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Crane family papers

2003-73-0

 Collection
Identifier: 2003-73-0

Scope and Contents

The Crane family papers document members of the Deming family of Litchfield and Waterbury, Conn. Among the family members represented are Julius Deming (1755-1838), Frederick Deming (1832-1925), Clarissa Champion Deming (1818-1899), Clarissa Brainard Deming (1872-1955), Dr. Dudley B. Deming (1874-1946), Dr. Alletta Langdon Bedford Deming (1882-1950), and Alletta Deming Crane (1912-2003). The papers consist of correspondence, account records, a scrapbook, military records, certificates, deeds, a photograph, depositions, wills, and other items. Julius Deming (1755-1838) was born in Lyme, Conn., and served during the American Revolutionary War. He settled in Litchfield in 1781, became a very wealthy merchant, and was one of the most prominent men in the community. He married Dorothy Champion Deming of Colchester, Conn., and they had eight children, including son Frederick. For additional information on Julius Deming, see the finding aid for the Deming, Perkins, and Quincy families papers. The Crane family papers contains a Julius Deming account book that provides details on his financial holdings and how they were divided among his children. There are also copies of documents related to his pension claim in the 1830s. Frederick Deming (1787-1860) moved to New York City, where, among other activities, he served as president of the Union Bank for 20 years. He married Mary Gleason Deming and they had seven children, including Clarissa Brainard Deming, whose friendship album is in the collection. Their son Frederick Deming (1832-1925) traveled extensively in Europe during the early years of his life. In 1869, he married Emma Louise Jones Deming of East Haddam, Conn., daughter of George W. Jones and Clarinda Hallock Jones, and the couple settled in Litchfield. The collection includes Frederick's passport from the 1850s and a journal he kept on gardening. Some of the deeds in the collection relate to members of the Jones and Hallock families, from whom Emma Deming descended. Frederick and Emma Jones Deming had seven children, including Clarissa Champion Deming (1872-1955). Among the papers is her diary, which contains an account of an 1893 trip to Washington and New York, some accounting, notes made about 1913 regarding the Shepherd Kraft Aid, and recollections about the lives of her father and grandfather Julius Deming. Another of Frederick and Emma Deming's children was Dr. Dudley Brainard Deming (1874-1946). He married Dr. Alletta Langdon Bedford Deming (1882-1950). Dudley Deming was educated at the Taft School, the Sheffield Scientific School at Yale, and the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons. He established a practice in Waterbury, Conn. Included in the collection are letters he wrote to his wife, 1909-1911; records and correspondence related to his service in the Connecticut National Guard; and correspondence with Horace Taft of the Taft School in which they discussed their views on equality among the races, labor unions, capitalism, Communism, and other topics. Dr. Alletta Bedford Deming earned her undergraduate degree in 1903 and her medical degree in 1905 from Cornell University. She was one of the first female physicians in Waterbury and practiced from 1907 until her marriage in 1910. She was the first woman elected to the Waterbury Board of Education, serving from 1922 to 1933. The collection contains a few of her Cornell academic records. Drs. Deming and Deming had three daughters: Clarissa Deming (1911-about 1999), Alletta Langdon Deming Crane (1912-2003) and Dr. Margery Van Norden Deming (1914-1998). The collection includes a scrapbook related to Alletta Deming Crane that has photographs and items that document her childhood, attendence at Connecticut College, and wedding. It also includes her bride's gift book. The collection also contains several early 19th century items related to John Moulton that were given to Louisa Deming (1822-1892), sister of Frederick (1832-1925), by Mrs. Moulton and a framed Deming Family Coat of Arms which is housed in art storage, rack 11.

Dates

  • created: 1803-1947
  • Other: Date acquired: 02/11/2005

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright has been transferred to the Litchfield Historical Society for materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection. Copyright status for other collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Extent

1.13 Linear Feet

1 half document box, 1 oversize box other_unmapped

Language of Materials

English

Source of Acquisition

John Deming Crane

Method of Acquisition

Gift

Accruals and Additions

The papers consist of two gifts, one made in 2003 (2003-73-0) and one in 2007 (2007-05-0).

Existence and Location of Originals

multi-part note content

Other Descriptive Information

This collection was processed with support from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Title
Crane family papers
Author
Leith Johnson
Date
03/02/2012
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Litchfield Historical Society Repository

Contact:
7 South Street
P.O. Box 385
Litchfield CT 06759
860-567-4501
860-567-3565 (Fax)