Crocker, Templeton, 1884-1948

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Chronologies

  • 1884 September 2: Charles Templeton Crocker is born in San Francisco, California.
  • 1888 August 14: Charles Crocker (Templeton Crocker's grandfather and one of the "big four" who built the Central Pacific Railroad) dies.
  • 1898: Colonel Frederick Crocker (Templeton Crocker's father) dies. Templeton Crocker inherits $5,000,000.
  • 1901 September 15: Templeton Crocker is injured falling from dogcart. It is thought at that time that he would not walk again. (New York Times, 1901 September 16)
  • 1908: Crocker graduates from Yale University. Crocker with M. C. Scott and his chauffer make a motor trip across the continent.
  • 1911 February 28: Templeton Crocker marries Helene Irwin, Hawaiian Sugar Plantation heiress.
  • 1917: Templeton Crocker writes and produces the play, "The Land of Happiness" for the Bohemian Grove.
  • 1917 December 31: Templeton Crocker enlists in the Navy as ensign.
  • 1925: "Fay-Yen-Fah" opera is presented in San Francisco.
  • 1927 May 14: Helen Irwin Crocker divorces Templeton Crocker. (New York Times, 1927 May 15, P.3)
  • 1933: Crocker authors "The Cruise of the Zaca."
  • 1948 December 12: Templeton Crocker dies at age 64.
  • 1929 October: The Zaca's keel is laid on Main Street next to Nunes Brothers at Yard Hurricane Gulch, Sausalito, Ca.
  • 1930 April 12: The Zaca is christened by Academy Award winner, Marie Dressler.
  • 1930 May 8: Templeton Crocker takes the Zaca to Ensenada, Mexico.
  • 1930 June 7 - 1931 May 27 : Templeton Crocker takes the Zaca on a personal trip that Circumnavigates the world. The ports of call include San Francisco, Marquesas, Tahiti, Cook Islands, Pago Pago, Trobriands, Bali, Java, Singapore, Ceylon, Aden, Arabia, Egypt, Malta, Cannes, Teneriffe, Puerto Rico, Panama, Guatemala, Manzanillo, Ensenada, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Monterey.
  • 1931 October 31 - November 20 : The California Academy of Sciences funds a scientific expedition on the Zaca to Guadalupe Island. Ports of call include Ensenada, Cabo, Mazatlan, Cabo, Ensenada, and Guadalupe Island.
  • 1932 March 10 - 1932 September : The California Academy of Sciences funds a scientific expedition on the Zaca to Mexico and the Galapagos Islands.
  • 1932 November: The Zaca takes a trip to Avalon on the island of Catalina.
  • 1933 March 3 - 1933 September : The Zaca is taken on the Solomon Islands Expedition. Ports include San Francisco, Hawaii, Palmyra, Puka Puka, Pago Pago, Samoa, Fiji, Tukopia, Vanikolo, Duff Island, Reef Island, Nupani, Sikiana, Tulagi-Florida Island, Tai Harbor, Quaibaita Maliata Island, Rennell Island, Bellona Island, Ugi, San Cristobal, Santa Anna, Santa Catalina, Santa Cruz, Suva, and Honolulu.
  • 1934 January - February 18 : The Zaca is taken to Baja, Mexico.
  • 1934 September 15 - 1935 April 16 : The American Museum of Natural History funds a scientific expedition to Eastern Polynesia. Ports include Marquesas, Tuamotus, Australs, Mangareva, Pitcairn, Easter, Valparaiso, Chinchas, and the Galapagos islands.
  • 1935 November 6: Templeton Crocker takes the Zaca on a fishing trip to Baja, Mexico.
  • 1936 March 25 - May 25 : The New York Zoological Society funds an expedition to Baja, Mexico. William Beebe leads the expedition. Ports include Cedros Island, Cabo, Guaymas, Clarion Island, and Mazatlan.
  • 1936 August 18 - 1937 January 17 : The American Museum of Natural History funds a scientific expedition to Samoa and the Hawaiian Islands. The leaders of the expedition are William Coultas and Roy Miner. Ports include Hawaii, Kauai, Laysan, Christmas, American Samoa, Western Samoa, Tongareva, and Layasan.
  • 1937 June: The Zaca is taken to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico.
  • 1937 November 2 - 1938 April : The department of tropical research at the New York Zoological Society funds an expedition to Panama and Columbia. Ports include Baja, Mexico, and Gorgona Island, Columbia.
  • 1939 July 25: The Zaca is put up for sale. (SF Chronicle)
  • 1940: Templeton Crocker discontinues expeditions due to war in Europe.
  • 1942 June 12: The Zaca is sold to the US Navy for $40,000.

