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McCrea, Walter Jackson, 1876-1946

Walter Jackson McCrea fonds. -- 1892-1947. -- 50 cm of textual records and graphic material.

Walter McRaye, as he called himself, lecturer and entertainer, was born in Merrickville, Ontario on 31 December 1876. He was the great grandson of Major Thomas Smyth, founder of Smiths Falls. He acquired through his lectures and informal talks the sobriquet "The Apostle of Canadianism". McRaye toured with E. Pauline Johnson in Canada, Britain and the United States from 1901 to 1909. He often recited the Habitant poetry of Dr. W. H. Drummond. He wrote his memoirs, Town Hall Tonight, in 1929. Pauline Johnson and Her Friends was published posthumously in 1947. He died in 1946.

There have been four accruals. The first accrual consists of correspondence with among others: William Jennings Bryan, Daphne Du Maurier, Stephen Leacock, Charles G. D. Roberts, Duncan Campbell Scott, Ernest Thompson Seton, and Bliss Carman; manuscripts by among others Archibald Lampman, Marjorie L.C. Pickthall, Charles G. D. Roberts; news clippings and photographs. The second accrual consists of news clippings. The third accrual is a letter by McCrae about Pauline Johnson. The fourth accrual consists of a letter and 2 postcards to Jean Deane, 1905-1906. The fonds was supplemented by McRaye's collection of mainly Canadian books, as well as presentation copies of books given to him by Ethelwyn Wetherald and Pauline Johnson. The books have been catalogued. A listing can be found in the master file. The Pauline Johnson archival material in the fonds was transferred to the E. Pauline Johnson fonds.

Title based on content of fonds.
The first accrual was acquired from Pearl McCrea in March 1948. The second accrual (63-1995) was acquired from Dr. Paul Potter in 1995. The third accrual (15-2004) was acquired from John Rush Books in February 2004. The fourth accrual (71-2010) was acquired from Kathy and Norm Brown in 2010.
Finding aid available in hard copy and electronically.
There are no access restrictions.
Further accruals are not expected.

Contact: archives@mcmaster.ca
Last Reviewed: March 9, 2011
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