Crippen Family Papers, 1888-1969 (MSS 729)

Extent: 0.4 Linear feet (1 archives box and 1 card file box)

Papers of the Crippen Family, including patriarch George H. Crippen, who settled in San Diego in 1886 and helped develop the city through real estate and investment ventures. The papers include writings of John Crippen, son of George Crippen, personal diaries and correspondence of several family members, and amateur historian Marvin Studebaker's research on the Crippen family.

After serving in the Civil War, New York native George Crippen moved to Kansas where he met and married Melissa Daniel of Ohio. They moved to San Diego in 1886 with their sons John and Roy. Included in the move were Melissa Crippen's sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Jennings, and their daughter Belle. In San Diego the Crippens had two more children, both girls; one died in infancy and the other, Ruth, died in 1918.

George Crippen was a prominent businessman and had a hand in developing the Point Loma neighborhood Roseville, and surrounding San Diego areas. John Crippen was an early school teacher for San Diego City schools before he pursued a masters in education at Columbia University.

After living in Point Loma, the Crippens sold their land and moved to downtown San Diego and kept a cabin in Ramona.

Papers of the Crippen Family, including patriarch George H. Crippen, who settled in San Diego in 1886 and helped develop the city through real estate and investment ventures. The papers include writings of John Crippen, son of George Crippen, personal diaries and correspondence of several family members, and amateur historian Marvin Studebaker's research on the Crippen family.

Arranged in two series: A) MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS and B) DIARIES.

MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS include financial records from George Crippen, fictional writings by John Crippen, Melissa Crippen's typed recollections of her childhood in Ohio, copy photos of the family members, and Marvin Studebaker's writings and research notes on the Crippen family.

DIARIES were written by Melissa Daniel Crippen, and her sons Roy and John. Handwritten entries describe many early events in San Diego such as the first cross-bay ferry service and the openings of schools, as well as daily events in their personal lives. The 1914 diary of Melissa Crippen includes several newspaper clippings and gelatin silver prints of unidentified subjects, which have been placed in envelopes with the diary. The diaries are arranged chronologically.

Container List

MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS

Crippen, George

Box 1 Folder 1 Oversize FB-203-07
State and county tax receipts detailing properties owned, 1893-1909
Box 1 Folder 2
San Diego City tax receipts detailing properties owned, 1894-1912
Box 1 Folder 3 Oversize FB-203-08
Federal tax return detailing investments and properties owned, 1916-1927

Crippen, John

Box 1 Folder 4
Fictional writings, undated
Box 1 Folder 5
Teaching application and recommendations, 1906-1908
Box 1 Folder 6
Crippen, Melissa Daniel - "Life in Early Ohio", 1911
Box 1 Folder 7
Crippen, Roy - Correspondence with family, 1918
Box 1 Folder 8
Copy photos

Studebaker, Marvin

Box 1 Folder 9
"A Literary Treasure Lost", 1968
Box 1 Folder 10
Research notes on Melissa Crippen, 1967-1969

DIARIES

Crippen, John

Box 2 Folder 1-2
1888
Box 2 Folder 3
1890
Box 2 Folder 4
1891
Box 2 Folder 5
1892
Box 2 Folder 6
1899

Crippen, Roy

Box 2 Folder 7
1899
Box 2 Folder 8
1900

Crippen, Melissa Daniel

Box 2 Folder 9
1908
Box 2 Folder 10
1913
Box 2 Folder 11
1914
Box 2 Folder 12
1915
Box 2 Folder 13
1916
Box 2 Folder 14-15
1917
Box 2 Folder 16
1918
Box 2 Folder 17
1920