MS 273
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Collection Summary | |
| Creator: | Cranston, George, b. 1848? |
| Collection Name: | George Cranston correspondence, |
| Inclusive Dates: | 1860-1883 |
| Physical Description: | .2 linear feet |
| Abstract: | This collection contains one series, correspondence. It is comprised of 57 letters, 34 of which were written by George Cranston, primarily to his sister, Gertrude. 14 of these letters relate Cranston's experiences as a soldier in the Arizona Territory, from 1866 to 1870. Cranston was stationed at Fort Yuma, Camp Lowell, Fort Grant, Camp Tubac and Camp Crittenden, and his letters reveal the privations of a soldier's life, the uncertainties of living on the frontier, and the fear of Indian attacks. Leaving the army and Arizona in 1870, the letters continue with Cranston's travels in New Mexico, Kansas and Texas. The remaining letters, the bulk of which are addressed to Gertrude, are correspondence from other Cranston siblings, and letters from James Cranston, their father. Many of these are accounts of family activities and events, others reveal some of the emotional undercurrents in family life. |
| Collection Number: | MS 273 |
| Repository: |
University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections University of Arizona PO Box 210055 Tucson, AZ 85721-0055 Phone: 520-621-6423 Fax: 520-621-9733 URL: http://speccoll.library.arizona.edu/ |
George Cranston was born in 1848, probably in New York state. Following an argument with his father, George was ordered to leave the family farm, and in 1866 he joined the army. Cranston's first post was Fort Yuma, Arizona Territory. In the ensuing years, Cranston was stationed at a number of sites in southern Arizona, until 1870 when he left the army's service.
Cranston went on to become a cowboy, farmer, rancher, and saloon keeper, trying his luck in Kansas, Texas, and finally Deming, New Mexico. The last letter, written in 1883, is the birth announcement of Cranston's second child written from Deming. It is unknown what became of George Cranston following 1883.
This collection contains one series, correspondence. It is comprised of 57 letters, 34 of which were written by George Cranston, primarily to his sister, Gertrude. 14 of these letters relate Cranston's experiences as a soldier in the Arizona Territory, from 1866 to 1870. Cranston was stationed at Fort Yuma, Camp Lowell, Fort Grant, Camp Tubac and Camp Crittenden, and his letters reveal the privations of a soldier's life, the uncertainties of living on the frontier, and the fear of Indian attacks. Leaving the army and Arizona in 1870, the letters continue with Cranston's travels in New Mexico, Kansas and Texas. The remaining letters, the bulk of which are addressed to Gertrude, are correspondence from other Cranston siblings, and letters from James Cranston, their father. Many of these are accounts of family activities and events, others reveal some of the emotional undercurrents in family life.
Included are letters from Gertrude's fiancee, Brunson Dunning. Finally, there are a few letters in which the connection with the Cranston family cannot be determined.
Also included is a typescript of a short biography of George Cranston and a summary of many of the letters.
None.
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George Cranston correspondence (MS 273).Special Collections, University of Arizona Libraries.
| Series I: Correspondence, 1860-1883 | |||||||||||
| The first folder contains a summary of the information content of George Cranston's letters, along with a biographical sketch, written by Douglas Calhoun, a New York state book dealer. The following two folders contain the 34 letters from George Cranston, the bulk of which were written to his sister in the East. It is these letters that provide some illustration of frontier life. | |||||||||||
| The remaining correspondence contain letters primarily from family members to Gertrude, and are accounts of relatives, friends and family events. Also included is a collection of letters written by Gertrude's fiancee, Brunson Dunning, a letter from George Cranston's fellow soldier and friend, Myron Annis, and a few letters written by P. Morton. It is uncertain as to whom this latter correspondence is addressed, and what Morton's connection is with the Cranston family. | |||||||||||
| box | folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Summary and biographical sketch. , 1982 | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | Letters from George Cranston. , 1866-1869 | |||||||||
| 1 | 3 | Letters from George Cranston. , 1870-1883 | |||||||||
| 1 | 4 | Letter from Myron Annis. , 1869 | |||||||||
| 1 | 5 | Letters from James Cranston. , 1860-1868 | |||||||||
| 1 | 6 | Letters from Brunson Dunning. , 1867-1871 | |||||||||
| 1 | 7 | Letters from other family members. , 1871-1880 | |||||||||
| 1 | 8 | Letters from P. Morton. , 1862-1873 | |||||||||