Tyler Barber College, called the country’s first for African Americans

Name: Tyler Barber College, called the country’s first for African Americans
Start: 1934

Claimed first per the downtown nomination1934, sources differ (see the note). Card 111 of 165.

Henry Miller Morgan, born in Tyler’s St. Louis community in 1895, opened Tyler Barber College at 212 East Erwin Street.

The downtown National Register nomination calls it the first barber college for African Americans in the country.

It grew into a chain with schools in Houston, Jackson, Mississippi, and Manhattan.

Note

A 2004 state marker says Morgan opened his college on Irwin Street with five chairs “by 1933”; the 2022 nomination says 1934.

Texas Historical Commission marker: Henry Miller Morgan (Atlas 5423013089)atlas.thc.texas.govIn 1929, Morgan began developing ideas for a barber college for African Americans. By 1933, he opened a college on Irwin Street with five chairs.at one time the school reportedly was training a majority of the nation's African American barbers
National Register nomination: Tyler Downtown Historic District (listed 2022; THC Atlas)atlas.thc.texas.govIn the same building, Henry Miller Morgan opened the first barber college for African Americans in the country—Tyler Barber College (fig. 11)—in 1934.Henry Miller Morgan opened the first barber college for African Americans in the country—Tyler Barber College (fig. 11)—in 1934.his school became a successful chain with locations across the country, including in Houston; Jackson, Mississippi; and Manhattan, New York.

Checked October 15, 2026. How the cards are filed