![[logo]](https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaead/logos/wm.jpg)
Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterEarl Gregg Swem Library
400 Landrum Dr
Williamsburg, Virginia
Business Number: 757-221-3090
spcoll@wm.edu
URL: https://libraries.wm.edu/libraries-spaces/special-collections
Steven Bookman, University Archives Specialist.
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use:
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Conditions Governing Access:
This collection is open to all researchers.
Preferred Citation:
Edward C. Dyer Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Acquisition Information:
Acc. 2014.024 was received by Special Collections in January 2014.
Processing Information:
Accessioned and minimally processed by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specialist, in March 2014.
Biographical Information:
Edward Calistus Dyer was born around 1815, the son of John Randall Dyer and Mary Ann Gardiner. Edward had three brothers (Robert Walter, George, and Richard Hannibal) and married Elizabeth E. Belt, sister of William Benjamin Belt, on July 14, 1851.
Edward Dyer lived in Washington D.C. and was an auctioneer along with his brothers Robert and George. Some of the items Edward auctioned off included food, clothing, furniture and slaves. Later in his career, Edward began importing cigars from Cuba as well as fine liquor, whiskey, wine and food.
Scope and Contents
This collection contains correspondence, ephemera, and financial documents related to Edward C. Dyer's business as an auctioneer and importer of cigars (segars) from Havana, Cuba. The majority of the documents are dated between 1853-1865 with the full scope of the collection ranging from 1808-1897. The bulk of the letters were written by John Benjamin Belt, a cigar exporter in Havana, detailing the Cuban import-export cigar trade including suppliers, brands, quality of various tobacco leaves, start-ups, and costs association with the tobacco business. The collection contains letters from Belt to his mother and sister, Elizabeth, Edward C. Dyer's wife. Dyer also had sustained correspondence with Herman Heins and George Dufour, J. Amez, James Harper, Robert Marron, and Reid and Eaton. In addition to the correspondence, there are also numerous ephemera items such as receipts, check stubs, Balance sheets, invoices, property deeds, legal documents, and estate papers. Among the receipts is a receipt for the purchase of a slave by Dyer. Finally, the collection contains several bound account books of Dyer's for various companies with which he did business.
Arrangement of Materials:
This collection is arranged chronologically by item type.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Auctioneers--Washington (D.C.)
- Cuba--Description and travel
- Cuba--History--19th Century
- Ledgers (Accounting)
- Letters (correspondence)
- Printed ephemera
- Tobacco--Cuba--History
- Washington (D.C.)--History--19th century
Physical Characteristics or Technical Requirements:
The fragile nature of this material may limit handling.
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Cuba--History--19th Century
- Washington (D.C.)--History--19th century
Container List
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1 id236796
Account Book1849
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2 id236805
E.C. and G.F. Dyer "Collections" Account Book1849-1850
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3 id236807
E.C. Dyer Account Book with The Bank of Washington1852
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 id236809
Account Book1852-1853
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 5 id236818
E.C. Dyer Account Book with McGraw and Jacobs Grocers1853 July-1854 February
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 6 id236819
E.C. Dyer Account Book with Riggs and Co.1855
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7 id236820
Account Book1855-1856
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 8 id236821
E.C. Dyer Account Book with Riggs and Co.1856-1864
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9 id236822
E.C. Dyer Account Book with Riggs and Co.1859-1862
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 10 id236823
E.C. Dyer Account book with King and Burchell Grocers1860 December-1862 November
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 11 id236824
E.C. Dyer Account Book with Chemical Bank1861
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 12 id236826
E.C. Dyer Account Book with Chemical Bank1861 August- March 1864
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 13 id236828
Account Book with J. Campbell, Agt.undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 14 id236830
Debts Due to the Estate of the Late Robert W. Dyerundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 15 id236831
E.C. Dyer Account Book with Richard J. Ryon Grocersundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 16 id236799
Letters From John Benjamin Belt to E.C. Dyer1853 January-1859 November, undatedScope and Contents
Letters from John B. Belt to E.C. Dyer discussing the state of the tobacco industry in Cuba, field conditions, and product quality. Belt and Dyer were brother- in- laws, and their letters contain family discussion in addition to business.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 17 id236834
Letters from John B. Belt to Elizabeth Belt1853December 7-1854 November 10Scope and Contents
Letters from John .B. Belt to his sister discussing his situation in Havana and their family.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 18 id236839
