HISTORICAL NOTE

Mary Jean Craik, born in Andover before 1900, was the daughter of the village shoemaker, James Craik, who had come to Andover from Brechin, Scotland and who died here in 1912. She earned her living as a registered nurse, but her joy in life would seem to be knowing famous people. She traced her ancestry, correctly or nor, to a Dr. James Craik, surgeon in the Continental Army. She brought herself to the attention of famous political figures by writing them letters and poems and by sending them presents of handcrafts. She preserved the letters and gave them to the Andover Historical Society.

There are thirty-six letters and two certificates of the (Warren G.) Harding Memorial Association in the collection. Correspondents include: Mrs. Dwight Eisenhower, Herbert Hoover, J. Edgar Hoover, John F. Kennedy, his father, Joseph P. Kennedy, Leverett Saltonstall and Margaret Truman.

They have been arranged in Alphabetical order.

Processed by Mary F. Morgan, November 1982.