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Richard T. Crane Papers 2

 Collection
Identifier: GTM-GAMMS99

Scope and Contents

The Richard T. Crane Papers, Part II primarily consists of correspondence, photographs and financial records arranged in 65 folders, placed in 4 boxes and 1 oversized container. This addition to the Richard Crane Papers consists mostly correspondence from the period that Crane was working in the State Department (1915-1918). An interesting theme in this addition is that of Russia and the Revolution of 1917, during which time Charles Crane was travelling in Russia. Charles Crane sent frequent telegrams to Richard giving details of what he saw and experienced. Correspondence from Richard Gottheil and Samuel N. Harper also discuss the Revolution in progress. A large amount of the correspondence also relates to the finances of his wife's family, the Bruces, and to the affairs of the Berry Hill Plantation and the Coonamessett Ranch Company, both in Virginia and belonging to Crane.

Dates

  • 1900 - 1922

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Most manuscripts collections at the Georgetown University Booth Family Center for Special Collections are open to researchers; however, restrictions may apply to some collections. Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers are solely responsible for determining the copyright status of the materials being used, establishing who the copyright owner is, locating the copyright owner, and obtaining permission for intended use.

Biographical note

Richard Teller Crane, II was born on August 12, 1882 in Denver, Colorado, the son of Charles R. Crane and Cornelia W. Smith. His grandfather was Richard Teller Crane, who founded the Crane Company of Chicago in 1855. Although his father, Charles Crane, had been formally educated to the age of fourteen, he became one of the most cultured men of his generation. He is most known publicly for the Crane-King report which he co-authored and for his years as American ambassador to China (1920-1922). Richard Crane attended Lawrenceville Preparatory School and received his A.B. degree from Harvard in 1904. In July, 1915 after an unsuccessful bid for congress, he was offered a position as private secretary to the Secretary of State, Robert Lansing. In April, 1919, Richard Crane was appointed by Woodrow Wilson as the first American ambassador to Czechoslovakia. For the next two years he was stationed in Prague, at a time when the new republic was just forming. Crane had previously known Thomas S. Masaryk, the president of Czechoslovakia, when he held the chair of Slavic Studies at the University of Chicago. The chair had been founded by Charles Crane. A letter from Masaryk during his trip to the U.S. in 1918 is in the collection. Crane's term as ambassador ended in 1921.

Extent

2.85 Cubic Feet (5 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Metadata Rights Declarations

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Mrs. Bruce Crane Fisher, May 1990.

Related Materials

See also the Richard T. Crane Papers 1 (GTM-800320).

Status
Completed
Author
Michael J. North
Date
1990
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Revision Statements

  • 2024-05: Edited for DACS compliance by John Zarrillo.

Repository Details

Part of the Georgetown University Manuscripts Repository

Contact:
Lauinger Library, 5th Floor
37th and O Streets, N.W.
Washington DC 20057