Martin Lalor Crimmins papers

Collection

Identifier: urn:taro:utexas.cah.01719

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Martin Lalor Crimmins Papers, 1813-1954, include correspondence, research files, notes, muster rolls, a diary, photographs, and manuscripts, most of which are photostatic copies. The papers concern Crimmins’ career as an army officer, herpetologist, and military historian, and pertain to the history of the United States Army and Confederate Army, the Republic of Texas military forces, the Texas Revolution, the Mexican War, and Indian wars. Furthermore, the papers relate to the history of Reconstruction in Texas, military medicine, Texas forts, and biographies of military officers.

Maps in the Martin Lalor Crimmins Paper have been separated to the Maps Collection. See repository staff for more information.

Dates

Creation: 1813 - 1954

Creator

Crimmins, Martin Lalor, 1876-1955 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

There are no use restrictions on this collection. Publisher is responsible for complying with copyright law.

Biographical / Historical

Martin Lalor Crimmins (1876-1955), army officer, herpetologist, and military historian, was born in New York City. He attended Georgetown College in Washington, D.C., 1891-1895, and the University of Virginia Medical School, 1895-1898. Before he could graduate, however, he joined the First United States Volunteer Cavalry (also known as the Rough Riders) in the Spanish-American War, and earned multiple promotions, ending with his reaching colonel status in 1921. He retired from military service due to physical disability in the line of duty in 1926 and moved to San Antonio.

Crimmins was known for his work in the under-developed field of snakebite treatment, especially as he developed his own immunity to the serum and then gave blood transfusions to victims. For this effort he earned the Walter Reed Award for courageous service. He later published over 200 articles, mostly with historical themes, and was an active member of a number of Texas associations related to science and history. He married Margaret Custis Cole in 1901 and Josephine Yost in 1918. He died in 1955.

Source: Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. Crimmins, Martin Lalor, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/CC/fcr19.html (accessed July 7, 2010).

Extent

2 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The papers concern Crimmins’ career as an army officer, herpetologist, and military historian, and relate to his activities in the United States Army and Confederate Army, the Republic of Texas military forces, the Texas Revolution, the Mexican War, and Indian wars.

Accession Number(s)

1936; 1950

Separated Materials

Maps in the Martin Lalor Crimmins Paper have been separated to the Maps Collection. See repository staff for more information.

OCLC Number

659860252

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Claire Maxwell, April 1985.

Basic processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with funds from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) for the Briscoe Center’s History Revealed: Bringing Collections to Light project, 2009-2011.