Call Number:

23

Repository:

The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute

Extent:

1.67 linear feet

Language:

English

Date:

1817, 1974-1989

Creator:

Eisenlohr, Sylvia C., 1926-2011

Abstract:

Herman Laurence Eisenlohr (1922-2012) was a professor at Rider College in Lawrence Township, Mercer County, New Jersey, and his wife, Sylvia (Crane) Eisenlohr (1926-2011), was a journalist who wrote for Time, The Saturday Evening Post, and various trade newspapers. In 1974, they undertook the project of dating the many drawings, paintings, and prints that have been made of the Fairmount Water Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They received funding from the Barra Foundation and tried unsuccessfully to have a book on the Fairmount Water Works published. Laurence and Sylvia C. Eisenlohr papers on book about Fairmount Water Works, 1817, 1974-1989, consist of materials relating to the Eisenlohrs's manuscript, Fair Mount. The collection includes two versions of the manuscript and numerous letters related to the manuscript and the use of the Eisenlohrs' numerous prints and photographs of the Water Works. The collection also includes photographs and negatives of the Water Works and some of the Eisenlohrs' research materials.

Herman Laurence Eisenlohr (1922-2012) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1922 to Walter H. and Mary Ella (Stewart) Eisenlohr. Laurence grew up outside of Philadelphia in Jenkintown (Montgomery County). Laurence served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II and afterwards became a professor at Rider College in Lawrence Township, Mercer County, New Jersey.

Louis Burton Crane, Jr. (1901-1963) was born in Buffalo, NY and graduated from Princeton University in 1922. He worked as a journalist in New Jersey and married Esther Merrick of Elizabeth, NJ in 1925. Shortly after marrying, Burton and Esther moved to Tokyo, where Burton worked as the financial editor for The Japan Advertiser, an English language newspaper, from 1925 to 1936. From 1931 to 1936 he recorded several songs in his own translations into Japanese for the Columbia Gramophone Company of Japan. The records were very popular, earning Burton the reputation as the "Bing Crosby of Japan." He performed at concerts and on the radio in Japan. Returning to the United States, he worked as a financial writer for the New York Times from 1937 until 1963. He served as head of intelligence in Kunming, China during World War II for the Office of Strategic Services. After the war, he worked for the New York Times Tokyo Bureau and was injured while covering the Korean War in 1950. In 1953, Burton became the financial columnist for the Times. He died in 1963.

Sylvia Burton Crane (1926-2011) was born in 1926 in Tokyo, Japan to Burton and Esther (Merrick) Crane. She and her parents moved to Elizabeth, NJ when she was around ten years old. She graduated from her mother's alma mater, Wellesley College, in 1947 and pursued a career in journalism, like her father. Sylvia wrote for Time, The Saturday Evening Post, and various trade newspapers. In 1956, Sylvia married Laurence Eisenlohr (1922-2012), her second marriage. They lived in Philadelphia and had four children: Laurence C., Nancy, John, and Mary Eisenlohr.

In their spare time the Eisenlohrs pursued a keen interest in the architecture and history of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For several years, Laurence taught an interim study program in those fields. In 1974, the Eisenlohrs finished a book titled, Delaware Valley Country. That same year, they undertook the project of dating the many drawings, paintings and prints that have been made of the Fairmount Water Works in Philadelphia. They received funding from the Barra Foundation, and tried to have a book on the Fairmount Water Works called Fair Mount published; however, it never was, as it appears that the publishers did not like the manuscript. Sylvia and Laurence passed away in North Riverside, Cook County, Illinois in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

Bibliography:

"Louis Burton Crane, Jr. '22." Princeton Alumni Weekly 63, no. 20 (March 8, 1963): 20. Accessed September 6, 2016.

Laurence and Sylvia C. Eisenlohr papers on book about Fairmount Water Works, 1817, 1974-1989, consist of materials relating to the Eisenlohrs' manuscript, Fair Mount. The collection includes two versions of the manuscript and numerous letters related to the manuscript and the use of the Eisenlohrs's numerous prints and photographs of the Water Works. The collection also includes photographs and negatives of the Water Works and some of the Eisenlohrs' research materials.

The manuscript drafts include a rough draft and revised version, circa 1980s. Correspondence in the collection relates to the Eisenlohrs' attempts to get the manuscript published and publishing permissions for use of photographs. There is also correspondence with the Barra Foundation and Philadelphia Museum of Art. The collection also contains photographic prints and film negatives of the Water Works, including photographs that were to be used in the book and a draft of their captions. Research materials include a map of Whitestown property, 1817, and a drawing of a dolphin fountain.