Delano Family Papers, 1568-1919 | Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum
Collection Overview
Title: Delano Family Papers, 1568-1919
Primary Creator: Delano, Franklin Hughes
Other Creators: Delano, Warren II, Delano, Warren III
Extent: 27.73 Cubic Feet
Arrangement: The Delano Family Papers is arranged into five distinct series: Papers of Franklin Hughes Delano, Papers of Warren Delano II, Papers of Warren Delano III, Other Family Papers & Accretions to the Delano Family Papers.
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Collection Historical Note
Many members of the Delano family in the United States, descended from Philippe de la Noye who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621, were involved in the New England sea trade. Captain Warren Delano (1779-1866), Franklin Delano Roosevelt's great-grandfather, was a sea captain and ship owner who sailed from Fairhaven, Massachusetts. He and his first wife, Deborah Perry Church (1783-1827), had the following children: Warren II (1809-1898), Frederick A. (1811-1857), Franklin Hughes (1813-1893), Louisa Church (1816-1846), Edward (1818-1881), Deborah Perry (1820-1846), Sarah Alvey (1822-1880), & Susan Maria (1825-1841).
Warren Delano II, President Roosevelt's grandfather, born July 13, 1809 in Fairhaven, also embarked upon a maritime career. In 1833, he sailed to China as supercargo on board the Commerce bound for Canton where he became associated with the shipping firm, Russell Sturgis and Company. In January 1840 he became a partner in the house of Russell and Company, also of Canton. During the Opium War, Warren remained in Canton and Macao, serving as acting counsul for the United States. In 1843 he returned to the United States where he married Catherine Robbins Lyman (a daughter of Judge Joseph Lyman of Massachusetts). Shortly thereafter the couple departed for Macao and remained there until 1846. After returning to the United States, the Delanos lived in New York until 1851 when they moved to "Algonac" near Newburgh, New York. At this time Warren's financial interests were settled in real estate and mining. During the panic of 1857 Delano suffered severe financial losses and in 1859 he returned to China to refresh his fortune. His family, which included the President's mother, Sara, joined him at Hong Kong in 1862, returning to the United States after the Civil War. Warren Delano died at "Algonac" on January 17, 1898, nearly two years after the death of his wife Catherine on February 10, 1896.
Warren and Catherine's children were as follows: Susan Maria (1844-1846), Louise Chuch (1846-1869), Deborah (Dora) Perry (1847-1940), Annie Lyman (1849-1926), Warren (1850-1851), Warren (1852-1920), Sara (1854-1941), Philippe deLannoy (1857-1881), Katharine (Kassie) Robbins (1863-1953), & Laura Franklin (1864-1884).
Warren's brother, Franklin Hughes Delano, born July 27, 1813, became a partner in the New York shipping firm of Grinnell, Minturn and Company in January 1839. In September 1844 he married Laura Astor (a daughter of William Backhouse Astor and granddaughter of John Jacob Astor). As a wedding present the couple received a portion of William Backhouse Astor's "Rokeby" estate near Barrytown, New York; their house called "Steen Valetje" was constructed there around 1850. Franklin H. Delano was involved in many financial ventures with his brothers Warren, Frederick, and Edward; he also had control over a large piece of property in the city of New York which his wife had inherited. He served as Consul for Chile at New York from 1840 until 1851 when he resigned that office and also retired as an active partner in Grinnell, Minturn and Company. He and his wife travelled to Europe that year; they later spent much of their time in Italy and Monte Carlo. Franklin H. Delano died in Monte Carlo in December 1893; Laura died there in 1902.
Franklin's nephew, Warren Delano III, who inherited "Steen Valetje" in 1894, was born at "Algonac" in 1852. After graduating from Harvard University in 1874 he joined the management of the Union Mining Company at Mt. Savage, Maryland. In the summer of 1876 he married Jennie Walters of Baltimore. Warren III had many mining, banking and railroad interests; as a hobby he bred horses at "Steen Valetje". He was killed on September 9, 1920 when his horse ran into the path of an oncoming train at Barrytown, New York. At the time of his death, Delano was a director of the Union Mining Company, President of the Delano Coal Company, and Chairman of the Board of the Vinton Colliery Company.
