Archive Record
Metadata
Collection |
Drayer / Leisner Papers |
Catalog Number |
004 |
Scope & Content |
Papers of Clarence Drayer (1880-1948) and his daughter, Ruth Drayer Leisner (later Solms) (1910-1997). The bulk of the collection consists of clippings and other documents relating to Clarence Drayer's work as a Trustee of the Village of Wilmette from 1924 to 1928, and his continuing interest in Village affairs in the 1920s and 1930s, especially regarding transportation issues, zoning, and tree management. A few documents relate to his position as National Secretary of the American Association of Engineers and the operations of the real estate business that he founded, North Shore Realty. Ruth Leisner's papers primarily relate to her work for North Shore Realty, in which she partnered with her parents. Clarence Drayer was born in 1880 in Kenton Ohio. He moved to Wilmette in 1918 with his wife and family and lived at 1027 Greenwood until 1919, then 1034 Elmwood, which he bought from John Shepard Gage. His wife Edna L. Drayer (1881-1976) was a founder of the Wilmette Chapter of the League of Women Voters. Clarence Drayer was a Civil Engineer and an executive in the American Engineers Association until 1924. In the 1920s he briefly had an advertising agency before becoming a real-estate broker in 1928. That year he founded North Shore Realty, which he ran until his death in 1948. After his death, the realty company was operated by his wife Edna and daughter Ruth Drayer Solms. |
Object Name |
Papers, Personal |
Title |
Drayer / Leisner Papers |
Catalog type |
Archive |
Physical characteristics |
papers |
Dates of Creation |
1924-1955 |
Dates of Accumulation |
1924-1955 |
Creator |
Drayer, Clarence E. |
Admin/Biographical History |
Mr. Drayer was born November 18, 1880 in Kenton, Ohio. He moved to Wilmette in 1918, during September of October, with his wife and family. They lived at 1027 Greenwood until May, 1919, when they moved to 1034 Elmwood. His wife was Edna L. Drayer [1881-1976], one of the founders of the Wilmette Chapter, League of Women Voters. Children are Ruth Drayer Solms, born about 1910. By occupation he was a Civil Engineer. He worked for a railroad from 1902-1918 and was executive-Secretary of the American Engineers Association from 1918-1924. From 1924-1927 he had an advertising agency. In 1928 he became a real-estate broker and founded North Shore Realty, which was carried on after his death on August 18, 1948, by his wife and daughter. He was a Trustee of the Village of Wilmette for four years, 1924-1927, elected on the Home Party slate. He served as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and on the Public Service Committee. He was also on the Board of Local Improvements, c. 1927. He was listed in who's Who of Engineering, c. 1921 and also in Who's Who in IL, about the same year. In 1921 he was asked by the Chicago Daily News to run for Congress, but he refused as he wanted to keep his political independence. Recurring issues through the 1920's and 1930's in which he was active were 1] Zoning and Plan Commission, including building codes. 2] Railroad grade separation 3] Village Manager form of government 4] Non-partisan political caucus. [see pencil note by Ruth D. Solms in Miscellaneous folder] Mr. Drayer made a list of what he felt were his positive contributions while he was Village Trustee. [See Miscellaneous folder] In addition he conceived and implemented a Tree Survey in 1927. |
Related units of description |
Election campaign materials: Home Party folders, Campaign poster in Poster drawer. Map of Wilmette, c. 1923 [1978.16] In Map Drawer 6 glass plates of tree survey [A238-A242, A244] |
Classification |
Business & Commerce Elections Wilmette, Village of Real Estate |