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William Cramp and Sons Ship and Engine Building Company Records

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Held at: Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center. 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

Call Number:
SPC MSS 031
Repository:
Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
Extent:
1 linear feet (3 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], William Cramp and Sons Ship and Engine Building Company Records, SPC MSS 031, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Date:
1867-1912 (inclusive)
Creator:
William Cramp & Sons Ship and Engine Building Co
Form:
Administrative records, Architectural drawings, Articles of Incorporation, Correspondence, Financial records, and Photographs
Abstract:

The William Cramp and Sons Ship and Engine Building Company was created in Philadelphia in 1830. The company earned its reputation by furnishing the government with iron-clads and other ships of war during the Civil War. After the war, Cramp's continued to grow by contracting with the American Steamship Company to produce four first-class iron steamers for trade on the Philadelphia and Liverpool Line. In 1876, the quality of the Cramp shipyards caught the attention of the Russian government, which led to several contracts and increased international esteem. At the time of William Cramp's death in 1879, five of his sons were involved in various aspects of the company. Charles Cramp served as president until October 1903, when he resigned and Henry S. Grove took over. The last member of the Cramp family to serve on the company's board of directors was Edwin S. Cramp (son of Charles) as Vice President, and he resigned in early 1907.

The records of this prominent Philadelphia shipbuilder span the latter part of the 19th and the first decade of the 20th century and include architectural drawings, blueprints, correspondence, articles of incorporation, corporate records, photographs, contract documents, specifications, and telegrams. The materials include correspondence relating to the remodeling of the Edwin S. Cramp residence in New York City including bids on various parts of the job. There is also correspondence from the Cramp Co. to Washington lobbyists concerning a ship subsidy bill. The collection also contains government contracts, blueprints for ships constructed by the company, memos to various steamship lines and dry dock companies, as well as ballistics tests on armor plate and a list of all the engines built by the company between 1867 and 1901.

The collection includes the following prominent correspondents: Robert Burton, James L. Crandall, Dorothy Cramp, Edwin S. Cramp, William Cramp, J.A.C. Groner, Philip McElhone, Henry S. Grove, and the H.I. Crandall & Son Co. There are a number of photographs of the Variag, a cruiser built for the Russians.

The collection is arranged into 6 series as follows:

Series 1: Correspondence, 1876-1912, undated
Series 2: House Remodeling, 1903-1905, undated
Series 3: Engineering Tests and Journals, 1892-1904
Series 4: Financial Data, 1903-1905, undated
Series 5: Photographs, undated
Series 6: Ship Data, 1967-1907, undated

Purchased from Charles Apfelbaum in March 1990.

Collection processed and finding aid prepared in January 2002 by Anastasia Karel. Finding aid revised according to contemporary archival standards May 2017.

People
Organization
Subject

Publisher
Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
Finding Aid Author
Machine-readable finding aid created by: Rajkumar Natarajan, Sky Global Services India (P) Ltd.
Finding Aid Date
May 2024
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

The William Cramp and Sons Ship and Engine Building Company Records are the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. Intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for determining the identity of rights holders and obtaining their permission for publication and for other purposes where stated.

Collection Inventory

Correspondence, Edwin S. Cramp and Robert Burton: 9 letters, 9 addressed to Cramp, in chronological order, October 30, 1903-February 11, 1904.
Box 1 Folder 1
Report on Baltimore's Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Co. by P.C. Asserson, U.S.N.; note: Burton was a Baltimore attorney, undated.
Box 1 Folder 1
Correspondence, Edwin S. Cramp and William and Thomas Clyde: 15 letters between these men, in chronological order; note: Thomas Clyde was William's son, and they operated the Clyde Steamship Company, December 9, 1893-March 29, 1894.
Box 1 Folder 2
Correspondence, Edwin S. Cramp and Benjamin H. Cramp: 67 letters or telegrams between the two brothers, mostly from 1910, in chronological order, October 9, 1879-January 4, 1911.
Box 1 Folder 3
Correspondence, Edwin S. Cramp and James L. Crandall: 33 letters or telegrams between the two men, in chronological order; note: Crandall was president of the company H.I. Crandall & Son Co., Engineers and Contractors, September 18, 1907-March 28, 1908.
Box 1 Folder 4
Correspondence, Cramp Dry Dock Company: 3 newspaper articles on creation of this company, undated.
Box 1 Folder 5
"Prospectus of Hampton Roads Dry Dock Company", Norfolk, Va., October 15, 1906.
Box 1 Folder 5
Physical Description

33p.

