Edward Wyer family papers
Collection
Identifier: ACCN 2532
Scope and Contents
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.
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.
Dates
- 1779-1978
Creator
- Wyer, Edward (Person)
Language of Materials
Collection materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
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.
Conditions Governing 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.
Biographical Note
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.)
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.)
Extent
2 Linear Feet (5 Boxes)
Abstract
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.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Guy Benson in 2010 and in 2017.
Separated Materials
Photographs were transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections
Processing Information
Processed by Michael Bills in 2011.
Box 5, folder 4, processed by Betsey Welland in 2019.
Box 5, folder 4, processed by Betsey Welland in 2019.
Creator
- Wyer, Edward (Person)
- Title
- Inventory of the Edward Wyer family papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid created by Michael Bills.
- Date
- 2012 (last modified: 2019)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository
Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu