Hyde (Charles L.) Correspondence, 1896-1916

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Summary

Title:
Charles L. Hyde business correspondence
Dates:
1896-1916
Creators:
Hyde, Charles Leavitt, 1860-1938
Abstract:
The collection chiefly contains business correspondence from Charles Leavitt Hyde, of Pierre, South Dakota, to O. D. Chester in Camden, Michigan.
Extent:
109 items in one box
Language:
The records are in English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Charles L. Hyde business correspondence, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of 43 business letters written by Charles L. Hyde, 39 of which are addressed to O. D. Chester of Camden, Michigan. All of the correspondence deals with the real estate business in Pierre, South Dakota and Chester's investments in the city, with the recommendations of Hyde. Many of the letters are short notes stating that Hyde received payment from Chester, but others go into detail about the property available in Pierre. There is also some discussion of property taxes. Several of the letters have copies of Chester's reply to Hyde on verso of the letters. There is one letter by Omar Hollingsworth to O. D. Chester as well as two letters by Hyde to B. R. Alward, also of Camden, Michigan, and one letter by Hyde to William J. Sizemore of Charleston, Illinois.

The collection includes ephemera material including: a pamphlet, brochure and article about Charles L. Hyde; map of city of Pierre, published by Charles L. Hyde; postcard receipts; tax receipts; and financial notes made by O. D. Chester to John I. Newell at the "Office of Charles L. Hyde."

Biographical / historical:

Charles Leavitt Hyde was a prominent citizen and businessman of Pierre, South Dakota. He was born in Illinois in 1860. In 1888, Hyde moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota and got involved in the real estate business. He married Katherine Robinson in 1886; they had four children: Ruth Elizabeth, Charles L. Jr., Dorothy, and Franklin. Charles L. Hyde helped found the city of Pierre (the capital of South Dakota) and owned much property in the city. He built the St. Charles Hotel, which still stands. Hyde was tried and convicted for fradulent advertising in 1911, but President Taft later pardoned him. He wrote a memoir in 1939 entitled Pioneer days: the story of an adventurous and active life.

Acquisition information:
The collection was purchased from Michael Vinson Americana, February 2015.
Rules or conventions:
Finding Aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Brooke M. Black
Date Prepared:
© 2014
Date Encoded:
Machine readable finding aid encoded by Brooke M. Black in April 2015

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, please go to the following web site.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Charles L. Hyde business correspondence, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Website