Crapsey family papers
Biographical/Historical note
Algernon S. Crapsey (1847-1927) came to Rochester from New York City's Trinity Church to become the rector of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church on Averill Avenue. Dr. Crapsey was known throughout the nation for his eloquence and his inspiring social ideals. Through his efforts, St. Andrew's became one of the most well attended churches in Rochester. His progressive yet controversial views of the church led him to be brought to trial for heresy in 1906, following a lecture in which he related Jesus' life to the physical one of the common man. Despite considerable local and national support for Dr. Crapsey, the Episcopal Church convicted him of heresy and he was defrocked. Although he lacked credentials, Dr. Crapsey continued to lecture, write, and foster important social work projects until his death in 1927.
Adelaide Trowbridge Crapsey (1855-1950) was also well known in the Rochester community. She devoted much of her time organizing aid for young mothers, widows, and children, and founded the Adelaide T. Crapsey Co., manufacturers of children's frocks. The factory was well known as a unique family-type work setting for its employees.
Algernon S. and Adelaide T. Crapsey had nine children: Philip, Emily, Adelaide, Paul, Rachel, Algernon Jr., Ruth, Marie, and Arthur. The most famous of their children was Adelaide Crapsey (1878-1914). Adelaide became a recognized poet with the publication of her only volume of poetry, Verse, a year after her death.
Scope and Contents
The collection contains materials relating to the Algernon S. and Adelaide Trowbridge Crapsey family of Rochester, NY, one of the city's most prominent families of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Crapsey Family Papers consist of 12 boxes and 14 scrapbooks. The collection includes correspondence, family memorabilia, photographs, printed materials, ephemera, and books identified with the family. A significant portion of the family material is focused on Algernon S. Crapsey and Adelaide Crapsey. There are also materials related to the Crapsey family home at 678 Averill Avenue, St. Andrew's Church, Adelaide T. Crapsey Co., the Trowbridge family of Catskill, NY, and several non-family members.
Notable Correspondents
Below is a list of notable letter writers whose correspondence is housed in the collection. After each name is listed the box and folder number where their letter(s) can be found.
Adler, Isaac. Box 3, folder 1.
Bragdon, Claude. Box 1, folders 5 and 7; Box 2, folder 2.
Crapsey, Adelaide. Box 1, folders 1 and 2.
Crapsey, Adelaide Trowbridge. Box 1, folders 7 and 15; Box 2, folders 1 and 2.
Crapsey, Algernon S. Box 1, folder 5; Box 3, folder 5; Box 4, folder 9; Scrapbook 5.
Crothers, Samuel. Box 3, folder 1.
Darrow, Clarence. Box 3, folder 1.
Dix, Morgan. Box 3, folder 1.
Fels, Samuel S. Box 3, folder 1.
Frankfurter, Felix. Box 3, folder 1.
Gannett, Lewis S. Box 3, folder 1.
Grosvenor, William Mason. Box 3, folder 1.
Higginson, Thomas W. Scrapbook 2.
Hill, David Jayne. Box 3, folder 1.
Huntington, Frederic. Box 3, folder 1.
Huntington, William Reed. Box 3, folder 1.
Lowenthal, Esther. Box 1, folders 13 and 15; Box 2, folder 2; Box 3, folder 1; Box 4, folder 2; Box 5, folder 1.
Peabody, Francis Greenwood. Box 3, folder 1.
Peabody, George Foster. Box 1, folder 5; Box 2, folder 2.
Pershing, John J. Scrapbook 7.
Schmidt, Nathaniel. Box 2, folder 2.
Smith, Alfred E. Box 3, folder 1.
Tyler, Samuel. Box 3, folder 1.
Villard, Oswald Garrison. Box 3, folder 1.
Weston, Samuel Burns. Box 2, folder 2; Box 3, folder 1.
White, Andrew D. Box 3, folder 1.
Wiley, Louis. Box 3, folder 1.
Wise, Stephen S. Box 2, folder 2; Box 3, folder 1.
Creator
- Crapsey (Family : Rochester, N.Y.) (Family)
- Crapsey, Algernon Sidney, 1847-1927 (Person)
- Crapsey, Adelaide Trowbridge, 1855-1950 (Person)
- Crapsey, Adelaide, 1878-1914 (Person)
Dates
- Creation: 1839-1991
Language of Materials
English
Extent
12 box(es) (12 boxes and 14 scrapbooks)
Access
The Crapsey Family Papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.
Use
In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Leslie de Haseth, Robin C. Romero, and Arthur H. Crapsey III, August 1998.
Preferred Citation
[Item title, item date], Crapsey Family Papers, D.272, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Arrangement
The first 5 boxes and folders contain manuscript and printed material arranged alphabetically by individual family and non-family members, followed by 4 boxes of photographs, 2 boxes of ephemera, 1 box of books, and 14 scrapbooks.
Genre / Form
Subject
- Crapsey (Family : Rochester, N.Y.) (Family)
- Crapsey, Algernon Sidney, 1847-1927 (Person)
- Crapsey, Adelaide Trowbridge, 1855-1950 (Person)
- Crapsey, Adelaide, 1878-1914 (Person)
- Title
- Crapsey family papers
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Rare Books and Special Collections staff
- Date
- undated
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Library Details
Part of the Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Library
