Municipal Archives

​Grauwyler Park and John and Emma Grauwyler,
1827-1963

​Collection 1995-047

Overview

​Repository​Dallas Municipal Archives
Office of the City Secretary
1500 Marilla Street, 5D South
Dallas, Texas 75201
​CreatorCity of Dallas
​TitleGrauwyler Park and John and Emma Grauwyler
​Dates1827-1963
​Quantity1 foot, 3 inches linear ​
​AbstractCollection documents the acquisition and development of Grauwyler Park and contains documentation and personal papers of the park's namesake, John Grauwyler.
​Identification1995-047
​Language​​Records are in English

Scope and Contents 

John J. Grauwyler, a farmer of Dallas county, Texas, was born Johann Jacob Graviller in Switzerland November 28, 1837, and reared in the city of Basel.  In 1854, he immigrated to Rochester, New York.  In April, 1861, in Rochester, he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-eighth New York Infantry, for three months, and was in the American Civil War Battle of Bull Run.  He came to Dallas County, Texas, in 1883 and operated a farm of 365 acres until his death in 1909.  [Adapted from A Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County, Texas, 1892,p. 421.]

Collection documents the acquisition and development of Grauwyler Park and contains documentation and personal papers of the park's namesake, John Grauwyler.  Grauwyler Memorial Park, located at the 7500 Block of Harry Hines Boulevard in Dallas, Texas, was bequeathed to the City of Dallas in 1924 by Emma H. Grauwyler in memory of her husband John Grauwyler.  The initial bequest totaled 25 acres and was augmented over time.  Collection contains correspondence and memoranda, land transfer documents, legal documents, and printed materials pertaining to the estate of John Grauwyler and Emma Grauwyler and the establishment and maintenance of Grauwyler Park, Dallas, Texas.  John Grauwyler personal materials of note include his discharge form from the United State Army, 1863, an Army pension for John Grauwyler, awarded to Emma Grauwyler, a business ledger belonging to John Grauwyler (entries from 1827, 1863-1880s), and the Grauwyler family bible.

Organization

The collection is arranged in two series, manuscript material and printed material.  Correspondence and memoranda in chronological order.

Access​

Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use by any and all other current or future developed methods or procedures must be obtained in writing from the Dallas Municipal Archives.  All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards.

Citation

Grauwyler Park and John and Emma Grauwyler, 1827-1963 (Box <x>, Folder <y>), Dallas Municipal Archives

Related Material

None

​Index Terms

Dallas -- Texas -- History
Dallas (Tex.). Park and Recreation Department
Grauwyler, Emma H 1841-1923
Grauwyler, Johann Jacob 1833-1908
Parks -- Texas -- Dallas


​Container List

BoxFolderFile Name, Date
11Will of Estate of Emma Grauwyler, June 18, 1923
 2Abstract of title-part of Eli Chandler survey for O.P. Bowser, August 12, 1909
 3Abstract of title-part of Miles Bennett survey, November 7, 1913
 4Brief preliminary statement to members of the Park Board re: Emma and John Grauwyler, July 5, 1923
 5Letter to Park Board from Emil Fretz opposing acceptance of Grauwyler will, July 20, 1923
 6Contest to the will of Emma Grauwyler, statement to Park Board, October 18, 1923
 7Statement of facts under oath for Mayor, Park Board, and City Commission of Dallas-concerning Emma and John Grauwyler, November 22, 1923
 8Resolution accepting the Grauwyler property, December 21, 1926
 9Park Board resolution accepting Grauwyler bequest, December 21, 1926
 10Emma Grauwyler-will and contest by James T. Shaw, et al, 1923-1925
 11Donalson and Bullard, attorneys to Park Board re: the will of Emma H. Grauwyler, 1923
 12Newspaper clipping, undated, "Heirs drop contest of Emma Grauwyler will", undated
 13Letter to City Attorney from Tochstone, Wight, Gormley, and Price re: Texas and Pacific Railway Company vs. Deck Martin, et al., 1933
 14Sale of property to Ida Ford, March 12, 1946
 15Sale of Grauwyler lot in West Dallas, 1944-1946
 16Memorandum in reference to possible conveyance of Grauwyler Park land, July 12, 1962
 17Disposition of Grauwyler Park land, 1962-1963
 18Purchase by E. H. Grauwyler from Annie Caruth, 1910
 19Estate of George Peck suing Emma Grauwyler for legal services provided by George Peck, 1912
 20Quit claim deed-Rose Graviller and Emma H. Grauwyler, December 18, 1912
 21Oakland Cemetery-plot for John J. Grauwyler, November 6, 1908
 22Discharge record-John Graviller, New York State Volunteers, June 2, 1863
 23Pension record for John Graviller, February 1, 1909
 24Map section, Singleton Boulevard at Crossman, Patrick at Second-Grauwyler lot, undated
2 Business account ledger, 1827, 1863-1880s
3 Thomas-Shaw-Grauwyler Families bible, undated