UA36I Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Series 3 - Alfred Crabb

Description: Series 3 consists of records by and about Alfred Leland Crabb. It contains some early correspondence and writings of Crabb and his son, the collection is arranged in chronological order. Of note is a 1916 letter to H. H. Cherry's secretary, Mattie McLean, outlining qualities required of young women teachers coming to Louisville, and criticizing Western's publication The Elevator. The text of his 1942 Founders Day address is included, which contains numerous reminiscences about Western faculty. In 1922, Crabb sent a letter to alumni inviting them to write "a long, plethoric letter" relating their activities since leaving school. He received numerous replies which are included in the collection. In 2002-03 Crabb's son, Alfred L. Crabb, Jr., wrote monographs on both his father and grandfather, James Wade Crabb, which are included in the collection.

Extent: 1 box

Dates: 1916-1975

Biographical/Historical Note: Alfred Leland Crabb was born in Plum Springs, Warren County, Kentucky on January 22, 1884. He attended Bethel College and the Southern Normal School, and received a Life Certificate in 1910 from the Western Kentucky State Normal School. He married fellow student Bertha Gardner in 1911. He received a B. S. from George Peabody College, an M. A. from Columbia, and a Ph.D. from Peabody. He served as principal of schools in Louisiana and Kentucky before joining the faculty of Western in 1916 and serving as dean. He left in 1927 to join the faculty of Peabody College. Crabb was editor of the Peabody Journal of Education from 1932-1967, and wrote numerous historical novels set in Nashville. For more information, see the University Archives vertical file.

Container List:

Box 1

Folder 1 nd Inventory and separation sheet

Folder 2 1916 Letter to Mattie McLean re: Normal graduates teaching in Louisville, and
criticisms of The Elevator, and her reply


Folder 3 1918 Correspondence between H. H. Cherry and S. M. Burbank re: Crabb’s accepting a position in Anchorage, Ky.

Folder 4 1920, 1922 Replies from alumni to Crabb’s request for “a plethoric letter” describing their activities; list of names included surnames A - Gre

Folder 5 1922 Replies from alumni surnames Gri - Moo

Folder 6 1922 Replies from alumni surnames Mor - Wor

Folder 7 nd, 1925, 1930 Writing and poems

Folder 8 1923, 1975 Correspondence

Folder 9 [1928] “The Teachers College President: A Case Study of Western Kentucky State Teachers College at Bowling Green,” report of Education class at Peabody
College

Folder 10 [1935] 1910 class list and partial copy of remarks given at 25 year reunion

Folder 11 1935-41 Writing in connection with George Peabody College history and Founders Day

Folder 12 1942 Founders Day Address at Western

Folder 13 1955 Napkin souvenir from 1955 Kentucky Building Open House

Folder 14 nd “The Sixth of Nine Strong Sons,” monograph on Thomas Crittenden Cherry

Folder 15 1955 Alfred Leland Crabb, Peace at Bowling Green

Folder 16 1920 Christmas greeting

Folder 17 2003 “Alfred Leland Crabb: Author, Teacher, Historian”; Bibliography of Printed Works by Alfred L. Crabb, Jr.

Folder 18 2002 “J. W. Crabb, Teacher”; J. W. Crabb School Assignments; “J. W. Crabb and the One Room School” (by Alfred L. Crabb, Jr.)

Subjects:

Authors, American – Kentucky
Cherry, Thomas Crittenden, 1862-1947
Crabb, Alfred Leland, 1884-1979
Educators – Kentucky
Western Kentucky State Normal School – Faculty
Western Kentucky State Normal School and Teachers College – Faculty

Accession Information: These records were transferred to the University Archives upon its creation.

Access Restrictions: none

Copyright Notice:

Preferred Citation: UA36I Faculty/Staff Personal Papers, Series 3 Alfred Crabb, WKU Archives, Kentucky Library & Museum, Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA.

Processing Information: Processed by Lynn Niedermeier