Collection context
Summary
- Abstract:
- This collection includes manuscripts, letters, correspondences, compilations, circulars, and photographs relate to Edmond Charles Genet and his diverse career as diplomat, inventor, farmer, and correspondent with the leaders of American government, society, and scientific thought.
- Extent:
- 1 box
- Language:
- English French
Background
- Scope and Content:
This collection concerns Edmond Charles Genet. The articles in this collection deal with political and scientific matter and little to do with familial except being the family history, seal, and tree. Many of the letters are written in French. Most of the letters written in French have copied translations within the same folder. There are a few pieces, however, that are not translated. There is only one box for this collection. The box contains fourteen folders. The material ranges from handmade playing cards, to photographs, to a letter from King Louis XVI sent to Catherine the Great of Russia, to invention ideas. The earliest item is from 1778. It is a secret memoir to the ministers of Louis XVI of France from Caron de Beaumarchaise. It is in French. The newest piece is from 1909. It is the bulletin of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Volume IV, No. 8. It contains the notice of gift of Sevres porcelain from Mrs. George Clinton Genet (page 141). There are many pieces in this collection that do not have dates, including the photographs.
- Biographical / Historical:
Edmond Charles Genet (January 18, 1763 - July 14, 1834) Son of Edmond Jacques and Marie Ann Louise Cardon. Was born in Versailles, France. During the years of 1781 to 1787 he was a member of Bureau of Interpretations of Foreign Affairs at Versailles. The sister of Edmond Charles Genet, Heriette, (Madam Campan) was first Lady-in-Waiting to Marie Antoinette. His niece, Egle Louise Auguie Genet married Marshal Michel Ney, one of Napoleon's generals.
In 1783 Genet became acting secretary of Legation to England with Count de Moustier to secure information useful for treaty of commerce between Great Britain and France. In 1787 he was put in charge of d'Affaires to the French Legation in Russia. Two years later, 1792 to be exact, he was expelled from Russia. Genet became the first Minister of the French Republic to the United States in 1793.
November 6, 1794 he married Cornelia Clinton who was the daughter of New York state governor, George Clinton. In 1804 he became an American Citizen. On July 31, 1814 he married Martha Osgood, daughter of former postmaster-general Samuel Osgood. In 1825 He published "Memorial on the Upward Forces of Fluids."
Genet had a diverse career as diplomat, inventor (32 patents), farmer, and correspondent with the leaders of American government, society and scientific thought, especially in the field of aeronautics about which Genet wrote frequently. Genet was an active member of the Albany Institute; advocated the Erie Canal and devised the fortification of New York harbor in the War of 1812. Genet died in 1834 in Rensselaer County, New York.
Madam Jeanne Louise Henriette Genet Campan (1752-1822) Sister to Edmond Charles Genet. First lady in waiting to Marie Antoinette and a French educator and author who established a school for girls at St. Germain after the Revolution and from 1805-1814 was placed by Napoleon as head of the school of Ecouen for daughters of officers of the Legion of Honor.
Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchaise (1732-1799) Was a French dramatist (Le Barbier de Seville 1776; Le Mariage de Figaro 1785) who served as a secret agent to the King and induced him to grant secret aid to the Americans in the American Revolution before the open alliance with France was concluded in 1778.
- Acquisition information:
- Accession: # unidentified Accession Source/Date: unidentified, 1912
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: a Content Standard
Indexed Terms
- Subjects:
-
Genet family
Diplomats
Inventors
Aeronautics
Heraldry
Woolen and worsted manufacture
Personal correspondence - Names:
-
Genet, Edmond Charles, 1763-1834
Clinton, George, 1739-1812
Genet, Martha Brandon Osgood
Campan, Mme (Jeanne-Louise-Henriette), 1752-1822 - Places:
-
Albany (N.Y.)
Versailles (France)
Access
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
This collection is open for research according to the regulations of the Albany Institute of History & Art without any additional restrictions.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of copyright. Whenever possible, the Albany Institute of History & Art Library will provide information about copyright owners and other restrictions, but the legal determination ultimately rests with the researcher. Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Archivist/Librarian.
- LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
- BEFORE YOU VISIT:
- https://www.albanyinstitute.org/library.html
- CONTACT:
-
mccombsd@albanyInstitute.org