HOLLIS 601644
The Lotta Crabtree Will Case, 1870-1928 : Finding
Aid.
Harvard Law School Library, Cambridge, MA 02138
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Harvard Law School
April 1969
© 2003 The President and Fellows of Harvard College
Repository: Harvard Law School Library, Harvard
University
Location: Harvard Depository
Call No.: HOLLIS 601644
Creator: Crabtree, Lotta, 1847-1924
Title: The Lotta Crabtree Will Case,
1870-1928
Quantity:
21 boxes
Abstract: Materials relating to legal action resulting
from the probate of the will of Lotta Crabtree, actress, of Boston. Papers
assembled and used by the defense (special administrators of the estate)
comprise the bulk of the collection.
Prepared by
Erika Chadbourn, April 1969.
These materials relating to the Lotta Crabtree Will Case were presented
to the Harvard Law School in January 1969 by Theodore Chase, Esq., the son of
the late Frederick H. Chase, who was counsel for the special administrators of
the Lotta Crabtree Estate. These Papers were loaned by Mr. Chase to Raymond P.
Baldwin and David Dempsey in connection with the research they conducted while
writing their book The Triumphs and Trials of Lotta Crabtree (New York: William
Morrow, 1968) which deals with the actress' life and the legal contest that
arose out of the probate of her will. At the time of the will contest, Mr.
Baldwin had just joined the law firm of Stewart and Chase which represented the
special administrators of the Lotta Crabtree Estate.
Access to these papers is governed by the rules and regulations of the
Harvard Law School Library. This collection is open to the public, but is
housed off-site at Harvard Depository and requires 2 business-day advance notice for
retrieval. Consult the Special Collections staff for further information.
The Harvard Law School Library holds copyright on some, but not all, of
the material in our collections. Requests for permission to publish material
from this collection should be directed to the Special Collections staff.
Researchers who obtain permission to publish from the Harvard Law School
Library are also responsible for identifying and contacting the persons or
organizations who hold copyright.
The majority of the approximately 2,000 items in the collection of papers
relating to the Lotta Crabtree Will Case span the years 1924 to 1928; however,
some of the research material such as
genealogies, play-bills of Lotta's theatrical
appearances, birth certificates, etc. date back well into the 1800's. There are
a few post-trial items that date later than 1928.
The Papers include
correspondence, notes taken by counsel, research
notes, so-called "day-books" of correspondence, lists, printed briefs,
cancelled checks and bank deposit books
(financial records),
photographs, Photostats,
scrapbooks, registers,
clippings, play-bills, and other printed
material.
The Papers relate to the legal actions which arose out of the probate of
Lotta Crabtree's will. Since Mr. Chase's father was counsel for the special
administrators of the Estate, the actual documents in these files are mainly
papers assembled and used by the defense, such as the detective reports, lists
and statements of witnesses, etc. The collection includes two New Testaments
and a copy of
The Triumphs and Trials of Lotta Crabtree.
The major portion of the correspondence is with
Frederick H. Chase and
Frank H. Steward, counsel for the Estate.
-
Nov. 7, 1847
-
Charlotte (Lotta) Mignon Crabtree born
N.Y.C.
-
Sept. 25, 1924
- Lotta dies at
Hotel Brewster in Boston.
-
1854-1920
-
John (Jack) Ashworth Crabtree, brother of
Lotta.
-
June 30-July 30, 1925
-
Ida May Blankenburg trial.
-
Aug. 12-14, 1925
- Blankenburg contempt hearing.
-
Dec. 13-23, 1926
-
March 30, 1927
- Judge Prest delivers decision in Cockburn trial.
-
April 18, 1927
- Cockburn appeal to Mass. Supreme Judicial Court.
-
April 27, 1927
-
Annie Fretwell brings suit.
-
June 14, 1928
-
Aug. 25, 1928
- Judge Prest dismisses Fretwell petition.
-
Nov. 27, 1928
- Gen. Edwards appointed sole executor of will.
The following catalog entries represent persons, organizations, and
topics documented in this collection. An entry for each appears in the Harvard
On Line Library Information System (HOLLIS) and other automated bibliographic
databases. THIS IS NOT AN INDEX.
Chase, Frederick H.
Crabtree, Lotta, 1847-1924.
Earp, Wyatt, 1848-1929.
Stewart, Frank H., 1873-1948.
Decedents' estates.
Playbills.
Scrapbooks.
Actresses.
-
Series I.
PRE-TRIAL DATA
-
1-7
Chronology: Historical dates circa
1880
-
1-10 to 1-11
Legal papers: Lotta
2 folders (approx. 20 items)
From Morse files; Olin, Clark & Phelps of N.Y. Postcard from
Jack Crabtree
-
1-12
Birth and death certificates:
John Crabtree and
Ida May Blankenburg
-
2-1
Death certificates:
John A. and Annie Crabtree
1 folder (6 items)
-
2-2
Lollis, A. T.: Re death of
Jack Ashworth Crabtree
1 folder (3 items)
-
2-7
Interviews - Lotta's friends
1 folder (5 items)
-
2-10
Statements about Lotta re 5th codicil of will
1 folder (2 items)
-
3-1
Rogers, John R.
