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A Guide to the Papers of Henry James Brown 1829-1884 Brown, Henry James, Papers of 9930

A Guide to the Papers of Henry James Brown 1829-1884

A Collection in
The Special Collections Department
Accession Number 9930


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Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
USA
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Reference Request Form: https://small.lib.virginia.edu/reference-request/
URL: http://small.library.virginia.edu/

© 2002 By the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia. All rights reserved.

Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Processed by: Special Collections Department

Repository
Special Collections, University of Virginia Library
Accession number
9930
Title
Papers of Henry James Brown 1829-1884
Physical Characteristics
This collection contains 114 items.
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Papers of Henry James Brown, Accession # 9930, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

This collection was a gift of Mrs. Janet Worsham Roller, granddaughter of Henry James Brown, through her nephew, Charles Worsham, on January 16, 1974.

Alternative Form

Also available on microfilm on reel #M-2334.

Biographical/Historical Information

Henry James Brown was born October 12, 1811 in Cumberland Co., Virginia. His interest in painting developed at age sixteen when his family was having portraits made by an itinerant painter. Brown did not like his portrait and when he attempted to improve on it, he was quite successful. He continued to paint and draw in the evenings after he had finished his farm work.

In 1833, Brown married Susan Ann Hobson. They lived in Sunnyside, Virginia, until 1837 when they moved to Miami, Missouri. Brown became a very successful hemp farmer and he spent more and more of his time painting. In 1841, he met George Caleb Bingham. The two men became good friends who traveled and painted together in the West for a few years. In 1847, Brown left his farm in the care of an overseer and moved his family back to Virginia.

At this point in his life, he did not have to worry about making a living, so he devoted most of his time to painting. In 1848, he met Thomas Sully and was invited to spend several months as a student in Sully's studio in Philadelphia. In 1849 he became involved with the Female Collegiate Institute in Buckingham County and served as Vice-President of its Board of Directors. Although he spent a great deal of time insuring the success and solvency of the college, he continued his painting. His career came to an abrupt end in 1854 when he died of typhoid pneumonia.

For further information, see the addition to this collection: Henry James Brown: American Artist, His Life and Works, a M.A. thesis written by Charles E. Worsham in 1969 (9930-a).

Scope and Content Information

This collection consists of correspondence and a diary containing accounts, sketches and personal notes of Henry James Brown and William S. Brown; his sister, Nancy Brown; his wife, Susan Ann Hobson Brown; the commercial concerns, Dibrell and Jones Co., and Ensign and Sears Co., and his personal friends, Henry Gordon, John C. Hobson, Willis W. Hobson, Robert Ruxton and Thomas Sully.

