Guide to the Jacob Leslie Crane Papers,
1927-1980, 1946-1965 (bulk)

Collection Number: 2646

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library

Contact Information:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
2B Carl A. Kroch Library
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 255-3530
Fax: (607) 255-9524
rareref@cornell.edu
http://rmc.library.cornell.edu
Compiled by:
S.C. Spragge
Date completed:
July 1970
EAD encoding:
Martin Heggestad and Ann Hubert, July 2003

© 2002 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Jacob Leslie Crane papers, 1927-1980 1946-1965 (bulk)
Collection Number:
2646
Creator:
Jacob L. (Jacob Leslie) Crane, 1892-1988
Quantity:
4 cubic ft.
Forms of Material:
Correspondence, accounts, drafts, reports, and working and reference papers such as maps, charts, and legislation.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
Seven project files composed largely of correspondence, accounts, drafts, reports, and working and reference papers such as maps, charts, and legislation relating to city planning. Also, printed material by Crane, and correspondence with Constantine Doxiadis. Files contain projects for the United Nations, 1946-1955; Greece, 1950-1956; Puerto Rico, 1952-1962; Piney Orchard, Maryland, 1954-1958; Norfolk, Virginia, 1954-1965; Baltimore, Maryland, 1955-1956; and Ponca City, Oklahoma, 1927, 1955-1959.
Language:
Collection material in English

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Jacob Leslie Crane was born in 1892 in Benzonia, Michigan. He received a degree in civil engineering from the University of Michigan and a planning degree from Harvard in 1921, where he studied under John Nolen. Crane worked as a consultant in the United States and 25 other countries, preparing 60 zoning plans and ordinances, and acting as an expert witness in zoning cases. He served as a consultant to many government agencies, including the Tennessee Valley Authority, National Resources Planning Board, Federal Housing Administration, United States Housing Authority, Defense Housing, Housing and Home Finance Agency, and the Division of Urban Development of the National Housing Agency. He was also consultant to the Canal Zone and the Republic of Panama, 1944; member and president of the American Institute of Planners; consultant for the United Nations Department of Social Affairs, Housing and Planning Section, and the United Nations Technical Assistance Administration; and consultant to many other U.N. projects.
COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

The papers of Jacob Crane, consisting of seven project files, give only brief vignettes of a long career in planning and relate chiefly to Crane's work as a consultant. While still in the federal civil service as assistant to the Administrator of Housing and Home Finance Agency in international affairs, he served as consultant to Puerto Rico and to the United Nations Department of Social Affairs. His consulting work represented in his papers includes studies in housing, new towns, a master plan, urban renewal, and rehabilitation studies. Also worth noting is Crane's 1933 Iowa Twenty-Year Conservation Plan, an early example of state planning, a printed copy of which is in Mann Library.
Crane was acquainted with Constantine Doxiadis and became a senior consultant for Doxiadis Associates, an international firm, in 1955. There is correspondence with Doxiadis under two projects--Greece and Ponca City, Oklahoma--which contains an interested memorandum outlining Doxiadis' procedure for a study.
The collection is divided into seven subject files, arranged chronologically by the commencement date of the project. The material is largely correspondence, accounts revealing the locale and duration of employ, drafts and reports, and some working and reference papers such as maps, charts, legislation, etc.
There is a small quantity of printed material by Crane, transferred from other collections.
SUBJECTS

Names:
Crane, Jacob L. (Jacob Leslie), 1892-1988.
Doxiadis, Constantine.
United Nations.

Subjects:
City planning.
City planning--Greece.
City planning--Puerto Rico.
Civil engineers.
City planners.

Places:
Piney Orchard (Md.)--City planning.
Baltimore (Md.)--City planning.
Norfolk (Va.)--City planning.
Ponca City (Okla.)--City planning.

Form and Genre Terms:
Maps.
INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:
Jacob Leslie Crane Papers, #2646. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
SERIES LIST

Series I. United Nations, 1946-1955 Box 1
Series II. Greece, 1950-1956 Boxes 1, 3
Series III. Puerto Rico, 1952-1962 Box 2
Series IV. Piney Orchard, Maryland, 1954-1958 Box 2
Series V. Norfolk, Virginia, 1954-1965 Box 3
Series VI. Baltimore, Maryland, 1955-1956 Box 3
Series VII. Ponca City, Oklahoma, 1927, 1955-1959 Box 3
Series VIII. Printed material Box 3
CONTAINER LIST

