Overview of the Collection
Texas/Dallas History & Archives, Dallas Public Library
1515 Young StDallas, TX 75201
Dyer, Hal
Hal Dyer Collection
1920-1976
4 Boxes
MA05.6
The records are in English.
Biographical Note
Hal Dyer was born in Royse City, Texas in 1901. He graduated from Fort Worth Masonic Home in 1921. His future wife, Oneita Williams, graduated from Terrell High in 1921, after which time they were married. Hal Dyer began working as a contractor, becoming a junior partner in Jopling Construction in 1927. While working for this company, he participated in the construction of the Lone Star Gas Building in Dallas, and the San Antonio Express Building in San Antonio among others. In 1933 Hal Dyer left to form his own contracting company. His company worked on a variety of projects from the Masonic Temple in Dallas to D.I.S.D. schools like Hillcrest High and Stockard Jr. High as well as to U.S. Army Camps Bowie and Maxey. Hal and Oneita Dyer had two daughters, Patsy and Dorthell Dyer. Hal Dyer died June 5, 1985 followed by his wife on January 7, 1994.
Scope and Contents
The Hal Dyer Collection contains family materials relating to the Dyer family and some professional materials relating to Hal Dyer's building and contracting career. The collection contains news clippings, photographs, photo albums, a scrapbook and a set of blueprints. Photographs in the collection are for the most part identified by writing on the back and depict the Dyer family's life in University Park, construction scenes, and high school life at Terrell High and the Masonic House in Ft. Worth. The blueprints are for a residence for Dan McElroy, who was Dorthell Dyer's husband. The lone scrapbook has material covering the professional, civic, and political career of Hal Dyer.
Index Terms
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
Persons:
Dyer, Hal
Family Names:
Dyer
Places:
Dallas (Tx.)
Subjects:
Family History
Titles:
Hal Dyer Collection
Preferred Citation
MA05.6 Hal Dyer Collection, Texas/Dallas History & Archives Division, Dallas Public Library
Processing Information
Processed by Bryan McKinney
Detailed Description of the Collection
1
1
Register
1
2
Onetia Williams Report Card - Terrell High School.
1920-21
1
3
Invitation to Onetia Williams' graduation from Terrell High School to Hal Dyer
1921
1
4
An assortment of Masonic Home and School, Ft. Worth, Texas, band and orchestra programs.
1920-1921
1
5
Letter from James McCulloch, Master Counselor, Ft. Worth Chapter to Hal Dyer
4/11/1922
1
6
An assortment of Membership Cards, Business Cards, and I.D.s Hal Dyer
1
7
"Baby's Own Book" Dorthell Dyer. Includes pictures of Dorthell as well as their house at 919 Monte Vista and pictures of the neighborhood.
1929
1
8
"Baby's Record" - Dorthell Dyer.
1929
1
9
Program - Howard School of Expression and Dancing. Highland Park Town Hall.
6/7/1935
1
10
Letter of Sympathy regarding death of daughter Patsy Dyer.
12/22/1939
1
11
Kappa Alpha Theta Convention. Oneita Dyer.
1948
1
12
Correspondence - Hal Dyer - Ruby Huse
1
13
Correspondence - Hal and Onita Dyer with Grandson.
1
14
Clippings
1
15
Book - "Hal Dyer Builder" - Details Dyer's career up to 1950 with Letters of Recommendations, Business Information and listing of all projects.
1
16
"100 Years of Building America" Associated General Contractors of America
1976
2
"Snap Shots" Small book, Family Photographs. University Park.
ca. 1931
2
Photograph Album - Album has detailed Photograph record at front. Who, Where and By Whom. Predominantly Family Photographs and Vacation shots.
ca. 1933-1939
2
Photograph Album - Oneita Williams. Terrell, Texas. Some pictures of Hal Dyer playing football for Masonic Home in Fort Worth. High School scenes and Mr. and Mrs. Dyer courtship.
ca. 1921
2
Photograph Album - Hal Dyer. Includes sports photographs from Masonic Home in Fort Worth, and photographs of Onetia Williams.
ca. 1921
2
Scrapbook - News clips and Photographs. Concerned with professional career of Hal Dyer. Civic, political and professional.
ca. 1940
3
1
Photograph - Guardian Savings & Loan Street Scene. Main and Field.
ca. 1950
3
2
Photograph - L.V. Stockard Jr. High Construction.
1952
3
3
Photograph - Sign on construction site of new San Antonio Express Building. "Express Publishing Co. Herbert S. Green Architect." Sign lists out contractors working on the project.
ca. 1928
3
4
Photograph - Construction scenes at the site of the San Antonio Express Building.
ca. 1928
3
5
Photograph - Billboard on the construction site of the "New Home of the Dallas Gas Co." Lists contractors and builders involved in project. Corner of Jackson and Harwood.
ca. 1928
3
6
Photograph - Dallas Skyline looking North from the Dallas Gas Building. Looking toward Titche Goettinger, Dallas Athletic Club and the construction of the Tower Petroleum.
ca. 1929
3
7
Photograph - Mercantile National Bank.
3
8
Photographs - Series of photographs taken at Dyer family farm near Terrell, Texas. Farm scenes and equipment.
ca. 1944
3
9
Group picture of Hal Dyer's daughters Patsy and Dorthell and wife Oneita
1939
3
10
Photographs - Individual and group shots of Hal Dyer and wife Onetia Dyer. Includes one shot of Hal Dyer in Fort Worth Masonic School football uniform.
3
11
Photographs - Dorthell Dyer. An assortment of photographs of Hal Dyer's daughter. Many taken from their neighborhood on University Blvd.
3
12
Photographs - Three photographs of couples. Men are in uniform. One of which is Dorothy and fiancé.
3
13
Photographs - Young Children. Possibly the two Dyer daughters?
3
14
Photogrphs - Trip to Monterey Mexico. Camp Waldemar. Mostly Dorthell and some friends.
ca. 1941
3
15
Photograph - Sanders-Johnson Music Club. Dorthell Dyer one of the children.
3
16
Photographs - Camp Waldman scenes. Girls camp scenes. Horseback riding, canoeing, and scenes of camp life.
3
17
Photographs - Assortment of friends and relations to Dyer family. Some photos are identified on back.
3
18
Signed photograph. Thomas E. Dewey and an unidentified individual driving a construction vehicle.
1950
3
19
Photograph - Living room decorated for Christmas.
Oversized
General Contractors of America Panorama. Hollywood Palladium. Texas Delegation circled.
3/4/1954
4 - Oversized
Blueprint - Residence for Dan McElroy. Hidell and Decker - Architects. 5569 Nakoma
3/30/1955