1 folder (6 items)
-
4-1 to 4-3
Newspaper clippings re Lotta
3 folders
-
4-8
Genealogy - Minor contestants
-
Series II.
TRIAL AND POST-TRIAL PERIOD: GENERAL MATTERS
-
5-5
Special Administrator's inventory and letters of
appointment
-
5-7 to 5-9
Stewart, Frank H.: Notes
3 folders
-
6-1 to 6-2
Chase, Baldwin, Murphy: Notes re Western depositions
2 folders
-
6-3 to 6-7
Investigations
5 folders
-
6-3
Col. Breckenridge reports
-
6-5
Notes on investigations (alph. by name of person
investigated)
-
6-10
Detective rports
Feb. - July 1925
1 folder (tied together)
-
7-1
Keller, Harry E.: Reports (Seymour
corr.)
-
7-3 to 7-5
Probate papers: New York, Massachusetts, San Francisco
3 folders
-
7-6
-
(a)
The New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. New
York,
Thomas Nelson, n.d.
Inscribed: Miss Lotta Crabtree,
Winthrop, Mass.,
Sept. 5th, 1923. Has some quotations on front and
back fly leaves, text underlined, also loose sheets of Biblical quotations.
-
Series III.
COCKBURN FILES
-
7-9 to 7-10
Chase trial and witness notes
2 folders
-
7-9
My [Chase's] notes of testimony
-
7-10
Trial notes; misc. notes
-
8-1 to 8-2
Newspaper clippings; trial
2 folders
-
8-6
Cockburn marriage license
1 folder (3 items)
-
8-7
List of depositions
1 folder (1 item)
-
8-8
Motion to strike out appearance of Cockburn
1 folder (1 item)
-
8-9
Expenses:
Joseph Crabtree;
David Steckman
1 folder (2 items)
-
8-14
Chase, Frederick H.: Notes for Cockburn argument
-
8-15 to 8-16
Baldwin, Raymond P.: Notes
2 folders
-
9-3
Witness statements obtained by Col. Murphy: Arizona,
California
-
9-4
Abstract of Hays depositions
-
10-6 to 10-9
Petition for discovery
4 folders
-
10-6
Whipple's attempt to make special administrators show all
documents in their possession,
1925
-
10-7
Cockburn appeal,
1927
-
10-8
Original petition, notes, etc.,
1925
-
10-14 to 10-16
Depositions
3 folders
-
11-1 to 11-6
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court: Briefs, etc.
6 folders
-
11-7 to 13-6
Cockburn depositions
17 folders (17 items)
-
11-7
Petition to strike out appearance of Carlotta Cockburn, p. 1
- 250
-
11-9
Deposition on behalf of petitioner, v. I, Tuscon,
Ariz.
-
12-1
Same, v. II,
Tuscon, Arizona
-
12-2
v. III,
Tuscon, Ariz.
-
12-3
v. III,
Tuscon, Ariz.
-
12-4
v. IV,
San Francisco, Calif.
-
12-5
v. V,
Los Angeles, Calif.
-
12-6
v. V,
Los Angeles, Calif.
-
12-7
v. VI,
St. Louis, Missouri
-
12-8
v. VI,
St. Louis, Missouri
-
13-2
v. VIII,
Hannibal, Missouri
-
13-3
v. IX,
Phoenix, Ariz.
-
13-4
v. X,
Los Angeles, Calif.
-
13-5
v. XIII,
Los Angeles, Calif.
-
Series IV.
BLANKENBURG FILES
-
14-1
Investigation: Crehore
-
14-3
Investigation: Lotta's whereabouts
-
14-4
Pleadings - re depositions
-
14-6
Pleadings, arguments, decisions
-
14-13 to 14-14
Bill of review following contempt proceedings
2 folders
-
14-15 to 14-18
Baldwin, Raymond P. - Notes
4 folders
-
15-1
Chase, Frederick H. - Notes
-
15-5
Teachers Daily Register,
Pine Bluff School,
Rock Island County, Ill. Register book with
handwritten entry marks,
May 1884 - June 1890; shows entries for
Ida Crabtree
-
15-6 to 15-10
Blankenburg depositions
5 folders
-
16-5 to 16-7
Trial testimony
3 folders
-
16-8
Commitment proceedings
1 folder
-
Series V.
FRETWELL FILES
-
17-1
Chronology, biographical data
-
17-2
Legal papers, Fretwell law
-
17-5 to 17-6
Annie S. Fretwell v.
Crabtree Estate
2 folders
-
17-7 to 17-10
Motions, petitions, arguments: Fretwell and other claimants
4 folders
-
Series VI.
MINOR CLAIMANTS
-
17-14
Lists, motions for endorser of costs
-
18
Interrogatories
2 volumes (A - F, G - Z)
-
Series VII.
DAY-BOOK, MISCELLANEOUS FILES
law00113
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