John D. Crimmins Collection
name: label: Creator
content: Crimmins, John Daniel, 1844-1917 (contractor)
label: Former owner
content: National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Domestic Life
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Immediate source of acquisition unknown.
creator: label: Creator
content: Crimmins, John Daniel, 1844-1917 (contractor)
setName: label: See more items in
content: John D. Crimmins Collection
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: John Daniel Crimmins, Senior, contractor and philanthropist, was born May 18, 1844 in New York City, of parents who earlier had immigrated from Ireland.  After graduating from college he joined his father's contracting  business, becoming a partner in 1864 and head of the firm in 1873.  The firm was involved in the construction of public works, churches, hospitals and other projects and buildings. Mr. Crimmins belonged to and held office in many organizations civic, social, and philanthropic.  He was an active member of the Democratic party and served as New York City Park Commissioner, Presidential elector, and member of the New York State Constitutional Convention.  Presumably, he was an active member of the Tammany Hall group. A Roman Catholic, Mr. Crimmins worked for the church in a variety of
roles, from university trustee to waiter at a Christmas dinner for the poor. Through business contacts and affiliation with various organizations, Mr. Crimmins as guest or host    attended numerous public and private functions, many of which involved well known figures of the time. John D. Crimmins died November 9, 1917.

SourcesWho Was Who in America. Volume I, 1897 1942 and The New York Times, November 9, 1317, page 13.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 1.8 Cubic feet (6 boxes
)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1880-1919
custodhist: label: Custodial History
content: Donated through Georgetown University to the Division of Cultural History (now Division of Cultural and Community Life), 1970s. Transferred from the Division of Domestic Life (now Division of Cultural and Community Life), 1984.
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0398
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Programs
label: Type
content: Menus
label: Type
content: Admission tickets
label: Type
content: Invitations
label: Type
content: Announcements
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged alphabetically by host or sponsoring organization.  Where no host is named or there are several hosts, the material is filed by the name of the guest of honor or the event.
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: This collection was processed by Ramona Williamson, volunteer, October 17, 1991.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Programs
label: Genre/Form
content: Menus
label: Genre/Form
content: Admission tickets
label: Genre/Form
content: Invitations
label: Genre/Form
content: Announcements
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: This collection is comprised primarily of menus.  There are also programs, seating plans, invitations, announcements and admission cards from functions attended by John D. Crimmins.  Some material bears autographs of other guests and/or rotations made by Mr. Crimmins.  There are many items from civic, political, business, Roman Catholic and Irish American organizations.

Numerous programs or menus    produced especially for each occasion by firms such as Dempsey and Carroll, Malcolm and Hayes and Tiffany are uniquely designed and decorated with photographs, embossing or water color paintings. There are a few menus printed on ribbons and one, from the Vulcan
Detinning Company, printed on metal.  Included in the collection are three programs dated after Mr. Crimmins'  death and one example of political humor.