Thomas Frederick Crane was an American academic, lawyer, and pioneering folklorist who played a significant role in the early history of Cornell University. Born in New York, Crane pursued his higher education at Princeton University, earning his undergraduate degree in 1864 and an A.M. in 1867. Although he began studying law at Columbia Law School, a family illness prompted his relocation to Ithaca, New York. There, he was admitted to the bar, practiced law, and took on a role as a librarian for the newly established Cornell University.
Crane's academic interests soon shifted toward linguistics and literature. Cornell's president, A.D. White, offered him a faculty position, leading Crane to teach French, Italian, Spanish, and medieval literature. Over his long tenure at the university, he served as the first Dean of the Arts College and eventually as the university's acting president. His popularity among students earned him the nickname "Tee Fee Crane," a moniker immortalized in Cornell's fight song, "Give My Regards to Davy."
Beyond his administrative and teaching duties, Crane made lasting contributions to the study of folklore. He was one of the founders of the Journal of American Folklore and was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1877. He is particularly remembered for his scholarship in European folklore, most notably his collection Italian Popular Tales, which introduced many traditional stories to English-speaking audiences, with several appearing in the children's publication St. Nicholas Magazine.
