The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum

5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware  19735

Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

 

Creator:         Craig Family                                      

Title:               Papers

Dates:             1847-1935 (bulk: 1880-1915)

Call No.:         Col. 564                     

Acc. No.:        00x2

Quantity:        3 boxes

Location:        33 A 1

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

The Craigs were an African American family in Wilmington, Delaware, and Salem, New Jersey.  (The family also has Native American and Caucasian ancestry.)  The patriarch represented in this collection was George Washington Craig (called Washington, lived 1811-1889).  He owned and operated a cigar store at 838 French Street in Wilmington, Delaware, at least from 1875-1878, and then became a fish dealer.  He was possibly a member of the African Union Church, from which he purchased a cemetery plot in 1863.  In 1837, Washington married Hester A. Ryder (1817 or 1818-1881), for whom there is an obituary written by her fellow sisters of the Hand in Hand Lodge, Daughters of Samaria.  The Washington Craig home was a two-story brick house constructed in 1872 at 703 Buttonwood Street.  There, Washington and Hester raised their children:  George Washington Craig (called George, 1849-1905), Laura (1839-1878; married Andrew Young and had son Washington Young, lived 1860-1931), Caroline (born 1842, married Mr. Brown), Martha Ann (1847-1940, married Alfred Bayard), Calvin (born 1857), and Lizzie (Elizabeth Ann, 1861-1950, married Benjamin D. Miller).

 

George Craig and his wife Lavinia Pierce (born 1859, daughter of Andrew N. and Lydia Cornish Pierce) were married on Dec. 5, 1877, in Salem, New Jersey; in 1880 they purchased 53 Hedge Street for their home. George hired contractors to lead major construction projects on this lot in 1882 and again in 1891-1892.  In 1897 he purchased more lots on Hedge Street. By 1907 the Craigs were paying taxes on five properties on the street, including their own two-story frame house with shingle roof at 84 Hedge Street.  In addition to the rental properties in Wilmington, Salem and Quinton township, New Jersey, George owned a shop, was involved in the fish business, and was a steward, supplying food, coal, fertilizer, and kitchen and dining room implements for clients in the 1880s and 1890s, including steamboats on the Delaware River.  He was a member of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows Colored Chapter in Salem, and either he or his father was a member of the Order’s Star of Bethlehem Lodge in Wilmington, as indicated by items in the collection.

 

George and Lavinia Craig had 12 children, most of whom are represented in this collection: Hester (called Essie, born 1878), Lavinia (born 1881, married William Inloes), Lydia (1883-1965, married Theodore Cuff), George Washington (born 1887, probably died around 1946), Henry G. (born 1889), Prudence (born 1892), William (born 1896), Walter (born 1898), Edna (born 1899), Alfred Bayard (1901-1971, called Bard) and an unnamed child.  After George Craig died in 1905, Lavinia worked as a domestic, continued to live at 84 Hedge Street, and by 1909 had married her second husband, Moses Casper (b. 1863), a laborer.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

This collection of papers focuses upon the daily life of the members the Craig family, particularly that of George W. Craig of Salem, New Jersey, in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.  Receipts dominate the collection and relate primarily to the various properties owned, maintained and enhanced by George Craig.  They include records of land purchases and mortgages; taxes, water and sewer bills; construction and maintenance expenses; fire and life insurance policies; banking; and medical receipts.  The 1889 receipts concerning funeral arrangements for Washington Craig reveal interesting detail.  There are two family letters.  Items of particular interest are Washington Craig’s 1875 business license, Hester Craig’s manuscript obituary, George W. Craig’s Grand United Order of Odd Fellows membership card, Bernard (sic, probably Alfred Bayard) Craig’s NAACP membership card, and a type-written dandelion wine recipe.  The collection of 49 photographs and eight negatives includes a shot of 84 Hedge Street, but only two people are identified in the photographs.

           

 

ORGANIZATION

           

The collection is housed in three boxes.  The first box contains the bulk of the material, while the second box (actually a folder) contains oversize life insurance policies.  The third box holds the photographic materials.

