Friday, December 30, 2011

Stuck in Customs

Family research is like panning for gold, lots of time hunched over, not knowing when you might find a nugget. Some of my finds lately have come from unlikely sources. The latest gem was from eBay. I stumbled upon a document written to my ancestor Louis de Bürenwho was at the time the governor of Lausanne, by a local merchant who had leather goods held up in Aosta. He needed Louis' help in getting them released, which Louis did on June 6th, 1795.

The text of the document in French:

Très Noble, Magnifique et Très Honoré Seigneur Baillif

Jean Jacques Mercier, négociant de cette ville, fidèle sujet de l’etat, et très obéissant serviteur de votre magnifique seigneurie, prend la liberté de lui exposer avec un profond respect.

Qu’ayant fait une emplette de cuir en poil de Genès, qui sont actuellement en route dès la cité d’Aost [Aosta], au nombre de cent pièces, lesquelles lui auraient d’abord été arrêtées aud(it) Aost, la sortie de ces cuirs pour ce canton lui a été permise, par le bureau général des royales gabelles de Turin, le 24e mai dernier, moyenant l’engagement qu’il a pris sous caution, que dans le terme d’un mois il ferait entrer dans ce duché d’Aost la même quantité de cuirs fabriqués en Suisse. 

L’humble exposant est dans l’intention de faire partir le plustot possible, à tant moien de son engagement, si votre magnifique seigneurie a la bonté de le lui permettre, la quantité de trente cuirs pour le susdit duché.

C'est cette permission qu'il sollicite humblement de votre magnifique seignuerie, en se 
répaer dans en voeux pour sa précieuse conservation.

Nous permetton la sortye des trents cuirs cy nommes. Au Château de Lausanne, le 6 Juin, 1795. de Büren Baillif.


A great find to put it mildly. What I love most is the language. The first line after the salutation is the most memorable. "Jean Jacques Mercier, local businessman, faithful subject of the state, and very lawful servant of your magnificent lordship, with profound respect takes the liberty to present himself." Not exactly Dear Sir.


 Louis de Büren's signature

The de Büren family seal used to certify the release.


Thursday, December 29, 2011

Jeanmaire's Cat

A small pencil sketch of a cat has adorned a desk at my parent's home ever since my childhood. The French inscription says "Likeness of Pupi. Sunday evening, Castle of Vaumarcus, October 23, 1892. E. Jeanmaire to Miss Jeanne de Büren."



Jeanne de Büren was a talented artist in her own right but what interested me was finding information on  E. Jeanmaire. After some research it seems clear that the cat was drawn by Édouard Jeanmaire, a very important local artist from the time period. He was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds and would produce many nature-themed paintings and sketches during his lifetime (His bio and examples of his artwork follow below).

The only question I had was why 1892? The castle was sold by Henri de Büren in 1888. My ancestor's must have remained close to the new owners and certainly returned to Neuchâtel from Geneva often to visit local friends, artists and scientists. What I love most about the drawing is at 120 years old the quick sketch style is timeless and could be done in a very similar fashion today.

Edouard Jeanmaire (1847-1916)




