John Carter Brown (known as J. Carter) was born to John Nicholas Brown and Anne S. (Kinsolving) Brown on October 8, 1934, in Providence, R.I. Along with brother, Nicholas, and sister, Angela, Brown grew up in a house filled with art, antiques, classical music, and the history of a prominent Rhode Island family.
In his early childhood years, Brown attended St. Michael's School in Newport, R.I. During World War II, Brown and his brother, Nicholas, attended the Arizona Desert School. Both went on to attend the Groton School for both middle and high school. After graduating from the Groton School at sixteen, Brown's parents felt that spending a year at the Stowe School before attending college would be beneficial due to his young age. Brown went on to attend Harvard University, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in history and literature in 1956.
Brown then made an unusual decision for someone in the arts, he decided to pursue a Master's in Business Administration at Harvard Business School, from which he graduated in 1958. Following his graduation, Brown spent several months studying under Bernard Berenson in Florence, Italy. Between 1958 and 1960, Brown also studied at the Ecole du Louvre in Paris and the Rijksbureau voor Kunsthistorische Documentatie in the Netherlands. Brown went on to attend the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University, where he received a Master's of Arts in Art History in 1961.
Following his graduation from NYU, Brown accepted a position in the office of National Gallery Director, John Walker. Three years later, in 1964, Brown became Assistant Director of the National Gallery of Art at the age of thirty. In 1969, Brown took over as the Director of the National Gallery of Art - a position he would hold for twenty-three years. As Director, Brown has been credited with helping to create the modern blockbuster exhibition with events such as King Tut, "Treasure Houses of Britain," Andrew Wyeth's "Helga" nudes, and "Circa 1492." During his tenure as director, the gallery also opened the East Building in 1978, introducing architect, I. M. Pei to the broader American public.
While serving at the National Gallery of Art and following his retirement in 1992, Brown was involved in numerous projects and organizations. Brown became the Chairman of the Commission of Fine Arts in 1971 and of the Pritzker Architecture Prize Jury in 1979. In 1993, Brown became the Chairman of Ovation, an arts cable network - an organization that continues to this day. For the 1996 Centennial of the Olympic Games, Brown became the Guest Director of an international exhibition entitled, "Rings: Five Passions in World Art." Brown was also the main author of a book with the same title. The exhibition became a $4.2 million blockbuster of objects from 44 countries, which included Munch's "Scream," Rodin's "Kiss," and Matisse's "Dance."
Brown served on over thirty boards and committees, and held office in over fifteen of these organizations including, the World Monuments Fund, the National Geographic Society, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Storm King Art Center, the John Carter Brown Library, the John Nicholas Brown Center, and the Brown University Corporation. He was also a fellow in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, and the National Academy of Design.
In 1971, Brown married Constance Mellon Byers. They divorced two years later. Brown went on to marry Pamela Braga Drexel, with whom he had two children: John Carter Brown 4th and Elissa Lucinda Rionda Brown. The couple divorced in 1991. At the time of his death, Brown was engaged to Anne Hawley.
Brown was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a terminal blood cancer, in the early part of the 21st century. During this time, he was at work on a book about himself and his father, though he never completed the manuscript. In June 2002, Brown died as a result of pulmonary failure in Boston.
There are eight restricted-access boxes. The rest of the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Materials are stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
J. Carter Brown papers, Ms. 2007.020, Brown University Library.
The J. Carter Brown papers primarily contain correspondence, administrative materials, lecture notes, photographs, and other materials that span his lifetime. The bulk of the material is related to Brown's consulting business, his work as Director Emeritus of the National Gallery of Art, and his involvement as a board member with many organizations. These materials date between 1990 and 2002.
Series 1 consists of correspondence, meetings schedules, phone logs and miscellaneous papers related to Brown's work at the National Gallery of Art, both as Director and as Director Emeritus. These materials range from 1963 to 2002.