Administrative Information
Repository: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum
Access Restrictions: None
Use Restrictions: The writings of Franklin D. Roosevelt within this collection are in the public domain. The official writings of United States government officials within this collection are in the public domain. The writings of Eleanor Roosevelt within this collection are subject to Mrs. Roosevelt's literary estate. All other materials are subject to the United States Copyright law, 17 U.S.C. 101, et seq. Literary property rights have been donated to the United States Government.
Acquisition Method: The majority of these papers from "Steen Valetje", the Delano house at Barrytown, New York, were received at the Library from Warren Delano on April 21 and May 8, 1967. A small accretion to the papers was received from Mr. Delano on May 22, 1978. Literary property rights have been donated to the United States Government.
Related Materials: Additional Delano family material, given to the Library by President Roosevelt and other donors, has been filed with the Roosevelt Family Papers. The papers of Frederic Adrian Delano also contain family material dating from the 1830's. Correspondence from various Delano family members may also be found in the papers of Franklin D. and Eleanor Roosevelt.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Papers of Franklin Hughes Delano],
[Series 2: Papers of Warren Delano II],
[Series 3: Papers of Warren Delano III],
[Series 4: Other Family Papers,, 1568-1890],
[Series 5: Accretions to the Delano Family Papers],
[All]
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Series 1: Papers of Franklin Hughes Delano -
Sub-Series 1: Family Correspondence,, 1838-1888 - Boxes 1-7: Correspondence from Delano and Astor family members, arranged in alphabetical order by correspondent. Letters from brothers Warren II, Frederick, and Edward, concern family financial affairs as well as other personal matters. Warren and Edward were both members of the shipping firm of Russell and Company at Canton, China in the early 1840's. Frederick Delano was also involved in many shipping ventures, often in partnership with his brothers. Many letters from Warren II and his children also date from the period of their residence in Hong Kong in the 1860's. Related material may also be found in the Franklin Hughes Delano Subject Files and Mt. Savage Iron Company files as well as the Warren Delano II General Correspondence files and the Warren Delano III Family Correspondence. See also the diaries and accounts of Edward Delano, filed with the Roosevelt Family Papers. Correspondence of Warren Delano II and other family members may also be found in the papers of Frederic A. Delano.
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Box 1 -
Astor, Charlotte Augusta Gribbs (Mrs. John Jacob Astor III) -
Astor, John Jacob III (FHD's brother-in-law) -
Astor, Margaret Rebecca Armstrong (FHD's mother-in-law) -
Astor, William Backhouse (FHD's father-in-law) -
Astor, William B. (FHD's brother-in-law) -
Astor, William Waldorf (son of John Jacob Astor III) -
Carey, Alida Astor (Mrs. John Carey Jr.) (FHD's sister-in-law) -
Carey, John Jr. -
Carey, John Sr. -
Chanler, Bessie and Margaret (daughters of Margaret Astor Ward Chanler) -
Church, Samuel -
Delano, Catherine Robbins Lyman ("Katie") (Mrs. Warren Delano II) -
Delano, Deborah Perry (FHD's sister) -
Delano, Edward ("Ned") (FHD's brother), 1840-1841 -
Delano, Edward, 1842-1843 -
Delano, Edward, 1844-1849
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Box 2 -
Box 3 -
Delano, Capt. Joseph Clement (FDH's first cousin) -
Delano, Laura Astor (Mrs. Franklin Hughes Delano) -
Delano, Laura Franklin (FDH's niece) -
Delano, Louisa Church (FDH's sister) -
Delano, Louise Church ((FDH's niece) -
Delano, Philippe de Lannoy (FDH's nephew) -
Delano, Sarah Alvey (FDH's sister) -
Delano, Capt. Warren (FDH's father), 1839-1845 -
Delano, Capt. Warren, 1846-1864 -
Delano, Capt. Warren (to Frederick A. Delano) -
Delano, Warren II (FDH's brother), 1838-1839
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Box 4 -
Box 5 -
Box 6 -
Box 7 -
Hitch, Annie Delano (FDH's niece) -
Hitch, Frederic Delano -
Hitch, Joseph -
Lyman, Anne Jean -
Robbins, Charles A. -
Robbins, Katharine Delano ("Kassie") (FDH's niece) -
Roosevelt, Sara Delano ("Sallie") (FDH's niece) -
Terry, Eliza (FDH's first cousin) -
Ward, Margaret Astor ("Maddie", later Mrs. John Winthrop Chanler, FDH's niece) -
Weekes, Alice Delano (daughter of Capt. Joseph C. Delano) -
Weekes, Arthur Delano -
Weekes, Frederick Delano -
Weekes, Henry deForest -
Weekes, John Abeel (married to Alice Delano) -
Weekes, John Abeel Jr.
