Logo for Delano Family Papers, 1568-1919 | Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

Delano Family Papers, 1568-1919 | Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

Collection Overview

Title: Delano Family Papers, 1568-1919Add to your cart.

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

This collection of Delano Family papers includes the papers of Franklin Hughes Delano (FDR's great-uncle), Warren Delano II (FDR's grandfather), and Warren Delano III (FDR's uncle). The papers consist of correspondence from family members, business associates, and friends; financial and legal papers; diaries; letterbooks; newspaper clippings; and scrapbooks. They range in date from 1568-1919.

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]


Series 3: Papers of Warren Delano IIIAdd to your cart.

Sub-Series 1: Family Correspondence,, 1864-1915Add to your cart.
Boxes 35-49: Correspondence addressed to Warren or Jennie Walters Delano, arranged alphabetically. Letters from father, Warren Delano II, include some discussion of the Union Mining Company at Mt. Savage, Maryland where Warren III was employed after his graduation from Harvard University. Related material may be found in the Franklin Hughes Delano Family Correspondence and the Warren Delano II General Correspondence.

Box 35Add to your cart.

Adams, Ellen Delano (Warren III's daughter), 1892-1903Add to your cart.

Adams, Ellen Delano, 1905-1913Add to your cart.

Church, Nancy F. ("Nannie") (Warren II's cousin)Add to your cart.

Collier, Katharine Delano Robbins ("Kassie") (Warren III's sister), 1873-1893Add to your cart.

Collier, Katharine Delano Robbins, 1897-1900Add to your cart.

Collier, Katharine Delano Robbins, 1901-1905Add to your cart.

Box 36Add to your cart.

Collier, Katharine Delano Robbins, 1906-1908Add to your cart.

Collier, Katharine Delano Robbins, 1909-1915Add to your cart.

Collier, [Hiram] Price (Kassie's second husband)Add to your cart.

Delano, Catherine Robbins Lyman (Warren III's mother), 1866-1874Add to your cart.

Delano, Catherine Robbins Lyman, 1879-1896Add to your cart.

Delano, Edward (Warren III's "Uncle Ned")Add to your cart.

Delano, Edward: PassportsAdd to your cart.

Box 37Add to your cart.

Delano, Franklin Hughes (Warren III's Uncle), 1863-1887Add to your cart.

Delano, Franklin Hughes, 1888-1890Add to your cart.

Delano, Franklin Hughes, 1891-1893Add to your cart.

Delano, Frederic Adrian (Warren III's brother), 1869-1888Add to your cart.

Delano, Frederic Adrian, 1889-1894Add to your cart.

Box 38Add to your cart.

Delano, Frederic Adrian, 1895-1897Add to your cart.

Delano, Frederic Adrian, 1898-1899Add to your cart.

Delano, Frederic Adrian, 1900-1902Add to your cart.

Delano, Frederic Adrian, 1903-1915Add to your cart.

Box 39Add to your cart.

Delano, Jennie Walters (Mrs. Warren Delano III)Add to your cart.

Delano, Julia (daughter of Capt. Joseph C. Delano)Add to your cart.

Delano, Laura Astor (Warren III's aunt, Mrs. Franklin H. Delano)Add to your cart.

Delano, Laura Franklin (Warren III's sister)Add to your cart.

Delano, Laura Franklin ("Polly") (Warren III's sister), 1892-1903Add to your cart.

Delano, Laura Franklin, 1905-1906Add to your cart.

Delano, Leila Burnett (Mrs. Lyman Delano)Add to your cart.

Delano, Louise Church (Warren III's sister)Add to your cart.

Delano, Lyman (Warren III's son), 1891-1901Add to your cart.

Box 40Add to your cart.

Delano, Lyman, 1902-1903Add to your cart.

Delano, Lyman, 1904-1905Add to your cart.

Delano, Lyman, 1906-1914Add to your cart.

Delano, Matilda Peasley ("Tillie") (Mrs. Fredeic Delano)Add to your cart.

Delano, Philippe de Lannoy (Warren III's brother)Add to your cart.

Delano, Sarah Alvey ("Tantie") (Warren III's aunt), 1866-1875Add to your cart.

Delano, Sarah Alvey, 1876-1880Add to your cart.

Box 41Add to your cart.

Delano, Warren II (Warren III's father), 1864-1874Add to your cart.

Delano, Warren II, 1875-1876Add to your cart.

Delano, Warren II, 1877-1878Add to your cart.