Series 2 is comprised of materials from Brown's work as an independent consultant for various companies and projects including Ovation, the 1996 Olympics Rings exhibition, and Corbis. Items include meeting minutes, publicity and fundraising materials. The Rings exhibition materials also include information about the paintings on loan to the exhibition, how they were insured, and other such information. Among the miscellaneous sub-series items are materials from projects at the Louvre, the Windshield exhibition, and the White House.
Series 3 is comprised of meeting minutes, organizational materials, correspondence, and fundraising materials for the many organizations on whose Boards of Trustees and/or Boards of Directors Brown served. Some of the major organizations represented include the Commission of Fine Arts, Pritzker Architecture Prize, Association of Art Museum Directors, Cafritz Foundation, Brown University Corporation, John Nicholas Brown Center, John Carter Brown Library, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Heinz Endowment, Kennedy Center, Newport Restoration Foundation, Nordstern Insurance Company, Winterthur, and World Monuments Fund. The materials from the Commission of Fine Arts include much about the designs, decision-making processes, and politics of building monuments around Washington, D.C. Overall, there are more than thirty organizations included in this Series.
Lecture notes, research for presentations, articles informing future lecture topics, and articles written by or about Brown are included in Series 4. Box 162 contains materials for Brown's lectures on Richard Neutra and Windshield, with which he toured around the United States.
Series 5 contains materials related to events to which Brown was invited, attended, orchestrated, or declined. Events related to specific organizations with which Brown was involved will be in the Organizations and Memberships series. These events span four decades, from 1960 to 2002. The majority of these events are fundraising galas, art gallery openings, museum events, and parties thrown by friends and acquaintances.
Throughout his career, Brown received many awards and honors in the form of honorary degrees, plaques, medallions, and other formats. These materials comprise Series 6. The awards are from the Postmaster General, the mayor of Washington, D.C., the American Association of Museums, the National Arts Club, and many other organizations. Brown received seventeen Honorary Doctorate Degrees from universities, including: Brown University, Georgetown University, Roger Williams University, Rhode Island School of Design, Univesity of Maryland, College Park, Tougaloo College, and American University.
The Personal materials in Series 7 are divided into eight sub-series. Sub-series A, Education, contains both notebooks and academic work, and correspondence from Brown's experiences at the Arizona Desert School, Groton School, Stowe School, Harvard University, Harvard Business School, and New York University. The correspondence in Sub-series B is comprised of letters primarily between Brown and his family, but also with some from friends. Sub-series C, Travel, is made up of travel brochures, tickets, bills, and some photographs of places Brown traveled with friends and family. Sub-series D, Residences, is comprised of descriptions of properties owned by Brown, plans for renovations, insurance policies, house inventories, and other related materials. The book project material (Sub-series E) is audio cassettes of Brown talking about his father's life, along with the transcripts of those descriptions. The financial materials (Sub-series F) have been restricted as much of the material relates to Brown's family investments. Sub-series G, Miscellaneous, contains materials about family estates and wine interests. The photographs and slides (Sub-series H) show family vacations, jury travels for the Pritzker Prize, and holiday events. The estate papers in Sub-series I contains condolence letters written upon his death in 2002, a DVD video of the memorial service at the Washington National Cathedral. It also contain financial information about his estate which is restricted.
Series 8, Other Media, is comprised of audio cassettes, video cassettes, and computer disks and CD-ROM. The audio and video cassettes feature Brown speaking about art collections, artists, the National Gallery of Art, Ovation, and the Rings Exhibition at the 1996 Olympics. The computer materials contain documents related to Brown's schedule and work as a consultant, and National Gallery of Art director emeritus.
The collection is arranged into the following series and sub-series:
This collection was given to Brown University as a gift by Angela Brown Fischer and Nick Brown.
No further additions to this collection are expected.
Resources at the John Hay Library of Brown University:
John Nicholas Brown II papers
Anne S.K. Brown papers
Angela Brown Fischer papers
Nick Brown papers
Search in Brown University's online catalog, Josiah:
Outside of Brown:
Faxes and Email to JCB
NGA tour, Potomac School, Van Gogh Exhibition, Barnes Exhibition
New Century Fund and Barnes Foundaiton Materials
Includes JCB signature stamps
Tube
Oversize: Arts Education, National Capital Planning Commission, Venice Museum Plans, Duke University Planning Committee.
