, 1928 (24 sheet images). Sheet 1, the key map; under the plate from 1928 to 1937.

    Made by
    Sanborn Map Company
    Date
    1928-03
    Held by
    Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division
    Rights
    published before 1931. The content of the Library of Congress online Sanborn Maps Collection is in the public domain and is free to use and reuse. Credit Line: Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection. More about Copyright and other Restrictions. For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.
    Credit line
    Sanborn Map Company, Tyler, Smith County, Texas, 1928. Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection.

    The item pageThe sheet as downloadedOpen 1928 on the ruler

  10. Sanborn map, 1938

    Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Tyler, Smith County, Texas, 1938 (59 sheet images). The key map at the front of the atlas; under the plate from 1938 to 1947.

    Made by
    Sanborn Map Company
    Date
    1938
    Held by
    Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division
    Rights
    no known restrictions. The content of the Library of Congress online Sanborn Maps Collection is in the public domain and is free to use and reuse. Credit Line: Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection. More about Copyright and other Restrictions. For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.
    Credit line
    Sanborn Map Company, Tyler, Smith County, Texas, 1938. Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection.

    The item pageThe sheet as downloadedOpen 1938 on the ruler

  11. USGS map, 1948

    USGS 1:62,500-scale Quadrangle for Tyler, TX 1948 (scan 116805). The 1:62,500 quadrangle, around Tyler; under the plate from 1948 to 1967.

    Made by
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Date
    1948 (metadata range 1947-1964)
    Held by
    U.S. Geological Survey, Historical Topographic Map Collection (topoView / The National Map)
    Rights
    US federal work. USGS policy (https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits): "USGS-authored or produced data and information are considered to be in the U.S. Public Domain." | Product metadata use constraints: "None. However, users should be aware that temporal changes may have occurred since this map was originally produced and that some parts of this data may no longer represent actual surface conditions. Users should not use this data for critical applications without a full awareness of its limitations." | Data credit: "Acknowledgment of the U.S. Geological Survey is expected for products derived from these data."
    Credit line
    U.S. Geological Survey 1:62,500-scale Quadrangle for Tyler, TX 1948 courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey.

    The item pageThe sheet as downloadedOpen 1948 on the ruler

The pictures

In the order of the years they are shown on.

  1. Camp Ford, Texas: lithograph from sketches by Jas. S. McClain, "a prisoner of war for 13 months" (hospital, Col. R. R. Brown's headquarters, Capt. Braunfelter's cabin, west and south views of the stockade)

    Made by
    James S. McClain, Co. F, 120th Ohio Infantry (sketches); Krebs & Bro. Lith., Pittsburgh (lithographers)
    Date
    1865 (Smith County Historical Society: 'the 1865 original'); print carries 'Copy Right secured'
    Held by
    Public domain; digital file on Wikimedia Commons
    Rights
    published before 1931. This media file is in the public domain in the United States. This applies to U.S. works where the copyright has expired, often because its first publication occurred prior to January 1, 1931, and if not then due to lack of notice or renewal.
    Credit line
    Camp Ford, Texas. Lithograph by Krebs & Bro., Pittsburgh, from sketches by Jas. S. McClain, 1865. Public domain; scan via Wikimedia Commons.
    Shown
    In the plate’s ink, resized; the original is linked. On the 1863 page, and at the head of an era in the timeline.

    The item pageThe original, resized

  2. St. Louis Southwestern (Cotton Belt) locomotive No. 529 with tender, Tyler, May 1, 1937

    Made by
    Everett L. DeGolyer Jr. (1923-1977), photographer
    Date
    1937-05-01
    Held by
    DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University
    Rights
    no known restrictions. Flickr license field: "No known copyright restrictions". Item description, Rights: "Please cite DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University when using this file. A high-resolution version of this file may be obtained for a fee. For details see the sites.smu.edu/cul/degolyer/research/permissions/ web page. For other information, contact degolyer@smu.edu.". SMU catalog (CONTENTdm) Rights: "Please cite DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University as the source of this file. A high-resolution version of this file may be obtained for a fee. ... For more information, contact degolyer@smu.edu."
    Credit line
    DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University (no known copyright restrictions)
    Shown
    In the plate’s ink, resized; the original is linked. On the 1905 page.

    The item pageThe original, resized

  3. The Cotton Belt depot with a brick-paved street in front (2016)

    Made by
    Paul Sableman
    Date
    2016-03-31
    Held by
    Paul Sableman
    Rights
    CC BY 2.0. Flickr license field: "CC BY 2.0" (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
    Credit line
    Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/), via Flickr
    Shown
    In its own color, resized. On the 1905 page.

