Clifford W. Craig papers
Collection
Identifier: L268
Scope and Contents
This collection includes correspondence, military orders, training information, intelligence reports, pamphlets, publications, bulletins, postcards, photographs and negatives, and maps of France and Germany from Clifford W. Craig and the United States Army in Indiana, the United States, France, and Germany, ranging from 1911 to 1931, largely regarding Craig's military service during World War I.
Oversize materials include two military documents concerning designations, assignments, road spaces, and war strengths of army units; a map of the "Front du Verdun"; a map of showing military locations at Thiaucourt; two photographs from Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis; a volume entitled "G2 4th Army Corps" with personnel information, poetry, cartoon drawings, and stories; and a broadside about the S.S. Mongolia, 1917 to 1918 (OBC151); and maps of troop movements, topography, and geographical features in France and Germany, 1918 and undated (OBD066; OBE032).
Oversize materials include two military documents concerning designations, assignments, road spaces, and war strengths of army units; a map of the "Front du Verdun"; a map of showing military locations at Thiaucourt; two photographs from Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis; a volume entitled "G2 4th Army Corps" with personnel information, poetry, cartoon drawings, and stories; and a broadside about the S.S. Mongolia, 1917 to 1918 (OBC151); and maps of troop movements, topography, and geographical features in France and Germany, 1918 and undated (OBD066; OBE032).
Dates
- 1911-1931
Creator
- Craig, Clifford William, 1887-1936 (Person)
Language of Materials
Materials in English, French, and German.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Biographical Note
Clifford William Craig was born November 4, 1887, one of eight children, to William David (1846-1926) and Maria Jane "Jennie" (McKee) Craig (1849-1922) in Franklin, Ohio. He grew up in Greenville, Ohio where he worked as a school teacher in 1910. Craig married Nellie Bernice Foureman on April 9, 1910 in Darke County, Ohio. They moved to Colorado shortly after their marriage and Bernice Craig died of typhoid pneumonia on October 2, 1911 in Keota, Colorado. Five years later, Craig married Effie Emeline Coulter (1882-1973), who worked as a druggist in Michigan City, Indiana, on December 23, 1916 in Monroe County, Michigan. The couple had a daughter together, Eleanor Jane (1920-1995)--as well as Effie's daughter from a previous marriage, Phyllis C. Cunningham, and lived in Michigan City, Indiana.
Craig served during World War I, first accepting a commission as 2nd lieutenant in the Cavalry Reserve of the United States Reserves on August 15, 1917 and training in the Officers Training Corps at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was sent to the front lines in France and was gassed during the Argonne offensive, which caused pulmonary issues. He rose to the rank of 1st lieutenany and secretary, or assistant, Cavalry G-3, Fourth Army Corps. He was dischared on March 28, 1919. After returning from the war, Craig and his family lived in Michigan City, Indiana, where he worked, first as a high school teacher and then, chief clerk of the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City for 11 years. Finally, he served as superintendent of the Indiana State Farm until his retirement. He was a member of the local Masonic Lodge; the John Franklin Post of the American Legion; the Forty and Eight; and the First Presbyterian Church at Michigan City. Craig died of tuberculosis on March 3, 1936 in Muncie, Indiana and is buried in Greenville Union Cemetery in Greenville, Ohio.
Sources:
Items in the collection.
Ancestry.com. "Clifford W. Craig." 1900 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 13, 2024, http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Clifford W. Craig." 1910 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 13, 2024, http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Clifford W. Craig." 1920 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 13, 2024, http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Clifford W. Craig." 1930 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 13, 2024, http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Eleanor Jane Craig." Indiana, U.S., Birth Certificates, 1907-1944. Accessed December 13, 2024, http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Clifford W. Craig." Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017. Accessed December 13, 2024, http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Clifford W. Craig." Michigan, U.S., Marriage Records, 1867-1952. Accessed December 13, 2024, http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Clifford W. Craig." Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993. Accessed December 13, 2024, http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Clifford W. Craig." U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1861-1985. Accessed December 13, 2024, http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Clifford W. Craig." U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Accessed December 13, 2024, http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Eleanor Jane Craig." Indiana, U.S., Birth Certificates, 1907-1944. Accessed December 13, 2024, http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
"Craig Death Occurs at Muncie; Funeral Rites Planned Here." Greenville Daily Advocate (OH), March 3, 1936. Accessed November 13, 2024. Newspapers.com.
Findagrave.com. "Clifford William Craig." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/93350425/clifford-william-craig.
Findagrave.com. "Nellie Bernice Foureman Craig." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/60427721/nellie-bernice-craig.
"Obituary." Keota News (CO), October 13, 1911. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://www.loc.gov/item/sn89052038/1911-10-13/ed-1.
Craig served during World War I, first accepting a commission as 2nd lieutenant in the Cavalry Reserve of the United States Reserves on August 15, 1917 and training in the Officers Training Corps at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was sent to the front lines in France and was gassed during the Argonne offensive, which caused pulmonary issues. He rose to the rank of 1st lieutenany and secretary, or assistant, Cavalry G-3, Fourth Army Corps. He was dischared on March 28, 1919. After returning from the war, Craig and his family lived in Michigan City, Indiana, where he worked, first as a high school teacher and then, chief clerk of the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City for 11 years. Finally, he served as superintendent of the Indiana State Farm until his retirement. He was a member of the local Masonic Lodge; the John Franklin Post of the American Legion; the Forty and Eight; and the First Presbyterian Church at Michigan City. Craig died of tuberculosis on March 3, 1936 in Muncie, Indiana and is buried in Greenville Union Cemetery in Greenville, Ohio.
Sources:
Items in the collection.
Ancestry.com. "Clifford W. Craig." 1900 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 13, 2024, http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Clifford W. Craig." 1910 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 13, 2024, http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Clifford W. Craig." 1920 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 13, 2024, http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Clifford W. Craig." 1930 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 13, 2024, http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Eleanor Jane Craig." Indiana, U.S., Birth Certificates, 1907-1944. Accessed December 13, 2024, http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Clifford W. Craig." Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017. Accessed December 13, 2024, http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Clifford W. Craig." Michigan, U.S., Marriage Records, 1867-1952. Accessed December 13, 2024, http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Clifford W. Craig." Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993. Accessed December 13, 2024, http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Clifford W. Craig." U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1861-1985. Accessed December 13, 2024, http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Clifford W. Craig." U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Accessed December 13, 2024, http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Eleanor Jane Craig." Indiana, U.S., Birth Certificates, 1907-1944. Accessed December 13, 2024, http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
"Craig Death Occurs at Muncie; Funeral Rites Planned Here." Greenville Daily Advocate (OH), March 3, 1936. Accessed November 13, 2024. Newspapers.com.
Findagrave.com. "Clifford William Craig." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/93350425/clifford-william-craig.
Findagrave.com. "Nellie Bernice Foureman Craig." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/60427721/nellie-bernice-craig.
"Obituary." Keota News (CO), October 13, 1911. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://www.loc.gov/item/sn89052038/1911-10-13/ed-1.
Extent
1.61 Cubic Feet (4 manuscript boxes; 1 large oversize folder, 2 extra-large oversize folders)
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by subject.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a records transfer from Ball State University Archives and Special Collections.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2016/06/28 by Lauren Patton. EAD finding aid created 2016/06/28 by Lauren Patton. EAD finding aid revised 2021/11/03 by Lauren Patton; 2024/12/13 by Brittany Kropf.
Creator
- Craig, Clifford William, 1887-1936 (Person)
- Title
- Clifford W. Craig papers
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671