Burton Crane

Burton Crane (1901-01-23-1963-02-03) was a New York Times correspondent on economics during the Occupation Period of Japan. He was a financial writer for the New York Times from 1937 "-" 1963. Aside from finance and writing as a foreign correspondent, Crane was a playwright and an instructor in economics. He was born in Buffalo, New York. The son of a Presbyterian minister, he graduated from Princeton University in 1922.

Editor in Japan

Following stints with several newspapers in the United States, Crane went to Tokyo in 1925, to become financial editor of the Japan Advertiser. He remained until 1936, and gained a reputation as an authority on the Japanese economy.

In 1945 he began service in the Far East with the Office of Strategic Services. At the conclusion of World War II Crane joined the Tokyo Bureau of the New York Times. He was wounded while covering the Korean War.

Author and teacher

He directed six plays for the Tokyo International Players, five of which he wrote. He wrote additional plays and four books about financial subjects. Crane taught at New York University from 1952 "-" 1953. He completed "Smart Money", which was published by Random House in 1964."Burton Crane Dies A N.Y. Times Writer", New York Times, February 4, 1963, pg. 13.]

His wife was Esther and transcripts exist of his recollections on the Occupation Period of Japan in the Columbia University Oral History Research Office. In Japan, He was well-known as an unusual singer for Columbia Records in the early 1930s while he worked for The Japan Advertiser (1927-1936).

Death

Crane died in New York City in 1963, following an extended illness.

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