Biography of Édouard Jeanmaire from the Library of La Chaux-de-Fonds
Edouard Jeanmaire (1847-1916), peintre, est né à La Chaux-de-Fonds et mort à Genève. Il est originaire du pays de Montbéliard en Franche-Comté. Son père Lucien Jeanmaire est horloger. Sa mère Emilie Courvoisier, héritière du domaine de la Joux-Perret, s’occupe de lui. A dix ans, son père le place dans une famille de paysans à Dombresson pour garder les chèvres. A douze ans, ses parents l’inscrivent au collège municipal à Neuchâtel puis au gymnase. Edouard Jeanmaire se révèle un élève turbulent, c’est pourquoi ses parents l'expédient dans le sévère pensionnat morave de Kornthal en Allemagne de 1862 à 1863. C’est à cette époque qu’il commence à peindre. Sa mère s’en inquiète car elle voit dans la pratique de cet art la perdition de l’âme. Une fois revenu à La Chaux-de-Fonds en 1864, son père le place dans l’atelier de peinture sur émail de Marc Dufaux. Un an plus tard, l’émailleur et son apprenti quittent la cité horlogère pour Genève. Dans la cité lémanique, il fréquente les Beaux-Arts et rencontre son « maître », Barthélemy Menn. Son apprentissage terminé, il reste à Genève, employé chez son ancien patron. En 1869, il part pour Paris, mais il doit revenir rapidement en Suisse à cause de la guerre franco-allemande. En 1870, il participe à l’exposition des Amis des Arts à La Chaux-de-Fonds où une de ses toiles connaît un grand succès. En 1871, il se marie avec Louisa Bugnot. Le jeune couple s’établit à Genève où Edouard Jeanmaire achète une maison qui sera son domicile jusqu’à la fin de sa vie. Louisa décède en 1876. Il se remarie l’année suivante avec Eugénie Laval. Son père décède et Edouard hérite de la maison de la Joux-Perret. Le couple y passe la plupart des étés. Dans les années 1880, il voyage passablement, visitant l’Algérie, la Hollande, l’Egypte et l’Italie. Edouard Jeanmaire est un travailleur acharné, il produit beaucoup : études, peintures, eaux-fortes. Ses œuvres, au début en tous cas, se vendent bien. Il expose régulièrement, à Neuchâtel, à Genève, moins facilement à La Chaux-de-Fonds où son caractère ombrageux lui vaut bien des inimitiés. Ses toiles sont de vrais miroirs du Jura de son époque. Néanmoins, ses œuvres passent un peu de mode dans la seconde moitié de sa vie. Victime sans doute de la photographie, la peinture naturaliste de Jeanmaire est jugée rétrograde par les critiques. Homme de caractère, Edouard Jeanmaire prend position sur plusieurs sujets brûlants de la fin du siècle. Il soutient Emile Zola dans la campagne de réhabilitation du capitaine Dreyfus. Ce soutien lui vaut un message de remerciement de l’écrivain. En 1904, il soutient Charles Naine qui est emprisonné pour avoir refusé de servir. Ses principaux amis sont le docteur Pierre Coullery et Philippe Godet, camarade de classe. Ses œuvres les plus connues sont La sortie de l’étable, L’enterrement à la Joux-Perret, Le calme des pâturages en septembre et Le ranz des vaches.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Helvetiq Swiss-American Edition Launch

In February of this year my business partner Michael Gaedeke of the Swiss Center Los Angeles had an idea about contacting the inventor of the popular Swiss trivia game Helvetiq, Hadi Barkat and proposing a Swiss-American version. I thought it was a grand idea. Thankfully Hadi did as well.

Little did I know how much work would be involved. In hindsight, I am glad I was blissfully unaware of the late nights of research, and question re-writing.

The Helvetiq Swiss-American Edition launched last week, and am proud of the result. The game demonstrates in a unique way the tremendous impact the Swiss have made on their adopted homeland, and one that I hope Swiss-Americans will embrace.








The trivia cards consist of more than 260 questions, illustrations and photos. Questions cover a wide range of topics including entertainment, history, politics, art, science and food. There is something for everyone in the Helvetiq Swiss-American Edition.

The object of the game is to follow the annual summer ascent route of Swiss cows and to arrive at the top first. You climb the mountain with every correct answer about the Swiss in America. An advanced degree in Swiss-American studies is not needed to play; it’s about fun after all.

The game can be purchased on Amazon.com.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

The Argentine Lawyer




My Swiss grandfather Henri was born on the family ranch of “La Elisa” in Argentina in 1900. He would later emigrate to the United States in 1923 from Switzerland where the family had gone for his schooling. After spending time in California’s central valley learning how to run a ranch, he was supposed to return to Argentina and take over La Elisa. On his way to Argentina he went to San Francisco to look for work, met a French Basque woman, fell in love and would not return to South America until his 60s. The task of running the ranch would fall to his younger brother Carlos, who unlike his other brothers really did not have a choice in the matter.

As with any family dynamic, there can be misunderstandings and hurt feelings. The relationship between Carlos and his older brother Henri were no different. Many of the family tensions would come to a head when my grandfather in the early 1960s – in speaking on behalf of his other siblings – persuaded Carlos that it was time to divide up the ranch and give the other heirs their share.

Thus begun more than a decade or legal wrangling between my grandfather in San Francisco and his brother in Argentina. The go-between in Buenos Aires was Dr. Martín Aberg Cobo, an Argentine lawyer, staunch conservative and executive in the Tornquist bank. As my grandfather was very orderly and precise, he kept all important correspondence between them from 1962 until 1976. The family drama chronicled within the carbon copy duplicates is fascinating, but I will save it for the family history volume I intend to pen one day. What I have highlighted below are passages in which Aberg Cobo either confides his feelings to another conservative about the U.S. or the state of affairs in South America.

