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Edward Wyer family papers, 1779-1978
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Wyer, Edward
- Title
- Edward Wyer family papers
- Dates
- 1779-1978 (inclusive)17791978
- Quantity
- 2 linear feet, (5 boxes)
- Collection Number
- ACCN 2532
- Summary
- The Edward Wyer family papers (1779-1978) consists of correspondence, genealogy research and historical memorabilia related to Edward Wyer and his descendants. The majority of the material was collected by James I. and his wife Leah O. Wyer, notable librarians in the 20th century. Portions of the collection are Wyer family-specific material, while other sections are of a broader scholarly/historical interest.
- Repository
-
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860
Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
This collection was created by and largely concerns James and Leah Wyer, prominent librarians in the 20th century. Born in Red Wing, Minnesota on May 14, 1869, James Ingersoll Wyer was the eldest son of James Ingersoll and Rosabel E. Shear Wyer. Wyer attended high school in Concordia, Kansas and, upon graduation, worked in a bank started by his father for several years, and on May 3, 1894, marryied May Tyner. During the depressed economy of the late nineteenth century, foreclosures on local farms convinced Wyer to seek a path other than banking.
In 1895, influenced by an uncle's passion for books and a cousin's connection to Melvil Dewey, Wyer decided to pursue a career in librarianship. In preparation, he completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota. Education agreed with Wyer, and he continued on, earning his B.L.S., M.L.S. and Ph.D. Wyer began working in the library field, in progressively higher positions, the most prestigeous of which being the director of the New York State Library School (1908-1926) and director of the New York State Library (1908-1938).
Wyer's wife May died in 1936, and in 1938, Wyer ended his thirty-year tenure as Director of the New York State Library and retired to Salt Lake City, Utah. Wyer married a second time to Leah Ocker Roys (New York State Library School, class of 1923) on June 29, 1938. In Utah, Wyer pursued his hobbies, remained an active contributor to library journals, and returned to banking until an illness in 1950. Wyer was hospitalized in October of 1955 after he fell and broke his hip. Wyer never returned home after the injury, and died in the hospital on November 1, 1955. He was buried in Albany Rural Cemetery, New York.
(Adapted from biographical material written by Carolyn A. Schmitt in 2006.)
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Edward Wyer family papers contains two distinct types of materials:
Boxes 1, 2, and 5 contain materials that are directly connected with the Wyer family. The content is typical of a personal or family collection; letters, notes, legal documents, clippings, genealogy research, photographs, and other materials that contribute to the personal history of the people involved.
Boxes 3, 4 and 5 contain items that were presumably owned by the Wyer family, but not directly connected to them. These items help to establish the "spirit of the age" in which the various Wyers lived in, but could also be of interest to anyone interested in history, antiques, rare books, etc.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.
Preferred Citation
Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
James Ingersoll WyerReturn to Top
The personal correspondence and memorabilia of James Ingersoll Wyer.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1-14 | James I. Wyer files
The personal files, correspondence, clippings, documents, and memorabilia of J.I. Wyer.
|
1906-1950 |
| 1 | 15 | "Finley collection on the history and romance of the northwest"
Annotated catalog of books on the subject, gifted to Wyer by Finley.
|
1924 |
| 1 | 16 | "A Dinner in the Honour of H.R.G. The Prince of Wales Given by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Pomeroy Davison"
Guest list. The Wyers were invited.
|
1919 |
| 1 | 17 | "New York State Library School Address List"
J.I. Wyer is listed, honored.
|
1951 |
| 1 | 18 | "First National Bank of Concordia, Kansas" pamphlet
J.I. Wyer is mentioned and pictured as a cashier, his father (also named J.I. Wyer) as an executive.
|
1883-1908 |
| 1 | 19 | Wyer family genealogy research
Includes printed pamphlets, genealogy charts, clippings, etc.
|
1658-1935 |
| 1 | 20 | Ocker family genealogy research
Notes and genealogy charts.
|
1779-1938 |
Leah Ocker Roys WyerReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 2 | Personal correspondence and memorabilia
Leah Ocker Roys Wyer was the wife to J.I. Wyer.
