Anne Seddon Kinsolving Brown (1905–1985) was an internationally recognized author and authority on military uniforms and military history. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 25, 1905, she was the daughter of Reverend Arthur B. Kinsolving and Sally (Bruce) Kinsolving. She graduated from the Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore in 1924 and, in 1930, married John Nicholas Brown of Providence, Rhode Island. Together they had three children: Nicholas, John Carter, and Angela. Over the course of her career, Brown established herself as a respected scholar of military history, publishing numerous articles as well as two major works: The Anatomy of Glory: Napoleon and His Guard and, with Howard C. Rice, The American Campaigns of Rochambeau's Army, 1780, 1781, 1782, 1783.
Letters and messages between editor and ASKB about a book on caps and helmets of the American Revolution for which she wrote some short essays
Typescript of speech given by ASKB at CMH meeting, Charlottesville, VA May 3, 1980
Letter concerning theft of spurs dating from American Revolution from MHS
Drafts of article "Military Dress in Rhode Island 1745-1881" and "Rhode Island Uniforms in the Revolution"
1. Confessions of a Collector -- 2. Confessions of a Collector -- 3. Bibliomania: Its cause and cure
1. The Old Maryland Militia -- 2. Speech on 200 years of Military Dress in Maryland -- 3. Photocopy of 1965 seminar at Univ. California, Davis on the Yorktown Campaign.
1. Forward to CMH 25th Anniversary publication 1974 -- 2. Description of portrait in Varnum Armoury, East Greenwich, RI -- 3. Officers and Soldiers from the "Kriegsbuch" of Count Reinhart Solms and other warriors -- 4. Review of "Soldiers of the American Army 1778-1954" -- 5. Description of two Grenadier caps -- 6. Two commentaries on the Coronation of George VI -- 7. Lecture on fete books and Elizabeth II -- 8. Two memorandum on the military records of the Shaw-Safe Family 1774-1817 -- 9. Introduction to Corcoran Gallery Exhibition of ASKB printes 1959
Typescripts of lecture: Vanity and Valour in Books and Prints
1. The Yorktown Campaign by ASKB (1981) + 4 letters (1981) -- 2. Typescript of the Yorktown Campaign + correspondence; also copies of speech given to UC Davis, 1965 on The Yorktown Campaign
Correspondence between ASKB and A. Bessel
Correspondence (including pamphlets) between Jean Brunon and ASKB. Approximately 126 items
Correspondence (including notes) between Pierre Crociani and ASKB
Correspondence between Col. John Elting and ASKB
Correspondence (including notes) between Detmar Fink and ASKB
Correspondence (including notes and offical documents) between Roger Forthoffer and ASKB. Approximately 82 items
Correspondence between Ulrich Koch and ASKB. Approximately 49 items
Correspondence between Henri Lachouque and ASKB including one letter with phtograph written after death of Lachouque by Marcel Doher
Correspondence between Lord Cambridge and ASKB
Correspondence between Christian Nebehay and ASKB
General correspondence (includes newspaper clippings, typescript articles and notes)
General correspondence. Approximately 144 items.
General correspondence. Approximately 208 items.
General correspondence. Approximately 168 items.
General correspondence. Approximately 129 items.
Correspondence between Pierre Ordonneau and ASKB
Correspondence between Helmet Gerhard Schulz and ASKB
Extensive listings of material in the Vinkhuizen Collection in the New York Public Library
Extensive listings of material in the Vinkhuizen Collection in the New York Public Library
General correspondence. Approximately 81 items.
Correspondence between Col. Frederick Todd and ASKB, and about Todd Collection which is now in ASKB Collection
Correspondence and manuscript about Yugoslavia 1944 which ASKB donated to the U.S. Army Military History Institute
Material relating to fund raising for the First Corps of Cadets, Boston
Translation by ASKB for Edition de la Sabretache 1955
Correpondence between ASKB and publishers including copies of invocies, statements of slaes, invitations, lists of adresses. Approximately 130 items.
Correspondence between ASKB and Benn Hall Associates, a public relations company hired to promote The Anatomy of Glory
Includes telegrams, estimates, flyers, invoices, negotiations for English copyright, plate samples, correspondence. Approximately 182 items.