Given the geo-political situation of the Americas at the time, I found the snippets compelling. It must be said however that given the gravity of the situation on the ground in Argentina and Chile, Aberg Cobo’s comments can be flippant at best. I was shocked by his categorization of the situation in Chile, after Pinochet’s coup and the assassination of Salvador Allende that “The news from Chile is on the whole good, though they might be overdoing it a little.”

My political views could not be more different than my grandfather and Aberg Cobo’s, but this is not meant to be a political post. As an historian I simply felt these windows into the time period were valuable and should be shared. Certain names and events within the quotes have been hyperlinked where appropriate.



Buenos Aires, November 19th, 1968
“I heartily congratulate you on the outcome of the U.S. election, that I followed with the greatest of interest in a group of Republican friends at the American Club until about 4 a.m. At one time nearly everybody was most despondent though I insisted, and was right in saying that we had to wait for the returns of the West Coast and Middle West States!

I feel sure that Mr. Nixon will manage to govern with the indirect support of the Southern Democrats, and you must remember that the White House is a power in itself.

Senator Goldwater is at present in Argentina. I would much like to meet him and congratulate him on his foresight. He really has not much to say in the Senate except constantly pointing out that 'I told you so!'"


Buenos Aires, June 12th, 1970
“You must probably be interested to know what has happened in Argentina. Is is still too early to make any reasonable forecast, but the crux of the matter is that General Onganía, who was in power as a delegate of the top brass, began to consider himself the real and only boss, and therefore was dismissed by his colleagues who apparently want an earlier return to democratic rule than he did.”


Buenos Aires, July 27th, 1970
“On June 8, the Army, Navy and Air Force ousted General Onganía and later replaced him with General Levingston (I consider it a good change on the whole), and the Argentine Central Bank, to avoid any speculation in currency, immediately closed down the exchange market for about a fortnight, thus preventing the remaining remittances...”


Buenos Aires, October 20th, 1970
“Last political developments in this country seem rather unfavorable. Through a disagreement with his Under Secretary of State – apparently a direct ‘protégé’ of General Levingston’s, we have lost the services of the Interior Minister, Air Force Brigadier McLoughlin, a firm Peron opponent, with the consequent unrest in his colleagues.

Economy Minister Moyano Llerena, a friend of McLoughlin’s also resigned, and has been replaced by Dr. Aldo Ferrer, who is decidedly not a staunch enemy of inflation as his predecessor was, and immediately closed down the exchange market for a few days.... 
On the other hand, Peronist celebrations of October 17 – 25th Anniversary of Peron’s success over the first military opposition – turned out a decided flop, and have therefore considerably strengthened the ‘top brass’ position, making the political outlook much clearer, thus causing a sharp rise in the stock market that was before really below par.

Let’s hope they will use the advantage they have gained and set the country at peace for once and for all.”


Buenos Aires, May 5th, 1972
“The situation here is not at all pleasant, as Government makes so many unnecessary mistakes, probably through personal ambitions regarding future elections, that also seem rather dangerous as everybody is so confused at present.

The terrorists actions are most regrettable and certainly require a firm hand instead of political maneuvers. The dastardly murder of General Sánchez was a real set back for the country as many – military and otherwise – considered that he was the man that could get us out of this mess.”


Buenos Aires, September 18th, 1972
“The ‘terrorist’ problem is becoming a world wide one, and we have had our share of it, with international problems with Chile whose government has behaved disgracefully regarding the last jailbreak. I have nevertheless some hopes that the matter will calm down after our next election, if and when it is carried out.”


Buenos Aires, November 16th, 1972
“My heartiest congratulations on President Nixon’s landslide victory, that I consider most beneficial not only to the U.S. but also to the world in general, though it is certainly a pity that his ‘coat tails’ were somewhat short. I certainly think you should all see his tailor about it!

The situation here is rather complicated as we are on the eve of Peron’s return, that conceivably might cause some rioting in spite of the stern precautions taken by the government.

The whole matter is really absurd, and in my opinion President Lanusse has made a grievous mistake in not letting sleeping dogs lie, as Peron’s undoubted popularity was already on the wane. Anyway, we shall see what happens on both sides of the fence.”