 

 

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

 

The materials are in English.

 

 

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

 

Collection is open to the public.  Copyright restrictions may apply.

 

 

PROVENANCE

           

Purchased from Peter L. Masi, P.O. Box B, Montague, MA  01351, 1999.

 

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

            People:

                        Craig, George Washington, 1811-1889

                        Craig, Hester Ann Ryder, 1817-1881

                        Craig, George W. (George Washington), 1849-1905.

                        Casper, Lavinia Pierce Craig, 1859-1933

                        Craig, Bayard (Alfred Bayard), 1901-1971.

                        Craig family

 

Topics:

            African Union Church (Wilmington, Del.)

Grand United Order of Odd Fellows.

Independent Order of Good Samaritans and Daughters of Samaria of the United States of America.

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

African American businesspeople.

            African American families.

            African American women.

African Americans—Delaware—Wilmington.

            African Americans—Housing.

African Americans—New Jersey—Salem.

            Dwellings—Maintenance and repair

            Friendly societies.

            House construction – Delaware—Wilmington.

House construction - New Jersey—Salem.

            Insurance, Fire.

            Insurance, Life.

            Undertakers and undertaking.

 

Insurance policies

            Mortgages

            Recipes

           

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 33 A 1

 

 

Box 1: family papers

 

Folder 1:          Washington Craig. Wilmington, DE. Documents:

                                   

Receipt for ground rent paid by Washington Craig to the A.S. Society, Ziba Ferris, treasurer, April 9, 1847.

                                    Mifflin Speakman promises to peacefully give up possession of his premises to Washington Craig, who bought the property, Jan. 15, 1857.

Deed to plot in the St. Peter’s Cemetery of the African Union Church, June 27, 1863.  Signed by Peter S. Chippy and Absalom Black.  With seal of the African Union Church.

License issued by state of Delaware to Washington Craig to engage in “purchasing and selling produce, wares, merchandise, and property,” at 838 French St., 1875 (valid until June 1, 1876); signed by governor John P. Cochran and Secretary of State Ignatius C. Grubb.

 

Folder 2:          Washington Craig. Documents re: Buttonwood St. house, Wilmington, DE, 1872.

 

                                    George Washington Craig’s bond and warrant to William D. Sparks and William A. Sparks, 1872.

                                    Three receipts, William S.[?] Sparks & Son received payment from Washington Craig for building his house, January 6, February 3, and February 9, 1872.

                                    Release of liens to Washington Craig for his two story brick house on Buttonwood Street, signed by the various craftsmen and suppliers (stonemason, bricklayer, plasterer, sash and door makers, carpenter, glazier and painter, roofer, and supplier of lumber, bricks, stone, and sand)

 

Folder 3:          Craig Family. Wilmington, DE. Property Repair and Maintenance. 1883-1890.

 

                                    Receipt for painting tin roof of house at 703 Buttonwood St., signed by Wm. H. Faucett, May 28, 1883.

                                    Receipt from Colter & Williams (but signed John W. Riley) for cleaning cesspool at Locust St., Aug. 1885.

                                    Three receipts from John W. Riley & Co., Champion Odorless Machine, No. 5, for cleaning cesspool at 703 Buttonwood St., July 1886, April 1887, October 1887.

                                    Two receipts to Messrs Hawkins & Co., from Wilmington Odorless Excavating Co., No. 3 (James M. Winchester & Bro., Frederick Winchester), for cleaning cesspool at 703 Buttonwood St., June 1889 and Dec. 1890.  Name of Geo. W. Craig written on back.

                                    Receipt from Alexander & Wells for roof repairs on Buttonwood St., July 1889.

                                    Three receipts ro W.E. Hawkins and Hawkins & Co., from Calvin I. Swayne for molding, door, supplies, labor, etc., at 703 Buttonwood St., Dec. 1889, June 1890, and Sept. 1890.

