Charles L. Hyde business correspondence
Finding aid prepared by Brooke M. Black
Manuscripts Department
© 2014
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2203
Fax: (626) 449-5720
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.
Title: Charles L. Hyde business correspondence
Dates: 1896-1916
Collection Call Number: mssHyde business correspondence
Creator:
Hyde, Charles Leavitt, 1860-1938
Extent:
109 items in one box
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2203
Fax: (626) 449-5720
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: The collection chiefly contains business correspondence from Charles Leavitt Hyde, of Pierre, South Dakota, to O. D. Chester
in Camden, Michigan.
Language of Material: The records are in English.
Collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information,
please go to the following
web site.
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.
[Identification of item], Charles L. Hyde business correspondence, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
The collection was purchased from Michael Vinson Americana, February 2015.
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.
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."
Chester, O. D., recipient
Hyde, Charles Levitt, 1860-1938
Businessmen -- South Dakota -- Pierre
Real property -- South Dakota -- Pierre
Pierre (S.D.) -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
Pierre (S.D.) -- History -- 20th century -- Sources
Pierr (S.D.) -- Description and travel
South Dakota -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
South Dakota -- History -- 20th century -- Sources
Financial records -- South Dakota -- 19th century
Financial records -- South Dakota -- 20th century
Letters (correspondence) -- South Dakota -- 19th century
Letters (correspondence) -- South Dakota -- 20th century
Box 1
Charles L. Hyde business correspondence and ephemera
Folder 1
Folder 2
Folder 4
Folder 6
Folder 7
Folder 10
Folder 11
Folder 12
Folder 13
Folder 14