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James Creese Papers

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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Creese, James, 1896-1966.

James Creese (Princeton Class of 1918) joined the army during World War I, serving as a Second Lieutenant in artillery. Following the war, Creese returned to Princeton, earning a master's degree in 1920. Creese served as secretary to the American Scandinavian Foundation (1922-1928) prior to being appointed vice-president of Stevens Institute of Technology (1928-1945). In 1945, Creese left Stevens Institute of Technology to become president of Drexel Institute of Technology, a position that he held until 1963.

The collection consists of works, correspondence, documents, photographs, diaries, scrapbooks, memorabilia, and printed matter of Creese (Princeton Class of 1918), as well as some papers of others. The collection contains poetry and essays written by Creese as an undergraduate and graduate student at Princeton, and speeches delivered during his tenure as president of Drexel Institute of Technology (1945-1963). There are letters by him written from Princeton, diaries (1942-1944) kept while he was president of Stevens Institute of Technology, and photographs of the Princeton campus, president Harold W. Dodds, and Creese and friends. There is also printed matter relating to the various committees he either chaired or served on as president of two colleges as well as material regarding the Class of 1918 of which he was president. The collection also contains a journal kept by Samuel George Morton, a Philadelphia physician, while touring Europe in 1822, and includes a scrapbook of botanical specimens collected on the trip. In addition, there are letters by Edmund Wilson and Alfred Noyes.

Unprocessed.

Gift of Mrs. James Creese. Additions transfer from the P.U. Archives in Mudd Library.

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

The contents list was compiled by Rafael Abrahams in June 2010.

No appraisal information is available.

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Date
2008
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Collection Inventory

Publications, 1949. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

1. Report on the First Conference of Women Engineers Sponsored by the Drexel Institute of Technology, Society of Women Engineers, in Philadelphia, Spring 1949. 2. Drexel Institute of Technology Sixty-Second Commencement program, 1950.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence, 1920-1950. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Correspondence of James Creese, Jr., including letters to his parents from graduate school; letters marking his election as president of the Stevens and Drexel Institutes of Technology; and letters concerning his days at Princeton and reunion events.

Physical Description

1 folder

Speeches, 1951-1957. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Speeches given by others at Drexel Institute of Technology, including its 65th Anniversary Convocation and commencement addresses

Physical Description

1 folder

Records, 1917. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

1. Princeton University grade report, 1917. 2. Bank receipt, 1920.

Physical Description

1 folder

"A Walk, a Ride and an Evening's Adventure", 1919. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Original poem by Creese with comments in letter and notes by Morris Croll.

Physical Description

1 folder

"Papers on Romance and Romanticism", undated. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Essay. Typescript.

Physical Description

1 folder

"Report of the Governor's Committee of Unemployment Compensation", 1959. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Report of committee for which Creese served as Chairman. Typescript.

Physical Description

1 folder

"A Discussion: Based on the Legend of the Holy Grail", 1915. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Essay. Typescript and manuscript.

Physical Description

1 folder

"The American College", undated. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Essay. Typescript with author's corrections.

Physical Description

1 folder

"Milton's Histories", undated. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Handwritten notes written while at Princeton.

Physical Description

1 folder

Creese as subject, 1928. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

1. 2 copies of Resolution No. 371 of the Council of the City of Philadelphia expressing appreciation for James Creese's accomplishments as President of Drexel I.T. and other achievements, 1963. 2. Typescript of essay titled "An Ascent of Mount Allen" concerning an expedition made by Creese and Henry G. Leach, 1928. 3. Issue of Princeton Alumni Weekly, includes short article on Creese in his capacity as President of Drexel I.T., 1954.

Physical Description

1 folder

Papers of Samuel G. Morton, 1822-1851. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

1. Typed lecture on Morton's life given in 1851. 2. 6 notebooks of Morton's containing preserved pressed plants, 1822, and 1 notebook containing handwritten entries, June 1822. 3. Typed letter by Morton, 1832. 4. Index of Morton's letters, circa 20th century.

Physical Description

1 folder

Papers by others, 1884-1892. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Miscellaneous correspondence, 1884-1892. Pamphlet titled "Findings, Conclusions and Recommendations of the Hpiladelphia Committee on Higher Educational Opportunities", 1958.

Physical Description

1 folder

"The Tableaux", undated. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Original manuscript.

Physical Description

1 folder

Speeches, 1924-1959. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Speeches from Democratic Conventions 1924-1932; college speeches as President of Stevens and Drexel I.T., and as member of Princeton Alumni Council. Includes newspaper clippings, typescripts, programs, menus, memorabilia, etc.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence, 1915-1926. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Letters relating to the American-Scandinavian Foundation

Physical Description

1 folder

Miscellaneous documents related to Nassau Hall Bicentennial Convocation, 1917-1956. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Framed drawing of Walter Scott; miscellaneous memorabilia, clippings, much relating to the Nassau Hall Bicentennial Convocation at which Creese was granted an honorary degree as Doctor of Laws, 1956; photographs of the convocation, Creese's medal, and a young Creese himself.