                                    Receipt to Hawkins & Co., from Gawthrop & Bro., for plumbing work at 703 Buttonwood, June 1890.

 

Folder 4:          George Washington Craig. Wilmington, DE. Star of Bethlehem Lodge, Grand United Order of Odd Fellows. 1880-1888.

 

                                    Clearance card from Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, Star of Bethlehem Lodge, Wilmington, declaring George Craig a legal member, Dec. 6, 1880.

                                    Active Lodge no. 2101, G.U.O. of O.F., listing arrears in payment of G.W. Craig, 1886.

                                    Star of Bethlehem Lodge, no. 897, G.U.O. of O.F., listing arrears and payments of G.W. Craig, 1887-1888.

                                    Receipt from Star of Bethlehem Lodge for payment of clearance card, Dec. 19, 1888.  [blind embossed with seal of the lodge]

                                    Receipt for payments to lodge up to April 1889, receipted dated 1888.

 

 

Folder 5:          Hester A. Ryder Craig. Wilmington, DE. Obituary and Funeral. March 1881.

 

                                    Envelope, addressed to Washington Craig, with printed return address of Giles & Son, Undertakers, Wilmington.  Includes picture of horse-drawn hearse.

                                    Receipted bill from Giles & Son, Furnishing Undertakers, addressed to Washington Craig, for coffin, handles, plate, icing corpse, carriages, and hearse, March 8, 1881.  Printed billhead includes picture of horse-drawn hearse.

                                    Receipt from Davidson & Bro., marble, Granite and Sand Stone Works, for head and foot stones and enclosing cemetery lot, Aug. 6, 1881.  Printed letterhead includes picture of granite monuments.

                                    Handwritten obituary for Mrs. Hester A. Craig, age 63, died March 3, 1881.  The obituary was composed by Anna Butler of the Hand in Hand Lodge, D. of S. [Daughters of Samaria].  She praised Mrs. Craig for her Christian faith, her patient suffering, her heart overflowing with kindness and gratitude, and other worth attributes.

                                    Resolution of condolence to family of Hester A. Craig, from of the Hand in Hand Lodge, D. of Samaria [Daughters of Samaria], signed by Mary J. Branton, Lucinda Scott, and Margaret Sterling.

                                   

 

Folder 6:          George Washington Craig [the elder]. Wilmington, DE. Receipts for Funeral. August 1889.

 

                                    Receipt from Samuel Glasco, Wilmington, for digging grave, Aug. 13, 1889.

                                    Receipt from Amelia S. Carty, Wilmington, for shrouding Craig’s father, Aug. 12, 1889.

                                    Receipt from T. Dunn & Co., Salem, N.J., for icing body and use of ice box, Aug. 4, 1889.

                                    Receipt from S.V.B. Carty, undertaker and embalmer, Wilmington, for coffin, removing body, shaving, permit, coaches, and hearse, Aug. 15, 1899.

 

Folder 7:          Craig Family. Wilmington, DE. Rent Account with Hawkins & Co. 1888-1891.

 

                        Sixteen documents pertaining to D.T. Hawkins & Son’s management of the rental of the Craig house at 703 Buttonwood St.  Several letters mention that the managers are unable to pay money owed to the estate of the elder George Washington Craig until the heirs settle the estate. 

 

Folder 8:          Washington Craig. Wilmington, DE. Water Bills for 703 Buttonwood St.. 1875-1890.

 

                        Seven water bills, 1875, 1879, 1880, 1886, 1887, 1889, 1890.  The money was paid to the Mayor and Council of Wilmington.

 

Folder 9:          Craig Family. Wilmington, DE. Taxes. 1884-1890.

 

                        Twelve tax bills for 703 Buttonwood St., for city and school taxes for 1884-1890, and for county, school, and poor taxes for 1884-1886, 1889-1890.

 

Folder 10:        Craig Family. Salem, NJ. Taxes. 1878-1929.

