Canyon in Randall County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Shirley House
As a graduate of Texas Christian University and the University of Michigan, Dr. Douglas Alfred Shirley (1882-1949) was a football coach and the president of Hereford College before moving to Canyon. During his tenure at West Texas State Normal College (later West Texas State Teachers college), Dr. Shirley was professor of physics and head of the physics department from 1913-1923. He also served as the first associate dean from 1923-1942 and chairman of the athletics committee and was three times elected president of the Texas Intercollegiate Athletics Association. Dr. Shirley was a member of the Canyon City Chamber of Commerce, a charter member of the Canyon Rotary club, a Mason and Shriner. He retired as dean in 1949 due to ill health and passed away later that year.
Dr. Shirley and his wife, Willena M. (Hannaford) Shirley (1886-1975), built this home in 1916 on lots bought from Canyon City founder L.G. Conner. The Shirleys purchased architectural plans from the Craftsman Bungalow Company of Seattle, Washington, and Jim and Sterling Coffee built the two-story frame and brick home with grouped windows, full-length porch, prominent dormer and exposed rafter tails. At the time, the house bordered mostly open prairie to the southeast, allowing a view of the plains.
Renowned American artist Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986) rented the upstairs bedroom and boarded with the Shirleys for the 1917-1918 school year. She was a faculty member at West Texas State and one of the most important artists of the 20th century. From the window of her rented room, O'Keeffe studied the west Texas sunrises and the houses across the street which became the subject she depicted in Roof with Snow and House with Red Sky
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2017
Marker is property of the State of Texas
Erected 2017 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 18679.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Education • Women.
Location. 34° 58.717′ N, 101° 55.361′ W. Marker is in Canyon, Texas, in Randall County. Marker is on 20th Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 500 20th Street, Canyon TX 79015, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Roof with Snow / Kimbrough House (within shouting distance of this marker); Mary E. Hudspeth House (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); First Methodist Church (about 600 feet away); First National Bank (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Baptist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Site of Wagon Yard (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Little House of Fellowship (approx. ¼ mile away); Canyon Fire Department (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Canyon.
Also see . . . A collection of O'Keeffe's Texas works, including Roof with Snow. (Submitted on May 18, 2020, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.)
Credits. This page was last revised on May 18, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 17, 2020, by Allen Lowrey of Amarillo, Texas. This page has been viewed 323 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 17, 2020, by Allen Lowrey of Amarillo, Texas. 2, 3. submitted on May 18, 2020, by Allen Lowrey of Amarillo, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.