Buenos Aires, October 31st, 1973
“Our new government is apparently trying to restore law and order, a task somewhat hampered by their previous outlook on violent proceedings during the military regime. Though I do not agree with them, I heartily wish for their success, as it is impossible to carry out any business if you don’t know where you stand, even if it is on unfavorable ground.

I am most concerned about the events in the U.S. and think – from afar – that events are being magnified for political reasons. I hope good sense will prevail in the end, not only in your great country but in the whole free world.

The news from Chile is on the whole good, though they might be overdoing it a little, as Allende was taking them straight into the red camp.”


Buenos Aires, April 18th, 1974
“I am certainly distressed about the amount of kidnappings in the U.S. and here. Locally I think it is part of guerrilla warfare being carried out by the extreme left that hope to harass the Government with it; and at least there is some talk of the latter taking a firm stand too long delayed.”


Buenos Aires, December 24th, 1976
“Our country is slowly recovering from the awful Peronist mess, and it would seem that 1977 will be a considerably better year than the last one.

Of course there are still many snags ahead, such as the inflation not yet under control, and the outbreak of violence that the Government has as yet not been able to definitely stamp out, though they have made much progress in that direction.”

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Art Supplies Case

Many of my ancestors were artists. I have profiled some of them on this blog; Jeanne de Büren, Albert de Büren, Philippe de Büren and Natalie de Büren to name a few. Among some old family books I found the following art supply case. It is a wonderful 19th century treasure that most likely belonged to one of Henri de Büren's children. It was purchased from Papéterie Lagier Frères in Geneva and still contains period charcoal and water colors. I thought it was fantastic and wanted to share.







Monday, July 4, 2011

Suisse Magazine

Suisse Magazine, a French-language publication on Switzerland wrote a small story on me in their latest issue. The magazine's editor asked the Museum of the Swiss Abroad in Geneva for insight on Swiss who were making a name for themselves outside Switzerland, and unbeknownst to me the Museum suggested my name. I feel honored beyond measure. Images from the magazine as well as the story in French follow below.



Jean-François de Buren est un Suisse dans le monde, né en 1970 en Californie, à Tiburon, près de San Francisco. Etudiant en arts graphiques à l’université d’Arizona, il a travaillé chez Frog design, une plateforme multimédia et technologique à vocation mondiale. Depuis 2007 il travaille désormais à son compte. Jean François de Buren est aussi écrivain, historien, et généalogiste, à ce titre, il s’est depuis longtemps passionné pour l’histoire de son illustre famille neuchâteloise et bernoise qui compte parmi elle des soldats, des hommes d’État, des aventuriers et des artistes. Le projet qui lui tenait à cœur depuis plusieurs années déjà, s’est concrétisé en 2011 : le journal et les lettres racontant les aventures américaines de son arrière-arrière-grand père, Henri de Buren, explorateur, botaniste et artiste Suisse vont être publiées en français, en anglais et en espagnol. Le Musée des Suisses dans le Monde est partie prenante de cette publication en en étant l’éditeur. Jean-François de Buren qui a aussi pour ambition d’être metteur en scène envisage de porter à l’écran l’expédition de son ancêtre. Last but not least, Jean-François a été choisi pour être le chef de projet de la version américaine du jeu de société suisse « Helvétiq ». « Je veux que ce jeu représentent les Suisses en Amérique et que ces Suisses soient fières de leur héritage » dit notre ami. Jean-François de Buren, c’est le Swiss made.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Helvetiq Swiss-American Edition

My Swiss heritage means a great deal to me. Its importance has deepened over time as I become more familiar with the details of my lineage. My interest in Swiss history and Swiss immigration however is not isolated to my own family story, but also to the Swiss experience writ large.

As the Swiss are not ones to self-promote, I feel privileged to be leading a project that will help Swiss-Americans realize the impact they have made on the United States. A book written on the subject a number of years ago perceptively coined the phrase for the Swiss in America "Small Number, Big Impact."

The paragraphs below were sent out to Swiss clubs nationally, and appeared in the most recent edition of the Swiss Review.


Helvetiq Swiss-American Edition

From New Glarus, to New Bern, from Vevay to Sacramento, more than a million Americans of Swiss-descent have left their mark on the United States. Figures such as Albert Gallatin, Meyer Guggenheim, Louis-Joseph Chevrolet and Renée Zellweger are well known, but what about those unique stories that have yet to be shared. To honor this rich heritage, the Swiss Center Los Angeles in partnership with Lausanne-based RedCut will release later this year a Swiss-American version of the popular Swiss trivia game Helvetiq.

