William N. Byers and family papers, 1850-1938.

Byers, Wm. N. (William Newton), 1831-1903.

C MSS WH55

Finding aid online and in repository.

Digital images from the William N. Byers and family papers.

3 linear ft. (3 boxes), 2 oversize boxes, 2 oversize folders, 1 photo box (2 photomechanical prints, 30 photographic prints : albumen, gelatin silver), 1 photograph box (album 183 photographic prints : albumen, gelatin silver), 1 photograph box (album 29 photographic prints : albumen, gelatin silver), 1 photograph oversize file folder, 8 microfilm reels

Organized into 4 series: 1. William N. Byers, 1870-1873 (Box1-3). 2. Elizabeth Byers, 1863-1930 (Box3). 3. Family, 1859-1938 (Box3). 4. Oversize, 1865-1909 (OVBox1-2, OVFF1-2). 5. Photographs, 1866-1938 (PhotoBox1, PhotoBox2, PhotoBox3, PhotoOVFF1).

William Byers was a Colorado pioneer, surveyor, and newspaper editor. Founder of the Rocky Mountain News. Built the first telegraph line from Denver, Colo. to New Mexico. Served as director and vice-president of the Tramway Company. Elizabeth Byers founded and provided for the E.M. Byers School for Boys.

Collection contains correspondence, diaries, record books, pocket letter book, scrapbooks, and other papers, relating to Byers' founding of the Rocky Mountain News, his promotion of telegraph lines and railroads, his early acquisition of lands in Colorado, his help in organizing the Denver Tramway system, and his work with the Colorado State Constitutional Convention (1875-76), as Denver postmaster, and in civic and historical organizations. Includes letters to members of the Byers family, including Byers' wife, Elizabeth, his son, Frank, and his daughter, Mary Eve (Byers) Robinson. Copy of Byers' eulogy (May 2, 1903). Probate records and estate documents for Moses Watson Byers (1867-1886).

Photographic material, including cartes-de-visite, cabinet cards, card photographs and snapshots: studio and group portraits of members (men, women, children) and acquaintances of the William Newton Byers family. Images include William N. Byers, his wife Elizabeth Minerva Byers, his son Frank Byers, his daughter Mary Byers (later Robinson), his grandson Frank Byers Robinson, Kate Chamberlain, Mrs. Andrew Sagendorf aka Eliza D. McClain Sagendorf, and unidentified men and women.

Byers, Wm. N. (William Newton), 1831-1903 -- Archives.

Byers, Wm. N. (William Newton), 1831-1903 -- Portraits.

Byers, Elizabeth M. -- Archives.

Byers, Elizabeth M. -- Portraits.

Byers, Frank Robinson -- Portraits.

Byers, Moses Watson, 1808-1867 -- Archives.

Byers family -- Archives.

Byers family -- Portraits.

Byers Home for Boys -- Archives.

Rocky Mountain news.

Journalists -- Colorado -- Denver.

Pioneers -- Colorado -- Denver.

Letters (correspondence)

Visiting cards.

Cabinet photographs.

Albumen prints.

Photographic prints.

Photograph albums.

Card photographs (photographs)

Microfilms.

Collection contains microfilm Mflm195.

Collection also available on microfilm (C MSS WH55).

Photographers include: A.E. Rinehart, Denver, Colo., A.D. Jameson, Hileman & Hill, Perry & Bohm, Denver, Colo., Nast, Denver, Colo., Bradley & Rulofson, San Francisco, Calif., H.S. Bellsmith, Denver, Colo., and The Nichols Studio, Denver, Colo.

Collection includes former C Photo Collection 176: Byers family photograph collection; C Photo Album 241, C Photo Album 242.

Contact Special Collections and Archives Dept., Denver Public Library, Denver, Colo.

Repository also has: Frank S. Byers correspondence (C MSS -M526), Albert Bierstadt letter (C MSS -M60), J. D. Winters papers (C MSS WH389), William Thomas Russell papers (C MSS -M777), E. M. Byers School for Boys (C MSS WH561), 2 reels microfilm of original letter books (v.1-10) (C MSS Mflm140), 7 reels microfilm of correspondence from Byers to prominent persons of the day (C MSS Mflm132).

Some items are discolored and or soiled. Albums have embossed leather cover with metal clasps.

Purchase; Estates of Frank S. Byers and Mary Byers Robinson; n.d.

Gift; Raymond V. Sumner; 2015.