The
The
Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera
Henry
Francis du Pont
5105
Kennett Pike,
302-888-4600 or
800-448-3883
OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION
Creator: Dreer, Henry A., 1818-1873
Title: Letters
Dates: 1847-1848, 1868-1869
Call No.: Doc. 334
Acc. No.: 88x69
Quantity: 16 items
Location: 31 C
BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT
Henry
A. Dreer ran a seed store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the son of a German emigrant. In 1838, at the age of 20, Dreer started a
seed store at 97 Chestnut St. Within a
decade operations had expanded significantly and Dreer opened a larger store at
Dreer's
son, William F., entered the seed business at an early age. In 1868 and 1869, he was in Germany studying and
working with seed producer Ernst Benary. Upon his father's death in December
1873, William took charge of the business.
In 1892, he formed a corporation and permitted heads of departments to
become stockholders. In 1924, he oversaw
the company's move into an eight‑story building at
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The
collection consists of two sets of letters.
The first five, dated 1847 and 1848, where written from Henry Dreer to
Mary Leavenworth during their courtship and first year of marriage. Dreer was working and trying to find a house
in
The
remainder of the letters were written by William F. Dreer during his trip to
ORGANIZATION
The
letters are in chronological order.
LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS
The
materials are in English.
RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS
Collection
is open to the public. Copyright
restrictions may apply.
PROVENANCE
Purchased
from Bookworm & Silverfish.
ACCESS POINTS
People:
Dreer, William F.
Dreer, Mary Leavenworth.
Dreer family.
Topics:
Ernst Benary (Firm).
Vilmorin-Andrieux et cie.
Voyages and travels.
Love-letters.
Courtship.
Dwellings -
House furnishings -
Greenhouses.
Seed industry and trade.
Selling - Seeds.
Franco-Prussian War, 1870-1871 -
Causes - Public opinion.
Concerts.
Letters.
SUMMARY OF THE LETTERS IN THE
COLLECTION
Location: 31 C
88x69.18 Henry A. Dreer, [Phildaelphia]. New
Years Morning, [1847?], to Dearest Mary
Describes a New Years
party which included supper and dancing; sending her a piece of the cake from
the party. "I hope love will overlook all mistakes in this hastily written
letter".
88x69 Henry A. Dreer, Philadelphia, January 7, 1847,
to My dearest Mary [Leavenworth].
Her recent letter full of love; glad
she liked the bouquet and will send her a better one. New Year wishes. Has recovered from his cold and hopes she
recovers from hers soon. Present
attractions in Philadelphia: theater performance of a play about Richelieu with
the famous actor Forest [i.e. Edwin Forest,1806-1872], and the second concert
of the Philharmonic Society to hear the great violinist Sciori [not identified]. Step-brother and his daughters still in town;
he brought tobacco with him and wants to dispose of it before he returns;
however, the market is dull at the moment.
88x69.17 Henry A. Dreer, Philadelphia, April 9,
1848, to My dear Wife.
Was fearful of her
upcoming ordeal, and so happy that she was preserved and that their baby girl
arrived safely. His mother and Sophia [a
sister?] are eager to see the newcomer.
Am looking for a house; business for the coming spring looks very
encouraging. Plans to attend the furniture
sale at Riddles (opposite the State House), "and see if I can purchase
anything we shall want toward housekeeping." Likes the name “Mary” for the baby. Lonely without her and baby. Ferdinand wants to give the baby a gold
chain, “rather soon to begin to wear gold chains.” Hope Pa [her father, evidently] has not gone
back to his old ways.
88x69.15 Henry A. Dreer, Philadelphia, April 24,
1848, to My dear Mary.
Hope she is continuing
to gain strength. Still looking for a
house. It appears to be a hopeless task, but may have found one on Shippen
Street, the first house east of Conovers, built by the same person who
constructed Conovers. [Describes the house,
which has a furnace, a kitchen range, hot and cold water, a bathroom.] Does she think she would like that part of
town? Let him know immediately. Sorry her father is doing badly. If necessary, her mother can live with them. "I do wish to see you so much, and little
Mary."
