Cora Crane papers, 1886-1910

Creator:

Crane, Cora, 1865 or 1866-1910

Extent:

2 linear feet (4 boxes)

Language:

English

Scope and content:

Correspondence, documents, and financial records relating almost entirely to the last ten years of Cora Crane's life, dealing largely with the operation of her brothel, The Court, and touching on her last marriage to Hammond P. McNeil and to her work on the invention of a new army canteen. Much of the collection consists of bills, receipts, insurance policies, cancelled checks, and other fairly routine financial papers. Also, a Harold Frederic manuscript and the last known signature of Stephen Crane.

A detailed history and review of the materials, written by Joseph Katz when the collection came to the RBML in 1974, can be found in Columbia Library Columns, XXIV Number 1 (1974) https://archive.org/details/ldpd_6309312_241/page/4/mode/2up.

Biographical / historical:

Cora Crane, born Cora Ethel Eaton Howarth (July 12, 1868 – September 5, 1910) was an American businesswoman, nightclub and bordello owner, writer and journalist. She was the common-law wife of Stephen Crane.

Catalog record:

View in CLIO

Local call number:

MS#0303

Processing information:

Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 06/--/89.

Memorabilia rehoused into an artifact tray, 09/2025. Two items that were individually cataloged, a pen and Stephen Crane's pocket watch, were also rehoused into the atrfiact tray. kws

Acquisition information:

Source of acquisition--State of Florida. Method of acquisition--Presented; Date of acquisition--07/02/74. Accession number--M-74-07-02.

Custodial history:

These papers comprise the total contents of Cora Crane's abandoned and unclaimed safety deposit box at the Barnett National Bank of Jacksonville, which were turned over to the Abandoned Properties Department of the State of Florida, and then presented to Columbia University in 1974.

Arrangement:

Selected materials cataloged; remainder arranged.

Accruals:

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Preferred citation:

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Cora Crane papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is located on-site.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms of access:

Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Location of this collection:: Rare Book & Manuscript Library

RBML Home Page
6th Floor East Butler Library
535 West 114th Street
New York, NY 10027, USA
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Contact:: rbml@library.columbia.edu

Collection