Manuscripts Collection
William Blake Dean was born on September 28, 1838 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Captain William and Aurelia Butler Dean. He received his education in the Pittsburgh public schools, at Bolmar's Boarding School for Boys in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and at Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, Pennsylvania.
Dean arrived in St. Paul in 1856, and became bookkeeper for the wholesale iron and hardware firm of Nicols and Berkey. In 1860 he succeeded Berkey in the partnership and the firm became Nicols and Dean (later Nicols, Dean and Gregg). Dean also served as a director of the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway Company (1895-1901), Great Northern Railway Company (1901-1922), St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company, Oakland Cemetery Association, and the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York; as president of the Second National Bank of St. Paul (1912-1913) and the St. Paul Plow Works; as trustee of the St. Paul, Stillwater and Taylors Falls Railroad Company (1878-1885); and as a member of the National Monetary Commission (1897).
Dean, a Republican, not only served in the Minnesota state senate (1891-1895), where he was instrumental in passing legislation for construction of a new capitol building (1893), but was also appointed commissioner to visit and receive the votes of all Minnesota soldiers serving west of Virginia and the Carolinas (1863); served as presidential elector in 1884; and was a member of the St. Paul city charter commission (1897). He was also a captain in the 31st Regiment of Minnesota state militia.
Dean was very active in St. Paul's religious, social, and cultural organizations. A member of the House of Hope Presbyterian Church (1864-1922), he was elected trustee in 1863 and was ordained an elder in 1874. He was clerk of the board of trustees (1863-1878), three times St. Paul Presbytery's commissioner to the Presbyterian General Assembly, and delegate to the Pan-Presbyterian Council in Aberdeen, Scotland (1913). He was also a member and officer of the St. Paul School Board, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul Library Board, St. Paul Institute of Arts, St. Paul Chamber of Commerce, St. Paul Jobbers Union, Ramsey County Pioneers, St. Paul Businessmen's Association, and the Minnesota Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Dean married Mary Katherine Nicols, daughter of his partner John Nicols, on October 18, 1860. The couple had eight children: Caroline Nicols (1861-1930), Aurelia Butler (1863-1920), Alice M. (1866- ), Mary Katherine (1867- ), William John (1869- ), Georgia (1873- ), Sidney Butiel (1879- ), and Helen (1881- ).
Dean died in St. Paul on December 5, 1922.
For additional information on the Dean, Nicols, and Winter families, see the John Nicols and Family Papers and the Edwin W. Winter Papers.
Organized chronologically, the papers document William B. Dean's career in the hardware business, his state, national, and international political service, and his role in the St. Paul business and religious communities (1851-1922). They also give information on his grandson William W. (Billy) Dean's World War I service in France (1917-1919), his daughter-in-law, Laura Winter Dean's work with the Fatherless Children of France (1916-1922), and also include his brother George Dean's Civil War reminiscences (1905, 1910) and Butler-Dean genealogical data.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the
Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics,
persons or places should
Accession number: 5256; 5757; 7647; 11,010; 16,558
Processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with a Basic Project
grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission
Processed by: Cheryl N. Thies, February 1984; Shelby Edwards, January 2012
Catalog ID number: 09-00026049
Charts and genealogical data on the Butler-Dean family, including biographical sketches of Dean's father, Captain William Dean, and great-grandfather, John Butler, and a Society of the Sons of the American Revolution application containing data on John Butler.
Includes papers of William B. Dean and of the family of his son, William John
Dean. Dean's papers span his life from his Pittsburgh school years through
his death and particularly detail his many business, political, social, and
personal activities. Contains correspondence with his cousin, William Dean
Howells, editor of the
The William J. Dean family papers are comprised mostly of letters from their son William W. (Billy), while stationed in France during and after World War I, and from William J. and his wife Laura while on a 1919 trip to Europe.
Includes an undated note from John Greenleaf Whittier to William Dean
Howells concerning a poem he submitted to the
Also includes a copy of Dean's great-grandfather Roderick McKinney's will (1813); Dean's weekly reports from the Pittsburgh public schools (1851-1852, incomplete); furnishing receipts from the Deans' first house (1860); documents concerning Dean's trusteeship of the St. Paul, Stillwater and Taylors Falls Railroad Company's second mortgage (1878) and its satisfaction (1885); his appointment to a Department of Interior commission to examine the Northern Pacific Railroad Company's western division (1883); an anonymous diary from the Dean family's European trip (1892); William John Dean and Laura Cannon Winter's wedding invitation (June 1894) and receipts from the furnishing of their first house (October-November 1894); and a copy of Dean's speech on city government given before the Civic Club of St. Paul (circa 1899).