Physical Description

1 folder

Poems and essay, undated. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

7 typed poems with numerous copies of each; short typed essay titled "The Viking Book of Etiquette"

Physical Description

1 folder

"Sub-Committee on Technical Institutes of Committee on Engineering Schools, Engineers Council for Professional Development", 1940-1941. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Academic study, typed with mandwritten marginal notes

Physical Description

1 folder

Miscellaneous documents related to science and science education in the U.S.S.R., 1955-1958. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Academic calendar of the Technical School in Sukhume; many newspaper and magazine articles; newsletters and correspondence

Physical Description

1 folder

Miscellaneous documents related to technical education in Europe and the U.S.S.R., 1948-1956. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Printed matter, newspaper articles, correspondence, travel itineraries and expense accounts

Physical Description

1 folder

Miscellaneous documents related to North Pole expedition, undated. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Map of the northern polar region; clipping from newspaper article describing dinner attended by explorers Roald Amundsen, Lincoln Ellsworth, and Captain John Rogers as well as Creese in the capacity of Secretary of the American-Scandinavian Foundation; short poem titled "The Unboaston Navigator: Amundsen-Ellsworth-Rogers" written by Creese.

Physical Description

1 folder

Speeches, 1946-1962. 3 folders.
Scope and Contents

Typescripts of speeches given by Creese, many in the capacity of president of Drexel I.T.

Physical Description

3 folders

Diaries, 1942-1943. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

3 diaries

Physical Description

1 folder

Diaries, scrapbook, 1943-1944. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

4 diaires; scrapbook containing newspaper clippings and notes

Physical Description

1 folder

"Survey of Need for Technical Training for Defense Industries in the New York Industrial Area", 1940. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Bound typed study

Physical Description

1 folder

Envelopes and folders, 1976. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Miscellaneous envelopes and folders

Physical Description

1 folder

Magazines containing articles by Creese, 1938-1959. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

7 issues of "The Philadelphia Forum" including articles by Creese: September 1947- "Opportunities for Engineering Education"; June 1948- "Expansion Plans for Higher Education in Philadelphia"; October 1951- "College: Training Center for American History"; September 1953- "Providing Experience in Business and Industry for Students and Teachers"; September 1954- "Should Engineering Education Be Liberalized?"; September 1955- "The Liberalizing Promise of Science"; March 1957- "Education for Effective Business Management". Octrober 1944 issue of "The Stevens Indicator": "The Rise and Fall of Colleges in War Time". December 1959 issue of "Princeton Alumni Weekly": "Princeton's Precedents and Purposes". January 1938 issue of "The American Swedish Monthly": "Promoter of Friendship Among Nations".

Physical Description

1 folder

Printed matter, 1946-1963. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

3 printed pamphlets from meetings of The Century Association: "A Welcome to New Members", 1954; "Words of Welcome", 1964; "Paintings on the Century's Walls", 1963. "A Layman's View of Law and Labor", by Creese, 1946. General Program for the 118th meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences, 1951.

Physical Description

1 folder

Printed matter, 1918-1949. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

4 directories of the Class of 1918 issued in 1926, 1938, 1946, and 1965. Pamphlet titled "A.J. Drexel and his Industiral University" by Creese, 1949. The President's Report for the Drexel Institute of Technology, 1945-1947. May 1946 issue of "Medical Times", contains article by Creese titled "Ideals of Pedagogy in their Application to Medicine". 2 issues of "The Nassau Literary Magazine" containing poems by Creese: April 1918- "Query"; February 1919- "Who Holds The Steps To-night?"

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence, 1920-1956. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Miscellaneous

Physical Description

1 folder

Printed matter, 1919-1961. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Addresses and articles written by Creese, many in the capacity of President of the Drexel Institute of Technology. Also induded are an address given in Swedish for the American-Scandinavian Foundation, 1919; and an address to the graduating class of Colby College, 1944.

Physical Description

1 folder

Miscellaneous documents related to technical education in the U.S.S.R., 1956. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Typsescript of article or speech titled "Technical Education and Foundations For It"; article in "Drexel Institute of Technology Alumni News", 1956; 3 typed pages titled "Russians Invited to the July 4th Reception, 1956"

Physical Description

1 folder

"Drexel Institute of Technology- its buildings, officers, and some views of major occasions" and "Students and Student Activites at Drexel Institute of Technology", 1956. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Folders brought by Creese to the U.S.S.R. Contain photographs and notes in English and Russian.

Physical Description

1 folder

"Impressions of Higher Technical Education in Great Britain and the Scandinavian Countries" and "Notes on Travel in the Soviet Union and on Visits to Soviet Polytechnic Institutes", 1949. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Typescripts of speeches given by Creese to the Trustees of the Drexel Institute of Technology

Physical Description

1 folder

"Survey of Need for Technical Training for Defense Industries in the New York Industrial Area", 1940. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Bound typed study. Includes letter of appreciation from J.P. Keppel, President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Physical Description

1 folder

"Technical Institute Courses Sponsored by Colleges of Engineering, 1940-1941", 1940-1941. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Typed study in folder

Physical Description

1 folder

Printed matter, 1946-1973. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Program for Commemoration Ceremonies of the James Creese Student Center, 1973; May 1946 issue of "Medical Times", contains article by Creese titled "Ideals of Pedagogy in their Application to Medicine"; "Industrial Science Present and Future", contains article by Creese titled "Horizons in Industrial Science from the Viewpoint of the Educator", 1952; Drexel pamphlet titled "The Economy of Giving", 1965; pamphlet titled "The Drexel Plan- Cooperative Education", undated; picture booklet titled "Drexel is People", undated; "Drexel Institute of Technology Bulletin", 1957.

Physical Description

1 folder

Clippings, 1947-1956. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Clippings of miscellaneous newspaper articles by Creese

Physical Description

1 folder

Print, Suggest