Let’s travel into Anne Randolph Crichton’s life

Anne Randolph Crichton’s scrapbook is a window into her life and travels that began in 1938. Based on the collection of mementos from her voyages to Europe, it can be surmised that Anne wanted to remember her trips. There is a baggage claim ticket for a North German Lloyd ship with her name on it (2), which indicates that this scrapbook commemorates her own travels.

The North German baggage claim tickets. Photo provided by the Newcomb College Scrapbook Collection at Tulane University.

It can be interpreted that she wanted to have detailed memories of her times in Europe. She kept even the smallest mementos: everything from a dinner menu on her cruise to Germany (3) to a bill from a restaurant in Paris (19) to a receipt from a hotel (57). She even went so far as to include several flowers.

The dinner menu, the restaurant bill, and the receipt. Photos provided by the Newcomb College Scrapbook Collection at Tulane University.

Her collection of flowers from her travels. Photos provided by the Newcomb College Scrapbook Collection at Tulane University.

In addition, Anne captioned many of the photographs in her scrapbook (14) and some with more detailed descriptions, like her page dedicated to “Frederiksborg Slot (palace)” (56). It seems likely that Anne meant for this scrapbook to be public. Her handwritten notes make it possible for anyone to follow along the memory of her travels.

Examples of Anne’s captions and descriptions. Photos provided by the Newcomb College Scrapbook Collection at Tulane University.

It can also be inferred that Anne was a wealthy and educated woman. Trips to Europe were expensive in the early to mid 1900s and she traveled to multiple destinations, including Paris, Dresden, and Copenhagen. It also can be concluded that she shopped while abroad, in addition to the aforementioned restaurant bills, Anne included a catalogue of “Georg Jensen Silver Handmade Jewelry in Copenhagen” (51) and “the Tourist’s Shopping Guide English – Danish” (58).

A jewelry catalogue and a tourist’s shopping guide. Photos provided by the Newcomb College Scrapbook Collection at Tulane University.

She has a myriad of receipts from her time in Berlin, including a bus ticket and a bill for photographs (34). While abroad she took in all the sights, Anne visited museums, cathedrals and castles. One example of this is Anne’s page dedicated to photographs of “Beautiful Dresden” along with a receipt for a “Visit of the principal Signs of Dresden” (31).

Memories of Anne’s adventures in Berlin and Dresden. Photos provided by the Newcomb College Scrapbook Collection at Tulane University.

Anne also included articles in her scrapbook, which possibly expresses the intelligence needed to keep up with current times. She included news articles titled “Paris: War Darkens The Beautiful and Happy ‘City Of Light’” (7), “Vintage Rhine” which included a large map of the river (21-22), “Frederick II Palaces Now Open To Public” (41), which she marked as having visited on September 2, 1966, “An Early Prussian Master of Power Politics” (45), “The Brezhnev Charade” (91), “Japan’s ‘Logs’ Of War” (91), “Bangkok’s Birthday Bash” (92). Obviously these news reports held importance for Anne or she would not have made the effort to include them in her scrapbook.

The collection of news reports Anne chose for her scrapbook. Photos provided by the Newcomb College Scrapbook Collection at Tulane University.

It seems as if Anne was an adventurous and fun-loving girl. Anne most likely enjoyed drinking alcohol and was not afraid to show it. She included a picture of “Asback Uralt”, a German brandy, and included a note about how delicious and yummy it was (87).

Anne’s reflection on Asback Uralt. Photo provided by the Newcomb College Scrapbook Collection at Tulane University.

Her journey on a steamer from a port in New York City to Cherbourg and then further travels are yet another sign of her adventurous personality. While in Hamburg, Anne met up with her friend Helen’s friends: Fia, Hans and Mrs. Krause, as evidenced by a letter with money wired to her (83) and a picture of Fia (82).

Anne’s adventures in hamburg. Photo provided by the Newcomb College Scrapbook Collection at Tulane University.

It is possible that Anne had plans to travel to Asia. The last few pages of her scrapbook included articles about Thailand (92) and Japan (91).

An article about Bangkok hinting at greater travel ambitions. Photo provided by the Newcomb College Scrapbook Collection at Tulane University.

Even though her scrapbook ends, it does not mean her journey did!

[Editor’s Note: This article was captured as part of the class “Media Histories” taught by Vicki Mayer in collaboration with the Office of Alumni Affairs at Tulane University.]