    The item pageThe original, resized

  4. Young Men's Bus. Club Trade Day, Tyler, Apr. 10, 1916

    Made by
    Denison, Robert A., photographer
    Date
    1916-04-10
    Held by
    Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division (Panoramic Photographs, PAN SUBJECT - Events no. 52)
    Rights
    published before 1931. Rights advisory: No known restrictions on publication. | Rights: The Library of Congress does not own rights to material in its collections. Therefore, it does not license or charge permission fees for use of such material and cannot grant or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute the material. Ultimately, it is the researcher's obligation to assess copyright or other use restrictions and obtain permission from third parties when necessary before publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the Library's collections. (Item notes: "J215128 U.S. Copyright Office"; "Copyright deposit; Robert A. Denison; April 21, 1916.")
    Credit line
    Robert A. Denison, photographer, "Young Men's Bus. Club Trade Day, Tyler, Apr. 10, 1916." Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Panoramic Photographs (pan 6a27240).
    Shown
    In the plate’s ink, resized; the original is linked. On the 1910 page, and at the head of an era in the timeline.

    The item pageThe original, resized

  5. "Smith County Court House, Tyler, Texas." (hand-colored postcard of the 1909-10 domed courthouse; postmarked 1910)

    Made by
    Unknown photographer; published by R. E. Bryan, Tyler; printed by Curt Teich & Co. (card no. 13873)
    Date
    published 1905-1910; postmarked 1910
    Held by
    Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives (James F. Stubbins U.S. Postcard Collection, M 384)
    Rights
    published before 1931. "This item is in the public domain. Acknowledgement of the Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries as a source is requested." Rights Statement URL: https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
    Credit line
    Smith County Court House, Tyler, Texas (R. E. Bryan, c. 1910). James F. Stubbins U.S. Postcard Collection, Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries.
    Shown
    In the plate’s ink, resized; the original is linked. On the 1910 page.

    The item pageThe original, resized

  6. Fraternal-day Parade, Home Coming Week, Tyler, July 5, 1909 (hand-colored postcard)

    Made by
    Unknown photographer; published by R. E. Bryan, Tyler, Texas
    Date
    1909-07-05 (event); card imprinted "Published by R. E. Bryan, Tyler, Texas"
    Held by
    DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University
    Rights
    no known restrictions. Flickr license field: "No known copyright restrictions". Item description, Rights: "Please cite DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University when using this file. A high-resolution version of this file may be obtained for a fee. For details see the sites.smu.edu/cul/degolyer/research/permissions/ web page. For other information, contact degolyer@smu.edu.". SMU catalog (CONTENTdm) Rights: "Please cite DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University as the source of this file. A high-resolution version of this file may be obtained for a fee. ... For more information, contact degolyer@smu.edu."
    Credit line
    DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University (no known copyright restrictions)
    Shown
    In the plate’s ink, resized; the original is linked. On the 1910 page.

    The item pageThe original, resized

  7. Tyler Barber College Chain, interior view of our practice shop -- Tyler, Texas (linen postcard)

    Made by
    Pub. by East Texas Engraving Co., Tyler, Texas
    Date
    1930-1945 (approximate)
    Held by
    Boston Public Library, Print Department, Tichnor Brothers Collection
    Rights
    no known restrictions. Flickr license field: "CC BY 2.0" (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/). Item description, Rights: "No known restrictions"
    Credit line
    Boston Public Library, Tichnor Brothers Collection, CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
    Shown
    In the plate’s ink, resized; the original is linked. On the 1920 page.

    The item pageThe original, resized

  8. Tyler Texas, rose capitol of the world (linen postcard)

    Made by
    Pub. by East Texas Engraving Co., Tyler, Texas
    Date
    1930-1945 (approximate)
    Held by
    Boston Public Library, Print Department, Tichnor Brothers Collection
    Rights
    no known restrictions. Flickr license field: "CC BY 2.0" (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/). Item description, Rights: "No known restrictions"
    Credit line
    Boston Public Library, Tichnor Brothers Collection, CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
    Shown
    In the plate’s ink, resized; the original is linked. On the 1930 page, and at the head of an era in the timeline.

    The item pageThe original, resized

  9. Brick street below the People's National Bank tower (2016)

    Made by
    Paul Sableman
    Date
    2016-03-31
    Held by
    Paul Sableman
    Rights
    CC BY 2.0. Flickr license field: "CC BY 2.0" (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
    Credit line
    Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/), via Flickr
    Shown
    In its own color, resized. On the 1930 page.

    The item pageThe original, resized

  10. Tyler Theater, Tyler, Texas

    Made by
    Margolies, John, photographer
    Date
    1982
    Held by
    Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division (John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive)
    Rights
    no known restrictions. Rights advisory: No known restrictions on publication. For more information, see "John Margolies Roadside America Photograph Archive - Rights and Restrictions Information" https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/723_marg.html
    Credit line
    John Margolies, photographer, 1982. John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive (1972-2008), Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division (LC-DIG-mrg-05989).
    Shown
    In the plate’s ink, resized; the original is linked. On the 1930 page.

