Dutcher Family Papers, 1853-1909. 9 boxes (3.5 linear feet).
ArMs 1977.282
Silas B. Dutcher occupied various political appointments in New York City and Brooklyn during the period of 1861-1883. They included: Supervisor of Internal Revenue, Pension Agent, Appraiser of the Port of New York and New York Supervisor of Public Works. During the same period of time he worked in mercantile and financial positions such as director of Metropolitan Life Insurance, president of Union Dime Savings and the Hamilton Trust Company.
Beside his active public life, Dutcher was also deeply involved in his family and religious life. In 1859 he married Rebecca Jacobs’ Alwaise. They had eight children over the next twenty years: Dewit Parcefor, Edith, Malcolm, Elsie, Myra, Jessie, Eva and her twin Edna.
The Dutcher Family Papers are composed of materials in a variety of formats. They include the contents of four letter books (1868 - 1880) and eight letter copy books (1868 - 1884). Most of the correspondence involves Dutcher in either a political or business capacity. There are some family letters, as well as business correspondence never “filed” (i.e. glued into letter books). The loose letters span most of Dutcher’s public career, 1861-80.
Another major aspect of the collection are the assorted newspaper clippings kept by either Mr. or Mrs. Dutcher or their daughter Jessie. The subjects run the full gamut of political and social issues and cover the years 1853-1909. Other materials included are speech texts, manuscript and typewritten and printed versions delivered by or to Dutcher on various professional, political or personal occasions, business and financial documents and a variety of ephemera.