Mathias Webb Darton papers

Collection

Identifier: LaRC-211

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of tracings of surveys, primarily of the Donaldsonville area in Ascension Parish, Louisiana; correspondence regarding surveys and the establishment of the Lafourche, Assumption, and Ascension Railroad Company; and newspaper clippings of the 1870s about the Mississippi River levees and flooding. Mathias Webb Darton was Parish Surveyor of Ascension Parish. Also in the collection are religious pamphlets and letters regarding the Civil War in Texas.

Dates

1829-1924

Creator

Darton, Mathias Webb. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to the public. No known restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

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

Biographical / Historical

Mathias Webb Darton (1830-1900) was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His father was a successful ship builder in Boston. He moved to Texas with his wife circa 1850 and built ships there until a hurricane destroyed his business. He ran a blockade between Galveston and Havana during the Civil War. Darton later moved to New Orleans in 1871 and served as Parish Surveyor of Ascension Parish until ill health forced him to retire in 1890.

Extent

1.00 Boxes

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement Note

The collection is arranged by medium as follows: 1) Tracings and maps in Oversize folder 1 and 2) Notes, clippings, correspondence, pamphlets, and printed material in Box 1. The collection consists of one box and one oversize folder.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Naomi Darton. Date acquired: 12/07/1971.

Other Descriptive Information

OCLC Number: 775676736

Processing Information

Collection processed in 1971.

Subjects

Darton, Mathias Webb.
Ascension Parish (La) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Clippings (information artifacts) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Correspondence Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Donaldsonville (La) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Floods -- Mississippi River Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Lafourche, Assumption, and Ascension Railroad Company.
Land surveys Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Levees -- Mississippi River Subject Source: Library Of Congress Subject Headings
Maps Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Pamphlets Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus