Finding Aid

Prepared by John Muntean, August 28, 1980; Revised by Gregory Bodwell, May 22, 1997; Last Updated: July 2020

Inclusive Dates: 1911-1980
Extent: 3.33 cubic feet (four boxes)
Physical Location: 11th floor

Biographical Note: Judge Craciun was born on April 21, 1911, in Cleveland, Ohio, and was married on August 28, 1933, to Eugenia Fagadore. They have two sons. Judge Craciun attended Wittenberg University from 1932 to 1934 and John Carroll University from 1935 to 1936. He earned a Doctor of Law degree at Cleveland Marshall Law School which he attended from 1935 to 1936. In addition to a law practice, Judge Craciun operated a real estate company beginning in 1938. An active member of the Republican party, he also held numerous public offices. These included Assistant City Solicitor and Police Prosecutor for the city of Warren from 1945 to 1947; Acting Municipal Judge of Warren from 1949 to 1950 and later from 1957 to 1960; City Solicitor from 1950 to 1951; Special Counsel for the Attorney General of Ohio from 1957 to 1973; Probate Judge of Trumball County from 1966 to 1967; and, Warren Municipal Judge from 1976 to 1978.

Judge Craciun was also very prominent in community affairs, especially the Union and League of Romanian Societies of America. This organization was founded in Ohio in 1906 and incorporated in 1908. Designed to serve as a fraternal life insurance corporation, it also promoted sentiment for Romanian culture and loyalty to the United States. Its membership was limited to individuals of Romanian ancestry. As president of The Union and League from 1948 to 1953, Judge Craciun sought to increase its membership, preserve harmony between the various lodges and encourage loyalty to the United States. Until his death on March 30, 1980, he served as an advisor to the officers of the Union and League.

Scope and Content: Judge Craciun's papers span the years 1911 to 1978, but the bulk of the material relates to the 1940's through the 1960's. General correspondence comprises the majority of the material. Also included in the collection are subject files that pertain to court cases, property transactions, legal documents, and Romanian Orthodox Episcopate matters. In addition, the collection includes various issues of bulletins from Romanian Orthodox Churches plus xerox copies of numerous newspaper clippings. The collection also includes an art print that has been removed to the horizontal file (hf), photographs that have been transferred to the audio-visual (av) file and signatures of notable politicians. These have been removed to the autograph file and xeroxed copies inserted in their respective places. At the end of the collection is a small box of memorabilia that contains items such as ribbons and badges. The collection has been arranged according to type of material or subject, and then chronologically.

This collection will prove especially useful to researchers interested in the field of immigration. Not only did Judge Craciun sponsor a number of Romanian immigrants to the United States, but he was very much involved in the litigation that stemmed from the restrictive membership policy of The Union and the League. Also, the papers shed light on other legal matters that affected the Romanian community such as the building of a new church in Warren, Ohio.

Acquisition Information: Through the efforts of Dr. Glee Wilson, Associate Professor of History at Kent State University, and Mr. George Pulca, the papers of Judge Joseph J. Craciun arrived on June 17, 1980, and on July 10, 1980, at the American History Research Center, Kent State University.

BOX 1
Folder -- Contents

1. Judge Joseph J. Craciun, obituary, Tribune Chronicle, Warren, Ohio: March 4, 1980.
2. Judge Joseph J. Craciun, biography: 1976.
3. Correspondence, general: January 16, 1940 - December 30, 1943.
4. Correspondence, general: July 6, 1944 - December 28, 1946.
5. Correspondence, general: January 6, 1947 - December 17, 1947; undated.
6. Correspondence, general: January 10, 1948 - September 30, 1948.
7. Correspondence, general: October 4, 1948 - December 31, 1948.
8. Correspondence, general: January 2, 1949 - March 29, 1949.
9. Correspondence, general: April 1, 1949 - June 28, 1949.
10. Correspondence, general: July 1, 1949 - September 30, 1949.
11. Correspondence, general: October 3, 1949 - December 31, 1949.
12. Correspondence, general: 1950 - February 27, 1950.
13. Correspondence, general: March 1, 1950 - April 28, 1950.
14. Correspondence, general: May 2, 1950 - June 28, 1950.
15. Correspondence, general: July 5, 1950 - July 31, 1950.
16. Correspondence, general: August 2, 1950 - August 31, 1950.
17. Correspondence, general: September 5, 1950 - October 31, 1950.
18. Correspondence, general: November 1, 1950 - December 23, 1950.
19. Correspondence, general: January 3, 1951 - January 31, 1951.
20. Correspondence, general: February 1, 1951 - February 28, 1951.
21. Correspondence, general: March 2, 1951 - April 27, 1951.
22. Correspondence, general: May 3, 1951 - May 29, 1951.
23. Correspondence, general: June 3, 1951 - June 30, 1951.
24. Correspondence, general: July 3, 1951 - July 29, 1951.
25. Correspondence, general: August 1, 1951 - August 27, 1951.
26. Correspondence, general: September 4, 1951 - September 28, 1951.
27. Correspondence, general: October 1, 1951 - November 30, 1951.
28. Correspondence, general: December 9, 1951 - December 31, 1951.