|
1915-1973 |
Historical memorabiliaReturn to Top
This box contains items that were owned by the Wyer family. They are not directly related to the family, but are antiques of historical note.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 3 | 1 | Wells, Fargo & Company's historical exhibit catalogue
List of items displayed at WF's Chicago, IL exhibit in 1893.
|
1893 |
| 3 | 2 | Wells, Fargo & Company memoranda
re: the construction of a new WF office in San Francisco, CA
|
2/5/1898 |
| 3 | 3 | "Cercle Francais de L'Universite du Michigan Miquette Et Sa Mere" |
1916 |
| 3 | 4 | Herbert S. Auerbach memorabilia
Personalized stationary and wallet of H.S. Auerbach (1882-1945), prominent Utah businessman and philanthropist
|
1928 |
| 3 | 5 | Edward Eberstadt, "Americana" catalogue |
1929 |
| 3 | 6 | "Book #31: Directions for the Care and Use of White Rotary Electric Sewing Machines" |
1931 |
| 3 | 7 | "Map of the World," by National Geographic Magazine |
1935 |
| 3 | 8 | "Lets Fix Up the House"
Promotional home-improvement booklet produced by Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound.
|
1935 |
| 3 | 9 | Edward Eberstadt, "Indian Captives and Massacres," catalogue |
1943 |
| 3 | 10 | Mary Lee Taylor wartime recipe booklets
The Mary Lee Taylor Program was a radio cooking show from 1933-1954, sponsored by the PET Milk Company.
|
1940s |
| 3 | 11 | "Wartime Suggestions on How to Get the Most out of Your Refrigerator"
Produced by General Motors' Frigidaire division.
|
1943 |
| 3 | 12 | "Wartime Tips on the Care and Use of Your Electric Appliances"
Produced by Utah Power and Light.
|
1943 |
| 3 | 13 | "Knox Wartime Recipes"
Produced by the Knox Gelatine Company.
|
1943 |
| 3 | 14 | "24 Ways to S-T-R-E-T-C-H Food Rations"
Produced by the Snowdirft Shortening Company.
|
1940s |
| 3 | 15 | New York memorabilia
Tourism materials and stationary.
|
1937 |
| 3 | 16 | Anne Carroll Moore, "A Century of Kate Greenaway" |
1946 |
| 3 | 17 | U.S. Territorial Postmark Catalog: Utah Territory
© 1950, single page.
|
1850-1896 |
| 3 | 18 | Burbidge Coal Company Promotional Callendar |
1953 |
| 3 | 19 |
Pen Winter Edition
Pen was a student literary magazine at the University of Utah.
|
1957 |
| 3 | 20 | "An Indestructable Professor" (Aziz Atiya article)
Deseret News.
|
1978 |
| 3 | 21 | Geo D. Smith "Abraham Lincoln" catalogue |
|
| 3 | 22 | Hallmark "Winter Landscapes" greeting card collection
Note that these cards are contained in a Hallmark "Winter Landscapes" box, but very well may include cards from other sets, manufacturors, and eras.
|
20th century |
| 4 | Rebecca Owings, The Civil War In Pictures
Owings' personal scrapbook of Civil War memorabilia; seems to be made from a commercially printed book called The Civil War In Pictures.
|
1958 |
Wyer family oversizeReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 5 | 1 | Western Stamp Collector 1948-1952 (Originals)
Papers range from 1948-1952; this is not a complete archive of these years.
|
1948-1952 |
| 5 | 2 | Western Stamp Collector 1948-1952 (Copies, by date)
Papers range from 1948-1952; this is not a complete archive of these years.
|
1948-1952 |
| 5 | 3 | General materials
Diplomas, certificates, genealogy charts.
|
|
| 5 | 4 | Correspondence
This folder also contains two letters from Melvil Dewey.
|
1915; 1941; 1943 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Personal Names
Family Names
Form or Genre Terms
Finding aid created by Michael Bills
2012 (last modified: 2019)