Delano, Warren II, 1879-1880Add to your cart.

Delano, Warren II, 1881-1883Add to your cart.

Box 42Add to your cart.

Delano, Warren II, 1884-1886Add to your cart.

Delano, Warren II, 1887-1889Add to your cart.

Edgell, [George] Harold (Jean's husband)Add to your cart.

Edgell, Jean Delano (Warren III's daughter)Add to your cart.

Fellow-Gordon, Sarah Collier (Kassies' daughter)Add to your cart.

Forbes, Dora Delano (Warren III's sister), 1866-1879Add to your cart.

Forbes, Dora Delano, 1880-1889Add to your cart.

Box 43Add to your cart.

Forbes, Dora Delano, 1890-1895Add to your cart.

Forbes, Dora Delano, 1896-1897Add to your cart.

Forbes, Dora Delano, 1898-1899Add to your cart.

Forbes, Dora Delano, 1900-1901Add to your cart.

Forbes, Dora Delano, 1902-1903Add to your cart.

Box 44Add to your cart.

Forbes, Dora Delano, 1904-1906Add to your cart.

Forbes, Dora Delano, 1907-1915Add to your cart.

Forbes, Paul R. (Dora's second husband)Add to your cart.

Forbes, William H. (Dora's first husband)Add to your cart.

Grant, Catherine Delano (daughter of Frederic A. Delano)Add to your cart.

Hitch, Annie Delano (Warren III's sister), 1866-1874Add to your cart.

Hitch, Annie Delano, 1875-1878Add to your cart.

Box 45Add to your cart.

Hitch, Annie Delano, 1879-1884Add to your cart.

Hitch, Annie Delano, 1891-1895Add to your cart.

Hitch, Annie Delano, 1896-1897Add to your cart.

Hitch, Annie Delano, 1898-1899Add to your cart.

Hitch, Annie Delano, 1900-1901Add to your cart.

Box 46Add to your cart.

Hitch, Annie Delano, 1902-1903Add to your cart.

Hitch, Annie Delano, 1904-1906Add to your cart.

Hitch, Annie Delano, 1907-1908Add to your cart.

Hitch, Annie Delano, 1909-1915Add to your cart.

Hitch, Frederic Delano (Annie's husband), 1887-1888Add to your cart.

Box 47Add to your cart.

Hitch, Frederic Delano, 1890-1892Add to your cart.

Hitch, Frederic Delano, 1893Add to your cart.

Hitch, Frederic Delano, 1894Add to your cart.

Hitch, Frederic Delano, 1895-1897Add to your cart.

Hitch, Frederic Delano, 1898Add to your cart.

Box 48Add to your cart.

Hitch, Frederic Delano, 1899-1901Add to your cart.

Hitch, Frederic Delano, 1902-1909Add to your cart.

Howe, Archibald M. (cousin)Add to your cart.

Lesley, Susan Lyman (Warren III's aunt)Add to your cart.

Lyman, Edward H. R. (Warren III's uncle)Add to your cart.

Martineau, Cyril (Muriel's husband)Add to your cart.

Martineau, Muriel Robbins (Kassie's daughter)Add to your cart.

Redmond, Sara Delano (Warren III's daughter)Add to your cart.

Robbins, Warren Delano (Kassie's son)Add to your cart.

Roosevelt, Franklin Delano (Warren III's nephew)Add to your cart.

Roosevelt, James (Sara's husband)Add to your cart.

Roosevelt, Sara Delano (Warren III's sister), 1872-1890Add to your cart.

Box 49Add to your cart.

Roosevelt, Sara Delano, 1892-1901Add to your cart.

Roosevelt, Sara Delano, 1902-1903Add to your cart.

Roosevelt, Sara Delano, 1904-1915Add to your cart.

St. George, Katharine Collier (Kassie's daughter)Add to your cart.

Walters, Harry (Jennie Delano's brother)Add to your cart.

Weekes, Alice Delano (daughter of Capt. Joseph C. Delano)Add to your cart.

Weekes, Frederick Delano (Alice's son)Add to your cart.

Weekes, Henry deForest (Alice's son)Add to your cart.

Sub-Series 2: General Correspondence,, 1891-1919Add to your cart.
Boxes 50-51: Correspondence, often from Dutchess County residents, mostly concerning stock and equipment for the Barrytown estate. Letters of condolence on the death of his father, Warren II, and some newspaper clippings and other material memorializing Warren Delano II, Catherine Lyman Delano, and John Murray Forbes. Arranged alphabetically by correspondent or subject.