"Estimated Cost of buildings, shops and equipment", December 14, 1908.
Box 1 Folder 5
"Certificate of Incorporation of Cramp Dry Dock, Inc.", January 21, 1908.
Box 1 Folder 5
"Prospectus – The Cramp Dry Dock Company", Norfolk, Va., January 22, 1908.
Box 1 Folder 5
"Bill of Incorporation" for Cramp Dry Dock Co., circa 1908.
Box 1 Folder 5
"Financial plan" for Cramp Dry Dock Co., circa 1908.
Box 1 Folder 5
Specification for "Railway Dry Docks for the Pescara Land Company", Norfolk, Va., circa 1908.
Box 1 Folder 5
Correspondence between Edwin S. Cramp, J. Groner, and George Norris, 60 letters or telegrams in chronological order, May 18, 1907-April 11, 1908.
Box 1 Folder 5
Correspondence, Cramp family: Father (Charles) to son Edwin, September 15-October 16, 1876; undated.
Box 1 Folder 6
Correspondence, Cramp family: Courtland Cramp to "brother", October 6, 1877.
Box 1 Folder 6
Correspondence, Cramp family: Harry Cramp to Edwin, November 30, 1877.
Box 1 Folder 6
Correspondence, Cramp family: Harry to "brother", March 14, 1883.
Box 1 Folder 6
Correspondence, Cramp family: Father to "Eddie?", April 21, 1885.
Box 1 Folder 6
Correspondence, Cramp family: Benjamin, Howard, and Courtland to Edwin, November 22, 1887.
Box 1 Folder 6
Correspondence, Cramp family: Edwin to "Dollie", July 9-August 13, 1896; undated.
Box 1 Folder 6
Correspondence, Cramp family: Benjamin to Father (Charles), August 28, 1899.
Box 1 Folder 6
Correspondence, Cramp family: (?) Hutchinson (Secretary) to Miss Cramp (Dorothy?), October 17, 1903.
Box 1 Folder 6
Correspondence, Cramp family: Francis Cramp to Edwin, June 8, 1910.
Box 1 Folder 6
Correspondence, Edwin S. Cramp and Henry S. Grove: 119 letters, mostly between these two men, in chronological order; note: Grove became president of the Cramp company in October 1903, August 10, 1903-February 6, 1907.
Box 1 Folder 7
Correspondence, Edwin S. Cramp and Edwin Lavens: 33 letters or telegrams, mostly from Lavens to Cramp, etc., in chronological order, November 14, 1900-March 11, 1904.
Box 1 Folder 8
Correspondence, Edwin S. Cramp and Philip McElhone: 20 letters or telegrams from McElhone to Cramp with regards to a ship subsidy bill in Congress, in chronological order; note: Cramp was resigned from the company's Board of Directors in early 1907 and was not the immediate recipient of these letters, February 9, 1907-May 8, 1907.
Box 1 Folder 9
Correspondence, Edwin S. Cramp and Carroll S. Smith: 32 letters or telegrams, all from Smith, in chronological order, July 31, 1901-September 25, 1905.
Box 1 Folder 10
Brass Foundry: correspondence about foundry, in chronological order, June 10, 1904-January 18, 1911.
Box 2 Folder 1
Brass Foundry: financial data from foundry, in chronological order, August 31, 1904-October 31, 1910.
Box 2 Folder 1
Correspondence, Miscellaneous, 61 pieces (approx.), in chronological order, undated-October 5, 1904.
Box 2 Folder 2
Correspondence, Miscellaneous 2, 51 pieces (approx.), in chronological order, August 31, 1905-May 28, 1912.
Box 2 Folder 3
Correspondence, T.S.S. Mexico: 12 letters concerning this ship, in chronological order, May 17, 1906-June 13, 1906.
Box 2 Folder 4