Does your local Swiss club have interesting information, trivia or little known facts about the history of the Swiss in your area? Do you know of any Swiss inventions, enduring traditions, local luminaries or tall tales? No fact is too trivial, no aneqdote is too outlandish. Our intent is for the game to be a living testament to all the Swiss who have made a difference in the United States.

A Swiss Abroad Tracking a Swiss Abroad

In the most recent Lettre de Penthes, the journal of the Foundation for the History of the Swiss Abroad, I wrote a small article about my artist, adventurer and explorer Great-Great-Grandfather, Henri de Büren. As the circulation for the journal is limited I am reproducing it below. Enjoy.


A Swiss Abroad Tracking a Swiss Abroad

The sun glistened off the surface of the blue Caribbean Sea gently rocking a small water taxi as it made its way to port. Mid-morning sunlight shone on an imposing fort and lighthouse crowned by the Spanish colors gently waving in the breeze. Below in elegant cursive the word “Havane”.

This is my first memory of a journal that has consumed my life for the last three years. I was initially ignorant to its author and provenance; to me, it was simply a beautiful watercolor of an exotic destination. Visions of Castro and the Cuban Missile Crisis wafted through my conscious like so much cigar smoke. However, this image was not painted during a time of casinos, mobsters and revolutionaries but rather one captured a century earlier in the Cuba of colonial Spain.

While my initial interaction with the journal made an impression, I found it as a boy who was preoccupied with school, and soccer practice. I returned it to the armoire from whence it came, to be read another day. That day would not come again for 20 years. In 2007 I found the journal again while looking through family papers and when I picked it up time seemed to collapse as if my boyhood fascination with the object had never left me. Instead of merely skimming its beautifully penned pages, I decided to read it and hoped it would have secrets to tell. I would not be disappointed.

I discovered that Cuba was only a very small portion of the journal; it was dedicated almost entirely to the day-to-day documentation of an 1853 expedition of European settlers venturing deep into the Amazon of Northern Peru. The pages were brimming with tales of natural beauty, social conflict and internal power struggles. I was hooked. To my utter amazement I found the journal to have been written by my great-great-grandfather, Henri
de Büren.

How did I not know of this before? It would have seemed to be a great family story, passed down from generation to generation told over sumptuous dinners, getting more fanciful in each retelling. “Did you hear how grand-père cleared the jungle with only his Swiss Army knife?” Alas, all I knew about Henri was that he sold the family castle of Vaumarcus near Neuchâtel at the end of the 19th century, and I believe this choice tainted his family legacy.

Passionate about his voyage, I searched for any additional writings from the journey and to my delight found another journal that compiled all of his correspondence home to his family in Switzerland. The letters home
covered a grander journey than just Cuba and Peru. It documented a Grand Tour that lasted almost two years and covered thousands of miles. Starting with his Liverpool departure on a British mail steamer, they document how he crisscrossed the Eastern United States calling on Swiss compatriots and scholars. He visited Cuba, spent four months exploring Mexico, six months traversing the Peruvian Andes with an expedition of 90 and finally canoeing down the Amazon river into Brazil.

What had started with the fascination surrounding one watercolor illustration had blossomed into finding a detailed first-person account of a journey that covered large parts of the Americas. I felt at that moment, that I had discovered a unique artifact and a piece of Swiss cultural history that needed to be shared. When I started this process what I knew about the 1850s in the Americas revolved around the California gold rush. Therein lies the tragic tale of another Swiss, John Augustus Sutter, but that is another story. In the past three years of research, my scholarly knowledge of the 1850s has increased considerably. Thanks in large part to JSTOR, Google Books and the fact that Henri travelled in illustrious circles, I have been able to find most of those mentioned in his journals and letters. The names of Louis Agassiz, Arnold Guyot, Leo Lesquereux, and Asa Gray were at first just handwritten words on a page. Given my new found understanding of the time period their existence makes the narrative all the more fascinating.

In spite of the early exhilaration of discovery, there have been moments that I doubted my sanity for throwing myself headlong into this endeavor. There were also those along the way who dismissed my project as simply a quaint family research project. I have come to feel very strongly that it is far more than that. Henri was a witness to scientific, social and cultural history in the Americas and in a era of one-way immigration. His return home is something to be acknowledged in itself. When I felt a lead go cold, a new bit of information would be revealed, or when I became dispirited, an invaluable word of encouragement would come from the unlikeliest of sources. Early interest in my project by swissinfo, former Peruvian President Alejandro Tolledo, Peruvian-American author Marie Arana, and Benedict von Tscharner, Foundation President for the Museum of the Swiss Abroad, were invaluable.

