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Frédéric Gaillardet Manuscripts

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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Gaillardet, Frédéric, 1808-1882

Frédéric Gaillardet (1802-1882) was a lawyer, politician, and writer, who emigrated to the United States in 1837. There, he served as a journalist, writing about French affairs for New York newspapers and American affairs for Parisian newspapers. In 1839, he became the proprietor and editor of the New-York based newspaper, Le courrier des États-Unis, which, under his direction, became the leading French language newspaper in the Western Hemisphere. Gaillardet sold the newspaper and returned to France after the 1848 Revolution in an unsuccessful attempt to obtain a seat in the National Assembly. He was elected mayor of Le Plessis-Bouchard in 1869, and was working on a memoir of his life in America, in the manner of Alexis de Tocqueville's De la Démocratie en Amérique, when he died in 1882. Parts of his memoir appeared posthumously in 1883 under the title L'Aristocratie en Amérique.

This collection consists of several manuscripts, some of which were unpublished, by French lawyer, politician, and writer, Frédéric Gaillardet (1808-1882), including a partial manuscript draft of L'Aristocratie en Amérique (Paris, 1883) as well as several other manuscripts, notes, documents, and clippings, primarily relating to Gaillardet's time and travels in the United States, Cuba, and Canada from 1837 to 1848, particularly his time in Louisiana, Mississippi, and other southern states. These manuscripts offer a critique of American society, and include observances of such things as the condition of Indian societies, the fractious relationship between Creoles and Anglo-Americans, and the institution of slavery.

Also included are manuscript drafts of unpublished dramatic plays and other writings.

Purchase, 2016. (AM 2016-58)

This collection was processed by Faith Charlton in February 2016. Finding aid written by Faith Charlton in February 2016.

No materials were separated during 2016 processing.

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Author
Faith Charlton
Finding Aid Date
2016
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.

Collection Inventory

"L'Aristocratie en Amérique", undated. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Partial manuscript that includes unpublished paragraphs.

Physical Description

1 folder

"L'Aristocratie en Amérique," Chapitre II, undated. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Titled "Aspect de l'embouchure du Mississippi," Gaillardet discusses his arrival in Louisiana in 1837 and his impression of the Mississippi River (3 pages)

Physical Description

1 folder

"Jeanne de Flandre [(1295-1374)]", undated. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Unpublished play (60 pages)

Physical Description

1 folder

"La Loi de Lynch", undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

"Memoirés du Chevalier d'Eon", 1836. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Drawn from family archives; Gaillardet was born in the same city as Chevalier d'Eon, Tonnerre. (77 pages)

Physical Description

1 folder

"Le premier des Bragances" [King John I of Portugal, 1357-1433], undated. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Unpublished play

Physical Description

1 folder

"Quatrieme lettre sur le Louisiane et la vallée du Mississippi", 1838. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Published in 1838 in Le courrier des États-Unis.

Physical Description

1 folder

"Souvenir d'un voyage à l'île de Cuba", circa 1837-1838. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Concerns Gaillardet's trip to Cuba, 1837-1838, with a focus on slavery. (11 pages, signed)

Physical Description

1 folder

Notes, Maps, and Clippings, undated. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Materials concern various topics relating to North America, Indian societies in particular, and other related subjects.

Physical Description

1 folder

Letter from Canadian Institut de Québec Appointing Gaillardet an Honorary Member, 1877 October 15. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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