Ralph Ellison Family's (1916) 314 N. Byers

This house was described as a spacious home facing Bryant School, a school for white students, across Byers to the west. The Ellisons were in the vanguard of Black families moving into the area in 1916 and there was only one other Black family as their neighbors on their quiet, paved, tree-lined street.

Ralph Ellison’s father, Lewis, had taken a job delivering ice in parts of Oklahoma City, and the business proved successful enough for the ambitious new father to move his family to spacious quarters in a home facing white families at the 400 block of Byers. In 1916, relations with white residents were calm, and on North Byers, the Ellisons were only a block away from the prestigious Third Street, prominently owned by white families. Third Street had paved roads, well-manicured lawns and backyards, the epitome of suburban living and prosperity for Lewis and Ida Ellison. Oklahoma City’s path to urbanization and gentility seemed matched to the couple. Tragically, Lewis Ellison did not live long in the house at 314 N. Byers. By June of that year, he died in an experimental surgery following an accident delivering ice to a local grocery store. After his death, Ida became the sole supporter of the family, and they would no longer have the luxury of spacious quarters in their living arrangements.

Jackson, Lawrence. Ralph Ellison: The Emergence of Genius. New York City, New York. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2002.