Orville W. Crowder's Chesapeake and Ohio Canal collection
Collection Scope and Content
This collection contains newspaper clippings, newsletters, photographs, maps, guide books, certificates, color slides, reports, pins, membership cards, and other memorabilia. The material dates from 1927-1997, but the bulk of the material dates from 1951-1974. The material was collected by Orville Wright Crowder and relates to his tour and preservation work on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Much of the materials consist of maps of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Ohio.
Dates
- Creation: 1927-1997
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1951 - 1974
Creator
- Crowder, Orville W. (Person)
Conditions Governing Access note
This collection is open for research.
Restrictions on Use
Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.
Historical or Biographical Note
Orville Wright Crowder (1904 - 1974) was a nature enthusiast that worked as a historian and guide for the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Association from 1933 - 1974. His contributions to the association included helping to measure and describe the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, creating various clubs and organizations and leading a daily bird tour. His achievements outside of the C&O Association include helping create, measure and describe the Appalachian trail, becoming the third person to hike the entire length of the trail and founding the World Nature Tours and the World Nature Club. Through his nature tours, he set foot in each country in the world--except five--, as well as hike the highest points of 48 states (excluding Alaska and Hawaii).
Extent
3 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection contains newspaper clippings, newsletters, photographs, maps, guide books, certificates, color slides, reports, pins, membership cards, and other memorabilia. The material dates from 1927-1997, but the bulk of the material dates from 1951-1974. The material was collected by Orville Wright Crowder and relates to his tour and preservation work on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Much of the materials consist of maps of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Ohio.
Arrangement note
Folders are organized alphabetically; topographical maps are arranged in order of the canal's route. This collection is not divided into series.
Location
Materials may be stored off-site, and may require additional retrieval time. Please contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Donald Messersmith 1/26/2006 (accession 2006.032)
Processing Information
This finding aid was revised in 2022 to address harmful descriptive language. During that revision staff edited the description in the Biographical/Historical Note. To see the description prior to revisions, please view the previous version of the Orville W. Crowder's Chesapeake and Ohio Canal collection finding aid.
Subject
- Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Association -- Pictorial works (Organization)
Genre / Form
Geographic
- Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (Md. and Washington, D.C.)
- Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Topical
- Title
- Guide to the Orville W. Crowder's Cheasapeake and Ohio Canal collection, "1927-1997
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- University Archives, Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University
- Date
- 2009
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University Repository
George Washington University Gelman Library
2130 H Street NW
Washington DC 20052 United States of America
speccoll@gwu.edu
