Charles F. H. von Blucher Family Papers

Collection

Identifier: Coll.-4

Staff Only

This collection stretches from the 1700’s to the dawn of the new millennium. It contains an abundance of correspondence from Texas pioneer times, the Civil War and both World Wars. It contains a wealth of primary surveying maps of South Texas, many of which are the first detailed maps of the area. The following South Texas counties were surveyed by the Bluchers: Nueces, San Patricio, Kleberg, Jim Wells, Brooks, Duval, Willacy, Kenedy and Starr. There are also thousands of photographs documenting Corpus Christi’s transformation from a small settlement into a major city, with both the triumphs of significant civic projects and the devastation caused by multiple hurricanes.

In addition to the maps the papers include a broad range of items including historic photographs dating from 1860, family trees and genealogy of the Blucher family, personal and business correspondence, diaries, financial, legal documents, publications, newspapers, and personal drawings. The letters of Maria von Blucher are included in these files.

Dates

1720-2006

Creator

Blucher family (Family)

Language of Materials

English, German, Spanish

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research

Conditions Governing Use

This material is made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to taking precautions against infringement of copyright and respecting the publication rights of reproduced materials. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards. Any materials used should be fully credited with their source according to the example given in the Preferred Citation note. Requests for assistance with citations and images of publication quality should be directed to specialcollections@tamucc.edu

Extent

149 Linear Feet

Abstract

This collection contains over a century of material from the Blucher Family; one of the first families to permanently settle in Corpus Christi around 1849. The Bluchers produced three generations of county surveyors, serving Corpus Christi and South Texas for over 100 years. Their legacy of public service helped shape the Coastal Bend into the thriving community that it is today.

Biographical / Historical

The Charles F.H. von Blucher Family Papers might be centered around Charles, but it is the story of three generations of land surveyors that immigrated from Germany to the unsettled South Texas coast and carved out a legacy that is still felt to this day. Arriving in 1849, Maria and Felix von Blucher started their family when Corpus Christi could scarcely be called a town. As the land was parceled out Felix found himself a lucrative business in mapping it all, which would then be passed down through subsequent Blucher generations. Felix would be the first County Surveyor of burgeoning Nueces County in 1852, holding the office until his death in 1879.

Felix’s son, Charles von Blucher took up the mantle of County Surveyor after his father’s passing and held the title until 1934, giving half a century of service. His son, Conrad Meuley Blucher had graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas in 1905 and took over the office. Conrad retired in 1954, bringing an end to a legacy of over 100 years of Bluchers surveying South Texas. In 1975 Conrad and his wife Zula transferred their estate to Corpus Christi State University (Now Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi). Their generous donation would lead to the establishment of the Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying and Science in 1987.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in seven manuscript groups: 1. Blucher Genealogy 2. Blucher Collective Family History 3. Texas Family History 4. Personal Papers of Family Members – Felix and Maria von Blucher’s Marriage and Children 5. Collected Material Types 6. Conrad Blucher Surveying Papers 7. Junior League of Corpus Christi von Blucher Copies of Letters and Related Materials

Physical Location

205-7/A-D/1-8 205-7/E/1-7 Room 206 (St. Gertrudis map) 205-6/E/1-6 205-17/B/5 205-17/C/1-4 205-17/D/1-3 206-14/E/1-3 (unprocessed books) 219-7/C/3,4,5 219-7/D/1-6"

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The papers were donated in three installments: In 1980 Mrs. Conrad (Zula) Blucher donated personal and professional correspondence dated from 1910, field books and 12 maps dated to 1871. The 2nd installment of 26 feet of letters, legal records, notes, and drawings were delivered in 1991. The 3rd installment consisted of thousands of surveying maps, field books, and ledgers, were donated in 1994. Additional materials have been donated by family members over the years.

Related Materials

Asa M. French Survey Field Notebooks;

William S. (Bill) and Patricia Green surveying records;

George W. King and Lynn D. King Surveying Records;

Meuly-Daimwood Family papers

Processing Information

This collection was processed with funding from two successive U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services and Texas State Library and Archives Commission Grants (Grant #TXT21011 and Grant TXT22002). 2021 and 2022. Appraisal and arrangement were largely finished by Graduate Assistant Andrew Karnes, with Eric Christensen finishing and uploading about half the collection to ArchivesSpace. Lori Atkins also uploaded a large portion to ArchivesSpace, with the entire Special Collections Department uploading the images and metadata into DSpace.