Biographical note

Charles Templeton Crocker was born September 2, 1884 in San Francisco, California. He graduated from Yale University in 1908. A self-proclaimed explorer, he sailed his yacht Zaca around the world covering 27,152 miles and visiting 50 ports (1930). He made an expedition to the Galapagos Islands and the South Pacific for the California Academy of Sciences (March 1932 – September 1932). A 2,690 foot mountain on Indefatigable Island was named Mount Crocker in honor of his conquest of that peak. Later expeditions included Honolulu, Hawaii with the Bishop Museum (1933), Easter Island for the American Museum of Natural History (1934), Gulf of California for the New York Zoological Society (1936), Hawaii, Tongareva and Samoa for American Museum of Natural History (1936-1937). Crocker received the Ribbon of the Legion of Honor (France, 1926) for his opera “Fey-Yen-Fah”, an adaptation of a play he had written, “Land of Happiness”. He also authored "The Cruise of the Zaca" in 1933.

Crocker's memberships include the California Historical Society (president, 1922) to whom he deeded his library in 1940. Many specimens from his expeditions were donated to the Steinhart Aquarium at the California Academy of Sciences. He was a Life Member of the California Academy of Sciences (1911), Patron (1931), Benefactor (1932), Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society; and a member of the American Museum of Natural History, New York Zoological Society, Field Museum, Sons of the American Revolution, and the Native Sons of the Golden West. He was also a fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, a member of the groups: Field Museum, Knickerbocker club of New York, St. James Royal Automobile club, Sons of the American Revolution, Native Sons of the Golden West, The Society of the Mayflower Descendents and the Author’s Club of London.

