The collection is comprised of manuscripts, correspondence, photographs, clippings relating to the history of writing, the art of calligraphy, Asian Art, and other lifelong interests of Mr. Crawford. Also included are ten calligraphy notebooks. Correspondence: arranged chronologically; majority of the series includes incoming and outgoing letters to business associates from 1949 to 1992. Main subjects are art collecting, sales, exhibitions. Also included are several letters to and from Crawford's friends. Art institutions and organizations: chiefly business and financial records and reports relating to the activities of Friends of Asia House Gallery, Asia Society Group, Friends of Columbia Library, Grolier Club, and China Institute in America. Art galleries and museums: promotional materials (booklets, flyers) relating to upcoming events and exhibitions at various institutions with the majority of materials covering events at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Nelson Gallery in Kansas City, Missouri. Articles: clipped journal articles on the subject of art, with emphasis on Chinese art. Periodicals and publications: separate issues of New York Times and other newspapers and journals from the 1950s. Symposium papers: papers presented or intended for presentation at symposiums on Asian art. The majority of the papers were presented at the Symposium on Chinese Calligraphy at Yale University in April 1977. Speeches and addresses: presentations by Norman H. Strouse on subject of art and libraries, 1967-1968. Brown University: the materials in this series cover the presentation of the Degree of Doctor of Letters to Crawford during the 1964 Commencement Exercises at Brown University. This event is captured in correspondence to and from Crawford as well as in photographs and newspaper clippings. Other materials related to Brown University include brochures, flyers, and publications from 1964 to1968. Indiana University: correspondence and photographs from the Dedication of the Lilly Library on October 3, 1960. Also included are periodicals, brochures, flyers highlighting this event in the history of the University. Syracuse University: publications, periodicals, brochures, flyers, photographs related to Syracuse University's award of the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters to Crawford on May 8, 1967. Also included is correspondence to Crawford regarding his monetary support of the University Library from the Chancellor and Director of the Library. The correspondence is dated 1966-1969. Book and art appraisals: notes and price lists for various art sales. Clippings: materials on book and art collecting, sales, exhibitions. Graphic and audio materials: extensive collection of photographs documenting exhibitions, presentations, various art events, and family. Numerous travel and art postcards document destinations in Europe and Asia, various museums, and art. Four sets of slides primarily personal in nature. One 16 mm silent film containing views of the 1950 eruption of Mauna Loa, Hawaii. Three audiocassettes labeled Fr. Monihan, Richard Edwards, Ellen Laing, and Cyril Birch. One long-playing record printed "to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the John M. Crawford Music House at the Asheville School, Asheville, North Carolina, 1962" (box 5). A number of oversize and framed photographs are housed according to size (boxes 3-5). Ephemera and realia: contains Syracuse University honorary degree, handmade paper, a bas-relief portrait presented to Crawford by Herman Kapp; a poster for an exhibition of Crawford's collection at RISD (box 5). Personal documents: include travel itineraries, bills, communication cables, etc. (box 1). Scrapbooks: one oversize scrapbook with art as a main theme (box 4). Calligraphy notebooks: consist of the following titles: Revelations of Divine Love / Julian of Norwich, calligraphy by Margaret Alexander, 1956. The Ode of Change / Lewis Morris, calligraphy by Edith C. Goodwin, Birmingham, 1920. The Flour and the Leef / Walter Skeat, calligraphy Graily Hewitt, London, 1916; binding Charles McLeish, 1916. The Eve of Saint Mark / John Keats; calligraphy Graily Hewitt, 1924; binding McLeish. Anakreontos (Anacreon) / calligraphy Graily Hewitt (in Greek). Sonnets / William Shakespeare; calligraphy D.J., 1969. Penmanship copybook / Edward Johnston; calligraphy Edward Johnston. The Song of Songs (Bible) / calligraphy Violet Wilson, Wimbledon, Surrey, 1957; binding Sangorski and Sutcliffe, London. Rubaiyat / Omar Khayyam (Persian). The First Writing Book / Ludovico Arrighi; an English translation and facsimile with introduction and notes by John Howard Benson, 1954. Penmanship copybook, 1908 / Edward Johnston. Original manuscript mock-up that was never published. Includes also the album of correspondence between Johnston and Graily Hewitt concerning the work. Parkersburg Rig and Reel Company: contains promotional material and documentation as well as investment brochures (box 2). Supplement 1: comprised of items removed from printed volumes, including correspondence (1968-1977) to and from friends, photographs, programs, menus, invitations, newspaper clippings (box 3). Supplement 2: material accessioned at a later date: correspondence (1968-1977), printed material, photographs taken at the exhibitions and art presentations, personal documents. Also included is a galley proofs of Crawford's Catalogue of the Chinese Art (box 6).