Several items of Laura C. Winter pre-dating her marriage; including a letter from the U.S. Legation in England concerning her visit to that country (November 1890), letters concerning her membership in the Love and Marriage Club for the Promotion of Spinsterhood, Farmington, Connecticut (June-October 1893), and the club's constitution and bylaws.
Includes letters from Thomas Lowry, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Sault Ste.
Marie Railway Company (Soo Line) president, offering Dean a directorship
(May 1895) and accepting his resignation (November 1901); from William
Dean Howells while on a U.S. lecture tour (1899), following the death of
his wife (1910), while on a European tour (1911), and at the outbreak of
World War I (1914); from numerous business associates congratulating
Dean on his speech, "Asset Currency" (1901-1902), including Chase
National Bank vice-president A. B. Hepburn,
Also contained in this folder are several introductory letters to Italian church officials from Archbishop John Ireland and to Italian civil officials from William Dean Howells (1900); a program commemorating the arrival of John and Walter Deane in Taunton, England, conducted by the Deane Family Historical and Genealogical Association (1903); recollections of Dean's brother George of the September, 1862 battle at Antietam, Maryland (1905); Dean's St. Paul Institute of Arts and Sciences life member certificate (1908); letters, reports, and programs detailing Laura W. Dean's participation (1912-1913) in the Sarah Porter Centenary celebration, Farmington, Connecticut, to commemorate the birth of one of her teachers; a copy of John and Elizabeth Dock Dean's 1806 marriage certificate (1916); telegrams concerning Billy Dean's activities at Yale University (1914, 1916), and his early military training with the Yale Battery (June 1916) and in Pennsylvania (July 1916); and Laura W. Dean's membership on the American Red Cross Woman's Auxiliary Committee (1918).
Continues Billy Dean's letters from France (April-Sept. 1919) detailing his American Red Cross work as a member of the Inter-Allied Commission repatriating Russian prisoners from Germany; his dream to open a branch of Nicols, Dean and Gregg in France; his ideas on future trade with Germany; and his marriage to Jane C. Earnest. There are also letters from the American Field Service detailing the activities of the ambulance donated by the Dean family (March 1919) and from Yale concerning Billy Dean's degree honoris (June 1919). Letters to family members from William J. and Laura W. Dean while in Europe (Sept.-October 1919) describe the devastation from the war; Billy and Jane Dean's civil wedding; a trip to the front with Billy retracing his movements during the war; visits to the Lardenor LeClercs, who aided Billy when he was wounded, to a French officer's home, and to the Chateaux country; and Laura's visits to war orphans' homes and YWCA stations. There are letters from Alice Dean and John J. Jackson describing a 12-day trip along the North Shore (Sept. 1919); from Keith Clark, American YWCA in Paris, to Laura enclosing press releases on Minnesota girls serving with the YWCA in France (Sept. 1921); from Mildred Howells concerning the possible publication of a book of William Dean Howells' letters (January-April 1922); from Jane Blair Miller Kurtz concerning her preparation of a Butler-Dean-Miller genealogy (1925); from St. Michael's Parish, Maryland concerning the Dean family's donation of a memorial plaque commemorating Reverend Henry Nicols (circa 1930); and from Marjorie Northrup Dean, England, commenting on King George VI's coronation procession and associated social events (1937).
The folder also contains Jane C. Earnest's American National Red Cross foreign service certificate (August 1917-August 1919); a typed copy of a birthday poem from Edgar A. Guest to George W. Dean (June 1920); thank-yous from the McAll Association to Laura W. Dean for her aid to mission work among the refugees at St. Quentin, France (April-Sept., 1922); Nicols, Dean and Gregg's announcement of W. B. Dean's death and his funeral memorial booklet (December 1922); and the wedding invitation of W. J. Dean's daughter Laura (June 1924).
Fatherless Children of France (FCF) was formed to aid French children left fatherless by World War I. In the United States it was known as Fatherless Children of France, Incorporated (FCF, Incorporated) and was headquartered in New York City. It operated from 1916 through January 1, 1921, and sold subscriptions through local committees to aid individual French children. Laura Winter Dean was president of the St. Paul committee.
The French branch of the FCF also belonged to the Orphelinat Des Armees ét oeuvres Cooperantes, an organization of French aid societies. Included in those was the Fraternité Franco-Americaine in which Laura W. Dean was also involved.
The following paragraphs describe Laura W. Dean's correspondence concerning her involvement in the FCF both in the United States and in France.
Contained in this folder are letters from Florence M. Schofield and Elinor Fell, FCF delegates, detailing their tour of the United States to gain American support (February-April 1916); from A. C. Carlos, New York City committee, describing fundraising efforts around the United States (March 1916); from Elinor Fell describing a special December meeting of 3,000 people at Sorbonne, France to honor the FCF's work (July-December 1917) and a Christmas fund drive to encourage subscriptions by honorary "godparents" (November 1918-January 1919); and from various American McAll Association officers explaining why they chose not to aid the FCF (June-October 1918).