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Sub-Series 2: General Correspondence,, 1839-1890 - Boxes 8-14: Correspondence from business associates and personal friends, arranged alphabetically by correspondent. Included is correspondence from Chamberlain and Ashforth who handled the collection of rents from the Delanos' property in the city of New York. Correspondence from Philip Kissam of the Astor Estate Office reveals much about Franklin Delano's investments, particularly in railroads, and includes observations on the New York stock market in the latter part of the 19th century. Letters from Robert Bennet Forbes and John Murray Forbes of Boston and Francis S. Hathaway of New Bedford, Massachusetts are concerned with Franklin Delano's shipping ventures in the 1840's. Other correspondence concerns construction of the Laura Franklin Hospital (later part of the Fifth Avenue Hospital) which Franklin built in memory of his niece, Laura Delano, who died in 1884. Also correspondence from many European friends, particularly those resident in Italy. Two letterbooks kept by Mr. Delano are filed at the end of the series. Other material concerning Franklin Delano's financial affairs may be found in the Franklin Hughes Delano Family Correspondence files, Subject Files as well as the Warren Delano II General Correspondence files.
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Box 8 -
A General -
Anderson, William (superintendent at Steen Valetje) -
Armstrong, John -
Ashforth, George -
Aspinwall, John -
Astor Library -
B General -
Baldwin Brothers and Company (New York) -
Baring Brothers and Company (London) -
Bartlettt, Abner -
Baylies, Franklin -
Bianchi, Oswald -
Billings, William -
Bossange, Hector -
Burr, A.T. -
C General
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Box 9 -
Chamberlain and Ashforth -
Chase, George -
Clapp, James -
Clarke, J.G. -
D General -
deLuze and Sons -
Detmold, C.E. -
Dexter, Thomas A. -
Dexter, T.C.A. -
Downey, John -
J.S. Dumaresq and Company (Rome) (Giulio Posi) -
Duncan, B. Odell -
Dutilh, Eugene -
D.P. Dutilh and Company (Trieste) -
Dutilh and Cousinery (New York) -
E General -
F General -
Finley Johnson and Company (San Francisco) -
Fletcher, J.C. -
Forbes, John Murray -
Forbes, Robert Bennet -
G General -
Greene and Company (Paris)
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Box 10 -
Grinnell, Minturn and Company (New York) -
H General -
Hathaway, Francis S. -
A & M Heine (New Orleans) -
Hillman, O.A. -
Hoffman, Ogden Jr. -
Hood, Robert (Office of City Engineer, Kingston) -
Hoppin, W.J. -
Hottinger and Company (Paris) -
Houghton, Rev. George Hendric -
Jacob Hulle and Company (London) -
Hunter, William C. -
Hutchinson, J.P. -
J General -
Jarves, James Jackson -
Johnson, Eastman -
K General -
King, Edward -
Kissam, Philip, 1848-1869 -
Kissam, Philip, 1876-1877 -
Kissam, Philip, 1878
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Box 11 -
Box 12 -
Kissam, Philip, 1890 -
L General -
Lee and Higginson (Boston) -
C. Adolphe Low and Company (San Francisco) -
Mc General -
M General -
Macondray and Company (San Francisco) -
Maquay and Pakenham (Florence) -
Merchants National Bank, New Bedford, Mass. -
Minturn, Robert B. -
Moore, T.W. -
N General -
Nevin, Robert J. -
R.H. Nevins and Company (New York) -
Nye, Gideon Jr. -
O General -
Ogden, C.H. -
P General -
Paine Stricker and Company (Rome) -
