| Dates: | 1874-1940s |
| Size: | 11 folders (12 photographs) |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, 400 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60605 |
| Collection Number: | n00110 |
| Provenance: | Donated by Richard Lanyon in 2017 |
| Access: | No restrictions. |
| Citation: | When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: Lanyon Family Papers, [Small Collections Box #, Folder #], Special Collections, Chicago Public Library |
| Processed by: | Michelle McCoy, 2020 |
Biographical and Historical Note
The Lanyon Family Papers consists of photographs and ephemera about the Lanyon family who settled in Chicago beginning in 1867. Dick Norman Lanyon, the donor’s grandfather, was born in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, in 1852. Dick, or D.N. Lanyon, worked in various professions including as a sign painter and as the Lessee and Manager of the Englewood Opera House located at Englewood Avenue [62nd Street] between Wentworth and Princeton Avenues. He also owned a business that milled and ground fire clay for the steel industry. Between 1930 and 1934, he wrote four letters to his daughter, Maude, and his son-in-law, Billy. In these letters he notes the effect of the Great Depression on his rental apartments, the coming Century of Progress fair, some ideas on criminal justice and how in 1934, he had become the oldest, continuous resident of Englewood.
Dick was one of five brothers. Charles H. Lanyon, was born in 1849 in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. He arrived in Chicago in 1874, settled in the Englewood neighborhood and established his saddle and harness maker business at 6238 South Wentworth Avenue. John B. Lanyon also arrived in 1874 and established Lanyon Undertaking at 415 West 63rd Street. His son, Lester, and granddaughter, Esther, would take over the business.
Arrangement
The organization of the materials begins with the donor’s grandfather, Dick Norman Lanyon, and moves to his brothers and the heirs of his brothers.
Related Collections
Englewood Community Collection
Subject Terms
Englewood (Chicago, Ill.)
Container List
| Small Collections Box 1 | Folder 2 | Dick Norman Lanyon, portrait, circa 1880s |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Folder 2 | Dick Norman Lanyon, Englewood Opera House letterhead, 1889-1890 |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Folder 3 | Dick Norman Lanyon, business cards, undated |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Folder 4 | Dick Norman Lanyon, letters to his daughter Maude and son-in-law Billy, 1930-1934 (4) |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Folder 5 | Lanyon brothers, portrait of Byron, Charles H., Dick Norman, Fred and John B., photograph, circa 1920s |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Folder 6 | Charles H. Lanyon, Saddle and Harness Maker, business label, undated |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Folder 6 | Charles H. Lanyon in horse-drawn carriage, photograph, undated |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Folder 6 | Charles H. Lanyon, portrait, photograph, 1874 April 19 |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Folder 6 | Charles H. Lanyon, portrait, photograph, circa 1889 |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Folder 6 | Charles H. Lanyon, portrait in doorway of his Englewood business, photograph, undated |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Folder 6 | Charles H. Lanyon, portrait in interior of his Englewood business, photograph, circa 1920 |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Folder 7 | John B. Lanyon, House of Seven Gables, 6566 South Ross Avenue, photograph, undated |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Folder 8 | Lester H. Lanyon, portrait, circa 1940s |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Folder 9 | Esther J. Lanyon, portrait, circa 1910 |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Folder 9 | Esther J. Lanyon, portrait, circa 1928 |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Folder 10 | Lanyon Undertaking, interior lobby, undated |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Folder 11 | Howard and Nell, negative, undated |
