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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 4: Other Family Papers,, 1568-1890Add to your cart.
Boxes 55-56: Correspondence, deeds, wills, genealogical material, a scrapbook (1802-1877), and a story by Elizabeth Babcock written in 1862 for the travelers on the Surprise enroute to China.

Box 55Add to your cart.

Deeds (Land in Bristol Co., Massachusetts), 1806-1885Add to your cart.

Delano, Catherine - Letter to her cousin, Sarah Forbes (photostat), November 21, 1843Add to your cart.

Delano, Catherine - Letters from Laura Astor Delano, 1868Add to your cart.

Delano, Edward - Letters from Warren, Sarah, and Deborah Delano, 1838-1846Add to your cart.

Delano, Frederick A. - Letter from J. J. Astor, 1836Add to your cart.

Delano, Capt. Joseph C. - Letters from Frederick A., Franklin H., and Warren Delano, 1834-1853Add to your cart.

Delano, Laura A. - Property Affected by Will ofAdd to your cart.

Documents sur la Famille de Lannoy (French), 1568-1778Add to your cart.

Family Burial Plot, Fairhaven, Mass., 1851-1889Add to your cart.

Family Wills (copies): Capt. Warren Delano, Frederick A. Delano, and Sarah A. DelanoAdd to your cart.

Box 56Add to your cart.

Genealogical ChartsAdd to your cart.

Genealogy Notes and Correspondence, 1822-1890Add to your cart.

Robbins Family Correspondence (mainly letters of Sarah Robbins Howe, an aunt of Mrs Warren Delano II), 1775-1848Add to your cart.

Scrapbook (chiefly preserved by Sarah A. Delano, includes letters of Warren Delano II and several of his children as well as other family members; also sketches of Arrowdale and Algonac), 1802-1877Add to your cart.

Story written by Cousin Elizabeth Babcock (Mrs. William Potter) for the travellers in the ship Surprise to China, 1862Add 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]