Pakenham, Hooker and Company (Rome) -
Panelli, Dr. Francesco -
Petherick, Thomas -
Polo and Burckle (Havana) -
Porter, Mr. and Mrs. D.C. -
Posi, Giulio -
Q General -
R General -
Rafard, Charles -
Russell and Company (Canton)
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Box 13 -
Russell and Sturgis (Manila) -
S General -
Sanford, F.C. -
Schickel, William -
Sedgwick, Theodore -
Simmons, Franklin -
Spooner, D.N. -
Stall, Robert D. -
Stent, Thomas -
Stevens, B.F. -
Stewart, Robert -
Sturgis, Russell -
T General -
Terry, Isaiah F. -
Tillinghast, W.E. -
Totora Bruyda, Baron Roberto -
Turner, Charles Augustus -
Turner, Frederick T. -
Turner, W.J. and Company (Naples) -
V General -
Van Keuren, Frank T. -
Vesser, W.H. -
Vollmering, Joseph -
W General
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Box 14
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Sub-Series 3: Subject File,, 1833-1894 - Boxes 15-30: Correspondence, diaries, financial papers, receipted bills, trade circulars, rent rolls, estimates and specifications, cancelled checks and checkbooks, legal papers, a book with addresses and household accounts of Laura A. Delano, monthly accounts, a time book, a record of rainfall kept by William Anderson (superintendent at "Steen Valetje"), and some printed material. Arranged alphabetically by subject. The financial papers, including accounts of sales, invoices, and bills of lading, date mainly from the 1840's when Franklin H. Delano was associated with Grinnell, Minturn and Company. Related material may be found in the Franklin Hughes Delano Family Correspondence files and the General Correspondence files.
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Box 15 -
Box 16 -
Anderson, William - Monthly Accounts, 1886-1888 -
Anderson, William - Rainfall Record, 1872-1888 -
Anderson William - Timebook -
Astor, Henry - Legal Papers Re -
Astor, John Jacob - Copy of Will -
Atlantic Dock Company (New York) -
Auction of Furniture at 45 Lafayette Place, May 1851 -
Bills of Lading, 1844-1845 -
Books, Bills of -
British Consols -
Burkle, Jamm and Company - Accounts With,, 1844-1845 -
Canal Stock (Mules and Horses) to Board
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Box 17 -
Box 18 -
Consul for Chile at New York, Papers as -
Coster - Sale of Silks -
Cotton Mills -
Davis and Kissam - Accounts With -
Delano, Edward - Accounts With -
Delano, Frederick A. - Accounts With -
Delano, Capt. Joseph C. - Accounts With -
Delano, Laura A. - Adresses and Household Accounts, 1845-1851 -
Delano, Capt. Warren - Accounts With -
Delano, Warren II - Accounts With -
Diary (Europe), 1851-1852
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Box 18A -
Diary (Europe), 1876-1878 -
Diary (Europe), 1884-1885 -
Douglas, William P. (Administrator of Harriet D. Cruger, deceased) vs. Franklin H. Delano -
Dutilh and Cousinery - Accounts With -
Egypt, Trip to, 1877-1878 -
Empire Coal Gas Company -
English Trade Circulars, 1843, 1848-1849 -
Estimates (Work at 39 Lafayette Place) -
Estimates (Work at 45 Lafayette Place) -
Expenses on Importations (Baldwin Brothers and Company) -
Expenses on Importations (Dutilh and Company) -
Farm Accounts (Robert D. Stall), 1884-1885
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Box 19 -
French Funds -
Goodhue and Company - Accounts With FDH and W.M. Durand -
Great Britian -
Grinnell, Minturn and Company -
Grinnell, Minturn and Company - Accounts of Sales -
