John M. Crawford, Jr. papers (Ms.2011.014)

The collection is comprised of manuscripts, correspondence, photographs, clippings, printed materials relating to the history of writing, the art of calligraphy, Asian Art, and related lifelong interests of Mr. Crawford. Also included are ten calligraphy notebooks and media (slides, cassettes)

Series I, Personal papers, comprises a range of records created and collected by Crawford. Chiefly related to Crawford's interest in Asian art, the personal papers series includes the following materials: Correspondence: arranged chronologically; majority of the series includes incoming and outgoing letters to business associates from 1949 to 1992. Main subjects are art collecting, sales, exhibitions. Also included are several letters to and from Mr. Crawford’s friends. Art institutions and organizations: chiefly business and financial records and reports relating to the activities of Friends of Asia House Gallery, Asia Society Group, Friends of Columbia Library, Grolier Club, and China Institute in America. Art galleries and museums: promotional materials (booklets, flyers) relating to upcoming events and exhibitions at various institutions with the majority of materials covering events at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Nelson Gallery in Kansas City, Missouri. Articles: clipped journal articles on the subject of art, with emphasis on Chinese art. Periodicals and publications: separate issues of New York Times and other newspapers and journals from the 1950s. Symposium papers: papers presented or intended for presentation at symposiums on Asian art. The majority of the papers were presented at the Symposium on Chinese Calligraphy at Yale University in April 1977. Speeches and addresses: presentations by Norman H. Strouse on subject of art and libraries, 1967-1968. Brown University: the materials in this series cover the presentation of the Degree of Doctor of Letters to Mr. Crawford during the 1964 Commencement Exercises at Brown University. This event is captured in correspondence to and from Mr. Crawford as well as in photographs and newspaper clippings. Other materials related to Brown University include brochures, flyers, publications from 1964 to1968. Indiana University: correspondence and photographs from the Dedication of the Lilly Library on October 3, 1960. Also included are periodicals, brochures, flyers highlighting this event in the history of the University. Syracuse University: publications, periodicals, brochures, flyers, photographs related to Syracuse University’s award of the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters to Mr. Crawford on May 8, 1967. Also included is correspondence to Mr. Crawford regarding his monetary support of the University Library from the Chancellor and Director of the Library. The correspondence is dated 1966-1969. Book and art appraisals: notes and price lists for various art sales. Clippings: materials on book and art collecting, sales, exhibitions. Graphic and audio materials: extensive collection of photographs documenting exhibitions, presentations, various art events, and family. Numerous travel and art postcards document destinations in Europe and Asia, various museums, and art. Four sets of slides primarily personal in nature. One 16mm silent film containing views of the 1950 eruption of Mauna Loa, Hawaii. Three audiocassettes labeled Fr. Monihan, Richard Edwards, Ellen Laing, and Cyril Birch. One long-playing record printed "to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the John M. Crawford Music House at the Asheville School, Asheville, North Carolina, 1962" (box 5). A number of oversize and framed photographs are housed according to size (boxes 3-5). Ephemera and realia: contains honorary degrees and commendations from Syracuse University (1967-1969), handmade paper, a bas-relief portrait presented to Crawford by Herman Kapp; a poster for an exhibition of Crawford's collection at RISD (box 5). Personal documents: include diaries, calendars, travel itineraries, bills, communication cables, and a published genealogy of the Crawford family (boxes 1 and 7). Parkersburg Rig and Reel Company: contains promotional material and documentation as well as investment brochures (box 2).

Series II, Scrapbooks, includes five oversized scrapbooks with materials related to social and cultural pursuits, politics, Crawford's education. In addition, the series includes a baby book for John M. Crawford with materials dating from his birth in 1913 to his confirmation in 1926 (boxes 4 and 8).

Series III, Calligraphy notebooks consist of the following titles: Revelations of Divine Love / Julian of Norwich ; calligraphy by Margaret Alexander, 1956 The Ode of Change / Lewis Morris; calligraphy Edith C. Goodwin, Birmingham, 1920. The Flour and the Leef / Walter Skeat; calligraphy Graily Hewitt, London, 1916; binding Charles McLeish, 1916 The Eve of Saint Mark / John Keats; calligraphy Graily Hewitt, 1924; binding McLeish. Anakreontos (Anacreon) / calligraphy Graily Hewitt (in Greek). Sonnets / William Shakespeare; calligraphy D.J., 1969. Penmanship copybook / Edward Johnston; calligraphy Edward Johnston. The Song of Songs (Bible) / calligraphy Violet Wilson, Wimbledon, Surrey, 1957; binding Sangorski and Sutcliffe, London. Rubaiyat / Omar Khayyam (Persian). The First Writing Book / Ludovico Arrighi; an English translation and facsimile with introduction and notes by John Howard Benson, 1954. Penmanship copybook, 1908 / Edward Johnston. Original manuscript mock-up that was never published. Includes also the album of correspondence between Johnston and Graily Hewitt concerning the work.

Series IV, Additions, includes three subseries with materials added to the collection after the original donation. Supplement 1, is comprised of items removed from printed volumes, including correspondence (1968-1977) to and from friends, photographs, programs, menus, invitations, newspaper clippings (box 3). Supplement 2 contains materials accessioned at a later date: correspondence (1968-1977), printed material, photographs taken at the exhibitions and art presentations, personal documents. Also included are galley proofs of Mr. Crawford's Catalogue of the Chinese Art (box 6). Supplement 3 contains correspondence, itineraries, copies of Crawford's will, offprints, and printed ephmera.