Box 50Add to your cart.

A GeneralAdd to your cart.

Acetylene Generator and Manufacturing CompanyAdd to your cart.

AgricultureAdd to your cart.

B GeneralAdd to your cart.

Burwell, P. L.Add to your cart.

C GeneralAdd to your cart.

Chanler, LewisAdd to your cart.

A. J. Corcoran, IncAdd to your cart.

D GeneralAdd to your cart.

Delano, Franklin H., Estate ofAdd to your cart.

E GeneralAdd to your cart.

Edgewood ClubAdd to your cart.

F GeneralAdd to your cart.

First National Bank, RhinebeckAdd to your cart.

G GeneralAdd to your cart.

Galvin, James (superintendent at Steen Valetje)Add to your cart.

Griffin, PercyAdd to your cart.

H GeneralAdd to your cart.

Hackett and WilliamsAdd to your cart.

Hale, EdwardAdd to your cart.

In Memorian (Warran Delano II, Catherine Delano, and John Murray Forbes)Add to your cart.

J GeneralAdd to your cart.

K GeneralAdd to your cart.

L GeneralAdd to your cart.

Letters of condolence of the death of his father, Warren Delano IIAdd to your cart.

M GeneralAdd to your cart.

Mills Creek Coal Co.Add to your cart.

MiscellaneousAdd to your cart.

Box 51Add to your cart.

N GeneralAdd to your cart.

New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Co.Add to your cart.

Norwegian PoniesAdd to your cart.

O GeneralAdd to your cart.

P GeneralAdd to your cart.

Pinehurst Stock FarmAdd to your cart.

Plass, William (coachman at Steen Valetje)Add to your cart.

Q GeneralAdd to your cart.

R GeneralAdd to your cart.

Red Hook Telephone CompanyAdd to your cart.

Robert, FernandAdd to your cart.

S GeneralAdd to your cart.

Harry Smillie and CompanyAdd to your cart.

Sturgeon, AlexAdd to your cart.

T GeneralAdd to your cart.

U GeneralAdd to your cart.

Van Keuren, A.Add to your cart.

Van Keuren, D. W. And Richard SticklesAdd to your cart.

W GeneralAdd to your cart.

Wager, A. LeeAdd to your cart.

XYZ GeneralAdd to your cart.

UnidentifiedAdd to your cart.

Sub-Series 3: Financial Papers,, 1894-1918Add to your cart.
Boxes 52-53: Receipts kept by William Anderson, superintendent at "Steen Valetje"; monthly accounts kept by Anderson and his successor, James Galvin, 1894-1918. Cancelled checks from Rhinebeck and New York banks, 1915-1917. Arranged chronologically.

Box 52Add to your cart.

Receipts, 1894-1896Add to your cart.

Monthly Accounts (William Anderson; James Galvin), 1894-1898Add to your cart.

Monthly Accounts (James Galvin), 1899-1902Add to your cart.

Monthly Accounts (James Galvin), 1903-1906Add to your cart.

Monthly Accounts (James Galvin), 1907-1910Add to your cart.

Monthly Accounts (James Galvin), 1911-1914Add to your cart.

Monthly Accounts (James Galvin), 1915-1918Add to your cart.

Box 53Add to your cart.

Cancelled Checks - First National Bank of Rhinebeck, 1915-1917Add to your cart.

Cancelled Check - Liberty National Bank, New York, 1915-1917Add to your cart.

Sub-Series 4: Diaries and ScrapbooksAdd to your cart.
Box 54: Diaries kept by Warren Delano III and H.A. deWindt during a trip to Wyoming and Yellowstone Park in August and September 1899. They were accompanied by Warren's brother and son, Frederic A. and Lyman Delano. Also a scrapbook kept by Warren III in Hong Kong in 1861 which includes a list of "Imports of Rice into Canton Waters in 1862" entered by his father. A scrapbook with newspaper clippings dated 1880-1909 includes an article concerning the history of Russell and Company's financial interests in China.

Box 54Add to your cart.

Diary of Warren Delano III, Trip to Wyoming and Yellowstone Park, August 16, 1899-September 18, 1899Add to your cart.

Journal of H. S. deWindt, Trip to Wyoming and Yellowstone Park, August 16, 1899-September 18, 1899Add to your cart.

Scrapbook of Newspaper Clippings, 1880-1909Add to your cart.

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]