As Henri took a chance and leap of faith when he left Neuchâtel for points unknown I have tried to do the same. I intend to retrace his original journey for a documentary and am currently writing a feature film screenplay about Henri and his son. I will readily admit that I have been very un-Swiss like in my promotion of my project and Henri’s journey, acting at times like his PR manager. One blogger commented that I was “Hoping to secure a place for Henri in the history books.” He could not be more correct.

This year, Henri’s journal and letters will be published with the gracious support of the Edition de Penthes and the Institute of the Swiss Abroad. Not only did the Institute of the Swiss Abroad realize the merit of the source material, they have been instrumental in the both transcription and fundraising.

Working with Henri’s journals and trying to understand who he was has taught me a great deal, not simply about my ancestor but what it means for me to be Swiss. I have grown up around family heirlooms my entire life, but reading Henri’s passages about his love for family and his country has stayed with me and deepened my personal attachment to Switzerland. I hope that my project reveals in some small measure the impact that the Swiss have made historically in the Americas and one we will continue to make into the future. As Henri brought back botanical and agricultural knowledge with him from the Americas, I want to give back to Switzerland a success story of one of its native sons. As a result I hope Switzerland will look more closely at its culturally rich past and celebrate more stories like Henri’s – they are national treasures waiting to be revealed.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

The Man with the Green Arm

Of the many themes that endure from generation to generation in the de Büren family, love of the natural world is an important one. While my family were large land owners for many generations, the scholarly study of the natural world started in earnest with Baron Albert de Büren. He studied botany at Thaer's school of agriculture near Berlin in the early 19th century. His son Henri, would follow in his footsteps and also study botany at the same school in Prussia. This love and knowledge of the natural world would be passed down from father to son, and so it is no surprise that my father is so talented when it comes to horticulture. The label of "Green Thumb" does not do him justice.

As a boy I was less enthused about his zeal for flowers and trees as my job was seemly only to haul clippings to the curb. Over time however, I to have developed my own love for nature, and I appreciate how hard he has worked to turn the barren rocky soil around our family home into a lush eden. As spring is my favorite time of year, and when I believe the garden is at its most stunning, I wanted to share some images with you here. Enjoy.












Thursday, May 5, 2011

A Mother's Day Acknowledgement

I enjoy finding patterns in history. Links across time have always been fascinating to me. In many ways we all are representations of generational threads, your mother's eyes, your grandmother's laugh or your great-grandmother's determination.

Over the past couple of years I have pondered actively what I care about and what moves me. In honor of Mother's Day I would thank seven generations of de Büren women whose traits have become mine and have helped me become the man I am today.


Mom – Sharon de Buren (Carter)

Thank you for giving me your drive.



My grandmother – Emelie de Buren (Lasserre)

Thank you for giving me your love of music.



My great-grandmother – Louisa de Büren (Fabrini)

Thank you for giving me your love of cooking.



My 2 x great-grandmother – Natalie de Büren (de Freudenreich)

Thank you for giving me your compassion.



My 3 x great-grandmother – Catherine de Büren (de Senarclens)

Thank you for giving me your tenacity.



My 4 x great-grandmother – Charlotte de Büren

Thank you for giving me your commitment to family.



My 5 x great-grandmother – Cornélie de Büren (van Assendelft)

Thank you for giving me your love of art.


Happy Mother's Day.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Soldiers, Statesmen, Adventurers and Artists

On April 8th I will showcase five generations of family art as well as give a presentation on my family heritage at the Beverly Hills Women's Club. I am honored that club president Claudia Deutsch offered such a beautiful space.



The write-up:

Designer, writer, historian, genealogist, and aspiring filmmaker, Jean-François de Buren has been passionate about his family history for as long as he can remember. For the past 10 years he has actively worked on the story of his Swiss, Argentine & American roots. Jean-François’ presentation will cover his 800 year family story as well as highlight his current creative endeavors surrounding his heritage.