Oversize: NGA Building Materials, WWII Memorial Plans, Dumbarton Oaks Library, Brown University Building Plans, Kennedy Center Materials, Venice Museum Plans.
Arts Education Partnership, Business Plans, Information Packets
Planning Materials, Media Coverage, Press Clippings, Exhibition Binder
Planning Materials, Thank You Letters to Lenders, Rings Catalogue
Rings Audiotour, Wall Text, Music, Edit Lists
Rings Lectures Given by JCB, Promotional Travel
International and Domestic Loan materials, Installation materials
International and Domestic Loan materials
Including Indemnity and Register Letters
Rings Website, General Information, Miscellaneous Correspondence, Rings Script, Video Funding, Video Publicity
Rings Video Scripts, Video materials, Installation, Publicity, TV Production
Database Information, European Leaders, Outtakes
Back-Up Choices for Exhibition, Correspondence
American School, American Vision Guide
Windshield, Book Forewards, Hart Project, White House Sculpture Garden
Article Collaborations, White House, St. George's, UN Project, Matisse Book
Miscellaneous Projects, Primarily the Louvre, White House CNN Taping with Hilary Clinton
Windshield Exhibition, Gettysburg Cyclorama, Documentary Projects, Book Forewords
Correspondence, Press Kits, Newspaper Articles
Board and Meeting Materials
American Friends of Blerancourt; American Friends of English Heritage; American Institute of Architects; American Philosophical Society; Americans for the Arts
Art Dealers Association of America; Art Restoration for Cultural Heritage; Aspen Institute; Assn of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges; Barnes Foundation; Blair House Fine Arts Advisory Committee; Brick Market Foundation; British Institute
Meetings
Meetings and Correspondence
Board of Trustees Correspondence
Search Committee, University Relations Committee, Committee on Academic Affairs, Haffenreffer Museum
Facilities and Design Committee
Facilities and Design Committee
Annenberg Institute of School Reform
Cafritz Foundation, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Cathedral Choral Society, Century Association, Chelsea Art Museum, Children Now, Choral Arts Society, Citizens Association of Georgetown, Commanderie de Bordeaux, Committee on Last Supper Restoration,
World War II Memorial
World War II Memorial
Miscellaneous Materials
Meetings, Air Force Memorial
FDR Memorial, Gandhi Memorial, Iwo Jima Memorial, Japanese-American Memorial, Korean War Memorial, MLK, Jr. Memorial, Military Museum, National Museum of the American Indian
Miscellaneous Materials
Comprehensive Design Plan for the White House
Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation
Federal Aviation Administration Upgrade
Miscellaneous Materials
Board Meetings
Board Meetings
Board Meeting
Board Meetings, Expenses
Finance, Legal, Public Relations
Miscellaneous and Grant-Related Correspondence
Staff and Board Member Searches, Policy Manual, Christie's Reports on Rough Point
Duke Farm, NJ; Islamic Art, HI; Banyan Tree Suit; Falcon's Air; Shangri-La
Bernard Lafferty Settlement, William Doyle Interview, Petition for Special Administration, Investment Review, Rought Point, DDCF Events
English Speaking Union, Faberge Arts Foundation, Federal City Council, Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities, Federal Reserve System, Franc Shor Luncheon Group, Friends of Art and Preservation in Embassies, Friends of Dresden, Friends of Florence
General Services Administration, Georgia O'Keefe Museum, Getty Art History Information Program, Getty Trust, Gettysburg Museum, Grolier Club, Groton School, Hanks Center, Hellenic Heritage Foundaiton, Herreshoff Museum - America's Cup Hall of Fame, Holoca