Grinnell, Minturn and Company - Accounts Current With -
Grinnell, Minturn and Company - Accounts Current With (Delano & Schermerhorn: FDH Asignee -
Grinnell, Minturn and Company - Accounts Current With (Estate of Henry Huttleson) -
Grinnell, Minturn and Company - Profit and Loss Statements -
Hay and Butter Accounts -
Hudson River Agricultural and Driving Park Association vs. Franklin H. Delano -
Hudson River Railroad -
Huttleston, Franklin D. -
Huttleston, Henry -
Inventories -
Invoices, 1834-1841 -
Invoices, 1842-1845 -
Invoices of Canton Goods (W.M. Durand), 1836-1837 -
Laura Franklin Hospital
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Box 20 -
Marble Pedestals, Statues and Busts for the Astor Library -
Massachusetts - Accounts -
Memoranda re Foreign Trade -
Middle Lehigh Coal Company -
Miscellaneous -
Miscellaneous Accounts, 1833-1841 -
Miscellaneous Accounts, 1842-1845 -
Miscellaneous Accounts, 1846-1856 -
New York City Property: Power of Attorney to Franklin H. Delano; Lease to John Fick -
New York City Property: Rent Rolls and Rent Accounts, 1876-1878 -
New York City Property: Rent Rolls and Rent Accounts, 1879-1880
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Box 21 -
Box 22 -
Box 23 -
Box 24 -
Box 25 -
Box 26 -
Box 27 -
Box 28 -
Box 29 -
Box 30 -
Road Tax, Town of Red Hook -
Sarah Abigail -
Silver and Jewels (Charles J. Hill, London) -
Steen Valetje - Specifications, Estimates, Memoranda, etc., 1848-1850 -
Steen Valetje - Specifications, etc. for Carriage House and Stable, 1874-1875 -
Steen Valetje - Specifications, Memoranda, etc., 1881 -
Steen Valetje - Specifications and Estimates for Stone Work, 1880-1886 -
Street Comission, City of New York -
Sturgis, George - Affairs of -
Union Trust Company of New York -
Windmills -
Wortz vs. Murcha
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Sub-Series 4: Mt. Savage Iron Company,, 1858-1863 - Box 31: Correspondence from employees of the Mt. Savage Iron Company, Mt. Savage, Maryland, to John Graham, President of the company, describing company operations. Also some receipted bills and cancelled checks. Warren Delano II had a financial interest in this company (later called the Union Mining Company) and Franklin H. Delano apparently looked after Warren's interests during the latter's third trip to China in the 1860's. Correspondence from C. Slack includes some description of Civil War military activities in the Cumberland County, Maryland area. Arranged by correspondent. Other material concerning the iron works at Mt. Savage may be found in the Franklin Hughes Delano Family Correspondence, the Warren Delano II General Correspondence and the Warren Delano III Family Correspondence.
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Box 31 -
Correspondence, Samuel Danks to John Graham, President, 1861-1863 -
Correspondence, George E. Leonard to John Graham, President, 1860-1863 -
Correspondence, C. Slack, Superintendent, to John Graham,President, 1860-1861 -
Other correspondence to John Graham, President, 1861-1863 -
Receipted Bills, Canceleld Checks, 1858-1862
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Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Papers of Franklin Hughes Delano],
[Series 2: Papers of Warren Delano II],
[Series 3: Papers of Warren Delano III],
[Series 4: Other Family Papers,, 1568-1890],
[Series 5: Accretions to the Delano Family Papers],
[All]