Manuscripts Department
           Library of the University of North Carolina
                         at Chapel Hill

                 SOUTHERN HISTORICAL COLLECTION

                             #3017-z
                      PAUL F. TAVEL PAPERS
                            Inventory

Abstract:     Paul F. Tavel (fl. 1844-1866), probably a native
           of western Switzerland, arrived in the U.S. in 1844. 
           Tavel was apparently interested in agriculture,
           particularly viticulture, and meteorology.  He was
           also a bookbinder.
           Letters, account books, weather observation records,
         and other items relating chiefly to Paul F. Tavel's
         vineyards in Stewart and Davidson counties, Tenn., and
         to other agricultural efforts and studies;
         meteorological observations of Tavel and a Mr. Flowers
         in Stewart County and in Nashville, Tenn.; and items
         relating to Tavel's bookbinding business.  Other family
         members are mentioned, but authorship and ownership of
         the papers and account books are rarely indicated. 
         Included among the correspondence are letters from
         Henry Erni (fl. 1864-1865) of the U.S. Department of
         Agriculture, and an 1853 letter that argues against air
         travel.  All post-1873 items relate to Albert B. Tavel
         (fl. 1874-1900), possibly Paul F. Tavel's son.  Many
         items are in French.

On-line  Agriculture--Tennessee--History--19th century.
Catalog  Air travel--History--19th century.
Terms:     Bookbinders--Tennessee--History--19th century.
         Davidson County (Tenn.)--History--19th century.
         Erni, Henry, fl. 1864-1865.
         Meteorological observations--Tennessee--History--19th
         century.
         Stuart County (Tenn.)--History--19th century.
         Tavel, Albert B., fl. 1874-1900.
         Tavel, Paul F., fl. 1844-1866.
         Tavel family.
         Viticulture--Tennessee--History--19th century.

Size:      About 30 items. 

Provenance:   Purchased from W. G. Alexander, of Nashville,
              Tenn., in 1954.

Access:    No restrictions.

Processing Note:   This collection was rehoused under the
                   sponsorship of a grant from the National
                   Endowment for the Humanities, Office of
                   Preservation, Washington, D.C., 1990-1992.

Copyright: Retained by the authors of items in these papers, or 
           their descendants, as stipulated by United States
           copyright law.

                          INTRODUCTION

Biographical Note

    Paul F. Tavel, probably a native of western Switzerland,
arrived in the United States in 1844.  Little is known of Tavel
beyond his interests in agronomy and meteorology, and his trade
of bookbinding.  A Paul T. Tavel is also mentioned, but his
relationship to Paul F. Tavel is unclear.  It is possible that
they were the same person.  All post-1873 items relate to Albert
B. Tavel (fl. 1874-1900), possibly Paul F. Tavel's son. 

Collection Overview

    The collection relates chiefly to Paul F. Tavel's vineyards
in Stewart and Davidson counties, Tennessee, and other
agricultural efforts and studies; his meteorological
observations; and his bookbinding and bookruling business.  Other
family members are mentioned, but authorship and ownership of the
papers and account books are only rarely indicated.

    Many of the papers and books are in French.  No translation
is provided.

                       SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Series 1.  Correspondence and miscellaneous items
    1839-1900.  About 25 items.

    Letters, chiefly about agricultural pursuits, and
miscellaneous items, including an 1839 explanation of how Paul T.
Tavel came into the possession of a painting by Luce Giordano
(printed galley sheet with typewritten notes); digest of an
article or open letter, dated 23 May 1853, from the Nashville
Gazette on the possibility of air transportation; and two
railroad tax receipts, dated 11 October 1861.

Folder    1


Series 2.  Volumes
    1837-1872 and undated.  5 items.

Folder 2 Volume 1.  1837-1838.  Seven loose sheets from an
         account book detailing purchases of books, maps,
         pictures, and travel expenses.  There is one notation
         for 1847-1848.

Folder 3 Volume 2.  1846-1858. Account book with four sections:
         (1)  1846-1850.  Daily census of livestock, showing
              births, deaths, purchases, and sales.
         (2)  February to October 1853.  Account book for
              bookbindery.
         (3)  1853-1858.  A journal of receipts and expenditures
              for personal, business, and household items, also
              including a budget showing totals spent for food,
              clothing, books, etc.
         (4)  1846-1854.  Accounts with various persons for
              supplies and cash furnished and provisions and
              notes received, also including accounts for
              bookbindery.  Writing in this section differs from
              that in the other three sections.

Folder 4 Volume 3.  1846-1872.  Weather observation record.
           1846-1851. Dover, Stewart County, Tennessee.
           1853-1854. Nashville, Tennessee. Records of Mr.
           Flower.
           1855-1872. Nashville, Tennessee,  Records of P. F.
           Tavel, Dry Fork of White's Creek, Davidson County,
           Tennessee.  (Details through 1865 only.)

Folder 5 Volume 4.  185?  Lists of household goods, clothes,
         books, and other personal property with prices and
         values attached; a list of blacksmith equipment for
         sale, (1852?); and undated poems, songs, fables, and
         information on the cultivation of corn and grapes.