Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary
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Henry James Brown Papers, Manuscripts and Rare Books Department, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Gift: 46 items,
3/3/1994.
Gift: 1 item,
4/1/1994.
Henry James Brown was born 12 October 1811. He studied with George Caleb Bingham and Thomas Sully. He was a portrait painter and a Methodist clergyman and farmer. He married Susan Ann Hobson and died 9 April 1855. His daughter was Salina Brown who married J. S. Worsham.
Papers, 1830-1921, of the Henry James Brown family. There is a biographical sketch of Henry James Brown an artist, and Methodist clergyman, as well as sketches drawn by him and sermons written by him. The papers also are of other members of his family. Includes a cut-out valentine and a fold-out book of poems illustrated in water color both made by Mary A. Brown, sister of Henry James Brown; cut-out valentines and a bookmark made by Salina Brown Worsham; and correspondence between Salina Brown Worsham and J. S. Worsham, her husband.
Each series in the collection is arranged in chronlogical order.
OrganizationThis collection is organized into 5 series: 1. Letters, 2. Sermons, 3. Items of or Dealing With Art, 4. Newspaper Clippings, and 5. Genealogical Material - Addition.
Paintings by Henry James Brown, which were presented with the collection, are now part of the Muscarelle Museum, College of William and Mary.
Re: papers received.
Also including a note on Henry James Brown and family. ADr.
Family affairs.
S.B. was the daughter of Henry James Brown.
Re: Christmas: fireworks nearly every night--young men dressed as Rag muffins--several Christmas trees-- one Christmas present only.
Re: portion of inheritance from the estate of Henry J. Brown. Enclosure: an account sheet.
Compares the Mississippi River with the James River; comments unfavorably on the Mardi Gras celebration in Memphis.
Re: snow and a sleigh ride.
Re: Trip back from Virginia; married a couple on his way; unpleasant visit to a poorhouse; visits with Salina's sister, Mrs. Winfree, and other members of the family; the proposal that he has made to her.
Re: his activities in raising cattle.
Sent with a box he has made on occasion of her commencement; news of Jennie; the temperance movement "is all the rage."
Brief letter.
Re: his planned visit to Virginia.
Re: Yellow Fever which is causing some towns to be deserted and some of the railroads to stop running-- many refugees from Memphis.
Re: the engagement of S.B.; enclosure a photo.
On his way home.
Re: inherited property, family news; "Love to Joe and a kiss to your little baby."
Ill in bed, she writes of family affairs-- of her longing for her husband but her hate of Mississippi.
Re: his failing health; family affairs.
First line: "How transient the things of this life."
Endorsed, Rev. Henry J. Brown and Susan S. Brown, Powhatan County, Virginia.
Endorsed: "This paper was written by my father Henry J. Brown in 1839...June 16, 1923...Salina J. Worsham."
It probably represents a local scene in Lynchburg, Virginia, toward the end of the 19th century.
Photographs of the Henry James Brown paintings.
Addition to the Henry James Brown Papers. Photocopied book entitled "The Brownes/Browns of London, Virginia, and Missouri," (which includes a sketch of Henry James Brown, artist of Virginia) by Charles Walker Whitman, 1985 (revised 1989).