MS-158

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.