Contents List

Nancy H. Brown to Henry James Brown April 11, 1829
ALS, 2 p., w/addr.
Daniel Brown to HJB June 17, 1829
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
Nancy Brown to HJB September 4, (1829)
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
W.W. Turner to HJB January 27, 1831
ALS, 3 p., w/addr.
B. Whitlow to HJB March 27, 1831
Acct., 1 p., w/dkt.
Robert Brown to HJB March 3, 1839
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
Receipt, Wilson and Brown September 19, 1839
AN, 1 p.
Duensinberry and Darlington to HJB October 7, 1839
ALS, 2 p., w/addr.
Post Office Department appointment of Robert Brown December 23, 1839
DS, 2 p., w/addr.
Wilson & Brown to R. W. Brown April 14, 1840
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
Wilson & Brown to R. W. Brown May 7, 1840
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
R. W. Brown to "Dear Brother" November 7, 1840
ALS, 2 p., w/addr.
Elizabeth Brown & Robert W. Brown to HJB December 10, 1840
ALS, 4 p., incl/addr.
Wm. S. Worsham to Mrs. Henningham E. Worsham February 18, 1843
ALS, 3 p., w/addr.
Fitzhugh Coyle to Robert W. Brown (printed form completed by hand) September 3, 1845
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
J. H. Irvin to the 2nd Auditor, P.O. Dept., Washington, D.C. August 5, 1847
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
Robert Ruxton to HJB October 30, 1847
ALS, 3 p., w/addr.
Robert Ruxton December 27, 1847
ALS, 2 p., w/addr.
Susan A. Brown to her husband, HJB April 11, (1848)
ALS, 2 p., w/addr.
Susan A. Brown to her husband, HJB April 25, (1848)
ALS, 3 p., w/addr.
Robert Ruxton to HJB May 17, 1848
ALS, 2 p., incl/addr.
John B. H. Woolridge to HJB May 31, 1848
ALS, 2 p., w/addr.
Robert Ruxton to HJB June 26, 1848
ALS, 4 p., incl/addr.
HJB to Chandler, Howard & Co. July 10, 1848
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
Wm. S. Brown to HJB July 26, 1848
ALS, 3 p., w/addr.
Wm. S. Brown to HJB August 15, 1848
ALS, 3 p., w/addr.
Chandler, Howard & Co. to HJB August 15, 1848
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
Poem by (O. Philo?) to HJB August 21, 1848
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
Chandler, Howard & Co. to HJB September 7, 1848
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
Chandler, Howard & Co. to HJB October 23, 1848
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
L. Weedin to HJB November 4, 1848
ALS, 3 p., w/addr.
Wm. S. Brown to HJB November 17, 1848
ALS, 3 p., w/addr.
Receipt, (B.W.H.F.?) to HJB December 9, 1848
ANS, 1 p., w/addr.
Robert Ruxton to HJB December 14, 1848
ALS, 3 p., w/addr.
Thomas Sully to HJB December 17, 1848
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
J. Kean to HJB December 20, 1848
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
Robert Ruxton to HJB February 1, 1849
ALS, 3 p., w/addr.
Ernest Franck to HJB April 27, 1849
ALS, 2 p., w/addr.
Howard, Son & Co. to HJB, w/ attachment, "Boston Prices Current" May 2, 1849
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.; pntd., 2 p.
(M.W.F.?) to Daniel Brown May 6, 1849
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
Wm. S. Brown to HJB June 22, 1849
ALS, 3 p., w/addr.
Howard, Son & Co. to HJB June 23, 1849
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
Wm. S. Brown to HJB July 4, 1849
ALS, 3 p., w/addr.
(?) & Co. to HJB July 6, 1849
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
Ernest Franck to HJB July 16, 1849
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
Wm. S. Brown to HJB August 25, 1849
ALS, 3 p., w/addr.
Howard, Son & Co. to HJB, w/ attachment, "Boston Prices Current" August 31, 1849, and August 29, 1849
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.; pntd., 2 p.
Howard, Son & Co. to HJB (enclosing statement of account) September 19, 1849
ALS, 1 p., w/addr., 1 p.
Ernest Franck to HJB October 3, 1849
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
R. R. Duval to HJB November 24, 1849
ANS, 1 p., w/addr.
J. M. Hearants to HJB January 16, 1850
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
Wm. S. Brown to HJB January 17, 1850
ALS, 3 p.
Robert Ruxton to HJB January 29, 1850
ALS, 4 p., incl/addr.
Ernest Franck to HJB March 13, 1850
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
Thomas C. Hayes to HJB August 28, 1850
ALS, 1 p., w/env.
