The Winterthur Library
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION
Creator: Henry A. Dreer, 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 seedhouse 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 59
Chestnut St.
From 1839 to 1850, his nurseries were at "The Woodlands." As business continued to grow, Dreer continued to move into larger stores at
several Chestnut Street
locales. In 1847, Dreer married Mary
Leavenworth. Initially, she and later
their baby daughter lived in Reading,
Pa. The family settled in Philadelphia late in 1848.
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, 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 1306
Spring Garden St., Philadelphia.
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 Philadelphia for his family, while Mary
remained in Reading.
He described plays and concerts he
attended and sent his affection. Dreer
also sent a letter to his sister in 1848, announcing an unexpected arrival in Reading and his intention of taking a house on Union St. in Philadelphia. An
additional letter from Henry and Mary Dreer describes their vacation in Germany
in 1869.
The remainder
of the letters were written by William F. Dreer during his trip to Germany
in 1868 and 1869 to his mother, father, and future brother‑in‑law,
Ned. He described his experiences in Germany,
particularly his work with the seed producer Benary, whom he identified as the
leading figure of his profession in Erfurt and
perhaps in all of Germany. His letters mentioned large orders of flower
seeds, the French firm Vilmorin-Andrieux & cie, and compared Benary's
greenhouses with those at home. William
also discussed his studies, including lessons in German, French, painting,
commercial calculations, history, and geography. He often commented on an impending war
between France and Prussia. William provided details on his daily life in
Remscheid and Erfurt, and accounts of concerts, festivals,
and other social events he attended. In
one letter, he included a program from a concert given by the 33rd Regiment
Band of the Prussian Army.
ORGANIZATION
The letters are
in chronological order.
PROVENANCE
Purchased from
Bookworm & Silverfish.
ACCESS POINTS
People:
Dreer,
William F.
Dreer, Mary Leavenworth.
Benary.
Dreer family.
Topics:
Vilmorin-Andrieux
et cie.
Voyages and travels.
Love-letters.
Courtship.
Dwellings - Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia.
House furnishings - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.
Greenhouses.
Seed industry and trade.
Selling - Seeds.
Franco-Prussian War, 1870-1871 -
Causes - Public opinion.
Concerts.
Erfurt
(Germany)
- Description and travel.
Remscheid
(Germany)
- Description and travel.
Germany - Description and travel.
Germany - Social life and customs.
Philadelphia
(Pa.) -
Social life and customs.
Letters.
SUMMARY OF THE LETTERS IN THE COLLECTION
Location: 31 C
From: Henry A. Dreer
To: My dearest Mary [Leavenworth]
Date: Philadelphia,
January 7, 1847
Personal letter
to his fiancée writing about his family, New Years wishes and present
attractions in Philadelphia: theater performance of a play about Richelieu with
the famous actor Edwin Forest (1806-1872), and the second concert of the
Philharmonie Society listening to the great violinist "Sciori." He and his step brother bought tobacco with
him, and the brother wants to dispose of it before he returns, however, the
market is dull at the moment.
Signed: Ever
your affectionate Henry.
From: Henry A. Dreer
To: Dearest Mary
Date: New Years Morning, 2 1/2 o'clock A.M. [1848]
Emblem on
letter: Pour toujours (forever)
Description of
a New Years party and sending her a piece of the cake from the party. "I
hope love will overlook all mistakes in this hastily written letter".
Signed: From
your devoted Henry.
From: Henry A. Dreer
To: My dear Wife
Date: Philadelphia,
April 9, 1848
Tender loving
letter, on the arrival of a baby girl and the reaction of a proud father.
Looking for a house; business for the coming spring looks very encouraging. Plans
to attend the furniture sale of the whole stock of Riddles (opposite the State
House), "… and see if I can purchase anything we shall want toward
housekeeping".
Signed: Your
devoted husband Henry.
From: Henry A. Dreer
To: My dear Mary
Date: Philadelphia,
April 24, 1848
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,
followed by a description of the same. "I do wish to see you so much, and
little Mary."
Signed: Your
devoted husband Henry.
From: Henry A. Dreer
To: My bien dear Wife
Date: Philadelphia,
April 30, 1848
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, $165.00.
Signed: Your
affectionate husband Henry.
From: Henry A. Dreer
To: Dear Sister
Date: Reading,
May 22, 1848
Arriving
unexpectedly in Reading to see his family, decided to take the house in Union Street, if
not too late.
Signed: Your
affectionate brother Henry.
From: William F. Dreer
To: My Dear Ma
Date: Ramschied (Remscheid, Germany),
July 26th, 1868.
