MS-284 The Schenck Family PapersIntroductionThe Schenck Family Papers were accessioned into the Wright State University Department of Archives and Special Collections, November 21, 1997. They were donated by Mr. Bruce Hubbard of Seattle, Washington. The papers and photographs in this collection date from c.1860-1985, and deal with the history of the Schenck family, along with the family history of the Owen, Hunter, Crane, and Clay families. There is a major focus on Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Jr., who was the son of Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Sr., and a POW during World War II. The photographs of family and friends in this collection belonged to Joseph Graham Schenck, Jr. This collection comprises 7 boxes of material, 1 oversize file, and is arranged into 6 series as follows:
There are no restrictions on the use of this collection. Biographical InformationThe Schenck family was one of the most prominent families in the Dayton area. General William C. Schenck, a pioneer of the Miami Valley, along with George W. Burnet and John M. Cummings, helped lay out Licking County in 1801. William's son, Robert C. Schenck, was a State Representative here in Ohio from 1843-1850, U.S. Minister to Brazil from 1851-54, A Brigadier General of Volunteers during the Civil War (1862), Elected to the 3rd Congressional District in 1862, Served as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee from 1867-1871, and was appointed U.S. Minister to Great Britain from 1871-1876. The main focus of this collection is on Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Jr. ("Sonny"). Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Jr.'s father was Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Sr. ("Ting"), who was born in Hanchow, China in 1872. Joseph Schenck, Sr.'s parents were Woodhull S. Schenck and Caroline Miller Owen (see Owen Family History for more information). Joseph Schenck, Sr. returned to the United States with his mother in 1881. In 1891, he began work with NCR as a cashier and he stayed with the company for many years. Joseph Schenck, Sr. married Alice Elizabeth Hunter in 1912, and in 1921, Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Jr. was born into the family. Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Jr. graduated from Steele High School in Dayton in 1939 and graduated from Colgate University in 1943. He enlisted in 1942, and was called to active duty in 1943. By November 1944, J.G.C Schenck, Jr. was on the line in Belgium, and in December of 1944. Schenck was captured by the Germans and held as a POW until April, 1945.After the war, J.G.C. Schenck, Jr. worked at Rike's (1947-65), received his MBA in General Business and Retailing from Harvard (1951), worked for NCR (1965-1973), and worked at Montgomery Ward and Company (1973-1974). Scope and Content NoteThe Schenck Family Papers are divided into 6 series: Series 1, Family History, consists of 11 files of Schenck, Owen, Hunter, Crane, and Clay family records. Subseries A: The Schenck Family: This subseries contains a family lineage and a book: Reverend William Schenck: His Family and His Descendants, which gives a history of the Schenck family. The correspondence of William C. Schenck and Robert C. Schenck along with the personal diaries of Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Sr. gives a good description of their daily lives. There are copies of the obituaries for Elizabeth Schenck and Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Sr. Subseries B: The Hunter Family: This subseries mainly deals with the work of Margaret Hunter who aided in the evacuation of Singapore during World War II. Subseries C: The Crane Family: A book: The Crane Family History gives the lineage of the family. Subseries D: The Owen Family: A family lineage is given and there is a history of Allison Owen and Philip Owen. Subseries E: The Clay Family: This subseries contains a King James Bible which belonged to Agnes Clay. Series 2, Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Jr., consists of 7 files of his civilian life and military life. There is a great deal of information and correspondence/V-mail from Joseph Graham Schenck, Jr. as a newly enlisted man and as a POW in Germany during World War II. There are messages from the War Department to the Schenck family informing them of their son's disappearance, his captivity, and his release. A few letters home, discusses his 3 months as a POW. Series 3, Photographs and Negatives, consists of 5 files of family and misc. photographs and negatives. There are Schenck family photos and some misc. Schenck and Owen photos. There is also 1 file of negatives. Series 4, Photo Albums, consists of 9 files. The series contains 3 photograph albums. The series also contains a copy of another photo album and the photographs which were removed from the original album. There is also 1 file of clippings which were loosely inserted inside the front cover of one of the photograph albums and 1 file of loose photographs from the same photo album. The photo albums primarily consist of photographs of the Schenck family and