F. H. Larkin & Co. to HJB, w/ attachment, "Saint Louis Price-Current and Commercial Record" September 4, 1850; August 31, 1850
ALS, 1 p., w/addr., and 2 p.
Ernest Franck to HJB October 7, 1850
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
W. W. Bennett to HJB December 6, 1850
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
W. S. Morton to HJB December 7, 1850
ALS, 3 p., w/addr.
J. C. Hobson to HJB January 4, 1851
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
B. R. Duval to HJB January 20, 1851
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
Edward Brown to HJB April 12, 1851
ALS, 3 p., w/addr.
Nash & Woodhouse to HJB April 17, 1851
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
John B. Turner April 19, 1851
ALS, 3 p., w/addr.
Willis W. Hobson to HJB April 28, 1851
ALS, 1 p.
F. H. Larkin & Co. to HJB June 25, 1851
ALS, 2 p., w/env.
Henry Gordon to HJB July 21, 1851
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
Samuel R. Irvine to HJB August 25, 1851
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
Wm. S. Brown to HJB November 1, 1851
ALS, 3 p., w/addr.
J. T. Jackson to HJB November 27, 1851
ANS, 1 p., w/addr.
Executrix, estate of Wm. C. Styles, to HJB November 28, 1851
ALS, 1 p., w/env.
Wm. S. Brown to HJB January 5, 1852
ALS, 4 p.
John C. Hobson to HJB (business card, Underhill & Lloyd, attached) February 19, 1852
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
Wm. S. Brown to HJB February 19, 1852
ALS, 4 p.
John C. Hobson to HJB March 4, 1852
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
B. A. Brown, receipt to HJB March 10, 1852
ANS, 1 p.
Wm. S. Brown to HJB April 27, 1852
ALS, 4 p., w/env.
A. S. H. Gordon to HJB July 7, 1852
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
H(enry) Gordon to HJB July 16, 1852
ANS, 1 p., w/addr.
Dibrell & Jones to HJB August 17, 1852
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
B. A. Brown, receipt to HJB August 19, 1852
ANS, 1 p., w/dkt.
R(obert) Ruxton to HJB August 24, 1852
ALS, 2 p., w/addr.
Dibrell & Jones to HJB August 30, 1852
ALS, 1 p., w/env.
Giles Harris to HJB September 13, 1852
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
HJB to "Ann" (Susan Ann Hobson Brown) September 16, 1852
ALS, 2 p.
F. W. Hobson to "Henry" (HJB) September 18, 1852
ALS, 1 p.
Ensign & Sears to HJB September 20, 1852
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
Dibrell & Jones to HJB September 21, 1852
ALS, 2 p., w/addr.
Fredric W. Hobson to HJB September 23, 1852
ALS, 2 p., w/env.
Barksdale & Read to HJB Novemebr 23, 1852
ALS, 3 p., w/addr.
Lancaster Harris & Co. to HJB December 4, 1852
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
A. Preot to HJB December 10, 1852
ALS, 2 p.
Isaac Adams to HJB December 31, 1852
ALS, 1 p.
W. S. Wising to HJB January 6, 1853
ALS, 1 p., w/env.
Ensign & Sears to HJB (enclosing statement of account) January 17, 1853
ALS, 1 p., w/env.; 1 p.
Frederic W. Hobson to HJB, w/ attachment, "Merchants' Prices-Current and Shipping List" January 22, 1853 and January 20, 1853
ALS, 2 p.; pntd., 2 p.
Dibrell & Jones to HJB, w/ attachment, "Merchnats' Prices-Current and Shipping List" and enclosing 1853 Feb 10 statement of account February 11, 1853 and February 3, 1853
ANS, 1 p., w/addr.; 2 p.; 1 p.
Wm. S. Brown to HJB November 23, 1853
ALS, 1 p., w/env.
Betty Hatcher to Susan A. Brown August 3, (1860)
ALS, 3 p., w/env.
Peyton A. Brown to "Dear Mama" August 16, 1860
ALS, 2 p.
"Sister Jennie" to Salina J. Brown August 22, 1860
ALS, 4 p., w/env.
Frederick (Pransford?) to HJB August 16, 1852
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
Charlotte V. Hatcher to "Cousin Ann" September 1, 1862
ALS, 2 p.
W. S. Brown to Susan Ann Brown December 1, 1865
ALS, 3 p., w/env.
Mary C. Shields to Joseph Worsham May 20, 1884
ALS, 4 p., w/env.
"Ella" to "Dear Aunt" October 30, n.y.
ALS, 2 p.
J. H. Irvin to (HJB) December 1, n.y.
ALS, 3 p., w/addr.
Wilson & Brown to R. W. Brown n.d.
ALS, 1 p., w/addr.
addressed to HJB n.d.
4 items, envs.
Diary by William S. Brown containing notes, sketches, and accounts re: a trip from Virginia to Missouri ca. 1844
AMs, 54 p.
"Brother's trip from Va. to Mo." (on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad) n.d.
AMs, 5 p.
"Saint Louis Price-Current and Commercial Record" April 23, 1853
pntd., 2 p.
Newspaper clippings of (Civil War) poems, sent to Susan A. Brown n.d.
pntd., 6 items.
Ballot for Cumberland Co., Va. n.d.
pntd., 1 p.