    The item pageThe original, resized

  11. Mother Frances Hospital, Tyler, Texas (linen postcard)

    Made by
    Nationwide Specialty Co., Arlington, Texas
    Date
    1930-1945 (approximate)
    Held by
    Boston Public Library, Print Department, Tichnor Brothers Collection
    Rights
    no known restrictions. Flickr license field: "CC BY 2.0" (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/). Item description, Rights: "No known restrictions"
    Credit line
    Boston Public Library, Tichnor Brothers Collection, CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
    Shown
    In the plate’s ink, resized; the original is linked. On the 1930 page.

    The item pageThe original, resized

  12. United States Court House and Post Office, Tyler, Texas (built 1889), as pictured in a 1901 Treasury Department history

    Made by
    U.S. Treasury Department (John A. Sutherland and Wallace H. Hills, compilers)
    Date
    1901 (publication)
    Held by
    Public domain (U.S. government publication)
    Rights
    US federal work. This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work prepared by an officer or employee of the United States Federal Government as part of that person’s official duties under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code . Note : This only applies to original works of the Federal Government and not to the work of any individual U.S. state , territory , commonwealth, county, munic
    Credit line
    U.S. Treasury Department, A History of Public Buildings Under the Control of the Treasury Department (Washington: GPO, 1901). Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
    Shown
    In the plate’s ink, resized; the original is linked. On the 1934 page, and at the head of an era in the timeline.

    The item pageThe original, resized

  13. Exterior. U.S. Post Office and Courthouse, Tyler, Texas

    Made by
    Highsmith, Carol M., 1946-, photographer
    Date
    2014-11-24
    Held by
    Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division (Carol M. Highsmith Archive)
    Rights
    no known restrictions. Rights advisory: No known restrictions on publication. | Rights: The Library of Congress does not own rights to material in its collections. Therefore, it does not license or charge permission fees for use of such material and cannot grant or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute the material. Ultimately, it is the researcher's obligation to assess copyright or other use restrictions and obtain permission from third parties when necessary before publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the Library's collections.
    Credit line
    Carol M. Highsmith, photographer, 2014. Photographs in the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division (LC-DIG-highsm-31248).
    Shown
    In its own color, resized. On the 1934 page.

    The item pageThe original, resized

  14. Bergfeld Shopping Center -- Tyler, Texas (linen postcard)

    Made by
    Pub. by East Texas Engraving Co., Tyler, Texas
    Date
    1930-1945 (approximate)
    Held by
    Boston Public Library, Print Department, Tichnor Brothers Collection
    Rights
    no known restrictions. Flickr license field: "CC BY 2.0" (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/). Item description, Rights: "No known restrictions"
    Credit line
    Boston Public Library, Tichnor Brothers Collection, CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
    Shown
    In the plate’s ink, resized; the original is linked. On the 1949 page, and at the head of an era in the timeline.

    The item pageThe original, resized

  15. Regions, Courthouse at Erwin and Broadway, Tyler, Texas

    Made by
    Paul Sableman
    Date
    31 March 2016, 16:02:17
    Held by
    Paul Sableman
    Rights
    CC BY 2.0. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. This image was originally posted to Flickr by pasa47 at https://flickr.com/photos/53301297@N00/25706005533 .
    Credit line
    Paul Sableman / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
    Shown
    In its own color, resized. On the 1955 page.

    The item pageThe original, resized

  16. Plaza and fountain on the downtown square (2016)

    Made by
    Paul Sableman
    Date
    2016-03-31
    Held by
    Paul Sableman
    Rights
    CC BY 2.0. Flickr license field: "CC BY 2.0" (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
    Credit line
    Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/), via Flickr
    Shown
    In its own color, resized. On the 1955 page.

    The item pageThe original, resized

  17. Brick paving and storefronts on the downtown square (2016)

    Made by
    Paul Sableman
    Date
    2016-03-31
    Held by
    Paul Sableman
    Rights
    CC BY 2.0. Flickr license field: "CC BY 2.0" (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
    Credit line
    Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/), via Flickr
    Shown
    In its own color, resized. On the 2025 page, and at the head of an era in the timeline.

    The item pageThe original, resized

  18. Brick-paved downtown street with the vertical TYLER theater sign (2016)

    Made by
    Paul Sableman
    Date
    2016-03-31
    Held by
    Paul Sableman
    Rights
    CC BY 2.0. Flickr license field: "CC BY 2.0" (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
    Credit line
    Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/), via Flickr
    Shown
    In its own color, resized. On the 2026 page.

    The item pageThe original, resized