Grauwyler Park and John and Emma Grauwyler

CA. 1827; 1863-1880; 1908-1946; 1962-1963


Descriptive Summary

Repository: Dallas Municipal Archives, City of Dallas, 1500 Marilla St. Dallas, TX 75201
Creator: Grauwyler Park
Title: Grauwyler Park and John and Emma Grauwyler
Dates: 1908 - 1946
Quantity: 1.5 linear
Abstract: Collection documents the acquisition and development of Grauwyler Park and contains documentation and personal papers of the park's namesake, John Grauwyler.
Identification: 95-047
Language: The records are in English.

Biographical Note

John H. Grauwyler, a farmer of Dallas county, Texas was born Jacob Graviller in Switzerland in 1837 and reared in the city of Basel. In 1854 he immigrated to Rochester, New York, where he remained until coming to Texas. 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.]

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Scope and Contents

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 H. 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.

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Arrangement

Two series: manuscript material and printed material. Correspondence and memoranda in chronological order

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Grauwyler Park and John and Emma Grauwyler, 1908 - 1946, Dallas Municipal Archives, Office of the City Secretary, Dallas, TX.

Acquisition Information

Transferred from creating department

Processing Information

The collection was described by John Slate, City Archivist

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Subject Terms

Parks -- Texas -- History
Park facilities -- Texas -- History
Texas -- History
Texas -- Description and travel

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Box: Folder: File Name, Date
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 Mrs. 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
Box 2: Business account ledger, 1827, 1863-1880s
Box 3: Thomas-Shaw-Grauwyler Families bible Undated