88x69.14 Henry A. Dreer, Philadelphia, April 30,
1848, to My bien dear Wife.
Hoping to see his wife
and baby soon, after they are able to travel from Reading to Philadelphia. Still a possibility to get the house in Union
Street, would need less expensive furniture and the rent is considerable less,
$165, and it is closer to his work. His
parents oppose Nathan’s visits [probably to Sophia].
88x69.13 Henry A. Dreer, Reading, May 22, 1848,
to Dear Sister.
Arrived unannounced in
Reading to see his family. Decided to
take the house in Union Street, if not too late – please call on the ladies and
see if it is still available for them.
88x69.10 William F. Dreer, Ramschied (Remscheid,
Germany), July 26th, 1868, to My Dear Ma.
About writing
letters. Hope the home remodeling has
been completed. Grandmother would be
upset with housekeeping where he is staying – his bedroom is rarely cleaned,
the windows are dirty, and the dishes are not properly washed. Intends to join a musical society in the
winter; and intends to join the "Turners" who have gymnastic apparatus; he needs that
exercise. Discourages his mother from
importing 2 girls from the neighborhood for homework and cook because in this
area, the wife does the housework and cooking, the girls scrub floors and dig
the garden (the kind of work done African American in "our country"),
and the men are either in their workshops or the beer saloons. Cannot find the linen cuffs she packed for
him. Intends to see Charles Rumpp before
he leaves Germany. Had hoped to go to
Worms for the Luther feast, but did not go.
Has not seen cream for sale, but able to buy pears and plums. Wishes they could send tomatoes, corn, lima
beans and "anything else that will tickle the palate as we do not get
anything but red cabbage, fermented sour
Crout [sic], [and] Kale.” “Frau Pfaffenbach has concluded to give us
hogs hide and Bratwurst or Sausage made of pork or who knows perhaps of dog
[because they wolfed down the beef she served at one meal]." Description of a “Kermes” (carnival) and a
concert [see program acc. 88x69.12] given by the 33rd Regiment Band of the
Prussian Army.
88x69.12 Schützen-halle. Programm zum Concert, July 16, 1868.
88x69.9 William F. Dreer, Remschied
(Remscheid) August 12th, 1868, to Dear Ned.
Teases him
about taking a trip to the new summer resort: Sitka, Alaska. Description of the salubrious climate of
Remscheid. Asks about Fred’s business
plans in New York. "Tell him I have not seen anything very
nice in the way of Meerschaum Pipes, I will have to wait until I go to the
southern part of Germany." Is there
anything Ned would like for him to get for him?
Taking drawing lessons.
88x69.8 William F. Dreer,
Received his letter. Hopes the warm weather in Philadelphia is
about over. Thinks last year’s sales are
good considering the poor business climate.
In Geramny, all the merchants are complaining about "Dull Times,"
attributed here to the expected war with France; if it should come "Louis
Napp" had better be shy of these Prussians as they are well prepared to
meet them. Can go to Erfurt for to order seeds as soon as he receives the order.
Making progress in speaking German. Had nice visit with Mrs. Hassenclever, who
“has but indistinct recollections of our family as it has been 22 years since
she has been in America.” No possibility
of going horseback riding, no horses to have but the "Post." Going to Cöln [i.e. Köln] next month after the
railroad opens on September 1st, and from thence to Düsseldorf.
88x69.7 William F. Dreer, Remscheid, October
1st, 1868, to Dear Pa & Ma.
Sending the September account,
trusting it will find approval. Continues
taking lessons in German and French, commercial calculations, history, and
geography. Glad business continues to
improve. "The present state of
affairs, between France and Prussia, will now, no doubt come to a stand, until
the Revolution is subsided in Spain. We received news last night that the
Queen's troops had been driven back and badly whipped ... but when the French
and Prussians come together it is going to be a hard struggle.” Attended a Landwirtschaftliches Feast (Fest)
or Exhibition in Ronsdorf; a nice show of apples and pears; the rest very much
inferior to the shows of the Horticultural Society. The agricultural implements are about 100
years behind America's; the conceited Prussians don’t believe ours are better. Wishes there was a young men’s prayer meeting
to attend. Forwarded pansy seed and asks
for a few issues of Harpers Weekly.