From the guide to the Crocker (C. Templeton) papers, Bulk, 1930-1938, 1864-1991, (California Academy of Sciences, Special Collections)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Adams Express Company. Adams & Co. signature book : ADS, 1849-1854. California historical society
creatorOf Sutter, John Augustus, 1803-1880. John Augustus Sutter miscellany, 1843-1880. California historical society
creatorOf Henry, James L. James L. Henry collection of George Sterling manuscripts, circa 1903-1926. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Spear, Nathan, b. 1802. Nathan Spear business correspondence : ALS, 1831-1849. California historical society
creatorOf Hurlbut, Hiram L., b. ca. 1808. H.L. Hurlbut family correspondence : ALS and typed transcripts, 1852 Feb. 24-1865 Sept. 21. California historical society
creatorOf Smith, Mary S. D. Mary S.D. Smith letters : ALS, 1853-1854. California historical society
creatorOf New Spain. Real Hacienda. Sonora Caja. Libro nombrado contador para esta Real Caxa de los Alamos, y cuenta de su Real Hazienda ... : [account book, Real Caja de los Alamos], 1776. California historical society
creatorOf Crocker, Templeton, 1884-1948. San Francisco early documents scrapbook, 1838-1877. California historical society
creatorOf Vallejo, Mariano Guadalupe, 1808-1890. Thomas O. Larkin collection, 1843-1943. California historical society
creatorOf Crocker, Templeton, 1884-1948. Charles Templeton Crocker papers. 1864-1991 (bulk 1930-1938). California Academy of Sciences
creatorOf Seward, Thomas T. Thomas T. Seward correspondence, 1849-1855. California historical society
creatorOf Stickney, John I. John I Stickney diary and certificate : ms and DS, 1836-1850 (bulk 1849-1850). California historical society
creatorOf Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant letter : City Point, Va., to Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell : ALS, 1865 Jan. 8. California historical society
creatorOf Hollingsworth, John McHenry, 1823-1889. John McHenry Hollingsworth diary : ms, 1846-1849. California historical society
creatorOf Borlase, William Copeland, 1848-1875. William Copeland Borlase diary and related papers, 1874-1875. California historical society
creatorOf Jagger, Daniel. Daniel Jagger diary : ms, 1846-1860. California historical society
referencedIn Field photographs, 1934-1935. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Young, George W. George W. Young diary : ms, 1849-1851. California historical society
creatorOf Owhyhee (Brig). Ship's log for the Brig Owhyhee : ms, 1827-1831. California historical society
creatorOf Putnam, R. F. R.F. Putnam diary: ms, 1862 April 18-1876 June 6. California historical society
creatorOf Castro, José Francisco. Ortografía : ms, 1845. California historical society
referencedIn Oceanographic expeditions aboard the vessel Zaca records, 1936-1938. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891. The letters of General William T. Sherman to John T. Doyle ; 1869-1890 : ALS, 1869-1890. California historical society
creatorOf Sloat, John Drake, 1781-1867. General order : to American seamen and Marines aboard the USS Savannah at Monterey, Calif. : ADS, 1846 July 7. California historical society
referencedIn Special Films Collection: Expedition films, 1912-1960. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Fages, Pedro. Suplemento ; noticia del estado que guardan las misiones de Monterey y California : ms, 1775. California historical society
creatorOf Stevens, R. Julius. R. Julius Stevens letter : San Francisco, Calif., to Peter P. Remington : ALS, 1850 Feb. 28. California historical society
creatorOf Watts, John W. (John William), 1830-1901. John W. Watts diary and addendum : ms, 1850-1947 (bulk 1850-1852). California historical society
creatorOf United States. Consulate (Oahu, Hawaii). Passport for Nathan Spear : ADS, 1831-1832. California historical society
creatorOf Crocker, Templeton, 1884-1948. Joseph L. Folsom collection, 1834-1870. California historical society
creatorOf Frémont, John Charles, 1813-1890. Mariposa Estate correspondence and documents : ALS and ADS, 1852. California historical society
creatorOf Francis, E. M. Robert N. Ferrell diary : photostat copies, 1926. California historical society
creatorOf Crocker (C. Templeton) papers, Bulk, 1930-1938, 1864-1991 California Academy of Sciences, Special Collections
creatorOf Weston, William K., 1808-1865. William K. Weston family letters : ALS, 1851-1854. California historical society
creatorOf California. Governor (1836-1842 : Alvarado). William A. Richardson land grant and petition : ADS, 1838. California historical society
creatorOf Crocker, Templeton, 1884-1948. Letter and address of the Rev. D.J. Perry : Bloomington, Ill. : ALS and ms, 1849 Feb. 26 and Mar. 3. California historical society
creatorOf Davis, William Heath, 1822-1909. William Heath Davis papers, 1838-1871. California historical society