Description
Container
Series I. United Nations, 1946-1955
Crane held various appointments as housing consultant for the U.N. Department of Social Affairs, Housing and Planning Section, and for the U.N. Technical Assistance Administration. H.H.F.A. granted him leave for this work. Nov. 13, 1950-Jan. 26, 1951, he was chairman of the U.N. Mission to S.E. Asia on tropical housing. 1951 he prepared his report "Study on Methods of Preparing Programs of National Governments for Housing and Community Development," stressing methodology. He was seminar advisor for the U.N. Regional Seminar on Housing and Community Development, Jan. 21, 1953-Feb. 17, 1953, in New Delhi and produced the paper "Experience of National Government in Preparing Programmes for Housing and Community Development." In 1955 Crane did a study on demographic information needed for planning housing program in Economic Commisssion for Asia and Far East region to be used at Rio De Janeiro Seminar. This was under the joint auspices of U.N. Technical Assistance Divison and International Social Science Council.
United Nations - Correspondence and accounts, 1946-1954
Box 1 Folder 1-2
Correspondence of Ernest Wiessman, U.N. Department of Social Affairs-Housing and Planning Section, U.N. Technical Assistance Administration
United Nations - Correspondence and reports, 1951-1953
Box 1 Folder 3-4
Correspondence with Roy J. Boroughs, Ernest Weissman, Einer Engberg, United Nations. Deaprtment of Social Affairs. Housing and Planning Section, U.S. Housing and Home Finance Agency, International Housing Activities
United Nations - Correspondence and report, 1953-1954
Box 1 Folder 5
Correspondence with Eleanor Hinder, United Nations. Technical Assistance Administration
United Nations - Correspondence and report, 1955
Box 1 Folder 6
Correspondence with Donald Young, John Durand, Anatole Solow, United Nations. Bureau of Social Affairs-Director in charge of population, International Social Science Council, Organization of American States. Division of Housing and Town Planning
Series II. Greece, 1950-1956
In 1954 Constantine Doxiadis renewed aquaintences with Crane and interested him in making a report for the National Mortgage Bank of Greece on proposed housing policy, especially the financial and technical aspects. Crane was engaged by the Bank in Aug. 1954, and according to his scheduling studied the Greek situation by reports from Greece, U.N., and U.S. agencies, then visited Greece for a field trip in Mar. 1955-Apr. 1955. In May 1955 he presented his report, "National Housing Policy in Greece," advocating the building of a Home Loan Savings Bank type program around the National Mortgage Bank. Renewed contacts with Doxiadis led to Crane becoming a senior consultant for Doxiadis Associates.
Greece - Correspondence, 1954-1956
Box 1 Folder 7
Correspondence with Constantine Doxiadis, Charles C. Arliotis, National Mortgage Bank of Greece, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Housing and Home Finance Agency. International Housing Section
Greece - Studies and reports, 1950-1954
Box 1 Folder 8
Correspondence with Roy Burroughs, George Speer, Jan Bommer, Yves Salaun, U.N. Economic Commission for Europe, U.N. Department of Social Affairs-Housing and Planning Section, U.S. Economic Cooperative Administration Mission in Greece, International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, National Mortgage Bank of Greece
Greece - Notes, draft of report, ca. 1955
Box 1 Folder 9
Correspondence with the National Mortgage Bank of Greece
Greece - Report, 1955
Box 1 Folder 10
Correspondence with the National Mortgage Bank of Greece
Reports
National housing policy in Greece. May 1955 (typescript). Crane, Jacob
Box 3
Post War Housing in Greece...Greek State ECA accomplishments in attacking the post war housing problem. (multi-copied) Mar. 1, 1951 Speer, George A.
Box 3
The Greek Housing Situation Report, June 1957. Athens, U.S.A. Operations Missions to Greece. Jenks, Barton P.
Box 3
Destruction of towns and villages in Greece. Athens. 1947 Ministry of Reconstruction publication #11 - Inscription to Crane from head of Housing Dept. Doxiadis, Constantine
Box 3
Economic policy for the reconstruction of the settlement of Greece ca. 1946. Underscretary for the Reconstruction publication #3 - Inscription to Crane from head of Housing Dept. Doxiadis, Constantine A.
Box 3
Greece...Experimental settlement of St. George Keratasine. Piraeus. Athens, 1947. Dept. of Reconstruction report C1 - Part of report by Doxiadis. Department of Reconstruction
Box 1
The Greek House. Its Evolution and its Relation to the House of other Blakan Peoples. Athens, 1951. Ministry of Reconstruction publication #37. Megas, George A.
