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.
Acc. 2014.024 was received by Special Collections in January 2014.
Accessioned and minimally processed by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specialist, in March 2014.
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.
This collection is open to all researchers.
Edward C. Dyer Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
The fragile nature of this material may limit handling.
This collection is arranged chronologically by item type.
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.
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.
Letters from John .B. Belt to his sister discussing his situation in Havana and their family.
Letters from John B. Belt to his mother discussing his situation in Havana and their family.
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.
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.
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.
Contains discussion of Dyer's Williamsburg, NY property.
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.
Letters from a tobacco farmer in Marlboro. Harper requests cigars and briefly describes the economic and agricultural state of the area.
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.
Delaware, Ohio based liaison to the legal processing and sale of the Marron estate.