"Cranks"
Description only — contact the archiveRC0096-721
This description was harvested from its parent's finding aid, but the source catalogue gave no direct link for it. The link opens the nearest enclosing description; look there for RC0096-721.
- Held by
- — via McMaster University Archives and Research Collections
- Dates
- 1943-1970; predominant 1960-1970 (indexed as 1943–1970)
- Level
- series
- Scope & content
- Series consists of letters addressed to Russell which are written in a nonsensical, ridiculous and/or indignant manner. Some crank mail elicited a response from Russell or his secretary, Ralph Schoenman, and may include typescript copies of replies, but most letters were left unanswered. A considerable amount of letters are from Peter Askey; one box (11.82) contains only letters received from him. Many letters were also sent anonymously. Acquired as part of Archives 2, the print finding aid for which states: “Every well-known figure must receive crank mail, but Russell seems to have received more than his share. Possibly it was his reputation as a sage that attracted the letters. His staff regularly annotated such mail "crank". … While there may be nothing so dismal as an anonymous crank letter, pseudonymous crank letters can be very entertaining. See, for example, the letters and enclosed "cheques" (ranging from $5000 to $2,000,000,000) from the Virgin Express Alexandra I.”
- Location
No place found in this description yet.
- Access & use
- There are no access restrictions.
Where
More details
- Extent
- 50 cm of textual records (5 boxes)
- Harvested
- 2026-10-15T07:23:50Z · source datestamp n/a · ead