Soldiers and Statesmen. Adventurers and Artists. The History of the de Büren family.
Covering over eight centuries of history, in the United States, Switzerland and Argentina, the de Büren family saga is replete with passionate tales of soldiers, statesmen, adventurers and artists. From the blood-drenched battlefields of Europe to the steaming jungles of South America, from the fertile pampas of Argentina to California's Central Valley, the tale of the de Bürens reads like a great novel -- evoking the grand sweep of history as well as its telling details, bursting with complex intrigue, fascinating personal stories, and the most compelling of family dramas.

In addition to the presentation Jean-François will showcase family heirlooms, as well as engravings, drawings, sketches, watercolors and sculpture made by family members during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.



Jean-François grew up in Northern California is a dual Swiss and American citizen and is active in the local Swiss community. He will publish this year his great-great-grandfather’s journals chronicling a two-year journey through the Americas of the 1850s. As a companion to the book, Jean-François aims to retrace his Ancestor’s expedition for a documentary film. He is also writing a screenplay for a feature film set in Switzerland that centers around his deaf ancestor. Additionally, Jean-François writes about Swiss emigration to California, and is currently working on the Swiss-American version of the popular Swiss board game Helvetiq.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the club website http://www.bhwomensclub.org/

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Madeleine's Album


A couple of weeks ago a received a surprise package from a cousin in France. She sent me a souvenir album that was said to have belonged to Germaine de Büren (1863-1931), a daughter of Henri de Büren (1825-1909). While I turned its many pages I came to realize that the album may have ended up with Germaine but as it was started many years before she was born, it was surely the keepsake of someone else. I repeatedly came across the name Sillem and images of Hamburg. Why would Germaine have had this album? It didn’t seem to be a de Büren heirloom.

Germaine de Büren

Upon reflection it dawned on me that this could be the album of Madeleine Sillem, Henri de Büren’s first wife who died tragically six weeks into their marriage of typhoid fever. Madeleine was not only Henri’s wife but also his first cousin – Henri and Madeleine mothers were both sisters from the de Senarclens family. Her death was an incredibly tragic event not only for Henri but for the whole family. Henri would marry again only five years later, and as with his first marriage, he would wed another first cousin, Natalie de Freudenreich who gave Henri nine children. It seems plausible that Henri kept Madeleine’s album as a memento and passed it down to his daughter Germaine when she was older.

The Sillem family history is quite impressive and theirs has been intertwined over the ages with that of Hamburg. After a good deal of business hardship in the late 1840s, Madeline’s father moved the family from Hamburg to Geneva and spent the remainder of his life in Switzerland. Even after Madeleine’s death, the de Büren family and their Sillem cousins in Geneva remained close. In fact Auguste Gustave de Büren’s boyhood journal mentions many visits of his “Uncle and Aunt Sillem” to the castle of Vaumarcus.

As this album concerned in great part the Sillem family I contacted Martin Sillem in Hamburg who has taken over stewardship of the Sillem family history. I sent him some of the drawings and etchings of Hamburg and asked if he could help me translate some of the notes in German. He agreed and was gracious enough to get the notes transcribed from Sütterling and translated in English.

The notes in fact turned out to be poems most likely written to Madeleine from her family in Germany. I find them touching and am indebtted to Martin to helping bring them back to life after such a slumber. I am including two poems from Louise and Dolores Sillem below:

Dich führe durch das wildbewegte Leben
Ein gnädiges Geschick
Ein reines Herz hat dir Natur gegeben
O ! bring es rein zurück !
Louise Sillem

May a blessed destiny guide you
On the wild river of life
Nature has given you a pure heart
Oh! please bring it back just as pure!
Louise Sillem

Blau ist des Himmels lichter Bogen
Wenn ihn kein Nachtgewölk umzogen
Blau ist das Blümchen, welches spricht
Ich bitte dich: Vergiß mein nicht.
Dolores Sillem

Blue is the dome of the sky
When no clouds are drawn across it
Blue is the little flower that says
I ask you to forget-me-not
Dolores Sillem


As to the visuals in the Album I am including a selection of etchings of Hamburg, as well as artwork done by her family and friends.

Drawing by Marie Sillem, 1848

Drawing by Jerome Sillem

St Petri Kirche in Hamburg

Ansicht von Hamburg

Die Börse in Hamburg, 1847

Lausanne

The one drawing that caught my imagination was that of a warship guns ablaze flying the stars and stripes.


Could this drawing have been made by Henri de Büren as he travelled the Americas before he and Madeleine got married? The possibility is certainly intriguing.

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