Box 1
Annual Report, 1953, 1955 National Mortgage Bank of Greece
Box 1
Savings and loan associations, their services, 1952 National Savings and Loan League
Box 1
Rules and regulations for insurance of accounts, Sept. 1, 1953. Federal Savings and Loan Insurnace Corporation, Washington D.C. Federal Home Loan Bank Board
Box 1
Federal Savings and Loan Associations. What they are...and how charters are granted, Feb. 1955 Federal Home Loan Bank Board
Box 1
Rules and regulations for the Federal Savings and Loan System. With amendments to Apr. 15, 1954. (2 copies) Federal Home Loan and Bank Board
Box 1
Federal Home Loan Bank Act. Provisions of Home Owners' Loan Act of 1933...as amended to Jan. 1, 1952. Washington, H.H.F.A. (2 copies) Housing and Home Finance Agnecy, Federal Home Loan Bank Board
Box 1
Puerto Rico, 1952-1962
Crane held a number of consulting jobs of short duration mostly with Puerto Rican government agencies and Puerto Rican Industrial Development Companies. He consulted on planning and housing matters (public housing, low cost private housing, cooperative housing), creation of the Housing Research Board to replace the Model Housing Board, an establishment of Commonwealth States for Puerto Rico, financing of mortgages, etc. Papers include his reports of Aug. 11, 1955, Mar. 9, 1956, Mar. 1957, and July 30, 1960. An interesting series of reports by George Reed, Consultant FOA describes history and issues of housing since 1934 in Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico - Correspondence; 1952-1962, n.d.
Box 2 Folder 1-6
Correspondence with Ramon Avila Sanchez, Luis Rivera Santos, George L. Reed, Housing Research Board, Puerto Rico Urban Renewal and Housing Corporation
Puerto Rico Accounts - Income tax returns, contracts, accounts, 1956-1962
Box 2 Folder 7
Correspondence with Managment Services, Administration for Cooperative Development, Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company
Puerto Rico - Reports (multi-copied), 1960-1961
Box 2 Folder 8
Correspondence with George Reed, Consultant
Puerto Rico - Legislation (multi-copied); 1934, 1954
Box 2 Folder 9
Correspondence with U.S. Congress, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico - Reports, multi-copied, typescript, Spanish and English, 1955-1960
Box 2 Folder 10
Puerto Rico - Article, bulletin, 1954
Box 2 Folder 11
Puerto Rico - Newspaper clippings, advertisements, in Spanish, 1954-1956
Box 2 Folder 12
Reports
"A report on teh renewal possibilities of the historic triangle of the city of San Juan." May 1955 Keith, Nathaniel
Box 2
"First annual report 1954-1955." (typescript) Puerto Rico Housing Research Board
Box 2
"Housing problems and policies of Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Dec. 16, 1955." (multi-copied) Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico Housing Authority
Box 2
Piney Orchard, Maryland, 1954-1958
Crane and Elbert Peets were hired as consultants by Winwood Corporation (owned by National Plastics) to plan and lay out a new model town of 900 single family houses and 200 garden apartments between Baltimore and Washington D.C. near Fort Meade. Country Manor Estaes Corp. of Foundation Co-operative Housing Inc., the National Security Agency group, was interested in developing an housing area but the project foundered over provisions of water and sewage facilities and F.H.A. requirements.
Piney orchard, Maryland - Correspondence; 1954-1958, n.d.
Box 2 Folder 13-16
Correspondence with David T. Raisen, Ephraim Winer, E.V. Bueneman, Roger Willcox, Philip Klutznick, Winwood Corp., Country Manor Estates Corp., Foundation for Cooperative Housing, Inc.
Piney Orchard, Maryland - Plans, drawings, specifications, ca. (approximately) 1955
Box 2 Folder 17
Correspondence with Charles Wagner, Winwood Corp.
Norfolk, Virginia, 1954-1965
Correspondence with Lawrence Cox, Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority and with S.E. Virginia Regional Planning and Economic Developemnt Commission about planning and possible consultation; correpondence on Advisory Plan for selecting developer for Hauge Residential Site Development.
Norfolk - Correpondence, 1954-1962
Box 3 Folder 1
Correspondence with Lawrence Cox, Wendell Winn, Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, S.E. Virginia Regional Planning, Economic Development Commission
Norfolk. Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority. Hague Residential Site Redevelopment - Correspondence, 1962-1965
Box 3 Folder 2
Correspondence with Lawrence Cox
Norfolk - Clippings, notes1959-1960
Box 3 Folder 3
Correspondence with Hilltop Enterprises
