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Inventory of the Henry James Brown Papers 1830-1921 Brown, Henry James Papers, 1830-1921 Mss. 65 B845

Inventory of the Henry James Brown Papers 1830-1921

A Collection in the
Manuscripts and Rare Books Department
Collection Number Mss. 65 B845


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Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary

Special Collections
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia 23187-8794
USA
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Email: spcoll@wm.edu
URL: http://swem.wm.edu/scrc/

© 2001 By the College of William and Mary

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

Processed by: Special Collections Staff

Repository
Special Collections, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary
Collection number
Mss. 65 B845
Title
Henry James Brown Papers, 1830-1921.
Extent
47 items.
Creators
Brown Family, Henry James Brown, Mrs. Salina Brown Worsham, J. S. Worsham.
Language
English
Abstract
Papers, 1830-1921, consisting of letters and sketches of the Henry James Brown family.

Administrative Information

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open to all researchers.

Publication Rights/ Restrictions on Use

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Preferred Citation

Henry James Brown Papers, Manuscripts and Rare Books Department, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Acquisition Information

Gift: 46 items, 3/3/1994.
Gift: 1 item, 4/1/1994.

Biographical/Historical Information

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.

Scope and Content Information

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.

Arrangement

Arrangement

Each series in the collection is arranged in chronlogical order.

Organization

This 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.

Separated Material

Paintings by Henry James Brown, which were presented with the collection, are now part of the Muscarelle Museum, College of William and Mary.

Index Terms

    Persons:

  • Worsham, J. S.
  • Worsham, Salina Brown, Mrs.

    • Subjects:

  • Artists-- Virginia.
  • Artists--United States.
  • Methodist Church--Virginia.
  • Valentines.
  • Watercolor painting.

Additional Separated Material

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

  • Henry James Brown,
  • J. S. Worsham.
  • Mrs. Salina Brown Worsham,
  • Worsham, J. S.
  • Worsham, Salina Brown, Mrs.
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Contents List

Folder 1
James A. Servies, Librarian, to Sydney A. Temple, Curator of Manuscripts, 2 March 1965.

Re: papers received.

Folder 2
Brief sketch of the life of Henry James Brown, written by a granddaughter, Mrs. Christine I. Staton, n.d.

Also including a note on Henry James Brown and family. ADr.

Letters, personal and business, 1830-1821, n.d.
Folder 3-22
20 items.
Series 1: Letters
  • Folder 3
    Cut-out valentine basket made by Mary Brown, sister of Henry James Brown, [ca. 1830]
    1 item. ASk.
  • Folder 3
    Fold-out group of poems illustrated in water color; a children's book made by Mary A. Brown, [ca. 1830]
    1 item. AMs, Sk.
  • Folder 4
    Letter - Jennie [ ] to her mother, 7 December 1865.

    Family affairs.

  • Folder 5
    Invitation to Jefferson Society of the University of Virginia, to Salina Brown, Ballsville P.O., Powhatan Co., Virginia, 13 April 1868.

    S.B. was the daughter of Henry James Brown.

  • Folder 6
    Three Cut-out valentines made by Salina Brown, sent to Joe [S] Worsham, her future husband, [ca. 1870]
    3 items. ASk.
  • Folder 6
    Bookmark, "With my Love," made by Salina Brown, sent to Joe [S] Worsham, her future husband, [ca. 1870]
    1 item. PM.
  • Folder 7
    J.S. Worsham, Cumberland, Mississippi to his "sister," Salina Browne, W. F. College, Murfreesboro, North Carolina, 12 January 1872.

    Re: Christmas: fireworks nearly every night--young men dressed as Rag muffins--several Christmas trees-- one Christmas present only.

  • Folder 8
    Grubbs and Williams, Real Estate Agents, Richmond, to Salina I. Brown, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1873.

    Re: portion of inheritance from the estate of Henry J. Brown. Enclosure: an account sheet.

  • Folder 9
    J. S. Worsham, Mississippi, to Salina Browne, Lycnhburg, Virginia, 1 April 1877.

    Compares the Mississippi River with the James River; comments unfavorably on the Mardi Gras celebration in Memphis.

  • Folder 10
    J. S. Worsham, Mississippi, to his "sister," Salina Browne, Farmville, Virginia, 12 January 1878.

    Re: snow and a sleigh ride.

  • Folder 11
    J. S. Worsham, Michigan City, Mississippi, to his "sister," Salina Browne, Farmville, Virginia, 8 March 1878.
    8 pages. ALS, C.

    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.

  • Folder 12
    J. S. Worsham, Michigan City, Mississippi, to Salina Browne, Farmville, Virginia, 13 May 1878.
    6 pages. ALS, C.

    Re: his activities in raising cattle.

  • Folder 13
    J. S. Worsham, Michigan City, Mississippi, to Salina Browne, Farmville, Virginia, 1 June 1878.

    Sent with a box he has made on occasion of her commencement; news of Jennie; the temperance movement "is all the rage."

