Edward Wyer Family photograph collection

Collection

Identifier: P1612

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Edward Wyer Family photograph collection consists of 1 archives box containing 177 cabinet cards, black-and-white prints and negatives. The images depict members of the Wyer family, primarily librarians James and Leah, but most individuals are unidentified. Most were taken in and concern Michigan and New York with some photographs depicting the family's travels to places such as Viginia and Estes Park, Colorado. The collection dates from approximately 1880 to 1965.

Dates

circa 1880-1965

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 / Historical

The Edward Wyer Family photograph 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.)

Extent

0.5 Linear Feet (1 archives box) : 177 items

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Edward Wyer Family photograph collection was created by and largely concerns James and Leah Wyer, prominent librarians in the 20th century. Included are cabinet cards, formal portraits, library school group photos.