BOX 2
Folder -- Contents

1. Correspondence, general: January 3, 1952 - January 26, 1952.
2. Correspondence, general: February 4, 1952 - February 25, 1952.
3. Correspondence, general: March 1, 1952 - April 28, 1952.
4. Correspondence, general: May 2, 1952 - June 30, 1952.
5. Correspondence, general: July 2, 1952 - July 18, 1952.
6. Correspondence, general: July 19, 1952 - July 21, 1952.
7. Correspondence, general: July 22, 1952.
8. Correspondence, general: July 23, 1952 - July 24, 1952.
9. Correspondence, general: July 25, 1952 - July 27, 1952.
10. Correspondence, general: July 28, 1952 - July 31, 1952.
11. Correspondence, general: August 1, 1952 - August 31, 1952.
12. Correspondence, general: September 2, 1952 - September 30, 1952.
13. Correspondence, general: October 1, 1952 - October 30, 1952.
14. Correspondence, general: November 8, 1952 - December 31, 1952.
15. Correspondence, general: January 12, 1953 - July 17, 1953.
16. Correspondence, general: August 22, 1953 - December 23, 1953.
17. Correspondence, general: January 5, 1954 - July 31, 1954.
18. Correspondence, general: August 6, 1954 - December 3, 1954.
19. Correspondence, general: January 18, 1955 - December 14, 1955; undated.
20. Correspondence, general: January 20, 1956 - December 12, 1956.
21. Correspondence, general: January 2, 1957 - December 5, 1957.
22. Correspondence, general: January 7, 1958 - June 26, 1958.
23. Correspondence, general: July 25, 1958 - December 15, 1958; undated.
24. Correspondence, general: January 9, 1959 - July 16, 1959.
25. Correspondence, general: June 18, 1960 - September 28, 1960.
26. Correspondence, general: February 3, 1961 - December 1, 1961: undated.
27. Correspondence, general: January 8, 1962 - September 8, 1962.
28. Correspondence, general: March 12, 1963 - December 30, 1963.
29. Correspondence, general: January 29, 1964 - November 27, 1964.
30. Correspondence, general: February 10, 1965 - November 9, 1965.
31. Correspondence, general: January 24, 1966 - November 23, 1966.
32. Correspondence, general: February 17, 1967 - December 10, 1969.
33. Correspondence, general: January 13, 1970 - September 11, 1972.
34. Correspondence, general: January 3, 1973 - December 10, 1973.
35. Correspondence, general: January 21, 1974 - September 13, 1974; undated.
36. Correspondence, general: January 18, 1975 - September 1, 1975.
37. Correspondence, general: April 26, 1976 - December 13, 1976.
38. Correspondence, general: January 16, 1977 - November 1, 1977.
39. Correspondence, general: August 8, 1978 - November 15, 1978; undated.
40. Subject file, Oliver P. Bolton: November 7, 1951 - August 6, 1953.
41. Subject file, Oliver P. Bolton: January 4, 1954 - October 3, 1958.
42. Subject file, Oliver P. Bolton: June 8, 1961 - November [?], 1962.
43. Subject file, Oliver P. Bolton: June 14, 1963 - November 17, 1964.
44. Subject file, Caritate: April 8, 1949 - May 2, 1949; undated.
45. Speeches by Joseph J. Craciun: June 21, 1952; May 14, 1954; July 30, 1956; May 9, 1959; July 28, 1968; undated.
46. Cards of introduction from Alben W. Barkley and Michael J. Kirwan: April 15, 1941. NOTE: Consists of four cards signed by members of Congress. Originals removed to autograph file.