Art Museums Visiting Committee, Fogg Fellows, I Tatti, Business School committees
Vira I. Heinz Endowment, Heinz Foundation
Vira I. Heinz Endowment, Heinz Foundation
Ida Lewis Yacht Club, Institute of Islamic Studies, International Art History Congress, International Committee for the New Museum of Piazza San Marco, International Council of the Museum of Modern Art, The Joffrey Ballet
Board of Governors Materials
Board of Governors Materials
Board of Governors Materials
Committee materials, Correspondence, Miscellaneous Events and materials
Board Meetings and Correspondence
Board Meetings, Correspondence, Building Design Committee
Board of Trustees, Operations Committee, Miscellaneous Materials
Board Materials, Operations Committee, Publicity and Events, Arts Education Materials
Correspondence, Reports, Fundraising for Renovations, Inventories
Correspondence, Advisory Board Meeting Materials, Academic Affairs Committee, Miscellaneous Materials
John Nicholas Brown Center: Academic Advisory Board, Executive Manual 1999-2000; Knickerbocker Club, Leonard Bernstein Center for Educaiton Through Arts, Mill Reef Club, Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, Miotte Foundation, Metropolitan Club, Mayor's D
National Capital Planning Commission, National Commission on the History of Art, National Cultural Alliance, National Endowment for the Humanities
National Endowment for the Arts, Natonal Foundation of the Arts and Humanities, National Fun for the United States Botanic Garden - 1979-1993, National Geographic Society 1980-1993
Trustee Materials
Trustee Materials 1999-2001; National Hospice Foundation, 1994-2001; Miscellaneous N groups; Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art 1988-1999
Legal, Expenses, Accounting
Meetings, Events, Rough Point
New York University, New York Yacht Club, Nordstern Insurance Board of Directors
Meeting Materials
Jury Trips, Correspondence
Jury Trips, Correspondence, Conferences
Pritzker Architecture Prize, Phillips Auctioneer, Pilgrims of the US, Pillar Lunch Benefit, Pisces Club, President's Committee of the Arts and Humanities, Providence Preservation Society
Board of Directors, Symposium Materials, Correspondence
Smithsonian Institute, Skowhegan, Society of Architectural Historians, Soros Foundaiton, Steuben Glass, Stowe School, Swiss American Cultural Exchange Foundation
Board Meeting
Storm King Art Center: Board of Trustees Materials; Touro National Heritage Trust, U.S. Design Council, US Information Agency, USS Constitution Museum, US Pavilion-New Orleans
Board of Directors materials
Board of Trustees Materials
Miscellaneous Materials
Winterthur 1999-2002; World Arts Council; World Monuments Fund, 1985-1997
Zodiac Club1965-2001; MA Nominations to Committees and Boards, 2002; Miscellaneous Solicitations, Memberships Refused, Letters of Recommendation for JCB to Clubs; Miscellaneous Club Information 1963-2001
Framed Image from University Club, 1992; White House Historical Association, 2000 - Ovz Flat Box
Includes some Neutra Research
JCB Research on Wyeth; Research Materials on Arts Education 1992-2000
Articles by JCB, Articles about JCB, Articles Collected by JCB
Articles by JCB, Articles about JCB, Articles Collected by JCB
Articles by JCB, Articles about JCB, Articles Collected by JCB
Miscellaneous Articles, Rings Articles
Paper Honors and Awards 1978-2002; The Official Medals of America's Presidents Collection - White House Historical Association; Hail to the Chiefs Presented by the White House Historical Association (coins for each president) 2000-2002
Honorary Doctorate, Ovation plaque, Vison of America Award, Tougaloo College, etc.