 

                        Forty-seven tax bills, for years 1878-1915, 1917-1919, 1922-1924, 1927-1929, for various properties on Hedge Street; all addressed to George W. Craig or his estate.

 

Folder 11:        Craig Family. Salem, NJ.  Mortgage and Related Correspondence. 1880.

 

                                    Mortgage indenture for house and lot at 53 Hedge Street, purchased by George W. and Lavinia Craig from George C. Radcliff of Baltimore, March 11, 1880.

                                    Letters from Mr. Radcliff about the Craigs paying off the mortgage early, Sept. 30, Nov. 8, and Nov. 11, 1880.  A receipt for final payment was enclosed with one of the letters.  On the back of the Sept. 30 letter is found a list of delegates to an unknown organization or meeting.

 

Folder 12:        Craig Family. Salem, NJ.  Bonds and Mortgage. 1894, 1897.

 

                                    Bond, George W. Craig to Elizabeth S.[?] Gillingham, 1894.

                                    Bond, George W. Craig to William T. Hilliard and William J. Freas, executors of William R. Freas, 1897, with interest payments noted 1898-1916.

                                    Mortgage indenture, George W. and Lavinia Craig to William T. Hilliard and William J. Freas, executors of William R. Freas, for 4 lots on Hedge St., 1897.

 

Folder 13:        Craig Family. Salem, NJ.  Mortgage Payment Receipts. 1898-1915.

 

                        Thirteen receipts for mortgage payments, 1898, 1900-1903, 1905-1909, 1912-1914.  Payments were made by George W., Lavinia (later as Mrs. Casper), and Louisa (also as Louisa C. Casper) Craig.  [Louisa may be a mistake for Lavinia.]

 

Folder 14:        George W. Craig. Salem, NJ.  Receipts for construction and renovation on Hedge Street Lot. 1882, n.d.

 

                                    Receipt from I.O. Acton (on paper from Queen Insurance Co.) for surveying, Feb. 15, 1882.

                                    Receipts from Joseph H. Bell for various payments on house, May-June, 1882 (three on one piece of paper).

                                    Receipt from Woodnutt C. Wistar for lumber, June 1882.

                                    Receipt from Joseph H. Bell for extra work done, including bricks for well, hanging windows and blinds, etc., June 30, 1882.

                                    Bill for bricks, hanging windows, etc. [goes with Bell receipt.]

                                    Release from Charles W. Casper to Joseph Bell for George Craig’s house, June 30, 1882.

                                    Bills for paint and putty from J.R. Lippincott & Co., July 18, and Sept. 30, 1882.  Also an undated receipt for paint.

                                    Receipt from C.M. Harris for painting house, July 20.

                                    Receipt from J.C. & A.B. Hall for plastering, Aug. 17, 1882.

                                    Receipted bill from Mrs. John P. Moore, for hardware, Sept. 30, 1882.

                                    Receipted bill from E.W. Dunn &Son for boards, posts, railing, shingles, planks, scantling, Sept. 30, 1882.

                                    Receipted bill from William D. Walters, for labor, Sept. 30, 1882.

                                   

 

Folder 15:        George. W. Craig. Salem, NJ. Construction of Addition on Hedge Street. Receipts, Release of Liens, etc. 1891-1892, n.d.

 

                                    Two receipted bills to David McAllister from Jos. K. Chew for bricks for Craig house, Sept. 9, 1891.  [note: Chew used old stationery from National Standard printers.]

                                    Receipts, Craig paid David S. McAllister, Oct. 3, 9, 10, 13, 17, 24, 28 [this last one on stationery of Rufus R. Thomas & Co., Builder’s Mill Work] 1891.

                                    Bill to David McAllister from I.C. Ewan, Contractor and House Mover, for moving back kitchen of Craig house, Oct. 9, 1891.

                                    Receipted bill, David McAllister paid Wilbur S. Dunham for bricks and mason work on Craig house, Oc. 16, 1891.  With note on back from McAllister to Craig, requesting payment.

