The Charles Newton Brown Family Papers are divided into five series: correspondence; the papers of Charles Newton Brown, of Irving Henry Brown, and of Nellie Melvina Williams Brown; and photographs.
The CORRESPONDENCE, 1870-circa 1935, is arranged as it was received from the donor in five segments: Brown Family; Brown Family Genealogy; between Charles Brown and Nellie Williams, 1881-1883; Irving Brown; and between Irving and Mary Brown. Included in the Brown family correspondence, 1870-1933, are letters received, as well as an occasional letter sent by Charles, Nellie, and Irving Brown. Many of the earlier letters were written by Nellie's relatives before her marriage. Also included are condolences to Charles and Nellie after their son Charles William (1885-1899) died; letters from Irving to his parents while he was traveling and studying in Europe and teaching at various academies and universities; letters written to Charles and Nellie by Mary Sullivan before and after her marriage to Irving; and other family matters.
The Brown family genealogy correspondence, 1895-1917 (primarily 1904-1906), is arranged alphabetically, and chronologically thereunder. Included are letters to and from Cyrus Henry Brown, Westerly, Rhode Island, who compiled the genealogy; and from Brown relatives who supplied genealogical forms and notes filed here with the Charles Newton Brown papers (boxes 9-10). Correspondence, 1881-1883, between Charles Brown and Nellie Williams documents their courtship. The Irving Brown correspondence is from associates and others interested in his study of gypsies, from several European literary figures, and from George Woodberry, a retired University of Wisconsin professor, including typed selections of Woodberry's letters to Irving and Mary Brown. Letters between Irving and Mary Brown discuss Irving's travels and studies abroad, and later, their marital problems.
CHARLES NEWTON BROWN'S PAPERS, 1880-1926, include alphabetically arranged genealogical forms and notes collected during the compilation of the Brown genealogy. Included also are correspondence and financial records, 1913-1925, of the Dane County Bar Association documenting Brown's term as secretary; and annual reports, 1906-1925, and correspondence, 1920-1925, of the Madison Literary Club. There is also correspondence, 1905, of the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association; and correspondence, 1923-1925, and financial reports, 1923-1924, of the United Bond and Mortgage Company. Charles Brown's diaries, 1912-1916; personal financial records, 1885-1926; and writings and notes, 1880-1915, including law lecture notebooks, law degree thesis, and essays on World War I, the Boer War, and other topics are found here. The miscellany section, 1881-1920, includes contracts, legal agreements, and specification for his homes in Madison; certificates of public service; legal papers; namebooks (lists of names); and passports. The photographs include images of parks, roads, and lakes in the region of Madison, Wisconsin, circa 1890-1915, probably made by Charles N. Brown in conjunction with the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association. These images include views of Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, Lake Waubesa, the Yahara River area, Tenney Park, Henry Vilas Park, Brittingham Park, and scenic drives such as Lake Mendota Drive and Farwell Drive.
IRVING HENRY BROWN'S PAPERS, 1899-1938, include his diaries, 1903-1928; writings and notes, 1904-1938, consisting of draft copies and reviews of some of his published works on gypsies, as well as poetry, essays, themes, and lecture notes; and files of miscellaneous subjects. The miscellaneous subject file, 1899-1938, includes an account book, birth certificates for Brown and his two children, documents on Brown's marriage and subsequent divorce, notebooks, academic records from the University of Wisconsin and Columbia University, travel documents, and two autographed copies of Jean-Raoul Daruis' writings.
The papers, 1816-1924, of NELLIE MELVINA WILLIAMS BROWN include financial records, 1900-1924, consisting of a fire insurance policy and leases for apartments owned by Nellie Brown and her sister, Jennie M. Williams; and writings and notes, 1871-1878, consisting of academic assignments and notebooks. The miscellany section, 1816-1881, includes many financial records of the Williams family such as bills of sale; mortgage assignments and deeds; plot location surveys and certificates; wills; and programs for school activities in which Nellie Williams participated.