House remodeling 1: miscellaneous materials (drawings, correspondence, etc.) on the remodeling of Edwin S. Cramp's residence, 127 E. 61st St., New York City, in chronological order, undated-August 31, 1903.
Box 2 Folder 5
House remodeling 2: more miscellaneous materials, in chronological order, September 1, 1903-December 31, 1903.
Box 2 Folder 6
House remodeling 3: more miscellaneous materials, in chronological order, January 1, 1904-June 23, 1905.
Box 2 Folder 7

Ballistic Tests of Armor Plates, November 30, 1892.
Box 3 Folder 1
Group #6, test of 23 "Maine" Barbette plates, March 22, 1893.
Box 3 Folder 1
Group #8, test of "Texas" Redoubt plates and "Indiana" Barbette plates, May 31, 1893.
Box 3 Folder 1
Group #9, test of "Texas" Turret plates and "Puritan" Barbette plates, February 3, 1894; February 17, 1894.
Box 3 Folder 1
Group #13, test of 20 "Puritan" Side Armor plats, May 15, 1894.
Box 3 Folder 1
Group #15, test of "Maine", "Puritan", and "Monadnock" Turret plates, July 20, 1894.
Box 3 Folder 1
Group #14, test of 20 "Indiana" Side Armor plates, July 20, 1894.
Box 3 Folder 1
Blueprints: Imperial Ottoman Cruiser "Medjidia" design, September 13, 1902.
Box 3 Folder 2
Neafie and Levy "Plan of Property", March 21, 1903.
Box 3 Folder 2
"Proposed torpedo boat", May 10, 1904.
Box 3 Folder 2
Letter and 3 drawings from C.H. Wheeler Condenser and Pump Co., September 14, 1905.
Box 3 Folder 2
Boilers: Engineering journal, p. 80-84, article on German Navy's Durr Boiler, July 19, 1901.
Box 3 Folder 3
Engineering journal, p. 129-134, part 2 of Durr Boiler article, July 26, 1901.
Box 3 Folder 3
Engineering journal, p. 164-167, part 3 of Durr Boiler article; clipped letter to editor of Engineering journal, about Durr Boiler, July 26, 1901; August 2, 1901.
Box 3 Folder 3
Letter about boilers to Edwin Cramp from Rodman Griscom, October 4, 1901.
Box 3 Folder 3
Estimate report for boilers on U.S.S. "Tennessee", October 19, 1903.
Box 3 Folder 3
Typed notes of conversation with Stirling Boiler Co., October 26, 1903.
Box 3 Folder 3
Letter concerning boilers on Battleships Mississippi and Idaho, December 23, 1903.
Box 3 Folder 3
Letter (translation of) concerning Yarrow boilers, June 13, 1904.
Box 3 Folder 3
Letter concerning test of boiler at Barberton, August 1, 1904.
Box 3 Folder 3
Results of test of boilers, nos. 1 and 3, contract no. 40-B, December 17, 1904.
Box 3 Folder 3

Scope and Contents

Series 4 contains various materials and information related to the finances of the company.