                                    Request from McAllister to Craig to let Rafe[?] have one dollar, Oct. 22, 1891.

                                    Receipted bill to McAllister at Craig’s house, from J.T. Garwood & Co., for nails, gutter spouts, roofing, eave pipes, etc., Oct. 29, 1891.  With note on back from McAllister to Craig, requesting payment.

                                    Receipted bill to McAllister from Salem and Philadelphia Navigation Co., for shipping shutters, molding, sash, etc., Oct. 30, 1891.

                                    Receipted bill to Craig from Jos. K. chew, for brick, Nov. 4, 1891.

                                    Receipted bill to McAllister from Jos. Bell, for services, Nov. 5, 1891 (on stationery of J.T. Garwood & Co.)

                                    Freight bill for shipping sash and shutters, from West Jersey Railroad Co., Nov. 5, 1891.

                                    Note from McAllister to Craig requesting a payment to carpenter William Kano[?], Nov. 7, 1891.

                                    Note from McAllister to Craig requesting payment to Henry [i.e. Harry A.] Smith, and Smith’s receipt for money received, Nov. 7, 1891.  On back: Smith’s bill for carting work, Nov. 6, 1891.

                                    Note from McAllister to Craig requesting a payment to carpenter Frank Gosling [sic], Nov. 7, 1891.  On back: Goslin’s receipt for money received.

                                    Note from McAllister to Craig requesting a payment to William A. Johnson, for painting, Nov. 9, 1891.  On back: Johnson’s receipt for money received.

                                    Bill from John H. Hall to McAlister for plastering, Nov. 9, 1891, with note from McAllister to Craig requesting a payment to Hall.  On back: Hall’s receipt for money received.

                                    Note from McAllister to Craig requesting a payment to Joseph McAllister, Nov. 10, 1891. 

                                    Bill from Vining H. Tuft to McAllister for lime, hair, and plaster, with note from McAllister to Craig requesting a payment to Tuft, Nov. 14, 1891.  On back: Tuft’s receipt for money received.

                                    Note from McAllister to Craig requesting a payment to carpenter Frank Goslin, Nov. 17, 1891.  On back: Goslin’s receipt for money received.

                                    Note from McAllister to Craig requesting a payment to Joseph McAllister, Nov. 26, 1891.  On back: Joseph’s signature.

                                    Note from McAllister to Craig requesting a payment to William Kano for wages, Dec. 3, 1891.  On back: note from Kano to Craig to pay the money to Frank Garwood.

                                    Note from McAllister to Craig requesting a payment to William Kano for wages, Dec. 5, 1891.  On back: Kano’s receipt for money received.

                                    Note from McAllister to Craig requesting a payment to carpenter Isaac Goslin, Dec, 5, 1891.  On back: Goslin’s receipt for money received.

                                    Note from McAllister to Craig requesting a payment to William A. Johnson, for painting, Dec. 9, 1891, and Johnson’s receipt for money received.

                                    Receipted bill from John T. Garwood to McAllister for nails, locks, latches, knobs, and other hardware items, Dec. 11, 1891, on printed billhead.  On back: Note from McAllister to Craig requesting payment of bill, Dec. 29, 1891.

                                    Note to William Hilliard to pay William A. Johnson for work done for McAllister and Craig, Dec. 11, 1891.

                                    Receipted bill from John S. Newell & Son to McAllister for lath, boards, shingles, and other lumber, Dec. 7. 1891.  On back: note from McAllister to Craig requesting payment of bill.

                                    Note from McAllister to Craig requesting a payment to carpenter Franklin Goslin, Dec. 16, 1891, and Goslin’s receipt for money received from W.T. Hilliard.

                                    Receipted bill from John Hogan to McAllister.  On back: note from McAllister to Craig requesting payment of bill.  [work or item supplied is not specified, but Hogan signed release of liens as having supplied sand]

                                    Release of liens to George W. Craig, signed by various workmen and suppliers, with yellow envelope which held the document.

