Schenck Family Papers

The Schenck Family Papers were accessioned into the Wright State University Department of Archives and Special Collections, November 21, 1997. They were donated by Mr. Bruce Hubbard of Seattle, Washington. The papers and photographs in this collection date from c. 1860-1985, and deal with the history of the Schenck family, along with the family history of the Owen, Hunter, Crane, and Clay families. There is a major focus on Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Jr., who was the son of Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Sr., and a POW during World War II. The photographs of family and friends in this collection belonged to Joseph Graham Schenck, Jr.

Series 1, Family History, consists of 11 files of Schenck, Owen, Hunter, Crane, and Clay family records.

Sub-series A: The Schenck Family: This sub-series contains a family lineage and a book: Reverend William Schenck: His Family and His Descendants, which gives a history of the Schenck family. The correspondence of William C. Schenck and Robert C. Schenck along with the personal diaries of Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Sr. gives a good description of their daily lives. There are copies of the obituaries of Elizabeth Schenck and Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Sr.

Sub-series B: The Hunter Family: This sub-series mainly deals with the work of Margaret Hunter who aided in the evacuation of Singapore during World War II.

Sub-series C: The Crane Family: A Book: The Crane Family History gives the lineage of the family.

Sub-series D: The Owen Family: A family lineage is given and there is a history of Allison Owen and Philip Owen.

Sub-series E: The Clay Family: This sub-series contains a King James Bible which belonged to Agnes Clay.

Series 2, Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Jr. consists of 7 files of his civilian life and military life. There is a great deal of information and correspondence/V-mail from Joseph Graham Schenck, Jr. as a newly enlisted man and as a POW in Germany during World War II. There are messages from the War Department to the Schenck family informing them of their son's disappearance, his captivity, and his release. A few letters home, discusses his 3 months as a POW.

Series 3, Photographs and Negatives, consists of 5 files of family and misc. photographs and negatives. There are Schenck family photos and some misc. Schenck and Owen photos. There is also 1 file of negatives.

Series 4, Photo Albums, consists of 9 files. The series contains 3 photograph albums. The series also contains a copy of another photo album and the photographs which were removed from the original album. There is also 1 file of clippings which were loosely inserted inside the front cover of one of the photograph albums and 1 file of loose photographs from the same photo album. The photo albums primarily consist of photographs of the Schenck family and their friends.

Series 5, Scrapbooks, consists of 6 files. The series contains 3 scrapbooks which cover the Schenck and Hunter families as well as their friends. There are also 3 files of clippings which were loosely inserted inside the covers of the scrapbooks. Although there are several articles on the Schenck and Hunter families in the clipping files, many of the clippings feature individuals who were friends of the Schenck family.

Series 6, Oversize, consists of 1 file. The series contains a copy of The Cincinnati Commercial which features an article announcing Robert C. Schenck's nomination as the Third Congressional District's Republican candidate for Congress in 1870. The series also contains two diplomas issued to Joseph Graham Crane Schenck, Jr. and a view of The Mercersburg Academy. This file can be found in Oversize Location 25, Folder 9.