Skip to main content

DuFour family collection

 Collection
Identifier: L046

Scope and Contents

The collection include John James DuFour’s daybook of expenses and travel notes (1796–1826), and his instructions and reports for his work in America (1796–1804); maps of the Swiss colony and Vevay (1802–1836); and 1810 description of New Switzerland; John Francis DuFour’s correspondence and appointments to public office; a 1917 transcript of David DuFour’s account of his 1801 voyage from Switzerland to America; and articles by Perret DuFour (1807–1884) on the early history of Switzerland County and the DuFour Family (1869, 1876). A number of the documents were published in Perret DuFour: The Swiss Settlement of Switzerland County (Indiana Historical Commission, 1925).

There are also oversize papers, including an 1803 contract in French, John Francis Dufour's 1810 deputy postmaster appointment certificate, an 1819 indenture, an undated hand-drawn plat map, and an undated poem titled, "Toasts and Sentiments" (OBD043).

Dates

  • 1762-1893

Creator

Language of Materials

Materials in French and Engllish

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Biographical Note

The DuFour family, from Canton de Vaud, Switzerland, settled in Kentucky and Switzerland County, Indiana. The principal members of the family were John James DuFour (1763–1827), who established a colony and vineyard near Lexington, Kentucky (1798), sponsored a second colony and vineyard in Switzerland County (1802), and wrote The American Vine Dresser’s Guide (1826); and his brother, John Francis DuFour (1783–1850) who settle in Kentucky (1801) and Vevay, Switzerland County clerk and recorder (1814), probate judge (1839), and member of the Indiana House of Representatives (1828–1829).

Extent

0.4 Cubic Feet (1 manuscript box, 1 extra-large oversize folder)

Arrangement

This collection is arranged chronologically.

Custodial History

This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Bettie Dufour Smith on 1935/11/25.

Accruals

No further additions are expected.

Processing Information

Collection processing and finding aid completed by Brent Abercrombie during April 2010. EAD finding aid revised 2021/09/14; 2021/12/02 by Lauren Patton; 2022/11/17 by Brittany Kropf.
Title
DuFour family collection
Status
Completed
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository

Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671