                                    Letter, William T. Hilliard (lawyer) to Craig listing amounts of money paid to various workmen and suppliers, Jan. 22, 1892.

                                    List of amounts of money paid or owed to various people.

                                   

 

Folder 16:        George W. Craig. Salem, NJ. Receipts for food, coal, fertilizer. 1882-1891, n.d.  (12 items)

           

                        Receipted invoices from Hiles & Son (dealers in grain, groceries, coal, etc.); A. Steiner (dealer in fine groceries); George N. Currey (baker); David R. Hires (meats, lard, etc.); W.D. Griscom (ice cream); J.A. Hart & Bro. (dealers in fruits, nuts, vegetables); T.[?] Clyde (milk); Moses Atkinson (manure); Absalom J. Wilson (manure); and Hires & Co. (guano)

 

Folder 17:        George W. Craig. Salem, NJ. Receipts for kitchen and dining room goods. 1890-1898. (5 items)

                       

                        Among the goods purchased: table linen, plates, cups and saucers, dishes, bowls, pans, tea and coffee pots, kettle, meat hammer, wash basin, etc.  One receipt mentions that dishes were bought for use in steamer Major Reybold.

 

                        Receipted invoices were from Lewis S. Hall & Son of Philadelphia (dress and furnishing goods); A. Steiner (fine groceries, but in this case supplying china and glassware); John T. Garwood & Co.; W.R. Matlack (cigar manufacturer, but being paid for dishes); and Steamer Reybold (for dishes)

 

Folder 18:        Mrs. [Lavinia] Craig and Mrs. Lavinia Casper. Salem, NJ. Sewer Rent Bills. 1906-1919. (10 items)

 

                        Bills paid to Salem City Sewer Department; several of the bills specify that the charges are for numbers 80, 84, and 86 Hedge Street, while others specify the charges are for 3 houses on Hedge St.

 

Folder 19:        Lavinia Casper. Salem, NJ. Water Rent Bills and Permit. 1911-1917. (6 items)

 

                        Permit dated April 3, 1911 is to attach to a water pipe for the purposes of supplying a water closet at 80-84-86 Hedge St.  One water bill is for 80-84-85 Hedge St., while others are for 84 and 86 Hedge.  All bills issued by Water Department, City of Salem.

 

Folder 20:        Lavinia Craig Casper (Mrs. Moses Caper). Salem, NJ. Home Improvement & Maintenance receipts. 1910-1920. (11 items, plus one envelope)

                       

                        Includes lumber, hardware, wallpaper, plumbing work, a smoke pipe, etc.  Also, delivery document for a buffet, “not too large, small and neat.”

 

Bills from Wilbert H. Scott (plumber and tin roofer); Sinnickson-Smith Lumber Co.; Albert C. Robinson (dealer in wall paper, carpets, oil cloth, window shades); Clinton Bowen (dealer in picture frames, window shades, wall paper, toys, stationery, school supplies, etc.); Charles B. Guest (plumber, gas-fitter, tin-worker); and Mangan-Campbell Co. (plumbing, heating, tin, sheet metal work)

 

Folder 21:        Lavinia Craig Casper. Salem, NJ. Fire Insurance. 1917-1926, 1932-1935. (4 items)

 

                        Insurance policies issued by Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. for 84 Hedge St., a 2 story, shingle roof, frame building, occupied by a single family

 

Folder 22:        Craig/Casper Family. Salem, NJ. National Benefit Life Insurance Receipt Books. 1925-1931.

 

                        Family members named: Walter E. Wilson, Margaret Jacobs, Lavinia Craig Casper, Moses Casper, A. B. Craig, W. A. Craig, William Craig, Essie Craig, George W. Craig.

 

Folder 23:        Bernard Craig. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Membership Card. June 1933.

 

                        Although the name is clearly typed as Bernard Craig, there is no known family member with that name, and it is believed that this is for Alfred Bayard Craig, who was called Bayard.