creatorOf California. Governor (1836-1842 : Alvarado). Documents issued to Don Manuel Dutra de Vargas : ADS, 1841-1845. California historical society
creatorOf Crocker, Templeton, 1884-1948. John Wesley Jones Pantoscope of California collection, 1852-1964. California historical society
creatorOf Sherburne, John S. John S. Sherburne letters : Calif. and Nev., to family in Boston : ALS, 1859-1870. California historical society
creatorOf Adelberg & Raymond. Reports on California mines : ms, 1860-1865. California historical society
creatorOf Iturrigaray, Josef de. Letter and administrative file concerning storm-related damage to the Presidio of San Francisco and proposals for its repair : ALS and ADS, 1805-1807. California historical society
creatorOf Hale, Horatio, 1817-1896. Horatio Hale notebooks : on the languages of the California and Oregon Indians : ms, [1841]. California historical society
creatorOf Smith, Charles W. Journal of a trip to California, across the continent from Weston, Mo. to Weber Creek, Cal. in the summer of 1850 : ms, [1853]. California historical society
creatorOf Calderón y Henriquez, Pedro. Memorial to Don Manuel de Roda y Arrieta : ADS, 1768 Apr. 19. California historical society
creatorOf Cosad, David. David Cosad's journal of a trip to California by the overland route and life in the gold diggings during 1849-1850 : ms, 1849 Mar. 13-1850 Feb. 20. California historical society
creatorOf Wheeler, Alfred, 1822-1903. Journal of a gold hunter's voyage round Cape Horn : ms, 1849 May 21-Nov. 12. California historical society
creatorOf Crosby, Elisha Oscar, 1818-1895. Memoirs and reminiscences of Henry E. Robinson, one of the early pioneers to California and a state senator in the first legislature of California : with historical incidents of the first discovery of gold and the emigration that followed ; and the organization of the state government ; by his friend and companion : ms, 1880. California historical society
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Adams Express Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Adelberg & Raymond. corporateBody
associatedWith American Museum of Natural History. corporateBody
associatedWith Borlase, William Copeland, 1848-1875. person
associatedWith Calderón y Henriquez, Pedro. person
associatedWith California Academy of Sciences corporateBody
associatedWith California. Governor (1836-1842 : Alvarado) corporateBody
associatedWith Castro, José Francisco. person
associatedWith Cosad, David. person
associatedWith Crosby, Elisha Oscar, 1818-1895. person
associatedWith Davis, William Heath, 1822-1909. person
associatedWith Fages, Pedro. person
associatedWith Francis, E. M. person
associatedWith Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885. person
associatedWith Hale, Horatio, 1817-1896. person
associatedWith Henry, James L. person
associatedWith Hollingsworth, John McHenry, 1823-1889. person
associatedWith Hurlbut, Hiram L., b. ca. 1808. person
associatedWith Iturrigaray, Josef de. person
associatedWith Jagger, Daniel. person
associatedWith New Spain. Real Hacienda. Sonora Caja. corporateBody
associatedWith New York Zoological Society corporateBody
associatedWith New York Zoological Society. Dept. of Tropical Research. corporateBody
associatedWith Owhyhee (Brig) corporateBody
associatedWith Putnam, R. F. person
associatedWith Seward, Thomas T. person
associatedWith Sherburne, John S. person
associatedWith Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891. person
associatedWith Sloat, John Drake, 1781-1867. person
associatedWith Smith, Charles W. person
associatedWith Smith, Mary S. D. person
associatedWith Spear, Nathan, b. 1802. person
associatedWith Stevens, R. Julius. person
associatedWith Stickney, John I. person
associatedWith Sutter, John Augustus, 1803-1880. person
associatedWith Templeton Crocker Pacific Expedition (1934-1935) corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Consulate (Oahu, Hawaii) corporateBody
associatedWith Watts, John W. (John William), 1830-1901. person
associatedWith Weston, William K., 1808-1865. person
associatedWith Wheeler, Alfred, 1822-1903. person
associatedWith Young, George W. person
associatedWith Zaca (Schooner). corporateBody
associatedWith Zaca (Yacht) corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Galapagos Islands
Pitcairn Island.
South America
Oceania
Galapagos Islands.
Samoan Islands
South Pacific Ocean
Pitcairn Islands
New York Zoological Society.
American Museum of Natural History.
Subject
California Academy of Sciences
Photograph albums
Scientific expeditions
Scientific expeditions
Scientific expeditions
Scientific expeditions
Scientific expeditions
Scientific expeditions
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1884

Death 1948

Information

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