Jasper E. Crane Collection of James and Dolley Madison Materials, 1783-1968 (mostly 1783-1897)

Contents and Arrangement

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Collection Overview

Collector:

Crane, Jasper E. (Jasper Elliot), 1881-1969

Title:

Jasper E. Crane Collection of James and Dolley Madison Materials

Repository:

Manuscripts Division

Permanent URL:

http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/7h149p87p

Dates:

1783-1968 (mostly 1783-1897)

Size:

9 boxes and 3.2 linear feet

Storage Note:

Firestone Library (scamss): Box 1-9

Language:

English

Abstract: Consists of selected manuscripts, correspondence, documents, portraits, and other items created by or about United States President James Madison (Class of 1771) and Dolley Madison, collected by Jasper E. Crane (Class of 1901).

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

Consists of manuscripts, correspondence, documents, portraits, and other related papers by or about both James Madison (Class of 1771) and Dolley Madison, collected by Jasper E. Crane (Class of 1901). Most materials in the collection were created by the Madisons, but a smaller number are about them. Included are the original congressional report on the Battle of Bladensburg (1814), with tables and descriptions; a signed, autograph copy of Dolley Madison's poem "Lafayette"; and a two-page manuscript entitled "Canons of Etiquette to be Observed by the Executive by President Jefferson." Correspondence covers the period from 1783 to 1848 and includes letters to John Quincy Adams, Francis Preston Blair, Aaron Burr, Andrew Jackson, Thomas Jefferson, Richard Rush, Samuel Stanhope Smith, and Samuel Southard. Documents, dated from 1801 to 1817, consist mainly of ship's papers and land grants signed by James Madison. Papers of Dolley Madison consist of writings, correspondence, and documents, including a copy of her will. There are also etched and engraved portraits of both James and Dolley Madison, as well as an essay and printed material about them. Also present is Crane's own correspondence regarding his Madison collection, particularly as related to the acquisition and provenance of various items within the collection.

Collection Creator Biography:

Crane, Jasper E. (Jasper Elliot), 1881-1969

Jasper E. Crane (1881-1969) was born in Newark, New Jersey, and graduated from Princeton University (Class of 1901). Crane began his career as a chemist working in plastics and later became a E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company executive. He was also a conservative Presbyterian layman, anti-communist, and member of the Board of Trustees of Princeton University and the Princeton Theological Seminary. He was a member of the Society of Colonial Wars throughout his life and collected materials related to American history.

Collection History

Acquisition:: Bequeathed by Jasper E. Crane, Princeton Class of 1901, and acquired on April 6, 1970 (AM 20171).
Appraisal: No material was separated from the collection during 2018 processing.
Processing Information: Portions of the existing finding aid were revised by Kelly Bolding in April 2018.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Credit this material:

Jasper E. Crane Collection of James and Dolley Madison Materials; Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

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