Friedrich Armand Strubberg collection
Scope and Contents
The Friedrich Armand Strubberg Collection, although only three feet in length, holds significant material removed from the Archiv des Vereins zum Schutz deutscher Einwanderer in Texas. The papers consist primarily of correspondence and reports, with some business and legal papers, such as stock certificates, contracts, powers of attorney, receipts, and also some German-language newspapers and a few maps. The material spans the years 1835 to 1962, with the bulk falling between 1846 and 1847. The collection was purchased in 1987 with income from the Frederick W. Beinecke Fund.
The papers are housed in four boxes and divided into four sections. Practically all the files in the Archiv des Vereins are bound. The material which constitutes the Strubberg Collection was separated from the Verein records as whole files and also as single items. The whole files were traceable on the Verein missing folders list and are contained in the first section filed according to the system used in the Archiv des Vereins. Items removed singly are arranged in the remaining three sections. As it was impossible to discern their origin, they have been grouped artificially by subject and record type.
The first section, Verein Files , reflects the founding of the society and contains reports of the directors, commissioners, agents, and other functionaries. These files provide significant information on many leading and influential persons affiliated with the Verein, such as Louis Bené, Henri Alexandre Bourgeois d'Orvanne, P. Cappès, Count Carl of Castell, Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels, William Henry Daingerfield, Henry Francis Fisher, Count Joseph of Boos-Waldeck, William Kennedy, D. H. Klaener, John O. Meusebach, Burchard Miller, Friedrich von Wrede, and, of course, Friedrich Armand Strubberg, a.k.a. Dr. F. A. Shubbert.
The second section, Miscellaneous Files , represents material which was individually cut out or ripped from bound files in the Archiv des Vereins. As the provenance of this material has been lost, it is now arranged by subject. This section consists of emigrant correspondence, general correspondence, powers of attorney, and a file on damage claims of various emigrants.
The third section, Printed Material , contains items such as pamphlets, receipts, cancelled checks, and contracts, as well as five maps.
The fourth section, Newspapers , contains clippings and also complete issues of German-language newspapers from Germany and Texas from the 1840s and 1850s. Many of those from Germany are special supplements directed to prospective immigrants, listing such things as boat schedules, shipping agents, climatic conditions in America, availability of land, and locations of large German settlements.
Dates
- 1835-1962
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The Friedrich Armand Strubberg Collection is the physical property of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the appropriate curator.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Friedrich Armand Strubberg Collection is composed of material which was removed from the Archiv des Vereins zum Schutz deutscher Einwanderer in Texas (WA MSS S-1291). In 1930 the entire Archiv des Vereins was inventoried by the Reichsarchiv in Berlin. When a second inventory was conducted in 1960 by the Staatsarchiv in Marburg, pursuant to sale outside Germany, however, some thirty-eight files were missing. The Strubberg Collection represents approximately forty percent of these missing files. It is assumed that these records were removed in order to provide evidence to exonerate the reputation of Friedrich Armand Strubberg, who was employed by the German Emigration Company as general director of the Nassau Plantation during the late 1840s. He was subsequently removed from this position and sued by the company in 1850 for what would appear to be malfeasance. During this period Strubberg went under the name of Dr. F. A. Shubbert. [It is assumed that this is an Anglicized version of Strubberg. In German-language documents this version is frequently spelled with a "c," i.e. Schubbert.] In many of the files the name Shubbert is underlined in red with further sections underlined and occasionally annotated. Hence these records came to be known as the Strubberg Collection. The trail of the papers from Germany to the United States is unknown. At some time during the 1960s they became the property of Argosy Book Store, Inc. of New York City, where they remained until purchased by The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library in December 1987. Purchase, 1987.
Extent
3 Linear Feet (4 boxes)
Language of Materials
German
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Abstract
The Friedrich Armand Strubberg Collection contains material documenting primarily the early years of the Verein zum Schutz deutscher Einwanderer in Texas, commonly known as the Adelsverein. The Adelsverein was an association of German noblemen, founded in 1842, who hoped to support emigration by German nationals to Texas.
The papers consist primarily of correspondence and reports, with some business and legal papers, such as stock certificates, contracts, powers of attorney, receipts, and also some German-language newspapers and a few maps.
- Adelsverein
- Armand, 1806-1889
- Bené, Louis
- Bourgeois d'Orvanne, Alexander
- Cappès, P.
- Carl, Count of Castell, 1801-1850
- Christian, Count of Neuleiningen-Westerburg
- Comal County (Tex.)
- Daingerfield, William Henry, 1808-1878
- Dooley, M. A., fl. 1840-1845
- Ervendberg, L. C.
- Ferdinand, Prince of Solms-Braunfels
- Fisher, Henry, fl. 1845
- Fredericksburg (Tex.)
- Galveston (Tex.)
- German American newspapers
- German Americans -- Texas
- Germany -- Emigration and immigration
- Germany -- History -- 1789-1900
- Hermann, Prince of Wied, fl. 1845
- Joseph, Count of Boos-Waldeck
- Kassel (Germany)
- Kennedy, William
- Klaener, D. H.
- Köster, Theodor
- Kriedel, W.
- Mainz (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
- Mertz, C. C.
- Meusebach, John O., 1812-1897
- Miller, Burchard, fl. 1845
- New Braunfels (Tex.)
- Pringle, William
- San Antonio (Tex.)
- Schütz, C. D. von, Baron
- Shubbert, F. A., 1806-1889
- Smith, Ashbel, 1805-1886
- Solms-Braunfels, Carl, Prinz zu, 1812-1875
- Texas -- Emigration and immigration
- Texas -- History
- Victor, Count of Altleiningen-Westerburg
- Wiesbaden (Germany)
- Wrede, Friedrich W. von
- Title
- Guide to the Friedrich Armand Strubberg Collection
- Status
- Under Revision
- Author
- by T. Michael Womack
- Date
- September 1988
- Description rules
- Beinecke Manuscript Unit Archival Processing Manual
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository
Location
121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Opening Hours
Access Information
The Beinecke Library is open to all Yale University students and faculty, and visiting researchers whose work requires use of its special collections. You will need to bring appropriate photo ID the first time you register. Beinecke is a non-circulating, closed stack library. Paging is done by library staff during business hours. You can request collection material online at least two business days in advance of your visit, using the request links in Archives at Yale. For more information, please see Planning Your Research Visit and consult the Reading Room Policies prior to visiting the library.