Crisp Photographic Collection

Harry Edward Crisp and his twin brother Herbert were born in Elyria on July 28, 1973. Their parents were George E. Crisp and Mary Louisa Wyman Crisp. Harry attended Oberlin College in 1893 and 1894. He married Lucy Utterbach (1883-1925) on September 15, 1904. Harry owned and managed the Peerless Laundry and Dry Cleaning Company in Elyria, Ohio. Around the turn of the century Harry photographed the Chicago Exposition, Great Lakes boats, and the cities of San Francisco, Washington, and New York. He died on August 19, 1910, in Elyria.

Harry’s younger brother Ernest John Crisp was born in Elyria on December 18, 1877, the youngest of four boys. He attended the Oberlin Academy in 1897 and 1898 and the Case Institute of Applied Science from 1898 to 1902. He graduated from Case with a B.S. in civil engineering in 1902 and received an additional Civil Engineer degree from Case in 1909. As a civil engineer he was involved in the construction of several water works, pumping stations, and bridges in Ohio. When Harry died in 1910 Ernest began managing his laundry company, and at various times he was director of Elyria Savings and Trust Company, the Retail Merchants Association of Elyria and the Elyria Chamber of Commerce. He married Laura Dobbins on June 12, 1907 and they were divorced in 1912. He later married Estella Alice Hively in 1921; their daughter Jean was born in 1922. Ernest died on June 22, 1946 in Elyria.

Sources Consulted

Biographical sketches by Ernest Crisp’s daughter, Jean Crisp Bowen.

Student files of Harry and Ernest Crisp (RG 28).

Note written by Jean Crisp Bowen.