MSS 281 Robert Crosser Papers

              MSS 281
Robert Crosser Papers
30 cubic feet
Standard inventory
Col lectlon Synopsis
Provenance: The Ohio H i s t o r i c a l Society acquired the Robert Crosser Papers in May
1958 and September 1959. Crosser's daughter, Barbara Crosser Sweeny, and son,
Robert Crosser Jr., signed the deed of g i f t in March 1967. A l l e n P r i c e and David
Sturges finished preliminary weeding and sorting i n May 1966. This inventory was
completed by Richard W. Arpi in March 1987.
Property rights: The Ohio H i s t o r i c a l Society owns the property r i g h t s t o t h i s
c o l l e c t i o n .
Copyrights: Barbara Crosser Sweeny and Robert Crosser Jr. have dedicated such
copyrights as they possess i n t h i s c o l l e c t i o n t o the public. Consideration of a l l
other copyrights i s the r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of the author and publisher.
Access: This c o l l e c t i o n i s open under t h e r u l e s and regulations of the Ohio
H i s t o r i c a l Society.
Citation: Researchers are requested t o c i t e c o l l e c t i o n name, c o l l e c t i o n number.
and the Ohio H i s t o r i c a l Society i n a1 l footnote and bibliographic references.
Transfer: Scattered issues of LabQc, 1924- 1954, foreign language newspapers from
Cleveland, and several pamphlets were transferred t o the newspaper c o l l e c t i o n and
l i b r a r y respectively In March 1987.
Biographical sketch: Robert Crosser represented the Twenty- first D i s t r i c t of Ohio
( t h e G a r f i e l d and Newburgh Heights areas of Cleveland) i n the United States House
of Representatives for t h i r t y - e i g h t years. With the exception of two terms, 1919
t o 1922, Crosser served i n Congress from March 1913 t o January 1955 and was
Chairman of the House Committee on i n t e r s f a t e and Foreign Commerce, 1949- 1952. As
a champion of the cause of labor and the working man he gained such support that
New York TLmfgi called him " one of the nation's political marvels, a man who
cannot be beaten."
Robert Crosser was born i n Holytown. Lanarkshire, Scotland, on June 7. 1874, as
the oldest c h i l d of Dr. James Crosser and Barbara Hogg Crosser. In 1881 the
Crosser famlly emigrated t o the United States and a f t e r a short stay i n Cleveland
s e t t l e d i n S a l l n e v i l l e r Ohio. Robert Crosser graduated from S a l l n e v i l l e High
School i n 1893, and from Kenyon College of Gambler, Ohio, In 1897. Crosser then
entered Columbia University Law School only t o drop out a f t e r a few mnths due t o
f i n a n c i a l d i f f i c u l t i e s . After a few months a t the Pittsbur-, Crosser
entered t h e U n i v e r s i t y of Cincinnati Law School. After earning his law degree and
admission t o the Ohio Bar in 1901, Crosser moved t o Cleveland where he found a
p o s i t i o n with the law f i r m o f Ford, Snyder. Henry, and McGraw.
Whi l e In Cleveland. Crosser became a supporter and aide t o Thomas L. Johnson, the
former s t r e e t railway executive turned progressive reform mayor, who shared his
b e l i e f i n the economic and soclal philosophies of Henry George. In 1904 Crosser
became a Professor of Law ( Torts) a t Baldwin Wallace University, where he remained
for two years. From 1907 t o 1910 Crosser practiced law i n a partnership with
Clyde M. White of Cleveland. but p o l i t i c s was i n Crosserrs blood. In 1908 he
stumped the Buckeye State f o r William Jennlngs Bryan, who was running against
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OHIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY
1982 VcLma Avenue Coiumbui. Ohio 43211- 2497 ph: 614.297.2300 fx: 614.297.2411
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