Comparison of costs for hull nos. 216 and 219, and hull nos. 319 and 321, undated.
Box 3 Folder 4
Bids for city ice boats, undated.
Box 3 Folder 4
Financial statement and business statement for Wm. Cramp & Sons Ship & Engine Building Co., May 31, 1903.
Box 3 Folder 4
Itemized charge list for contract 208, August 18, 1903.
Box 3 Folder 4
Estimated cost for New York, New Haven & Hartford R.R.Co.'s "Sea Going Tugs", August 25, 1903.
Box 3 Folder 4
Estimated cost for N.Y., et al R.R.Co.'s "Transfer Tugs", August 25, 1903.
Box 3 Folder 4
List of price per pound of materials for U.S.S. Indiana, handwritten, August 13, 1903.
Box 3 Folder 4
Comparison of wages paid and average rate, September 1902, September 1903.
Box 3 Folder 4
Cost of contract order 208, November 13, 1902.
Box 3 Folder 4
Estimated cost for Battleships Mississippi and Idaho, January 11, 1904.
Box 3 Folder 4
Estimated cost for Clyde Line, January 12, 1904.
Box 3 Folder 4
Estimated cost for "proposed ship" handwritten, January 18, 1904.
Box 3 Folder 4
Estimated cost for U.S. Army's "Suction Dredge", May 17, 1904.
Box 3 Folder 4
Estimated cost for Panama Railroad Co.'s "Steamship", July 12, 1904.
Box 3 Folder 4
Bids for proposal #330, December 16, 1905.
Box 3 Folder 4
Clipping from "Maine Review" concerning bids for building lightships, October 11, 1906.
Box 3 Folder 4

20 black and white photographs of the Imperial Russian Navy Cruiser, Variag; note: on photograph #15, the U.S.S. Alabama is also visible, undated.
Box 3 Folder 5

Blank form used to compare ship data, undated.
Box 3 Folder 6
Specifications for "triple expansion engine for Goodrich Transit Co.", undated.
Box 3 Folder 6
Specifications for "proposed Staten Island Ferry Boats", undated.
Box 3 Folder 6
Memo on "three deck cargo steamer", July 3, 1897.
Box 3 Folder 6
Memo on "proposed single screw cargo steamer, January 5, 1898.
Box 3 Folder 6
Specifications for "proposed twin screw steamer", April 6, 1897.
Box 3 Folder 6
Specifications for "proposed passenger and freight twin screw steamer for the Pacific (China) trade", April 20, 1897.
Box 3 Folder 6
Booklet, "Cramp's Ship Yard" for National Export Exposition, Philadelphia, 1899.
Box 3 Folder 6
Comparison of "passenger accommodation between hulls #304 and #311", October 9, 1901.
Box 3 Folder 6
"Engineering Data Card Magazine" (2) for "Oil Steamer – Capt. A.F. Lucas, February 1903.
Box 3 Folder 6
Comparison of "floor areas and weights per I.H.P", February 27, 1903.
Box 3 Folder 6
Comparison of "I.H.P. per cu.ft. volume L.P. cylinder" for 26 ships, March 21, 1903.
Box 3 Folder 6
Data for S.S. Philadelphia, April 26, 1903.
Box 3 Folder 6
Letter about English steamers, May 15, 1903.
Box 3 Folder 6
Report on the "condition of work and stage of progress" on five battleships ("Georgia", "Nebraska", "New Jersey", "Rhode Island" and "Virginia"), June 10, 1903.
Box 3 Folder 6
"Velocity of steam" statistics for 10 ships, October 19, 1903.
Box 3 Folder 6
Letter about English steamers, October 21, 1903.
Box 3 Folder 6
Letter about turbine design/dimensions, March 25, 1904.
Box 3 Folder 6
Letter about torpedo boats, April 6, 1904.
Box 3 Folder 6
Letter about U.S. Navy Department, June 20, 1904.
Box 3 Folder 6
"List of Engines built by Wm. Cramp & Sons", November 30, 1867-September 1904.
Box 3 Folder 6
Typed list, carbon, legal length, landscape. Comparison of four ships ("Tennessee", "Montana", "New Hampshire", and "Maine"), December 12, 1904.
Box 3 Folder 6
Correspondence about steamer "Asbury Park", 11 pieces, in chronological order, September 20, 1905-November 25, 1905.
Box 3 Folder 6
Comparison of 11 ships built between 1879 and 1901, April 5, 1906.
Box 3 Folder 6
Article from "The American Marine Engineer" on the steamships Momus and Antilles, January 1907.
Box 3 Folder 6

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