82R18383 MGR-D
By: Miller of Comal H.R. No. 1097
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The French Legation was originally built in
1840-1841 to be the residence of the charge d'affairs who
represented the government of France in the Republic of Texas, and
the French Legation Museum is celebrating the building's 170th
anniversary on April 8, 2011; and
WHEREAS, Alphonse Dubois de Saligny, who was responsible for
the construction of the structure, left Austin in 1841, and the
building was sold a few years later; it had been designed to provide
an appropriate setting for European diplomatic duties, dinner
parties, and entertainment, but soon served as the headquarters for
an effort to regain Texian missions for the Catholic Church in the
1840s and later became a private residence for the Dr. Joseph
W. Robertson family, who owned the house for about a century; and
WHEREAS, Miss Lillie Robertson was the caretaker of the
property for many years; she felt that the structure belonged to the
people of this state and would invite visitors in to see the house
and to hear about its history; in keeping with her sentiment, the
Robertson heirs agreed to sell the site to the State of Texas; and
WHEREAS, Since 1956 the property has been operated by The
Daughters of the Republic of Texas as the French Legation Museum,
with concerned Texans working tirelessly to preserve, protect, and
restore the building and to retell the story of the house, including
its fascinating architecture and construction, for the generations
that have followed; and
WHEREAS, A vital cultural resource, the French Legation
provides a link to our state's beginnings as an independent
republic and allows citizens an opportunity to better understand
and appreciate their Texas heritage; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the 170th anniversary of the French
Legation and extend to all those associated with the French
Legation Museum sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the museum as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.