Scope and Contents
John J. Grauwyler, a farmer of Dallas county, Texas, was born Johann Jacob Graviller in Switzerland on 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 in 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
1 | 1 | Will of Estate of Emma Grauwyler, June 18, 1923 |
| 2 | Abstract of title-part of Eli Chandler survey for O.P. Bowser, August 12, 1909 |
| 3 | Abstract of title-part of Miles Bennett survey, November 7, 1913 |
| 4 | Brief preliminary statement to members of the Park Board re: Emma and John Grauwyler, July 5, 1923 |
| 5 | Letter to Park Board from Emil Fretz opposing acceptance of Grauwyler will, July 20, 1923 |
| 6 | Contest to the will of Emma Grauwyler, statement to Park Board, October 18, 1923 |
| 7 | Statement of facts under oath for Mayor, Park Board, and City Commission of Dallas-concerning Emma and John Grauwyler, November 22, 1923 |
| 8 | Resolution accepting the Grauwyler property, December 21, 1926 |
| 9 | Park Board resolution accepting Grauwyler bequest, December 21, 1926 |
| 10 | Emma Grauwyler-will and contest by James T. Shaw, et al, 1923-1925 |
| 11 | Donalson and Bullard, attorneys to Park Board re: the will of Emma H. Grauwyler, 1923 |
| 12 | Newspaper clipping, undated, "Heirs drop contest of Emma Grauwyler will", undated |
| 13 | Letter to City Attorney from Tochstone, Wight, Gormley, and Price re: Texas and Pacific Railway Company vs. Deck Martin, et al., 1933 |
| 14 | Sale of property to Ida Ford, March 12, 1946 |
| 15 | Sale of Grauwyler lot in West Dallas, 1944-1946 |
| 16 | Memorandum in reference to possible conveyance of Grauwyler Park land, July 12, 1962 |
| 17 | Disposition of Grauwyler Park land, 1962-1963 |
| 18 | Purchase by E. H. Grauwyler from Annie Caruth, 1910 |
| 19 | Estate of George Peck suing Emma Grauwyler for legal services provided by George Peck, 1912 |
| 20 | Quit claim deed-Rose Graviller and Emma H. Grauwyler, December 18, 1912 |
| 21 | Oakland Cemetery-plot for John J. Grauwyler, November 6, 1908 |
| 22 | Discharge record-John Graviller, New York State Volunteers, June 2, 1863 |
| 23 | Pension record for John Graviller, February 1, 1909 |
| 24 | Map 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
|
Drawer
|
Oversized materials
|
B2
| Grauwyler artwork
|