The papers also include St. Paul committee subscribers' lists (1916-1919); a list of all the societies in the Orphelinat Des Armees ét oeuvres Cooperantes (June 1916, in French); a personal thank-you from Elise Jusserand, wife of the French ambassador to the United States (March 1918); Laura's FCF, Incorporated membership certificate (November 1918); a list of St. Paul committee Christmas sales deposits (December 1918); donation and receipts lists from a July 20, 1918 FCF, Incorporated benefit golf match (January 1919); a letter from Sergeant Leo B. Hendrix, a St. Paul man stationed in France, describing fatherless French boy Danial Heraud, and asking that someone in St. Paul help him (March 1919); and three letters from Heraud to Laura, including a photograph of the boy (April-Sept. 1919, in French).
There are letters from Philip Posener, FCF, Incorporated assistant treasurer, enumerating various obligations of the St. Paul committee and thanking them for their work (January 1920-June 1921); from Jeanne Seligmann-Lui, secretary of the Fraternité Franco-Americaine (March 1920-October 1921), thanking Laura for her help and that of the St. Paul committee, enclosing Fraternité fund raising postcards (August 1920), asking Laura's aid in convincing the FCF, Incorporated to continue sending aid after the January 1 cessation date (December 1920), and congratulating Laura on receiving the thanks of France from Marechal Foch (October 1921); from Emile Deutsch de la Meurthe, Fraternité president, thanking Laura (April-December 1921); and from several of the children that Laura aided through her subscriptions (November 1920, January-February1921, July 1922).
Also included are FCF, Incorporated executive committee minutes setting January 1, 1921 as the date to cease operations (January 1920); FCF, Incorporated annual meeting minutes, including Laura's nomination as a director (April 1920); a form letter (in French and English) detailing the July 4 gathering of fatherless children at the Tuilleries in Paris to thank the FCF (July 1920), final instructions to all FCF, Incorporated committees (December 1920), a printed thank-you from the Fraternité Franco-Americaine (1921), a pamphlet describing the McAll Mission's 50 years of work in France (1872-1922), and the Fraternité Franco-Americaine's memorial day brochure (May 1922).
Dean (1841-1920), brother of William B. Dean, served with a Pennsylvania regiment in the Union army. His two reminiscences detail his activities as a skirmisher in the battle of Dranesville, Virginia, December 20, 1861 (June 1905), and on a 1910 automobile trip to the battlefield at Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia and his recollections of that May 1864 battle (December 1910). Also included are copies of several reports and official communications concerning the two battles.
This series is divided into three sections as described below. Materials in the first two folders were originally adhered to scrapbook pages, but were removed because of the rapid deterioration of the pages. All clippings were photocopied and the originals discarded, and the materials were refiled in their original order. Neither folder has any apparent subject or chronological order.
The first folder contains materials (circa 1880-1888) compiled by William J. Dean. Included are numerous handbills, flyers, and reviews from St. Paul High School dramatic, musical, and forensic events (1880-1885); St. Paul High School commencement programs (1884, 1885); cards, menus, and clippings documenting the St. Paul Jobbers' Union, of which W. B. Dean was a member, and 1885 excursions to Yellowstone National Park and Helena, Montana Territory; a flyer from Nicols and Dean to their customers detailing fire damage to their store (December 6, 1882); a reception invitation from the St. Paul Winter Carnival royal court (1886); clippings on Hill School, Pottstown, Pennsylvania baseball games, concerts, and commencement exercises (1886-1887); and a clipping on W. J. Dean's hunting trip into the Flambeau River country of Wisconsin (1888).
Folder two (1896-1929) contains materials possibly compiled by Laura W. Dean.
Included are an obituary of W. J. Dean's son Billy (1929); clippings
detailing W. J. Dean's appointment to the Federal Trade Commission (1917),
Laura's participation in the Sarah Porter Centenery (1902, 1913), W. B.
Dean's participation in the construction of the House of Hope Presbyterian
Church, St. Paul (1913), and the St. Paul Academy closing exercises (1925);
and a copy of the June 8, 1925
The third folder (1873-1929) contains photocopies of clippings found loose in the collection. They have been placed in chronological order, except for French clippings which have been kept together as a group. They detail a number of family weddings and deaths; the careers of William B. Dean, particularly his service on the national Monetary Commission (1897); and that of William J. Dean, including his admission to the firm of Nicols and Dean (1894) and appointment to a federal advisory committee (1922); and Laura W. Dean's work with the Fatherless Children of France, including a series from French newspapers (1918-1920), with the American Red Cross in Europe (1917-1920), and with the War Work Council for Minnesota, YWCA (1918).