Distinguished Grotonian, Ovation, and others
Includes correspondence while at Groton, Harvard, NYU
Notebooks and notes from Arizona Desert School, Groton School, Stowe School, Harvard University 1944-1961, Groton Alum Materials, 1987
Notebooks and notes from Harvard University
Notebooks and Notes from Harvard Business School
Notebooks and Notes from Harvard Business School and New York University
Notebooks and Notes from New York University
Notes, JCB NYU Thesis, Study Photos from New York University
Notes from New York University, Study Materials - Index Cards on Paintings
Groton School, Arizona Desert School materials; Miscellaneous Ed. Materials 1945-1965; Groton Oral History Project, 1983; Study Images of Paintings
Study Photographs
Letters Sent, 1958-1994; Letters Received: A-H 1957-2000
Correspondence about death of JNBII, ASKB, and with Family Members
Miscellaneous JCB Correspondence; Get Well Letters to JCB
Christmas Cards and Gift Lists, Family Photos
Christmas Cards and Gift Lists, Family Photos
Correspondence to JCB
Materials about and from various trips taken by JCB
Materials about and from various trips taken by JCB
Miscellaneous Travel Materials 1951-1999; Boating/Sailing/Yachting Materials 1969-2001
Harbour Court, 1986-1996; Washington DC Residences, 1957-1973; Watergate Condominium, 1971-1979; 3035 Dumbarton St., DC, 1977-2000
3330 Reservoir Rd. 1961-1967; 3035 Dumbarton St.; Little River 1969-1992; Watergate 1974-1981; 25 Brimmer St. Boston, 2001
Tube
Tube
Introduction by JCB for Heart of the Hilltop about St. George's, c. 2000; Research for, Transcripts for, and Drafts of Book on JNBII's life by JCB, Correspondence with Publisher, Dictation tapes by JCB
JCB Check registers, investment statements, insurance, budget
JCB Fleet Investment Reports
JCB Investment materials, ELL Agreements and Correspondence, Wegner Associates Correspondence, Le Dioyt and Nebraska Investment Properties, 50 South Main St. Correspondence and Materials, JCB Living Wills
JCB Correspondence with Wegner Associates, Family Meeting Notes, Hope Foundation, Narragansett Capital Corp.,Brown Land Co., 50 S. Main St. Investement Discussions, JCB Will, Christie's Sale of JCB's Da Vinci, Donation materials, Austin purchase materials
JCB Materials from Beatty Corp, Wegner Assoc, Bigelow Management, Brown Land Co, Digital Lightware, Fleet, Arden Columbia, JCB Will and Tax Returns
JCB Tax and Donation materials and for Brown & Fischer, Hope Foundation
Hermes Notebooks, Christie's Materials, Wine Materials, Art, Poetry, Trusteeship
Miscellaneous articles, purchases, stationery, real estate, correspondence, storage appraisal
JCB Diaries 1950-1998; Brown Family Ancestral Materials, Estate and Appraisal Materials for rank Sayles and Brown Family
Obituaries, Christie's Estate material, Harbour Court, Family Estate Settlements (JNII, Herbert Kinsolving) 1820, 1980-2000; Post-humous materials: Get-well letters, obituaries, backup computer files, funeral service materials, including CD 2002; JCB Silv
Thomas Rowlandson Print in Tavern Interior
Thompson Boathouse Plan, DC; Unknown Building Plans (tube)
Materials about JCB's divorces, children; Letters of recommendation
Deputies of Neptune Certificate for JCB, Charcoal Portrait of JCB, Certificate from Sons'O'Fun; Photo Portrait of JCB at age 3; Wedding Portrait of Diane Brown; Portrait of JNBII at desk 1944; Portrait of Bolero; Bolero New York Yacht Club Cruise 1951 Pit
Photos of Tropical Vacation, c. 1970; Family photos, portraits of JCB, school, Bolero
Negatives from family vacations - materials from JCB Steamer Trunk, 1950-1951; Home movies on Super 9 Film - 1980s
Slides from family vacations and events
Slides in trays: London, Dordogne, St. Tropez, Spain, Newport.
Slide Trays of Travel: 1993, 1995; Slides from Windshield Lectures, 1996
Includes some photos
In slide cases
Slides in smaller plastic cases.
Photos from European Trips, Rex Ranch, Class Photos and Family Photos, JCB Portraits
Includes 2 DVDs containing video of J. Carter Brown Memorial Service at the Washington National Cathedral on July 17, 2002.
Floppy Disks, Zip Disks, CD-ROMs of JCB documents, correspondence, schedules, etc.
JCB Featured in All; Letters and Notes attached to materials
JCB Featured in All
Film of Providence walking tours; Video tapes produced for Ovation; JCB on NPR; JCB Memorial Video Clips.