their friends. Series 5, Scrapbooks, consists of 6 files. The series contains 3 scrapbooks which cover the Schenck and Hunter families as well as their friends. There are also 3 files of clippings which were loosely inserted inside the covers of the scrapbooks. Although there are several articles on the Schenck and Hunter families in the clipping files, many of the clippings feature individuals who were friends of the Schenck family. Series 6, Oversize, consists of 1 file. The series contains a copy of The Cincinnati Commercial which features an article announcing Robert C. Schenck's nomination as the Third Congressional District's Republican candidate for Congress in 1870. The series also contains two diplomas issued to Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Jr. and a view of The Mercersburg Academy. This file can be found in Oversize Location #22. Container ListingSeries I: Family HistorySubseries A: The Schenck Family Box 1 File 1: Book: Reverend William Schenck: His Family and His Descendants (no publication date given). File 2: Misc. Family History: Lineage of the Schenck family (no date given), Vanity Fair article on General Robert Cumming Schenck (January 23, 1875), Newspaper article on the marriage of Woodhull S. Schenck to Carrie Owen (c.1860-1870), A brief record of Woodhull S. Schenck's Naval career, A letter from the Board of Elections verifying that Joseph Graham Crane Schenck is a citizen of the United States (c.1940), Book: The Jan Martense Schenck House (Publication date 1964). File 3: Correspondence: Copies made of letters from William C. Schenck to Col. Robert Davidson (1814-1820), and copies made of letters from Robert C. Schenck to Col. Robert Davidson (1831-1840). File 4: Correspondence: Misc. Schenck Family Correspondence (c.1920-1945). File 5: Diaries: The diaries of Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Sr. (1911-1917). See also: Series II: Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Jr.. File 6: Schenck Family Records: Marriage License for Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Sr. to Alice E. Hunter (November, 1912), Probate Court: Estate of Elizabeth H. Schenck and Testamentary to Joseph Graham Crane Schenck as Executor of Elizabeth H. Schenck's estate (c.1947). See also: Series II: Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Jr. for more information on J.G.C Schenck, Sr. and Elizabeth H. Schenck. File 7: Miscellaneous Schenck Family Information: Engagement Announcement of Elizabeth Hunter to Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Sr. (c. 1912), Article featuring a letter from Dorothy Sharp to Elizabeth Schenck (1942), Obituaries for Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Sr. (1945) and Elizabeth H. Schenck (Alice E. Hunter, 1946), and etc. See also: Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Jr. Subseries B: The Hunter Family File 8: Hunter Family Information: Article on Margaret Hunter with letters to the Under Secretary of State (Britain) concerning Margaret Hunter (1942), Three articles concerning the wedding of William H. Hunter, Jr. (December, 1942), Obituary for Lt. Joseph M.H. Hunter (Nov., 1944), Obituary on William H. Hunter, Sr. (No date given), Article on the Hunter and Hardie store (No date given), Article on Jim Hunter (No date given), and Recipes from Lizzie Hunter (No date given). Subseries C: The Crane Family File 9: Book: Crane Family History (Publication date 1911). Subseries D: The Owen Family File 10: Owen Family Information: Owen Family Lineage (No date given), Information on Allison Owen and Philip Owen (No Dates given), A copy of the 1753 will of John Owen, Affidavit of Clara Owen verifying Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Sr. is an American citizen (c.1902). Subseries E: The Clay Family File 11: Book: King James Bible owned by Agnes Clay Series II: Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Jr.("Sonny")BOX 2 File 1: Scrapbook: Baby book of Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Jr., perhaps kept by his mother, Elizabeth Schenck. (c.1921). File 2: Non-Military Life: Misc. newspaper clippings (No dates given), Misc. church certificates (1924-1934), Certificate from Colonel White Junior High School (1936), 1939 Steele High School Commencement, Brochure: Colgate Men in the Making (1939), Certificate from Colgate University Athletic Council (1941), Will (c. 1946), Card lists (1948-1973), Resume (c. 1974), Dayton Art Institute Loan Forms (1982). File 3: Military Correspondence: J.G.C Schenck, Jr. to J.G.C Schenck, Sr. and Elizabeth Hunter (1944). File 4: Military Correspondence: J.G.C Schenck, Jr. to J.G.C Schenck, Sr. and Elizabeth Hunter (1945). File 5: Military Correspondence: J.G.C Schenck, Jr. to James and Helen Hunter (1944-1945). File 6: Clippings from Dayton Newspapers on Schenck's MIA/POW status and release (1945). File 7: Military Papers: Discharge 1945, and Form: Requests Pertaining To Military Records (c. 1985). Series III: Photographs and Negatives
Series IV: Photo Albums
Series V: Scrapbooks
Series VI: OversizeLocation 22, Drawer 1 |
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