Description of
the house in which he stayed in Remscheid;
unhappy about the way it is kept and cleaned. Intends to join a musical society
in the winter, but changed his mind about joining the "Turner"
(gymnasts). Discourages his mother who "would be delighted to import 2
girls from the neighborhood for homework and cook" because the work these
girls do in this part of Germany
is done by African American in "our country." Intends to see Charles Rumpp in Stuttgart,
"I have not seen him since I left Southampton, and if he comes by the way
of Düsseldorf to Bremen, I shall go to Ebersfeld to meet him ... and later on
at Worms on the 25 of June to be present at the Luther feast." Asked for by return mail for: 1/2 peck
tomatoes, 20 oz. corn, 4 qts. lima beans and "anything else that will
tickle the palate as we do not get anything but red cabbage, fermented sour Crout [sic], Kale ... Frau Pfaffenbach
has concluded to give us hogs hide and Bratwurst or Sausage made of pork or who
knows perhaps of dog ...." Description of a Kermes (kermis) and a concert
(see program "Schützenhalle, July 16, 1868) given by the 33rd Regiment
Band of the Prussian Army now located in Köln.
Signed: Your
affectionate Son. William F. Dreer.
From: William F. Dreer
To: Dear Ned
Date: Remschied (Remscheid) August 12th,1868.
Description of
Remscheid, asking if "Fred" intends to give up his business 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." Taking painting lessons.
Signed: Yours
Sincerely, William F. Dreer.
From: William F. Dreer
To: Dear Pa
Date: Remscheid,
Aug. 27th, 1868.
Receiving a
letter 5 weeks after the steamer left New
York. Writing about
slow business, all the merchants 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. Going to Erfurt for business reasons. Making progress
in speaking German and feels comfortable to converse quite fluently so that
"I can run around to the different houses" selling seeds. 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 September 1st 1868, and from
thence to Düsseldorf.
Signed: Your
Affectionate Son William F. Dreer.
From: William F. Dreer
To: Dear Pa & Ma
Date: Remscheid,
October 1st, 1868.
Sending the
September account, trusting it will find approval. Continues taking lessons in
German and French, commercial calculations, history, and geography. "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.” Attending 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;
saw an improved hay cutter, disappointing in comparison with the ones in
America. Forwarded Pansy seed and asking for a few issues of Harpers Weekly.
Signed: I am
your affectionate Son William F. Dreer.
From: William F. Dreer
To: Dear Pa
Date: "Hôtel zum Weiser Ross," Erfurt, December 14, 1868.
Left Remscheid
for Erfurt by
train. Met Mr. Benary and his son and visited their greenhouses: "he is
the first business of its class in Erfurt";
commencing work at this establishment. Continuing with German 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".
Exchange of a draft of 300 fr. for 81 Thalers.
Signed: I
remain Very Affectionate Your Son, William F. Dreer.
From: William F. Dreer
To: Dear Ma
Date: Erfurt,
December 25, 1868.
Description of
his daily routine and lodging, his progress in learning to speak German; hopes
to be as fluent in French by the time he leaves for Paris. Details of his Christmas dinner with
Mr. Benary.
Signed: Your
Affectionate Son William F. Dreer.
From: William F. Dreer
To: Dear Ned (Future brother-in-law)
Date: Erfurt,
December 25th, 1868.
Description of
his living quarters, celebration of Christmas and history of Erfurt. "Take a few lessons in the light
fantastic toe, to swing around in a waltzer or Polka". Seven months have
passed since his departure from home.
Signed:
Respectfully your's William F. Dreer.
From: The Parents
To: The Loved Ones at Home
Date: Weisbaden [Wiesbaden, Germany],
July 14, 1869
"My last
letter to you was written at Bonn."
Description 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; there are 50 Castles built or foundations laid by the
Romans along the Rhine, from Bingen to Bickwick - a watering place - and here
the fashion of Germany come for various purposes, some for treatment as the
water which comes up boiling hot is said to be efficacious for gout, rheumatism
etc., others for gambling." Going on to Frankfurt,
staying at the "Hotel de Angleterre," hoping to sail home on the 2nd
of September [1869].
Signed: We are
as ever your loving Parents.
From: William F. Dreer
To: Dear Pa
Date: Erfurt,
Jany 4th, 1868 [i.e.1869]
Seed order
received, to be shipped by Benary to Vilmorin-Andrieux et Cie. in Paris, "I send you a
list of seeds that Benary could not fill and which I ordered from
Vilmorin-Andrieux et Cie." Statement ending December 31st, 1868 included. Went to Weimar to the Opera and
saw "The Postilion de Lonjumeau" (by Adolphe Adam, 1803-1856) sung by
the great tenor "Wachtel". Needing an eye salve, "I have but little
faith in sassafras pith."
Signed: Your
affectionate Son William F. Dreer.