J. B. Crenshaw Papers
Collection
Identifier: MS051
As head of the Department of Modern Languages, Dr. J. B. Crenshaw retained the faculty correspondence, departmental annual reports, and drafts of academic papers that are contained in this collection.
(one half-sized document case)
None.
Permission to publish materials from this collection must be obtained from the Head of Archives and Special Collections.
0.2 Linear Feet
The J. B. Crenshaw papers include administrative materials from the Department of Modern Languages, correspondence, a eulogy for Dean W. H. Emerson, and histories of Georgia Tech authored by Crenshaw. The academic papers include papers on the subject of Modern Languages in higher education, as well as a history of the Department of Modern Languages at Georgia Tech. The annual reports outline the courses taught during the current school year as well as the number of students enrolled in German, French, or Spanish classes. Until 1926, these reports were delivered to the Board of Trustees. President M. L. Brittain received them in subsequent years.
The correspondence, primarily between Dr. J. B. Crenshaw and President M. L. Brittain or the Board of Trustees, deals with the employment, salaries, or recommendations of the professors in the Modern Language Department. Dr. Crenshaw's interest in athletics is evidenced by the use of Georgia Tech Athletic Association stationery in a letter dated October 10, 1923 and by a question he posed to a new employee on July 17, 1928. He ended the letter by asking, "Are you athletic in any way and if so what sport do you like."
Dr. Crenshaw prepared a memorial for Dr. W. H. Emerson, head of the Department of Chemistry (1888-1924) and dean of the school (1909-1924). He also wrote several papers on the history of Georgia Tech, including one that was used for the school's fiftieth anniversary in 1938. Handwritten notes accompany the histories.
Dr. John Bascom Crenshaw headed the Department of Modern Languages at Georgia Tech for 38 years. Born in 1861 in Virginia, he attended Randolph-Macon College and Johns Hopkins University, where he earned his doctorate and served on the faculty. He came to Georgia Tech in 1904. Dr. Crenshaw involved himself with the collegiate athletic community by serving as faculty director of the Athletic Association and as the coach of the first lacrosse team of the school. Crenshaw was affectionately known on campus as "Little Doc." (W. H. Emerson was known as "Big Doc.") He married Julia Willett Leach in 1902 and together they had two daughters. Dr. Crenshaw died in 1942.
The papers are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
A print copy of this finding aid is available in the Georgia Tech Archives reading room.
These papers were transferred from the vertical file. Accession #1987.1105 (old number: 87-11-05).
(one half-sized document case)
Yen M. Tang processed these papers in 2000.
Part of the Archives and Special Collections, Library, Georgia Institute of Technology Repository