This collection reflects Paul Debaillon's interest in genealogy, especially the family of Jean Mouton, founder of Vermilionville, now Lafayette. The collection contains extensive notes and charts compiled by the genealogist and much correspondence written in his attempt to gather information. There is also material on co-lateral families such as Debaillon, Dupré, and others. In addition, Judge Debaillon collected reminiscences compiled by Edith Garland Dupré and M. Evangeline Mouton in the early twentieth century and Amelia Thompson and her daughter, Amelia Watts, in the early mid 19th century; papers of Mary Swords Debaillon who was actively engaged in gathering, cataloging, and preserving Louisiana flowering plants; and scattered correspondence, political and judicial records of Charles Homère Mouton. (Many C.H. Mouton related items were probably placed in the regional history subsection on politics and law as they had no apparent direct connection with Mouton.) There is even a very small collection of Paul Debaillon personal papers almost all of which date from 1930s.

A secondary collecting area, which is almost an outgrowth of the genealogy, relates to regional history. Debaillon wrote brief essays on several local history topics. His work on Mouton family land ownership becomes almost inseparable from studies on the development of Vermilionville. The strong religious faith of Debaillon and his ancestors led to the collection of information on the Lafayette Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church.

At the same time the organization of the collection is somewhat artificial since it is very hard to distinguish the relationship of material to the Mouton Family. In such cases the items were usually placed in the regional history series, i.e., the White League reports and anti-lottery campaign material, both of which reflect the activities and interests of C.H. Mouton. Similarly, it is very difficult to distinguish between Debaillon's notes dealing with Mouton family land ownership and those designed to illuminate the early land development of Vermilionville. Therefore very similar type material will be found in two sections.

Charles Debaillon and Mrs. C.E. Hamilton donated this collection in 1956.