François-Gaston, duc de Lévis papers
Collection
Call Number: GEN MSS 1135
Scope and Contents
Circa 500 manuscript and printed documents relating to military and political events in France, 1740s-1780s, and the military career of François-Gaston, duc de Lévis, including correspondence, diaries, maps, drawings, and other military and legal documents. Papers relate to Lévis's defense of Provence during the War of the Austrian Succession, 1748, and the ambassadorship of his cousin, Gaston Charles Pierre de Lévis, duc de Mirepoix, in London, 1749-1753; Lévis's participation in the French campaign in Germany during the Seven Years' War, 1762; construction of a canal between Saint-Omer and Aire, and other waterways in Artois, during Lévis's governorship of Artois, 1765-1780; and the court-martial of Jean-Joseph Carrier de Montieu and Louis de Cassier de Bellegarde for mismanagement of arms manufacture and inspection, for which Lévis served on the court, 1773.
Dates
- 1741-1780
- Majority of material found within 1748 - 1773
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The François-Gaston, duc de Lévis Papers 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
Gift of Hans P. Kraus, 1968.
Arrangement
Organized into five series: I. Description and item-level list created by the donor, 1968. II. Defense of Provence During the War of the Austrian Succession, 1743-1770. III. French Campaign in Germany During the Seven Years' War, 1756-1763. IV. Hydraulic Engineering in Artois, 1741-1780. V. Court-Martial of Jean-Joseph Carrier de Montieu and Louis de Cassier de Bellegarde, 1770-1778.
Each series is arranged in order of document numbers assigned by the donor.
Each series is arranged in order of document numbers assigned by the donor.
Extent
2.21 Linear Feet (10 boxes)
Language of Materials
French
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
François-Gaston, duc de Lévis (1720-1787)
François-Gaston, duc de Lévis, French army officer and maréchal de France. As marquis de Lévis, he served in the War of the Polish Succession and the War of the Austrian Succession, succeeding Louis-Joseph de Montcalm as commander of the French army in North America in 1760. He was appointed governor of Artois in 1765, and maréchal de France in 1783, and created duc de Lévis in 1784.
Processing Information
Former call number: Uncat MS Vault 186. In 2014, the collection received a baseline level of processing, including partial rehousing and minimal organization. Most folder titles were based on information provided by the donor, while some were assigned by Library staff. Folder titles were not verified against contents.
- Artois (France) -- Economic conditions -- 18th century
- Artois (France) -- Maps
- Artois (France) -- Politics and government -- 18th century
- Austrian Succession, War of, 1740-1748
- Austrian Succession, War of, 1740-1748 -- Campaigns -- France
- Carrier de Montieu, Jean-Joseph
- Cassier de Bellegarde, Louis de, 1723-
- Courts-martial and courts of inquiry -- France
- Diaries -- France -- 18th century
- France -- Foreign relations -- Great Britain
- France -- Politics and government -- 1715-1774
- France -- Politics and government -- 1774-1793
- Generals -- France
- Generals -- France -- 18th century
- Governors -- France
- Governors -- France -- 18th century
- Great Britain -- Foreign relations -- France
- Hydraulic engineering -- France -- Artois
- Lévis, François-Gaston, duc de, 1719-1787
- Maps (documents) -- France -- 18th century
- Mirepoix, Gaston Charles Pierre de Lévis, duc de, 1699-1757
- Seven Years' War, 1756-1763 -- Campaigns -- Germany
- Technical drawings -- France -- 18th century
- Title
- Guide to the François Gaston duc de Lévis papers
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- by Karen Spicher
- Date
- 2014 August
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- 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.