Photocopies of transcripts; may interfile and overlap with correspondence and biographical materials.
Compiled by William B. Dean.
Organized chronologically; materials relate to Dean's business and religious activities.
Typed copy of Roderick McKinney's (Dean's great-grandfather) inventory of goods (original made in 1813); several letters attesting to Dean's schoolwork at Bolmar's Boarding School for Boys, West Chester, Pennsylvania (1854-1855); an introductory letter to Cross and Pillsbury, St. Anthony (1854); and two letters offering Dean the bookkeeper's position with Nicols and Berkey (1857).
Dean's appointment as commissioner to collect ballots from Minnesota
soldiers in the southwestern states (1863); partnership notice of
Nicols, Dean & Company (May 1863); clipping noting George W.
Dean's service on the gunboat
Obituary of John Nicols (1873); Nicols and Dean's commendation of the proposed state railroad bonds settlement (May, June 1877); a pen picture of Dean and other St. Paul businessmen (1878); Dean's St. Paul Chamber of Commerce membership (1878); clippings concerning Dean's trusteeship of the second mortgage of the St. Paul, Stillwater and Taylors Falls Railroad Company (1878), presidency of the St. Paul Plow Works (1879), and superintendency of the House of Hope sabbath school (1879); and a thank-you for his 15 years as House of Hope board of trustees clerk (1878).
Dean's appointment as commissioner to inspect the Northern Pacific Railroad Company's western division (1883); St. Paul Jobbers' Union excursions to Yellowstone National Park and Helena, Montana Territory (1884, 1885); Dean's appointment and service as presidential elector (November-December 1884) and president of the Ramsey County Pioneers (1885); his involvement in the Rochester and St. Paul Railway Company incorporation (1886); his appointment as St. Paul Presbytery commissioner to the 1888 General Assembly (1888); and clippings describing the weddings of Dean's daughters Caroline (1885), Alice (1888), and Katherine (1889), and his brother George W. (1887).
Numerous clippings on Dean's senatorial campaign and service (1890-1895), particularly his opposition to a state income tax (1891) and support of correct election processes (1891), and a new capitol building (1891-1893); copies of the majority (written by Dean) and minority capitol commission reports (November 1891); congratulatory letters upon the capitol bill's passage (1893); Sidney B. Dean's growth chart (1885-1893), and obituaries of Dean's father (1890) and mother (1891), and his aunt Mary C. Butler Burchfield (1891).
Clipping detailing the 1885 satisfaction of the St. Paul, Stillwater and Taylors Falls Railroad Company's second mortgage (see 1878).
Dean's participation as a speaker at the YMCA member lecture course (1886-1887), and at the Sault Ste. Marie convention dealing with the unobstructed navigation of the Great Lakes (1887).
Dean's appointments to the State Board of Arbitration (1895), the commission to draft a new St. Paul city charter (1897), and the committee to prepare and circulate a petition for reconciliation of all differences between the Great Northern Railway Company and the city of St. Paul (1898); his re-election as a Soo Line director (1896), and service on an advisory committee to aid Archbishop John Ireland with his real estate holdings (1896); numerous clippings on Dean's Monetary Commission service (1896-1901); a pen sketch of Dean (February 1899); and clippings detailing his address on proper city management before the Commercial Club of St. Paul (1899).
Dean's resignation as a Soo Line director and election to the Great
Northern Railway Company board of directors (1901); a copy of his
speech, "Asset Currency," before the Minnesota Bankers Association
(July 1901); biographical sketch of Dean from the
Contains treasurer's records (1903-1919) and subscription records (1905-1919) of the St. Paul branch of this religious and social work association. Helen Dean was secretary/treasurer from 1908 through 1910.
Stone River battlefield near Murfreesboro, Tennessee, December 30, 1862-January 3, 1863.
J. Perry Gribben to John D. Dean (brother of William B. Dean) for land in Dayton's Addition to St. Paul.
John D. Dean to J. Perry Gribben for land in Dayton's Addition to St. Paul.
Traces ownership of land in Nos. 2 and 3 above.
Issued to William B. Dean.
Issued to William B. Dean.
Issued to Mr. and Mrs. William J. Dean as contributors to ambulance number 26 bearing the inscription "John Nicols Haupt Memorial, Gift of the Dean Family of St. Paul." Haupt was a grandson of William B. Dean and a nephew of William J. Dean. Chronological certificate of the ambulance's service beginning in November, 1917.
Fifteen-generation (1533-1944) chart compiled by Jane Blair Miller Kurtz, William B. Dean's niece, in 1925 and updated through 1944.