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Peter Anthony Dey Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MsC0086

  • Staff Only
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Scope and Contents

This collection contains over forty diaries of this surveyor and businessman, as well as account books from some of his surveying projects, including some payroll entries. The correspondence contains letters from General Dodge and Senator LaFollette and much other correspondence which provides information about Dey and his work with the railroads. Although the papers do not contain enough information to provide a complete biography of Dey or a history of the construction of the railroads, they do contain important evidence for biographical and historical purposes in these two areas. There is also a scrapbook of newspaper clippings, including items from early Iowa City newspapers. This collection contains a photograph of Thomas Edison taken in New Jersey in 1901 or 1902, as well as a photograph of Edward Everett, a photograph of Robert Finkbine, and an engraving of Dey as well as photographs of the fire that burned the St. James block in Iowa City. Series II is an index to the correspondence in Series I, and is not a list of boxed materials.

see also MsL D528 d -- Letters to John A. Dix resigning his position with the Union Pacific. Letters removed from MsC86 and photocopies placed with the collection. Letters should be repatriated to collection. 5/05 Done 11/05. jlr

47 volumes

Dates

  • Creation: 1853 - 1911

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright restrictions may apply; please consult Special Collections staff for further information.

Extent

1.25 Linear Feet

47 Volumes

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Engineer who worked on canals and railroads and Iowa City businessman. Diaries and notebooks.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gifted by Myra Dey Wright.

Related Materials

Johnson, Jack Thomas. Peter Anthony Dey: Integrity in Public Service. Special Collections x-Collection 94-2018; Law Library F621 D48 J6; Main Library F621 D 48 Report of Peter A. Dey, Engineer in Charge of Preliminary Survey, 1864? Special Collections x-Collection HE2791 U54 D4 Letters to John A. Dix, 1862 -- 1865. Special Collections Department MsL D528 d Papers of Levi O. Leonard These contain correspondence from Dey, as well as a lecture prepared by Leonard on Dey. Dey's son Marvin also worked on the Union Pacific Railroad, in Kansas City and Chicago. While in Chicago he attended the theatre about once a week. In 1951 he presented his collection of theatre programs to the University of Iowa. They are kept at PN 2277 I6 D3.

Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the University of Iowa Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Special Collections Department
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City IA 52242 IaU
319-335-5921
319-335-5900 (Fax)