Guide to the Isaac Dyer Papers on Thomas Carlyle, 1889-1941, undated
Isaac Dyer Papers on Thomas Carlyle, George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine
The George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, like all archives and special collections libraries, is the creation of human beings who have collected, organized, and described things in ways that reflect personal, cultural, societal, and institutional biases. Although we strive to preserve and present collections in a manner that is respectful to the individuals and communities who create, use, and are represented in the collections, we acknowledge that our systems are neither neutral nor perfect. We encourage you to let us know if you encounter materials, descriptive language, or practices that are offensive or harmful, particularly those for which inadequate context or warning is offered. We are committed to modifying and updating our descriptive practices to use respectful and inclusive terminology and appreciate your help in this work. We look forward to supporting you in your research and learning together.
Isaac Dyer (1855-1937), Bowdoin Class of 1878, was a Portland lawyer (1881-1931), a member of the Maine State Legislature (1885-1886), U.S. District Attorney for Maine (1890-1906), and a lecturer at the University of Maine Law School. In addition to authoring A Bibliography of Thomas Carlyle's Writings and Ana, published in 1928, Dyer also authored two books on Maine law.
Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) was a celebrated Scottish essayist, historian, and man of letters who published works on important historical figures and events. His first major work was Sartor Resartus, though his second publication, the two-volume work The French Revolution, A History established his popularity. Carlyle was also an expert on German literature, having translated writers such as Goethe into English.
The collection contains materials compiled and created by Isaac Dyer while writing his Thomas Carlyle bibliography, including correspondence, carbon typescripts, Carlyle manuscripts, miscellaneous manuscripts, authorial notes, printed ephemera, reviews of A Bibliography of Thomas Carlyle's Writings and Ana, images of Carlyle and his family, a scrapbook, Carlyle's official seal, and a collection of Carlyle-related postcards.
Notable correspondents include: John W. Davis, F. Ernest Gruening, Archibald MacMechan, Townsend Scudder, and former Bowdoin president Kenneth C.M. Sills. Nearly all correspondence concerns the production and completion of the Carlyle bibliography.
The Thomas Carlyle Letters form a separate collection (M43).
Published books by and about Thomas Carlyle that Isaac Dyer collected while preparing his Carlyle bibliography have been cataloged separately as part of the George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives' rare book holdings.
Letters primarily concerned with collecting and processing research materials required for Dyer's bibliography on Thomas Carlyle. Frequent correspondents include James A. S. Barrett, Charles F. Harold, Waldo H. Dunn, George A. Lumsden, William H. Cary, Gerald G. Wilder, Robert F. Metzdorf, and George Kummer. Other notables include John W. Davis, Ernest Gruening, Archibald MacMechan, Townsend Scudder, and former Bowdoin president Kenneth C.M. Sills. The series also contains a file of Dyer's carbon typescripts.
Arranged chronologically.
1905 Oct 24 - 1908 Aug 11
1920 Aug 23 - 1925 Jul 10
1926 Mar 16 - 1926 Dec 31
1927 Jan 6 - 1927 Jun 29
1927 Jul 10 - 1927 Dec 29
1928 Jan 3 - 1928 Nov 6
1928 Nov 11 - 1928 Dec 31
1929 Jan 12 - 1929 Oct 28
1930 Jan 4 - 1930 Dec 24
1931 Jan 4 - 1941 Apr 26
n.d.
Collection provenance correspondence between Dyer and Bowdoin President Kenneth Sills
Carbon Typescripts
Manuscript pages written by Thomas Carlyle, including a letter of provenance written by James A. S. Barrett to Dyer. Also contains a collection of miscellaneous manuscripts compiled by Dyer for research purposes.
Arranged alphabetically.
Manuscripts: Carlyle (Includes JAS Barrett's letter of provenance, 7 June 1932)
Manuscripts: Miscellaneous
Research materials collected by Dyer for use in composing his bibliography of Carlyle. Includes book catalogues listing publications by, about, or involving Carlyle, Carlye-related newspaper clippings, a scrapbook of Carlyle clippings, miscellaneous notes, printed ephemera given to Dyer by the Carlyle's House Memorial Trust, a collection of published book reviews for Dyer's A Bibliography of Thomas Carlyle's Writings and Ana, and Thomas Carlyle's official seal.
Arranged alphabetically.
Book Catalogues: Carlyle
Clippings: Scrapbook
Clippings: Loose
Notes: Miscellaneous
Printed Ephemera: Carlyle's House Memorial Trust
Printed Ephemera: Miscellaneous
Reviews: Bibliography of Thomas Carlyle's Writings and Ana
Thomas Carlyle's Seal - Mark
Images of Carlyle and his family, including photographs and an etching of Carlyle. Also includes a collection of postcards relating to Carlyle and his works.
Arranged alphabetically.
Engraving of Carlyle, n.d.
Etching of Carlyle by George Aikman, published 1889 by W.G. Patterson, Edinburgh
Photo Album: Carlyle and family
Photographs: Carlyle and family
Postcards: Carlyle related