Letters from John B. Belt to his Mother1854 September 6-1859 November 10Scope and Contents
Letters from John B. Belt to his mother discussing his situation in Havana and their family.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 19 id236840
Letters from Herman Heins and George Dufour to E.C. Dyer1855 December-1856 DecemberScope and Contents
Philadelphia based importers who received Dyer's cigars (segars) from Havana and sent them to him in Washington D.C. Includes discussion of importation processes and cigar sales in the United States.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 20 id236841
Letters to E.C. Dyer from Multiple Authors1856 September-1863 January, undatedScope and Contents
Scope and Contents From Albus J. Urell (?) September 4th, 1856- discusses debt owed by Urell (?) to Dyer and repayment plan. From O.W.N. Myers (?) June 2nd, 1857- discusses Dyer's account t with the Baltimore alcohol distributers. From Sam N. Piked (?) April 25th 1858- letter explaining a miscommunication and requesting more information on unknown business. From Mills, December 2nd 1858- New York based alcohol purchasers discussing their available stock and prices. From C.S. Merritt December 21st 1858- discusses a property in Williamsburgh, New York owned by Dyer and business with the Mills. From Udolpho Wolfe, March 30th 1860- asks for the return of good or payment for goods from the "Sole Importer of the Schiedam Aromatic Schnapps" Letter from Nicholas S. Hill, December 7th 1860- from Little Rock, Arkansas which requests the shipment of one thousand segars (cigars) and a receipt for their shipment dated December 19th 1860. Letter from L. E. Amsinck (?), January 12th 1863- Letter discusses a shipment of Hungarian wine to Dyer and payment. Letter from S. Ferguson Peach (?), October 1st 1863- letter return of a (bank) note to Dyer and an explanation that it could not be kept due to prior business relations with a Mr. Price. Letter from Fredrick Book, Wednesday the 16th 1863- Letter requesting goods or the return of funds. Letter from Geo Bayoud, January 24th 1865- Letter from a New York based alcohol distributer informing E.C.Dyer that his goods have been shipped. Letter from W. R. Purvey (?), undated- Letter asking to deliver a package to a Mr. Roger.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 21 id236842
Letters from John B. Belt to Unknown Recipients1857 April 9, undatedScope and Contents
Discusses cigar business, the young Cuban man Dyer oversees in the states, and their families. Undated, most likely to a family member. Belt tells the recipient to have a dress coat made and sent to Charleston, the weather in Havana, and asks to be sent copies of catholic books as a gift for his local bishop.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 22 id236844
Letters from J. Amez to E.C. Dyer1858 DecemberScope and Contents
Contains discussion of Dyer's Williamsburg, NY property.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 23 id236894
Letter from Francisco Ramirez to E.C. Dyer1858 October 8Scope and Contents
A letter in Spanish from Francisco Ramirez and an English translation, most likely done by William Belt. The letter thanks Dyer for overseeing his two sons' education and gives instructions for their further education in Alexandria.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 24 id236895
Letters from James Harper to E.C. Dyer1860 February-1861 MarchScope and Contents
Letters from a tobacco farmer in Marlboro. Harper requests cigars and briefly describes the economic and agricultural state of the area.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 25 id236896
Letters from Robert Marron to E.C. Dyer1861 October-1864 DecemberScope and Contents
Letters from a Carbondale man to Dyer. Dyer handled the estate of Marron's late mother, Ann Marron, and Marron writes requesting the proceeds from the estate's sale. He alludes several times to the War and it's affect on the economy.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 26 id236897
Letters from Reid and Eaton to E.C. Dyer1863 April-1864 OctoberScope and Contents
Delaware, Ohio based liaison to the legal processing and sale of the Marron estate.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 27 id236801
Taxes and Insurance1832-1860
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 28 id236898
Formal Complaints, Arrest Warrants, Notarized Documents1808-1862
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 29 id236899
Balance Sheetsundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 30 id236900
Invoices1837-1859, undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 31 id236902
Receipt for the Purchase of a Slave by E.C. Dyer1853 April 8
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 32 id236903
Receipts1837-1854
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 33 id236904
Receipts1855-1866, undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 34 id236905
Post-dated Checks and Payment Agreements1832-1853
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 35 id236906
Checks1820-1853 April
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 36 id236907
Checks1853 May-November
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 37 id236909
Checks1853 December-1854 May
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 38 id236910
Checks1854 June-December
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 39 id236911
Checks1855 January-1861 December
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 40 id236913
Checks1862-1897, undated