Includes letters, flyers, reviews, and letter discussing paperback edition published by Arms and Armour Press
Includes clippings, reviews, catalogues, journals, letters, photographs and invitations
Includes catalogues, letter, published reviews, clippings and invoices
Extensive file of letters of thanks and congratulations
Material relating to the publication "Index to British Military Costume Prints"
Material relating to the publication "Index to British Military Costume Prints"
Correspondence
Correspondence and photostat letters
Includes newspaper clippings, letters, photostats, reviews
Correspondence mainly between Howard Rice and ASKB
Includes correspondence, photostats and maps
Includes mainly correspondence, notes, and lists of acknowledgements
Correspondence from Howard Rice, co-author and Assistant Librarian for Rare Books and Special Collections at Princeton University to ASKB
Includes mainly correspondence and some notes
Correspondence
Includes reviews, catalogues, invoices, letters, notes, brochures, and publishing agreements. Approximately 105 items.
Includes letters, photostat clippings, postcards, newspapers
1. Eight black binders containing typescripts (including translations) of the journals of Jean-Francois-Louis, Comte De Clermont-Crevecoeru, Jean-Baptiste-Antoine De Verger, and Louis-Alexandre Berthier. 2. Six blue-grey binders being second copies of the above. 3. One blue binder being a descriptive list of maps and other plates in Volume II. 4. One black binder being a bibliography and check list of journals of French officers
1. Three grey archive (Hollinger) boxes labelled: i. Biographical sketches; related articles, etc. ii. Notes, itinerary, misc., etc. iii. Berthier notes, photocopies, etc. 2. One archive box containing: i. Photocopy of original Crevecoeur journal. ii. Photocopy of "A Bibliography of the Virginia Campaign and Siege of Yorktown, 1781" compiled by the Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown, 1941. 3. Three non-archive boxes containing further typescripts, drafts, notes, note cards, and photocopies. 4. One non-archive box containing photocopied descriptions of the Bougainville manuscripts (14 p.), the Crubler D'Opeterre manuscripts (13 p.), and the Rochambeau manuscripts (including the Cartographic Archives of the Rochambeau Family) (365 p.). 5. One black binder containing a typescript copy of the Journal of M. Berthier, 10 May 1780 to 8 March 1781. 6. One orange portfolio containing photostats of early road maps, a booklet "New Jersey Road Maps of the 18th Century" and a typescript translation of Berthier's Itineraire des Marches que l'Armee a fait pour se rendre du camp de Phillipsburg...en Virginia...en 1781". 7. Two manila folders containing various typescripts relating to Berthier. 8. One unbound dummy proof on green paper of the "American Campaigns", in Princetown University Press package
1. One small box containing the card file of the index. 2. One bound proof copy of "Tha Anatomy of Glory" containing numerous pencil marks and notes by ASKB. 3. Ten black binders containing typescripts of various chapters. 4. Three black binders containing plates for the book
1. Two non-archival boxes containing photographic prints of the plates, one being portraits, the other being scenes, events uniforms, etc. 2. One manila envelope containing loose plates (mainly in colour)
One brown portfolio labelled "Aemy Museums Ogilby Trust's Publication (1969) containing: i. One manila folder of a hand-written "Index to Book on Coats of Arms. ASKB orig. 7-20-70". ii. One manila folder containing typewritten lists of British music sheet covers for the "Index to British Military cosutme Prints". iii. Loose sheet of hand-written lists of prints
One bound typescript of "Index to British Military Costume Prints".
52 folders arranged alphabetically from A-O
44 folders arranged alphabetically from P-Y
The Anne S. K. Brown Papers (circa 1940-1985) document the creation of the Anne S. K. Brown Military Collection, now a part of Special Collections of Brown University Library. There is no material relating to Mrs. Brown's life prior to 1940 nor of her life outside of her interest in the Military Collection. Information about other aspects of her life can be found in the
The records are organized in the following series:
Researchers are advised that express written permission to reproduce, quote, or otherwise publish any portion or extract from this collection must be obtained from the Brown University Library. Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Anne S. K. Brown Military Collection, OF-1X-2025-005, Brown University Library.
The collection is arranged in 17 series:
There are no restrictions on access except for Series 4, 8, 11, and 16. Series 10 and 14 are also restricted and require curatorial review for access. The collection is available for research by prior appointment only. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested
Accompanied the transfer of the Military Collection from the Nightingale-Brown House, Providence, to the John Hay Library, Brown University in 1981-82.
Some of the materials in this collection were previously described in separate catalog records. The records were consolidated into a single finding aid to reflect the full scope of the Anne S. K. Brown Papers and to improve access for researchers. Existing descriptions were reviewed and revised to ensure consistency and clarity.
See also: