Benjamin Williams Brown (1897-1955) was born in Danielson, Connecticut to George Smith and Evelyn Lunette Williams Brown on December 1, 1897. His family members were direct descendants of Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island. By the time he graduated from Brown University in 1919, he had already begun his dramatic career, spending a summer with the Albee stock company and six weeks playing with the Keith circuit. Between 1920 and 1921, Brown taught at Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Massachusetts. After earning his master's of arts degree from Brown University in 1921, he was appointed to teach drama, public speaking and playwriting. He also became the director of the Sock and Buskin, introducing a new year-round production schedule. In 1926, Brown was promoted to assistant professor of English and public speaking, then associate professor in 1936, and finally, full professor in 1951.
As a theatre critic, scholar and practitioner, Brown enjoyed theatre from many eras, cultures and genres. He studied theatre in Europe while on sabbaticals throughout his tenure. In 1937 and 1938, Brown spent some time in the Soviet Union studying the robust and innovative Russian theatre movement. Upon his return in 1938, Brown penned Theatre at the Left, a book about contemporary Russian theatre.
During World War II, Brown took a leave of absence from Brown University to serve as the first assistant manager in the North Atlantic Region of the Red Cross. He worked to recruit new members to the Red Cross organization and to raise funds to support their work. Immediately following his return to Brown University in 1947, Brown wrote an instructional volume on play production titled, Upstage-Downstage.
While performing all of his duties at Brown University, Brown also traveled around the state of Rhode Island giving lectures and speeches about the theatre - both contemporary and historical. He frequented many of the theatres around Rhode Island as a spectator - some thoughts on which are contained in a notebook and in some letters within the collection. In 1955, Brown suffered a stroke while alone in his home, and died a few days later in the hospital on January 3rd. He is a fondly remembered institution at Brown University, and is included in the book, Gentlemen Under the Elms, by Jay Barry.
(Information from Encyclopedia Brunonia was included in this biographical note)
There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be 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.
Ben W. Brown papers, MS-1UF-B5, Brown University Archives.
These papers consist of notebooks, manuscripts, speeches and addresses, and correspondence documenting the teaching career of Ben W. Brown. Eight notebooks are lecture notes used by Brown to teach courses at Brown University. Subjects documented in the notebooks (ca. 1930s-1940s) include Shakespeare, English and American drama of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Russian drama and Soviet theater, Le Théatre Français, play synopses, and general overviews of theater and public speaking. Another notebook includes critical comments on specific plays viewed by Brown between 1928 and 1929. Manuscripts of six plays by Brown, some without title or date, and three drafts of Brown's book, Upstage-Downstage: Directing the Play, containing handwritten notes, are also included in the collection. Most of the speeches and lectures are about the various eras, genres and characters in theatre history, and are handwritten on index cards or lined paper. Correspondence primarily contains letters to Brown from friends, including one from actor, Will Geer, regarding a trip to the Soviet Union, and some letters from former Brown University President, Clarence Barbour.
This collection is arranged into the following series:
Series 1 (Writings) is comprised of six plays, three poems, two scholarly articles and three drafts of Brown's book, Upstage-Downstage. These items are arranged alphabetically by title.
Series 2 (Teaching Files) contains two syllabi from English 186, taught between 1948 and 1950. Also included are eight notebooks, filled by Brown's handwriting, relating to various eras and cultures in theatre history. The material is arranged by the chronology of the subject matter.
Series 3 (Speeches) consists of speeches and lectures given by Brown around Rhode Island between 1929 and 1947, with some undated material. The material is arranged chronologically, with the undated items at the end.
Series 4 (Correspondence, 1925-1952) includes two letters written by Brown and eighteen letters written to Brown, arranged chronologically.
Series 5 (Personal Papers) contains a certificate for Phi Beta Kappa and a notebook reviewing plays viewed by Brown between July 1, 1928 and July 1, 1929. These items are arranged chronologically.
This collection was acquired through the Department of English.
This collection was arranged and described by Amy Greer, student at the Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science.
No further materials are anticipated for this collection.
Brown University Library catalog record for this collection:
Brown University Archives, Biographical Files Collection
2 typed manuscripts
Includes letters from: Samuel Tomlinson Arnold, Lionel Atwill, Clarence A. Barbour, Roger Tillinghast Clapp, Quentin Rice Cowman (photocopy), Arthur Hyman Cooper (photocopy), Thomas Crosby, Charles Edward Farrow, Clarence Mason Gallup, Will Geer, Harry Houdini, Lloyd Minturn Mayer, Robert McBurney Mitchell, Ada Rehan, Samuel Watson Smith, Clinton Nickerson Williams, and John Burgess Young
Includes two letters to James P. Adams, former Vice President of Brown University.