 

Folder 24:        Craig Family. Salem, NJ. Banking. 1882, 1891, 1915-1917. (5 items)

 

                        Note to Wilmington Savings Fund Society, to pay $500 to the order of Washington Craig and charge to the account of Geo. W. Craig,” signed lavinia Craig, Martha A. [Craig] Bayard, and Lizzie [Craig] Miller, Feb. 27, 1882.

                        Other items are promise to pay orders drawn on the City National Bank of Salem and Salem National Banking Co., one signed Geo. W. Craig, the others Lavinia C. Casper.

 

Folder 25:        Craig Family. Wilmington, DE and Salem, NJ. Medical Receipts. 1883-

1889. (5 items)

                       

                                    Receipt for payment made by George Craig, received by Dr. W. Wiley, Salem, Feb. 19, 1883;

                                    Bill from Dr. J.M. Curtis, Wilmington, to Washington Craig, Jan. 1, 1887, and receipt for payment, Jan. 31, 1887.

                                    Receipt of payment made by G.W. Craig, received by Joseph Groves, Salem, Aug. 15, 1889, for attending Washington Craig during his illness.  As Groves signed with his mark, this was not for medical care rendered by him but probably for personal care.

                                    Receipt for payment made by George Craig, received by Dr. W. Wiley, Salem, Sept. 5, 1889; for medical services rendered to Washington Craig.

 

Folder 26:        Craig Family. Correspondence. 1885, 1914, n.d.

           

                        Letter, George W. Craig (signing as “your son in the Lord”), Salem, N.J., to his father, Oct. 8, 1885.  Louie [a female] had a fever; he has just started in the fish business; enclosed a money order.  Most of letter expresses his religious beliefs and trust in God.

                                   

Letter, Francis Cooch, assistant trust officer, Equitable Guarantee and Trust Company, Wilmington, to Lavinia Casper, Salem, Dec. 1, 1914.  Needs the names and ages of Lavinia’s nine children with George Craig.  Includes envelope on which 8 children are identified by a letter (V, L, M, G, P, W, O, B), and their ages are worked out (born between 1881 and 1900).  (Lavinia, Lydia, Martha, George, Prudence, William, Walter O., and Bayard; this omits Essie, Henry, and Edna; the latter two probably died young, but Essie was alive at this time)

 

                        Letter, George, to “dear Bro.,” no place, no date.  Among mortgage papers.  Expresses his dislike of signing a one year mortgage and requests his brother to see the lawyer about getting the terms changed.

                       

Folder 27:        George W. Craig. Salem, NJ. Piercetown property leases. 1891.  (2 items)

           

                        Craig rented property to Enoch Pierce (his brother-in-law) and Joseph Perkins, Jr.  Papers witnesses by Andrew N. Pierce, father-in-law of George Craig.  Enoch signed with his mark.

 

Folder 28:        Craig Family. Quinton township, NJ. Tax receipts. 1891-1917. (24 items)

 

                        Bills for 1891-1893 are addressed to George Craig for the Jones estate.  Bills for 1894-1908 are addressed to George Craig.  Bills of 1909-1917 are variously addressed to LC. Casper, George Craig’s estate, or to George Craig.

 

Folder 29:        Craig Family. Miscellaneous Receipts. 1884-1934, n.d. (18 items)

 

                        Includes receipts for a buffet, a dress and silver (both bought on time), engrossing a testimonial in 1884, taxes for Baird [i.e. Bayard] Craig, a horse, a blanket and sheets (also bought on time), copper sheets, rent, etc.

 

Folder 30:        Assorted Envelopes and Pieces of Paper. 1894-1924, n.d. (27 items)

 

                        Addressed to various members of the family; of especial interest is the envelope from Merchant & Co. of Philadelphia, with a picture of a glove ventilator or chimney cap, which they sold; also included is an ad from Wanamaker & Brown of Philadelphia, offering railroad fare to Philadelphia with the purchase of a man’s suit (not dated)

 

Folder 31:        Dandelion Wine Recipe. n.d. (typed)

 

 

Box 2: insurance policies

           

National Benefit Association.  Life insurance policies, dated 1909, for Lavinia Craig Casper (born 1859), Moses Casper (b.1863), William A. Craig (b.1896), Walter Craig (age 10; two copies of policy for him), and Alfred B. Craig (age 8).  Policies include some personal information about the insured person.