BOX 3
Folder -- Contents

1. Subject file, Romanian Immigrants to the United States sponsored by Joseph J. Craciun: September 22, 1954 - October 26, 1955; undated.
2. Subject file, Romanian Immigrants to the United States sponsored by Joseph J. Craciun: April 13, 1956 - November 27, 1957.
3. Subject file, Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America: June 3, 1948 - July 9, 1956.
4. Subject file, Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America: March 15, 1972 - October 12, 1979.
5. Subject file, Romanian Orthodox Church "Invierea," Warren, Ohio, legal records: July 20, 1954 - August 15, 1968.
6. Subject file, Romanian Orthodox Church "Invierea," miscellaneous financial records: February 13, 1936 - July 11, 1967.
7. Subject file, Romanian Orthodox Church "Invierea," Ladies Auxiliary, constitution and bylaws: July 3, 1971.
8. Subject file, Romanian Orthodox Church "Invierea," Ladies Auxiliary, papers pertaining of Ohio Department of Taxation: September 14, 1961 - October 7, 1961; January 27, 1962.
9. Subject file, The Union and League of Romanian Societies of America, constitution and bylaws: March 24, 1931; August 10, 1947; September 5, 1952; August 26, 1961.
10. Subject file, Romanian Junior Union from The Union and League of Romanian Societies of America, bylaws: June 1, 1956; May 31, 1958.
11. Subject file, Uniunei Societatilor Romine de Ajutor din America, minutes: May 25, 1911.
12. Subject file, The Union and League of Romanian Societies of America, Executive Committee, minutes: March 30, 1974; September 6, 1974.
13. Subject file, The Union and League of Romanian Societies of America, financial records: August 23, 1950; April 12, 1951; April 26, 1953; August 29, 1962; September 1, 1962; December 7, 1962; August 14, 1970; undated.
14. Subject file, The Union and League of Romanian Societies of America, convention materials: April, 1960 - September, 1960.
15. Subject file, The Union and League of Romanian Societies of America, convention materials: June, 1972 - September, 1972; undated.
16. Subject file, The Union and League of Romanian Societies of America, convention material: August 31, 1974.
17. Subject file, The Union and League of Romanian Societies of America, life insurance policies and forms: 1948 - 1964; undated. NOTE: Includes copy of Ohio Department of Insurance, Report of Examination of the Union and League of Romanian Societies of America, Inc. dated December 31, 1950.
18. Legal documents, The Romanian Orthodox Missionary Episcopate of America, a Michigan Corporation v. Alexander Sipos: June 3, 1948 - March 11, 1949.
19. Legal documents, Union and League of Romanian Societies of America, Inc. v. Novak Marku et al: May 3, 1950 - December 11, 1952.
20. Legal documents, Union and League of Romanian Societies of America, Inc. v. Novak Marku et al: May 14, 1953 - October 31, 1955.
21. Legal documents, The Right Reverend Bishop Andrew Moldovan v. Union and League of Romanian Societies of America, an Ohio corporation: January 8, 1951 - May 31, 1956.
22. Legal documents, Charles [Vasile] Mujat and the Society "Gheorghe Lazar," a Michigan non-profit corporation v. Alexandru Costiniu et al: January 25, 1952 - July 11, 1952.
23. Legal documents, Nicholas N. Martin v. Joseph Drugociu and Union and League of Romanian Societies of America, a corporation: April 9, 1953 - June 1, 1955.
24. Legal documents, Canton National Bank, Canton, Ohio v. Romanian Benefit Society Traian and Iului Maniu of Canton, Inc. et al: December 19, 1952 - January 11, 1953.
25. Legal documents, The United Romanian Society "Carpatina" v. The Union and League, R.S.A., Inc. et al: December 11, 1952 - March 28, 1953.
26. Legal documents, Romanian American Publishing Association, a Michigan corporation v. American-Romanian Publishing Co., Inc., a corporation, and the Union and League of Romanian Societies of America, a corporation: March 12, 1957 - March 9, 1958; undated.
27. Legal documents, The Manger Hotel, Cleveland, Ohio v. Union and League Romanian Societies, c/o Carpetina Hall: June 10, 1961 - July 11, 1961.
28. Legal documents, The Union and League of Romanian Societies of America, Inc. v. Ulpia Triana Beneficial Society of Erie: September 17, 1976.
29. Legal documents, Dean Milhovan v. "Avram Iancu" Society, as a corporation, Union and League of Romanian Societies of America as a corporation, and Exilul Solitar, as a corporation: March 26, 1976 - October 11, 1976.
30. Legal documents, pertaining to incorporation of "America Publishing Co., Inc.": August 10, 1953 - April 8, 1964.
31. Miscellaneous legal papers: March 3, 1939 - August 12, 1958.
32. Miscellaneous legal papers: April 12, 1965 - February 28, 1973.
33. Bulletins, Romanian Orthodox Church "Invierea," Warren, Ohio: January, 1950 - January, 1966.
34. Bulletins, Romanian Orthodox Church "Presentation of Our Lord," Akron, Ohio: February, 1969 - October, 1976; undated.
35. Bulletins, Romanian Orthodox Church "Resurrection," Warren, Ohio: March, 1967 - June, 1969.
36. Bulletins, Romanian Orthodox Church "Resurrection": August, 1971 - December, 1971.
37. Bulletins, Romanian Orthodox Church "Resurrection": January, 1972 - December, 1972.
38. Bulletins, Romanian Orthodox Church "Resurrection": January, 1973 - November, 1973.
39. Bulletins, Romanian Orthodox Church "Resurrection": January, 1974 - January, 1977.
40. Bulletins, Romanian Orthodox Church "St. Mary's," Cleveland, Ohio: September, 1975.

BOX 4
Folder -- Contents

1. Pamphlets, information on judicial matters: 1952; 1955.
2. Pamphlets, information on communism and Romania: 1949-1952.
3. Pamphlets, information on United States Customs: 1939-1940;1949.
4. Pamphlets, information on the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate in America: 1951 - 1952.
5. List of American language newspapers returned to donor.
6. List of Romanian language newspapers returned to donor.
7. Miscellaneous newspaper clippings, identified.
8. Miscellaneous newspaper clippings, unidentified.
9. Print from Ethnographic Museum of Peasant Art (hf).
10. Photograph, Union and League of Romanian Societies of America, officers: September 9, 1948 (av).
11. Photograph, American-Romanian Committee and President Truman: May 28, 1952 (av).
12. Photograph, Trumball County Bar, Flag raising on Law Day: May 1, 1965 (av).

NOTE: At the end of this container is a small box of memorabilia including items such as ribbons, badges and a civil defense arm band.