The collection contains professional as well as personal photographs and correspondence, newspapers clippings, certificates, and material related to Wallace Dreyer's work as an x-ray technician.
The collection is organized into four series: Series I: Professional; Series II: Personal; Series III: Certificates, Awards and Yearbooks; and Series IV: Miscellaneous.
Open to researchers without restrictions.
Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, and the holder of the copyright, if not Old Dominion University Libraries.
Melanie Mathewes, Executive Director of the Hermitage Museum & Gardens
Gift. Accession #A2009-29
[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
The collection was processed and finding aid created by Kay Creef in 2009.
Wallace Earl Dreyer was born March 5, 1923 and raised in Marlin, Texas, where he participated in the photography club at his high school. Dreyer's parents were Bruno G. Dreyer (1898-1975) and Louise Bertha Hoting Dreyer (1902-1971), who married in 1921 in Giddings, Texas. Dreyer had two siblings, a brother, James Lee Dreyer (1926-1932) and a half-sister, Virginia Hoting (b. 1924), who was his father's illegitimate daughter from an affair with Bertha Hoting Dreyer's sister. Dreyer attended the University of Texas and graduated in 1943, and also served in the Armed Forces Infantry from 1941 to 1942. During his military service, Dreyer fought in the Battle of Bastogne in Europe during World War II and also participated in the liberation of camps in Germany. He obtained his x-ray technician certification at Torbett Clinic and Hospital in 1951. In 1960, while he was an Associate Professor at Student Memorial Union at Texas A&M College, he married Evelyn Gay Turner (b. July 31, 1915), a teacher at Baylor University, who was a fellow artist. The Dreyers moved to New York, where they operated an art gallery and sold their paintings. Dreyer was a contemporary photographer as well as a painter; he favored discarded items as his subjects. His wife was a sculptor as well as a painter. Both taught in the Art Department of Old Dominion University beginning in 1966. Wallace was an adjunct assistant professor and director of the photography program. Evelyn Gay was an Assistant Professor of Art. Both retired in 1980. Wallace Dreyer died in Norfolk, Virginia on March 13, 1993 and his wife, Evelyn Gay Dreyer died in Waco, Texas on February 26, 1995.
Note written by Kay Creef
This series relates to the professional achievements and correspondence of Wallace Dreyer. Items in this series include his professional photographs, letters from art galleries in which he had his work exhibited, newspaper articles on awards received, and sketchbooks.
This sub-series includes letters from art galleries and members of the arts community, loan agreements, and undated notes on a planned "Art in the Family" exhibit.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 1, Inventory/Price Lists, 1962, 1964, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 2, Letters, Notes and Plans, 1961-1993, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 3, Pamphlets/Programs, 1951-1993, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
This sub-series includes newspaper articles on Dreyer's work, his achievements, awards and marriage announcement as well as a 1990 broadcast of WHRO's "Our Place, Our Time."
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 4, Newspaper Articles, 1960-1984, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 5, WHRO Broadcast of "Our Place, Our Time", 1990, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
This sub-series includes professional photographs that Dreyer took and are categorized by subject. Other photographs include his ancestors and family.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 6, Animals, undated, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 7, Buildings/Houses, undated, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 2, Folder 1, Contemporary I, undated, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 2, Folder 2, Contemporary II, undated, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 2, Folder 3, Dreyer With His Drawings, undated, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 3, Folder 1, Nature, undated, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 3, Folder 2, Objects, undated, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 4, Folder 1, People, undated, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 4, Folder 2, Photographs of the Drawing Process, undated, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 5, Folder 1, Photographs of Wife and Family, 1907-1992, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 5, Folder 2, Places, undated, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 6, Folder 1, Prints, undated, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 6, Folder 2, Sculptures, undated, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 6, Folder 3, Water, undated, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Wallace Dreyer Slides, circa 1960-1990, Box 10, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Contains color slides of architecture, construction workers, art work, and some scenes of Kaufman Mall at Old Dominion University.
This sub-series includes five sketchbooks, two undated pieces of Dreyer's work that are not photographs, as well as a mold he used for works similar to these.
[Identification of item and date], Box 7, Folder 1, Drawing and Mold Art, undated, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 7, Folder 2, Mold Art, undated, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 7, Folder 3, Sketchbooks, 1959-1980, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 7, Folder 4, X-Rays and Negatives, undated, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
This series relates to the personal life of Wallace Dreyer. Items in this series include correspondence, holiday cards, sympathy cards, and an obituary.
[Identification of item and date], Box 6, Folder 4, Wallace Dreyer Photos, circa 1950-1990, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 6, Folder 5, Biographical Information, 1993, undated, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 7, Folder 5, Contacts, 1962-1981, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 7, Folder 6, Letters, Cards and Notes, 1962-1992, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Wallace Dreyer Personal Scrapbook, circa 1940-1960, Oversize Box 11, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Includes photographs of recreation, weddings, and other subjects of daily life.
This series includes various certificates of family members, as well as items pertaining to Dreyer's education, military and career fields.
[Identification of item and date], Box 8, Folder 1, Certificates and Awards, 1928-1961, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 8, Folder 2, Marlin High School Yearbook, 1940, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
University of Texas Yearbook of Wallace Dreyer, Box 8, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
This series contains letters and examples of Dreyer's mold art.
[Identification of item and date], Box 8, Folder 3, Letters From Senators to Harold C. Bullard, Life Insurance Company, 1985-1986, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Oversized Mold Art: Drawing, undated, Oversize Box 9, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Oversized Mold Art: Picture, undated, Oversize Box 9, Wallace Dreyer Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.