 

National Benefit Association.  Life insurance policy for Lavinia Craig Casper, 1916.  Beneficiary is daughter Essie Craig.

 

National Benefit Life Insurance Company.  Life insurance policy for George W. Craig (age 42), 1930.  Beneficiary is mother Lavinia Craig Casper.

 

 

Box 3: Photographs and Negatives

 

Folder 1:          negatives (8)

 

Folder 2:          photograph and tintypes:

                                    Young man in a suit;

                                    Middle-aged woman in striped dress [tintype] (has been identified as Lavinia Pierce Craig Casper);

                                    Tintype of R.[?] A. McDuffie, 63 Atlantic St., Jersey City, N.J., wearing a bathing costume, in cardboard frame decorated with pictures of cupids

 

Folder 3:          photographs: studio portraits (possibly all 4 are post-mortem photographs, a specialty of the photographer Flynn of Salem; the poses are typical of his post-mortem photos)

                                    Studio portrait of girl, taken by Flynn of Salem, N.J.;

                                    Studio portrait of young boy in a knickerbocker suit;

                                    studio portrait of a baby;

                                    studio portrait of young child in a dress

 

Folder 4:          photographic postcards

                                    Postcard, labeled on back: “Edna Mae Cooper, sad and lonely” (photo taken in a studio);

                                    Postcard of young woman standing next to an iron fence;

                                    Small postcard of two middle-aged women (image is very dark);

                                    Postcard of young man in suit

                       

 

Folder 5:          photographs:

                                    woman sitting in a rowboat on dry land;

                                    Three women and two men on a beach, holding shells, a fish, and seaweed;

                                    three women and a man on a beach, with house in background;

two women and a man on a beach, holding shells, wooden fence behind them;

three women (with a man behind them on a beach, holding shells;

two photos of women sitting on a beach, with wooden fence behind them;

two young women and two young men, wooden fence in background;

                                    three young men in suits, wooden fence in background;

three women and a car;

two photos of three women sitting on a bridge;

woman on bridge and man approaching it;

three men and two women on bridge

 

 

Folder 6:          photographs:

woman and man standing in a doorway (man appears to be smoking a pipe) (woman has been identified as Lavinia Pierce Craig Casper);

two middle-aged women, one holding a pocketbook (woman on left (has been identified as Lavinia Pierce Craig Casper);

two women and a dog on steps of house with number 84 above door [probably 84 Hedge Street] (women have been identified as Lavinia Pierce Craig Casper and Lavinia Craig Pinkett Inloes);           

                                    two women in hats, faces in deep shade;

                                    two young women sitting on a log;

                                    young woman wearing sweater;

two young women next to a haystack;

                                    Two young women next to cases of empty bottles, one of the women pretends to drink from a bottle;

                                    head of a woman;

woman with a long braid standing amongst hollyhocks [this may be another photo of Edna Mae Cooper];

two young women in hats, standing in front of a large house;

                                    young woman outside door of a clapboarded building;

 

 

folder 7:          photographs

                                    woman sitting with dog on lap, building with cupola in background;

                                    young woman sitting on steps of a stone building, labeled on back: “taken Tuesday 6.15.20, main entrance to the A.C.H.S.” (believed to refer to Atlantic City High School)

                                    young man in suit;

                                    two photos of a young couple;

                                    woman in middy blouse sitting on ground outside a house;

                                    young woman with houses in background;

                                    young woman holding a puppy;

                                    woman in a coat and boots, standing in a field;

                                    young woman standing outside a clapboard house;

                                    head shot of a woman in a graduation cap and gown;

                                    man wearing hat and holding cane outside a furniture and antique store