The PHOTOGRAPHS series consists of photographs attributed to Charles Newton Brown showing parks, roads, and lakes in the Madison area, circa 1895-1915, which was probably done as part of Brown's work with the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association. The Association was part of the nationwide City Beautiful Movement of the late 19th century that sought to improve the urban environment through scenic drives and public parks. One of the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association's first projects was Farwell Drive, a scenic drive around the eastern shore of Lake Mendota. Other projects included Tenney Park in 1900; the creation of a parkway along the Yahara River; the creation of Henry Vilas Park in 1905; and work on Brittingham Park. The collection includes images of these parks, along with other areas in Madison, and may have been used in documenting work undertaken by the Association. Images in the collection also show how the shoreline near downtown Madison and the University of Wisconsin had been developed by the turn of the century while shoreline away from downtown remained undeveloped.
The photographs were originally housed in five albums (labeled A through E) created by Historical Society staff. The photographs have been removed from these albums. The original album order and subheadings have been maintained and the folder numbers are the same as the original album page numbers.
Album A is divided into three areas. The first is general views of Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, and Lake Waubesa; activities on and near the lakes including boating, picnicking, and ice fishing; and Madison and the University as viewed across the lakes. The second documents the rustic bridge on Lake Mendota Drive. The third is images of Picnic Point on Lake Mendota.
Album B contains images of roads which were part of the Park and Pleasure Drive including University Drive, Lake Mendota Drive, University Bay Drive, and Farwell Drive as well as roads on the University grounds and in University Woods. The bulk of the images in this album are of Lake Mendota Drive and include views along the drive, the Raymer Farm, Triangle Park, Big Spring, and Bay Road. Images of the university grounds include Dean's Drive and Draer's Drive.
Album C has two sections: Farwell Drive and Tenney Park. The Farwell Drive photographs include views of Governor's Island, the State Hospital grounds, and Maple Bluff. The Tenney Park images include scenes of the Tenney Park Lagoon, Willow Walk, and people gathering hay in the park.
Album D has nine sections: Yahara River; Monona Bay; Brittingham Park; Henry Vilas Park, Henry Vilas Parkway, and Lake Wingra; Wingra Creek/Canal and Lake Wingra; Owen Park; Steven's Hill; Black Hawk Lane; and an old quarry on Lake Mendota Drive. The majority of the images in this album are of the Yahara River and the Yahara River Parkway and document bridges that cross the river, construction of the Steensland Bridge, the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Bridge, the malt house near the river, and Lapham School on Dayton Street. The Brittingham Park photographs include images of crops in the park, filling in Monona Bay to create the Brittingham Park, and boys swimming in Monona Bay.
Album E contains miscellaneous views of lakes, parkways, and parks presumably in the Madison, Wisconsin, area. The majority of the images are not identified. In addition to views of lakes, parkways, and parks, the album also includes images of buildings, residential streets, cattle in the Yahara River, construction of roadways, and what appears to be a rock quarry.
PH Mss 231: Additional photographs including images probably made by Charles N. Brown in conjunction with the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association, circa 1890-1915. There are also photographs related to books on gypsies written by Irving H. Brown, and family photography and ephemera.
PH 1270: Photographs related to gypsies in the Sacro Monte district near Granada, Spain, collected by Irving Brown, circa 1930-1935.
PH 1374: Portrait photographs related to the Brown family and their friends and associates, circa 1875-1925.
PH 1375: Album of photographs related to the childhood of William Brown, compiled by his father, Irving Brown, circa 1916-1925.
PH 1428: Photographs made from original Charles N. Brown negatives of the Sell Brothers and Adam Forepaugh Circus in Madison, Wisconsin, May 31, 1898. The photographs include images of elephants, camels, circus employees, a tent raising, and cooks at work.
PH 1429: Photographs created by Charles N. Brown of a parade, decorations, and encampment for the Wisconsin semi-centennial celebration in Madison, Wisconsin, 1898.
PH 1448: Transparencies, 1898, consisting of views in Savannah, Georgia, of monuments, cemeteries, avenues of live oak trees.
PH 1449: Transparencies, circa 1835-1886, consisting of views that are likely all from Nassau, the Bahama Islands, including buildings, churches, fortifications, street views, harbor, beaches, groups, and cabins.
WHi(B82), WHi(B83), and WHi(B84): Negatives made and collected by Charles N. Brown. Included are images of Madison, Wisconsin, Devils Lake, the Wisconsin River, as well as other states including New York and Florida.