Norfolk. Norfolk Redvelopment and Housing Authority. Hague Residential Site Redevelopment - Farms, invitation to bid, 1962
Box 3 Folder 4
Correspondence with Lawrence Cox
Norfolk - Maps and plans, charts, 1954-1961
Box 3 Folder 5
Reports and Legislation
Virginia. Department of Conservation and Economic Development. Planning Legislation, 1958. (multi-copied)
Box 3
Southereastern Virginia Regional Planning Commission By-laws (as amended Aug. 14, 1958). (mulit-copied)
Box 3
A master plan for the central buisness and financial district, July 1956. (multi-copied) Agle, Charles
Box 3
Baltimore, 1955-1956
Crane was consultant in 1955-1956 when Baltimore Urban Renewal and Housing Agency was established for urban renewal projects; typical deteriorated block in Harlem Park created "314" pilot study for rehabilitation.
Baltimore - Correspondence, 1955-1956
 Box 3 Folder 6
Correspondence with Jacob Crane, Oliver Winston, Eugene Wheeler, Baltimore Planning Department, Office of Urban Renewal Coordinator
Baltimore "314" Rehabilitation Project Harlem Park - Correspondence, reports, 1956-1957
 Box 3 Folder 7
Correspondence with Eugene Wheeler, R.L. Steiner, Philip Darling, Baltimore Planning Department, Urban Renewal Administration, H.H.F.A.
Baltimore - News releases, 1956-1957
 Box 3 Folder 8
Correspondence with Housing and Home Finance Agency
Baltimore - Newspaper clippings, 1954-1956
 Box 3 Folder 9
Baltimore - Report (multi-copied), 1956
 Box 3 Folder 10
Correspondence with Urban Renewal Staff Committee Report
Baltimore - Draft report, 1955
 Box 3 Folder 11
Correspondence with Urban Renewal Advisory Council
Reports
Report to Mayor Thomas d'Alesandro Jr., Sept. 1956. Appendices. Baltimore. Urban Renewal Study Board
Box 3
Baltimore city zoning ordinaces and state enabling act. 1956 Baltimore. Planning Commission
Box 3
Maryland zoning and planning enabling act. Published by Women's Civic League. Charlottesville, Virginia, 1956 Maryland
Box 3
Study of the attitudes of potential applicants toward public housing. Jan. 1954. (multi-copied) Baltimore. Housing Authority
Box 3
Workable program for urban renewal in Baltimore, Maryland, Nov. 22, 1954. (multi-copied) Baltimore. City Council
Box 3
Housing rehabilitation and enforcement of housing laws. n.d. Public health monograph no. 34 U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Public Health Service
Box 3
The legal basis for redevelopment in Baltimore, Maryland. Sept. 1949. (multi-copied) Baltimore. Redevelopment Commission
Box 3
Ponca City, Oklahoma; 1927, 1955-1959
Crane prepared first master plan, 1927; hired as consultant for two two year terms, 1955-1957, 1957-1959; supervised hiring planner, applying for "701" H.H.F.A. grant for planning studies, tentative approaches to urban renewal grant for Dixie Hill, brought Doxiadis Inc. for an urban renewal and civic facilities study, 1959.
Ponca City, Oklahoma - Correspondence; 1955-1959, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 12-16
Correspondence with Frank Winsted, Joe Hutchison, Marvin Hatcher, Constantine Doxiadis
Ponca City, Oklahoma - Newspaper clippings; 1955-1956, 1957, 1959
Box 3 Folder 17
Ponca City, Oklahoma - Leaflets, 1957
Box 3 Folder 18
Correspondence with Housing and Home Finance Agency
Ponca City, Oklahoma - Pamphlet, 1957
Box 3 Folder 19
Correspondence with State of Oklahoma
Ponca City, Oklahoma - Pamphlets (multi-copied), 1957
Box 3 Folder 20
Correspondence with Ponca City, Oklahoma
Ponca City, Oklahoma - Maps, subdivision plans, 1955-1959
Box 3 Folder 21
Reports
The Development Plans of Ponca City, Oklahoma, 1927, annotated Crane, Jacob
Box 3
Urban renewal possibilities, development of Lake Ponca and a civil facilities program for Ponca City, Oklahoma. Under a contract with the Department of Commerce. Industry State of Oklahoma. Winter, 1959 Doxiadis, Associates Inc.
Box 3
Printed material
"City Planning in the Soviet Union" in the Economic Review of the Soviet Union, Jan. 15, 1932 Crane, Jacob
Box 3
Report on the Iowa Twenty-five Year Conservation Plan. Prepared for the Iowa Board of Conservation and the Iowa Fish and Game Commission. Des Moins, Iowa, Wallace-Homestead Co., 1933. Transferred to Mann Library, New York State School of Agriculture, Cornell. Crane, Jacob
Box 3
"Making Cities out of Housing Programs." Outline of Address before Annual Meeting, National Association of Housing Officials, New York City, May 20, 1943 Crane, Jacob
Box 3
Urban Planning - Illusion and Reality: A New Philosophy for Planned City Building. New York: Vantage Press, 1973, 169 pp. Autographed first edition presented to Arthur Bohnen, May 1973. Rec'd. from Arthur Bohnen, 1976 but not accessioned, per. H. Finch. Crane, Jacob L.
Box 3