  • Folder 14
    J. S. Worsham, Michigan City, Mississippi, to Salina Browne, care Mr. C. V. Winfree, Lynchburg, Virginia, 12 June 1878.

    Brief letter.

  • Folder 15
    J. S. Worsham, Michigan City, Mississippi, to Salina Browne, Clinton, Powhatan Co., Virginia, 10 July 1878.
    6 pages. ALS, C.

    Re: his planned visit to Virginia.

  • Folder 16
    J. S. Worsham, Michigan City, Mississippi, to Salina Browne, "Sunnyside," Cumberland, Virginia, 18 August 1878.

    Re: Yellow Fever which is causing some towns to be deserted and some of the railroads to stop running-- many refugees from Memphis.

  • Folder 17
    J. S. Worsham, Knoxville, Tennesse, to Salina Browne, Lynchburg, Virginia, 27 October 1878.

    Re: the engagement of S.B.; enclosure a photo.

  • Folder 18
    J. S. Worsham, Knoxville, Tennesse, to Salina Browne, Lynchburg, Virginia, 29 October 1878.

    On his way home.

  • Folder 19
    Edward [ ], Lynchburg, to his niece, Salina, 23 August 1880.

    Re: inherited property, family news; "Love to Joe and a kiss to your little baby."

  • Folder 20
    [Salina Brown Worsham], Lynchburg, to her husband, J.S. Worsham, Michigan City, Benton County, Mississippi, 5 August 1881.

    Ill in bed, she writes of family affairs-- of her longing for her husband but her hate of Mississippi.

  • Folder 21
    A letter about a Bible Class in Lynchburg with pencil notes added, 21 October 1921.
  • Folder 22
    P.A. Brown to his sister, 7 October [ ]29.

    Re: his failing health; family affairs.

Back to Top
Folder 23
Unsigned poem, n.d.
2 pages. AMs.

First line: "How transient the things of this life."

Sermons, n.d.
Folder 24-27
4 items.
Series 2: Sermons
  • Folder 24
    Sermon on the test Jer. viii.22, n.d.
    16 pages. AMsS.

    Endorsed, Rev. Henry J. Brown and Susan S. Brown, Powhatan County, Virginia.

  • Folder 25
    Sermon [by Henry James Brown], titled, "Predestination Condemned," n.d.
    19 pages. AMs.
  • Folder 26
    Sermon [by Henry James Brown], n.d.
    22 pages. AMs. Incomplete.
  • Folder 27
    Sermon [by Henry James Brown], text from 1st Chronicles, n.d.
Back to Top
Items of or dealing with art, 1859, n.d.
Folder 28-30
11 items.
Series 3: Items of or dealing with art
  • Folder 28
    Notes on preparing paper for photographic drawing, etc., [1859].

    Endorsed: "This paper was written by my father Henry J. Brown in 1839...June 16, 1923...Salina J. Worsham."

  • Folder 29
    Paintings and sketches by Henry James Brown, n.d.
    8 items.
    • Folder 29
      Color miniature of a couple, n.d.
      4" x 4.5".
    • Folder 29
      Color sketch of children playing, indoor scene, n.d.
      6" x 7.5".
    • Folder 29
      Pencil sketches of sculptured heads of Franklin and Washington, n.d.
      ?" x 9".
    • Folder 29
      Comic pencil sketch of man's head (perhaps self-portrait), n.d.
      7.5" x 9".
    • Folder 29
      Pencil Sketch of a child's head, n.d.
      8" x 10.5".
    • Folder 29
      Pencil sketch of a woman's head,
      8.5" x 12".
    • Folder 29
      Pencil sketch of a girl's head, n.d.
      8" x 12.5".
    • Folder 29
      Oil painting on canvas of man's bust,
      8" x 10".
  • Folder 30
    Miniature painting in oil on cardboard by S[alina] B[rown] Worsham, n.d.
    8.5" x 6".

    It probably represents a local scene in Lynchburg, Virginia, toward the end of the 19th century.

  • Folder 30
    Ink wash sketch entitled "Somerset, Home of Henry James Brown." Unsigned, n.d.
    8" x 10".
Back to Top
Newspaper Clippings, 1873-1941
Folder 31-32
2 items.
Series 4: Newspaper Clippings
  • Folder 31
    Obituary notice of Susan A. Brown, widow of Henry J. Brown, of Powhatan County, Virginia, 11 May 1873.
  • Folder 32
    Article in the [ ] News, Lynchburg, Virginia, on exhibition of portraits by Henry James Brown, 16 October 1941.
Back to Top
Folder 33
Cut out advertisement of "Superior Bisquits," n.d.
PM.
Folder 34
Photographs of paintings owned by the Muscarelle Museum, n.d.
4 items. Ph.

Photographs of the Henry James Brown paintings.

Genealogical Material - Addition 1985, (revised 1989).
Othertype 1994.20.
5 folders. XCy.
Series 5: Genealogical Material - Addition

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).

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