MS-158
CAROLYN D. WILEY HUMPHRIS PHOTOGRAPH COLLECTION
INTRODUCTION
MS-158, the Carolyn D. Wiley Humphris Photograph Collection, was accessioned into the Flesh Public Library Archives and Special Collections on April 24, 2007. It includes photographs and records of the Wiley family, c. 1883-1920. Carolyn, the donor, is the daughter of Thomas Rolland Wiley, and granddaughter of Thomas Ray Wiley. Thomas Ray was for many years the organist at Greene Street, and later at St. James Episcopal Church.
The collection includes many unique photographs, among them a picture of the 1883 Flood, Chautauqua photographs at Fountain Park before Hance Pavilion was built, and pictures of houses and scenes from the Piqua area.
HISTORY
The Wiley family is a very old Piqua family with an interesting history. This photograph collection was donated to the Flesh Public Library’s Archives and Special Collections by Carolyn D. Wylie Humphris. She is the daughter of Thomas Rolland Wiley, and the granddaughter of T. Rey Wiley. Her grandfather was the organist for many years at the Greene Street Methodist Episcopal Church, and later St. James Episcopal Church. His obituary, dated in 1941, stated he was “a musician of exceptional accomplishment,” who died at Dayton’s Miami Valley Hospital of complications resulting from an operation. He had resided at 414 Camp Street, Piqua.
Her great grandfather, Thomas J. Wiley, born August 30, 1835; died June 23, 1913; owned a tannery at 407 S. Main St. It is mentioned on page 319 of J,A. Rayner’s The First Century of Piqua: “Piqua, then, except by a very few houses, extended only to Downing Street on the west, and one square below the railroad on the south, with two or three houses south on Main Street, between that and Simpson’s Tannery – now T.J. Wiley’s.”
SCOPE AND CONTENTS
MS-158, the Carolyn D. Wylie Humphris Photograph Collection is contained in one Hollinger box comprising one scrapbook, 8 series, 38 folders, and approximately 200 photographs. The pictures are of early Piqua, c. 1883-1920. Photographs are grouped into the following categories:
Series 1: Identified Photographs
Series 2: Unidentified Men
Series 3: Unidentified Women
Series 4: Unidentified Groups
Series 5: Soldiers/Boy Scouts
Series 6: Houses
Series 7: Unidentified Children
Series 8: Miscellaneous
CONTAINER LISTING
Box 1
File 1 – Scrapbook
Series 1: Identified Photographs
File 2 – Thomas J. Wiley (tannery at 407 S. Main St.) – 5 photos
File 3 – Rebecca Wiley – 4 photos
File 4 – Thomas Wiley (taken at Syracuse – Dec., 1919) – 5 photos
File 5 – Matilda Wiley – 1 photo
File 6 – Belle Worley – 1 photo
File 7 – T. Rey Wiley at “our church organ” – St. James (?) – 1 photo
File 8 – High Water, Piqua, Ohio – Feb. 4, 1883 – 1 photo
Series 2 – Unidentified Men
File 9 – Boy leaping behind Landman’s Mill (?) – 1 photo
File 10 – Unidentified young man with glasses – 1 photo
File 11 – Two Boys eating (?) – 1 photo
File 12 – Boy in sunglasses relaxing – 1 photo
File 13 – Man with beard – 1 photo
File 14 – Man with glasses in suit – 1 photo
Series 3 – Unidentified Women
File 15 – Young women – 2 photos
File 16 – Woman in fancy dress – 2 photos
File 17 – 3 generations? – 1 photo
File 18 – Old woman – 1 photo
File 19 – Young women – 4 photos
File 20 – Old women – 20 photos
Series 4 – Unidentified Groups
File 21 – Boys playing baseball – 10 photos
File 22 – Family Outings – 7 photos
File 23 – Groups of older ladies – 6 photos
File 24 – Young Couples – 2 photos
Series 5 – Soldiers/Boy Scouts
File 25 – Outdoor Adventures – 6 photos
File 26 – Soldiers marching – 2 photos
Series 6 – Houses
File 27 – Interior shots – 4 photos
File 28 – Exterior shots – 7 photos, 1890-1919
Series 7 – Unidentified Children
File 29 – 4 babes & 1 boy
Series 8 – Miscellaneous
File 30 – Car by cornfield – 1 photo
File 31 – Canal?/outdoors shots – 3 photos
File 32 – Cameo of young woman in frame – 1 photo
File 33 – Piqua High School: Class Day – May 20, 1892
File 34 – Piqua High School Annual Commencement – June 1, 1893
File 35 – Copy of Emma Wiley’s obituary – February 12, 1923“Beautiful Wedding” article about marriage of Miss Emma Coffeen & T. Rey Wiley, c. 1900
File 36 – Picture of Wiley Tannery: S. Main Street, Piqua – N.D.
File 37 – Article about Thomas J. Wiley – Piqua Daily Leader: Jan. 15, 1890.
File 38 – Obituary for T. Rey Wiley, “Widely known organist”- 1941.