88x69.6 William F. Dreer, Erfurt, December
14, 1868, to Dear Pa.
Left Remscheid for Erfurt by train. Met Mr. Benary and his son and visited their
greenhouses [which he describes]. “He is
the first business of its class in Erfurt and I may say in all Germany." Has commenced work with Benary. Continuing with German and French lessons and
"at Ma's request to take some singing hours and also a little in
Botany." Received a catalog from Vilmorin-Andrieux et
Cie., Paris, comparing prices with Benary "and I find to a few exceptions
the Benary's is the cheapest and I think as good. Sends Christmas and New Year greetings.
88x69.5 William F. Dreer, Erfurt, December 25-28,
1868, to Dear Ma.
Loves any item of news from home,
however routine. In excellent health and
is gaining weight. Description of his
daily routine and lodging. Making good
progress in learning to speak German; hopes to be as fluent in French by the
time he leaves for Paris. Gives the menu
of his Dec. 26 dinner with the Benary family.
The local “spinners” [he may mean weavers, as he also mentions looms]
must work almost 20 hours a day to make barely enough to live on. Not able to reply individually to each letter
he receives. This is not a good place to
get lace collars, but if goes to Belgium, will look for them there. Death of a friend; new baby in the Dreer
family.
88x69.4 William F. Dreer, Erfurt, December
25-29, 1868, to Dear Ned
Rather low today because
missing family at Christmas. Describes
his living quarters and his daily routine or work and study. Hopes to take singing and dance lessons in
the new year. Hopes he and Mary patch up
their differences; would be happy to have Ned as a brother-in-law. Writes about a young nephew starting school. Describes local celebration of Christmas. Brief history and description of Erfurt and
local farms. Replies to news of events
in Philadelphia.
88x69.3 William F. Dreer, Erfurt, Jan. 4th,
1868 [sic, i.e.1869], to Dear Pa.
Seed order received, to be shipped
by Benary to Vilmorin in Paris, and forwarded from there; also sends carnation
seeds, and "I send you a list of seeds that Benary could not fill and
which I ordered from Vilmorin & Co."
Sorry to hear of death of Charles Tower; he himself has been well. Went to Weimar to the opera and saw "The
Postilion de Lonjumeau" [by Adolphe Adam] sung by the great tenor Wachtel
[Theodor Wachtel, 1823-1893]. Needes an eye salve, "I have but little
faith in sassafras pith." Will make
inquiries about the dried flowers.
Includes financial “statement
ending December 31st, 1868,” for William’s expenses for the month, including
railroad fare, lodging, meals, postage, etc.
88x69.2a-b The Parents [Henry and Mary Dreer], Weisbaden
[i.e. Wiesbaden, Germany, and also Frankfurt], July 14, 1869, to The Loved Ones
at Home
Describes of their activities, including
a boat ride on the Rhine river, via Coblentz and Bingen where they stopped and
visited the Klopp castle, one of the oldest upon the Rhine, founded by the
Romans. "In this castle Henry the Fourth was confined, I saw his cell
which is as original.” Discusses the castles
built by the Romans along the Rhine. Now
at Wiesbaden, a watering place popular among the “fashion” of Germany for its
waters and casinos. Enjoyed the park
there. Going on to Frankfurt, where
found letters telling of deaths at home.
Has some new ideas about dressing hair.
Hoping to sail home on the 2nd of September.
88x69.1 envelope addressed to Miss Mary L.
Dreer, Philadelphia, postmarked Frankfurt, July 15; for letter above (acc.
88x69.2a-b)
88x69.16 brown envelope addressed to Mrs. Henry A
Dreer, Reading, Pa. Stamp and postmark
have been removed. However, postmark on
back is dated April 24.
88x69.11 brown envelope addressed to Mrs. Henry
A Dreer, care of W. C. Leavenworth, Reading, Pa. Stamp and postmark have been removed.