Pontalba family papers, 1796-1914 | Louisiana Research Collection

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Collection Overview

Title: Pontalba family papers, 1796-1914

ID: LaRC/Manuscripts Collection 590

Primary Creator: Pontalba family.

Extent: 1.0 Boxes

Arrangement: The collection is arranged by topic, as follows: Dupoux's letter to Madame Chalmette, legal controversy, Baron Edouard Delfau de Pontalba letters, photograph, letters of Baron de Pontalba, and litigation records. The collection is made up of one box and two volumes.

Subjects: Canal Bank and Trust Co., New Orleans., Chappelles, Jeanne Francoise le Breton des Charmeaux des., Copeland, Robert., Cruzat, John William., French -- Louisiana -- New Orleans., Pontalba, Edouard Delfau de., Pontalba, Joseph Xavier de, baron, 1754-1834., Pontalba, Micaëla Leonarda Almonester de, baroness, 1795-1874., Pontalba family.

Forms of Material: Correspondence., Legal documents., Photographs.

Languages: French, English, Spanish;Castilian

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The collection contains a bound volume of letters of Joseph Xavier Delfau de Pontalba to his wife, Jeanne Francoise le Breton de Charmeaux de Chapelles; Dupoux's letter to Madame Chalmette concerning the attempted killing of the Baroness Pontalba by her father-in-law; materials relating to controversy between M. Visconti, builder, and the Baroness Pontalba; Pontalba-Copeland Litigation Record, 1839-1883; and Baron Edouard Delfau de Pontalba letters to John William Cruzat, New Orleans, 1904-1914. The collection also contains correspondence of Baron Edouard Delfau de Pontalba, 1904-1914.

Biographical Note

Baron Joseph Xavier Delfau de Pontalba arrived in New Orleans in 1732. He married Jeanne Francoise le Breton des Charmeaux des Chappelles. Their son, Joseph Celestin, married Micaë̈la Leonarda Antonio Almonester, daughter of Andres Almonester y Roxas in New Orleans in 1811. After separating from Celestin in 1831 in Paris, Micaela gained custody of their four children. In 1834 the elder Pontalba shot Micaëla and then committed suicide. Recovering from her wounds, she returned in 1848 to New Orleans, where she constructed the Pontalba Apartments, said to be the first apartment building in the United States. She died in France in 1874.

Subject/Index Terms

Canal Bank and Trust Co., New Orleans.
Chappelles, Jeanne Francoise le Breton des Charmeaux des.
Copeland, Robert.
Cruzat, John William.
French -- Louisiana -- New Orleans.
Pontalba, Edouard Delfau de.
Pontalba, Joseph Xavier de, baron, 1754-1834.
Pontalba, Micaëla Leonarda Almonester de, baroness, 1795-1874.
Pontalba family.

Administrative Information

Repository: Louisiana Research Collection

Access Restrictions: Collection is open to the public. No known restrictions.

Use Restrictions: Physical rights are retained by the Louisiana Research Collection. Copyright is retained in accordance with U.S. copyright laws.

Preferred Citation: Pontalba family papers, Manuscripts Collection 590, Louisiana Research Collection, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118.

Processing Information: Collection processed in 1992 by HB and ML.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid information entered in Archon by LAC Group in 2011.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1: Papers],
[Volume 1: Letters of the Baron de Pontalba],
[Volume 2: Litigation record],
[All]

Volume 1: Letters of the Baron de Pontalba

Letters of Joseph Xavier Delfau de Pontalba to his wife, Jeanne Francoise le Breton des Charmeaux des Chappelles. 1796. Typescript volume. Translation by Federal Survey of Federal Archives.

Contents:

1. Forward by Stanley C. Arthur.

2. Letter from M. Dupoux to Madame de Chalmette, from bedside of Baroness Pontalba, 1834. Translation of Dupoux's letter to Madame Chalmette.

3. Progeny of Celestin in Micaela.

4. Letter from Baron Edouard Pontalba to J.W. Cruzat, New Orleans, 1907. Accompanies letters from his great grandfather, Joseph Xavier Delfau de Pontalba to Miro (on microfilm).

5. Journal letter of Joseph Xavier Delfau de Pontalba to his wife Jeanne Francoise le Breton des Charmeaux des Chappelles, 1796. Written from New Orleans to his wife living in Spain with their son, Celestin, and her aunt, Celeste de Macarty, widow of Governor Miro.

Tulane University Special Collections