William Henry Crocker

William Henry Crocker
William Henry Crocker
Born	Template:Birth date; Sacramento, California, U.S.
Died	September 25, 1937 (aged 76); Hillsborough, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Banker, philanthropist
Known for	President of Crocker National Bank; philanthropy in California; art collection; stamp collecting

William Henry Crocker I (January 13, 1861 – September 25, 1937) was a prominent member of the affluent Crocker family and an influential Republican leader. He held the position of president at Crocker National Bank, significantly shaping the banking industry in California.

Early life

Crocker was born on January 19, 1861, in Sacramento, California. He was the son of Charles Crocker (1822-1888), one of the renowned "Big Four" railroad entrepreneurs responsible for constructing the Central Pacific Railroad. His uncle, Edwin B. Crocker, was a prosperous attorney and a justice on the California Supreme Court who, alongside his wife Margaret (née Norton), established the Crocker Art Museum, a major cultural landmark.

The family's influence extended beyond business into arts and entertainment: William's nephew Harry Crocker gained fame as a film actor in the 1920s and worked closely with Charlie Chaplin, while his cousin Aimée Crocker was noted for her lavish lifestyle and global prominence. Another relative, Henry J. Crocker, was a well-known San Francisco entrepreneur who engaged in a notable legal conflict with William.

William received his education at Phillips Academy, Andover and later at Yale University, where he joined the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity (Phi chapter).

Career

As president of Crocker National Bank, Crocker played a pivotal role in funding San Francisco’s rebuilding efforts following the devastation caused by the 1906 earthquake and fire.

Additionally, he served on the board of directors for the Sperry Flour Co., an international enterprise operating a network of flour mills across the United States as well as overseas locations including Hong Kong and Norway.

Philanthropy

In response to the destruction of his and his father’s neighboring mansions during the 1906 earthquake, Crocker donated their family's entire Nob Hill city block in 1907 to facilitate construction of Grace Cathedral.

He dedicated nearly three decades as a member of the University of California Board of Regents and financed essential medical research infrastructure, such as the million-volt x-ray apparatus at UC hospital and Berkeley’s Crocker cyclotron utilized for neutron therapy. In 1936, he contributed $75,000 to support Ernest O. Lawrence’s laboratory at UC Berkeley—later named the "Crocker Radiation Laboratory"—which housed the Berkeley 60" cyclotron. Components from this cyclotron were eventually moved to UC Davis to establish the Crocker Nuclear Laboratory.

Crocker also led efforts as chairman of both the Panama–Pacific Exposition Committee and SE Community Chest; he played a crucial part in developing the San Francisco Opera House and Veterans Building. Furthermore, he founded Crocker Middle School located in Hillsborough, California. The residence of his uncle Edwin B. Crocker in Sacramento was transformed into the Crocker Art Museum, recognized as the first art museum founded in the Western United States.

Art Collection

Throughout their lives, William H. Crocker and his wife Ethel assembled an extensive art collection.

Their acquisitions included an impressionist painting from Claude Monet’s Haystacks series titled "Meule, soir d'hiver" (1899–1890), created in 1894. Unfortunately, this piece along with much of their collection was destroyed during the Great Fire that followed the 1906 earthquake.

Ethel's collection of Egyptian and Byzantine textiles survived these events; it was exhibited at the San Francisco Museum of Art until 1953 before being transferred to Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, D.C.

Philately

William H. Crocker, like his relative Henry J. Crocker, was a distinguished collector of postage stamps. Among his prized possessions was the rare block of four 1869 24-cent U.S. stamps featuring an inverted center, a unique item once owned by William Thorne.

This remarkable collection endured the 1906 catastrophe because it was traveling abroad at the time.

Personal life

William Crocker was married to Ethel Sperry (1861–1934), who played a significant role as treasurer for San Francisco’s Woman’s Belgian Relief Fund and held the position of State Chair for The Woman’s Section of the Commission for Relief in Belgium (CRB). Concurrently, William led the men's committee for the same organization, which dispatched the initial 'State Ship', the SS Camino, carrying food assistance to Rotterdam in 1914 during the First World War. Ethel also stood out as a prominent supporter of French Impressionist art within California.

Following the destruction of their San Francisco residence in the 1906 earthquake, William moved his family in 1910 to a new estate in Hillsborough, California. This impressive home, called "New Place", currently serves as part of the clubhouse for the Burlingame Country Club. Architect Lewis P. Hobart designed the house, with gardens created by Bruce Potter. Some original lantern slides depicting the property, taken by artist Frances Benjamin Johnston, have been preserved.

Children

The couple had four children:

Ethel Mary Crocker (1891–1964), who wed French former Count André de Limur in 1918; their union brought the Crockers their first granddaughter.
William Willard Crocker (1893–1964), who married Ruth Hobart—granddaughter of silver industry magnate Walter S. Hobart—in 1923. After divorcing in 1948, he remarried twice; notably, his third wife later became spouse to the 10th Duke of Manchester.
Helen Crocker (1897–1966), who became wife to Henry Potter Russell, son of Charles Howland Russell.
Charles Crocker (1904–1961), who first married Virginia Bennett in 1926 and subsequently divorced; he later married Marguerite Brokaw in 1938. After his passing, she remarried.

William H. Crocker passed away on September 25, 1937, at his residence in Hillsborough, California.

Legacy

In recognition of his contributions, Crocker Middle School located in Hillsborough, California, bears his name.

External links