A Guide to the Frank Repass Brown Papers, 2004.3 Brown, Frank Repass, Papers 2004.3

A Guide to the Frank Repass Brown Papers, 2004.3

A Collection in
Special Collections, Kegley Library
Collection Number 2004.3


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Special Collections, Kegley Library, Wytheville Community College

Special Collections
Kegley Library
Wytheville Community College
Wytheville, Virginia 24382-3308
USA
Phone: (276) 223-4744
Fax: (276) 223-4745
Email: gmattis@wcc.vccs.edu
URL: http://kegleylibrary.wcc.vccs.edu/

© 2011 By Wytheville Community College. All rights reserved.

Processed by: Cathy Carlson Reynolds

Repository
Special Collections, Kegley Library
Collection Number
2004.3
Title
Frank Repass Brown Papers 1788-1975, undated.
Physical Characteristics
3.5 linear feet..
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Frank Repass Brown Papers, Mss. Collection 2004.3, Kegley Library, Wytheville Community College, Wytheville, VA

Acquisition Information

Donated by the estate of Martha Brown DeBord in September 2004.

Biographical Information

Frank Repass Brown, son of Michael Dallas Brown and Emily Repass Brown, was born on 27 March 1887 in Rural Retreat, Virginia. He attended school in Rural Retreat and business college in Kansas. He returned to Virginia and graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Upon his graduation, he assumed management of the family farm in Rural Retreat and embarked upon a lifelong love and service in the field of agriculture. He was a charter member of the Rural Retreat Community Fair as well as a member of Future Farmers of America. He received an honorary degree from Future Farmers of America in recognition of his contributions to agriculture and farming in particular.

Brown shared his love of books and reading with many libraries in the region by making monetary and in-king donations of books and magazines. Rural Retreat High School Library, Marion College Library, and Southwest Virginia Mental Health Institute (then Southwestern State Hospital) in Marion, Virginia benefitted from his generosity.

He was a lifelong member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Rural Retreat and wrote a history of the church, Historical Sketch of St. Paul's Lutheran Congregation, 1776-1941 . He served on the board of trustees for Marion College, a junior college for women, from 1924 to 1964

Brown collected and compiled lists of cemeteries in Wythe County, especially in the western portion. He also collected local history and kept several scrapbooks. Brown also recorded local weather, keeping records noting daily temperature and rainfall for over forty years. He also researched local history and genealogy of many area families.

Brown married Virginia Umberger in 1925; the couple had no children. He died on 12 October 1973 and is buried in Black Lick Cemetery. His collection was bequeathed to his niece, Martha Brown DeBord.

Scope and Content

The Papers are arranged into twelve series: Series I, Books, Religious (1788, 1828, undated); Series II, Cemetery Records (1898-1973, undated); Series III, Diaries, Personal (1905-1973); Series IV, Diaries, Vital Statistics (1896-1975); Series V, Ephemera (1815-1973); Series VI, Ledgers, Personal (1873-1975); Series VII, Ledgers, Genealogy (undated); Series VIII, Scrapbooks, Genealogy (undated); Series IX, Scrapbooks, Miscellaneous (undated); Series X, Scrapbooks, Local History (1896, 1913, undated); Series XI, Memoirs (1887-1960, undated); and Series XII, Photographs (undated).

Contents List

Series I. Books, Religious. 1788, 1828, undated.
Box 1
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Series II. Cemetery Records. 1898-1973
Box 2

Frank Repass Brown compiled a loose-leaf binder of notes and maps on various local cemeteries in Wythe and adjoining counties. The original records are housed in acid-free folders in the Frank Repass Brown Papers, Series II. The records consist of lists of veteran burials, burials in miscellaneous cemeteries, and the cemetery compilation by Brown in which he divided Wythe County into four quadrants, mapped cemeteries, and listed burials.

Photocopies donated by Beverly Repass Hoch (who copied the records in 1997 with permission from Martha Brown DeBord) may be found in the vertical file collection, "Wythe County Cemeteries - Frank R. Brown Records." Photocopies include all cemetery records except letters and financial accounts for various cemetery associations.

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Series III. Diaries-Personal. 1905-1973.
Box 3

Frank Repass Brown recorded weather data and brief notes on daily life in these diaries.

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Series IV. Diaries, Vital Statistics. 1896-1975.
Box 3

Frank Repass Brown recorded vital statistics for people in the Rural Retreat vicinity of Wythe County including births, marriages, and deaths.

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Series V. Ephemera. 1815-1973.
Box 2
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Series VI. Ledgers, Personal. 1873-1975.
Box 4

This series contains four ledgers kept by Frank Repass Brown for his personal accounts including income and expenses (1918-1972) and livestock accounts (1922-1958).

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Series VIII. Scrapbooks, Genealogy. Undated.
Box 2

This series consists of three scrapbooks containing various genealogical information collected by Frank Repass Brown. Scrapbooks consist of pages removed from a leather ring binder; these pages have been re-housed in acid-free folders. Pages have been numbered in pencil and titles and descriptions noted on an index included in each folder. Some pages (those not excerpted from books, newspapers, and periodicals) with information on families and local history have been photocopied and placed in the Kegley Library vertical file collection.

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Series IX. Scrapbooks, Miscellaneous Undated.
Box 2

This series consists of three Scrapbooks containing various historical information collected by Frank Repass Brown. Pages have been removed from the leather ring binders and re-housed in acid-free folders. Pages have been numbered in pencil and titles and descriptions noted on an index included in each folder. Some pages (those not excerpted from books, newspapers, and periodicals) with information on churches have been photocopies and placed in the Kegley Library vertical file collection.

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Series X. Scrapbooks, Local History 1896, 1913, 1943, undated.
Box 6, 7
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Series XI. Memoirs. 1887-1960, undated.
Box 7
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Series XII. Photographs. Undated.
Box 8
8 envelopes.
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