US-RPB-ms78.8 Henry Howard Brownell Papers1828-1871 Finding aid prepared by S.T. Joshi Brown University Library
Box A Brown University Providence, RI, 02912 Tel: 401-863-2146 email:hay@brown.edu
2001 Sep 20 This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2013-01-23 English Henry Howard Brownell Papers Ms.78.8 John Hay Library Special Collections
Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Tel: 401-863-2146 email: hay@brown.edu
English 0.25 linear feet (22 folders) 1828-1871 The Henry Howard Brownell Papers, dating from 1827-1871, include short prose articles and stories in manuscript, poetry manuscripts, verse translations from Homer's Aeneid and a scrapbook of Brownell's poems. Brownell was a poet and lawyer from Connecticut. Brownell, Henry Howard, 1820-1872 Brownell (Henry Howard) papers Biographical note

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Brownell (1820-1872) moved at an early age to East Hartford, Connecticut, where he spent the major portion of his life. He attended Trinity College (then Washington College) in Hartford, and was admitted to the bar in 1844.

He quickly turned to literature and produced, in the 1850's, several volumes of general world history. It was, however, as a poet that he gained greatest fame. Some of his verse dates to as early as 1838, and his first volume of poetry was Poems (1847). Ephemeron followed in 1855, and his greatest poems--those concerning the Civil War, in which he served in a minor capacity with the Union Navy--were included in such volumes as Lyrics of a day: or, Newspaper poetry and War-lyrics and other poems (1866). Many of these had originally appeared in various Hartford newspapers, mainly the Courant. A selection of his war verse was published posthumously as Lines of battle (1912), edited by M.A. De Wolfe Howe. His work was praised by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Thomas Bailey Aldrich, and others.

 Collection information

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.

Henry Howard Brownell Papers, Ms. 78.8, Brown University Library.

Short prose articles and stories in manuscript, poetry manuscripts, and verse translations from Homer's Aeneid and a scrapbook of Brownell's poems

This collection is organized by genre in 5 series: Series 1. Prose Series 2. Poetry manuscripts Series 3. Printed poetry Series 4. Newspaper clippings of poetry Series 5. Copyrights

Administrative information

The Henry Howard Brownell Papers were given to Brown University in January 1968 by Mrs. Clifford K. Rathbone of Providence, Rhode Island.

Held by Brown University Library: Brownell Family Papers, ca. 1849-1880 (A89-5 Hay Manuscripts)

Additional information

Brown University Library catalog record for this collection Henry Howard Brownell Papers

Names Brownell, Henry Howard, 1820-1872 Homer Lewis, M. G. (Matthew Gregory), 1775-1818 Trinity College (Hartford, Conn.) Subjects Anecdotes Authors, American Poets, American Short stories United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865 Occupations Poets Lawyers Types of Materials Clippings Scrapbooks Poems RIAMCO Browsing Term Language and Literature Prose Series 1 Prose manuscripts Series 1 1 1-16 Scope and Contents note

Ca. 90 items consisting of short fabular stories and anecdotes, arranged by Brownell into the following categories: "College", "Concerning Cats", "A Few Yarns", "Little Folks", "My Grocery", "Law", and "Some Idioms". There is other miscellaneous prose fiction.

 Poetry manuscripts Series 2 Poetry manuscripts 1 17 Scope and Contents note

Early poems, including The Sphinx, Obed the Skipper, The book, The portrait, The passing-bell, Philip the freed-man, The nurse of Nen", Solitude, To J-----, Jack's visitor, To Eros, and Pleasant delusions. The manuscript is numbered from pages 22-111, although many inner pages are missing.

 Poetry manuscripts 1 18 Scope and Contents note

Includes A lecture to the Freshmen of Wash. College, A familiar lecture to the Freshman Class of Washington College" (revised version of the preceding), and Fragments of a poem delivered at Commencement, 1841, Washington College.

 Poetry manuscripts 1 19 Scope and Contents note

Includes The clerk's two songs o' Owsenford, The doting old man to the girl, An acrostic, Inoculanarum questionum", Lord William" by Monk Lewis?), fragments of translations from the Aeneid, and other fragments.

 Printed Poetry Series 3 Printed poetry Series 3 1 20 Scope and Contents note

Includes Nile, Homer: The Pyre of Patroclus [Iliad, XXII.193-230]; The landing of Ulysses [Odyssey, V.400-493], Gulf-weed, and At rest ...

 Newspaper clippings of poetry Series 4 Newspaper clippings of poetry Series 4 1 21 Scope and Contents note

Includes The Battle of Charlestown, Dec. 2, 1859, Annus memorabilis, Coming, To-day (retitled "Sumter"), On fire, All we ask is to be let alone, Mr. Carlyle's chimney, The march of the regiment, Old times, The fall of Al-Accoub, One word, The eagle of Corinth, The iron hand, On the killing of certain dogs, What is it?, Letter from a Puritan of the Old School, Fragments, The color-bearer, April 19, 1775-1861 (manuscript), Old papers (manuscript), Words that can be sung to the 'Hallelujah chorus' (manuscript), The return of Kane" (manuscript), Mare non clausum, Suspiria noctis, To the poet, Midnight--A lament, Gone, The Burian of the Dane, Lines composed a board of a Californy male Steamer, All together, At sea, Somnia coeli, Bury them, Suspiria Ensis, and Bay fight(excerpts).

 Copyrights Series 5 Copyrights Series 5 1 22 Scope and Contents note

Copyrights for Brownell's volumes, Ephemeron (1855) and Lyrics of a Day (1863, 1864)