US-RPB-ms97.3 Charles Wilson Brown collection of Brown and Wilson family papers1846-1967 John Hay Library staff. Brown University Library

2008 December 08

John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Business Number: Tel: 401-863-3723 email:hay@brown.edu URL:

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-06-30. Description is written in: English, Latin script. John Hay LibraryUniversity Archives and Manuscripts

Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148 Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Charles Wilson Brown collection of Brown and Wilson family papers Brown family Ms.97.3 1 linear_foot 1846-1967 The Charles Wilson Brown collection of Brown and Wilson family papers contain correspondence, manuscripts, and photographs related to Lanta Wilson Smith (Charles Brown's aunt), Rev. Henry Wheaton Brown (Charles Brown's father) and Rev. William Jones Wilson (Charles Brown's grandfather). The correspondence is largely written to or by Lanta Wilson Smith and includes some of her poetry; the remaining correspondence is written by or related to Rev. William Jones Wilson. Autobiographies of both Rev. Brown and Rev. Wilson can be found in the collection as can parish programs and related clippings. The photographs are of Maine churches and Rev. Wilson and his wife. 1 linear ft. (1 records center box) English . Brown (Charles Wilson) collection of Brown and Wilson family papers Biographical note

Charles Wilson Brown (1874-1974) received a BA in Philosophy from Brown University in 1900, and did graduate work in geology, first at Lawrence University in Wisconsin, then at Harvard University. In 1905 Charles Brown became a professor and the Head of the Geology Department at Brown University.

Professor Brown's father, the Rev. Henry Wheaton Brown (1846-?), was married to Abbie Ellen Wilson, daughter of Rev. William Jones Wilson. Rev. Brown served in the Civil War, went into business for a while, then served as a Methodist pastor in, among other states, Wisconsin, the Dakota Territory, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.

The Rev. William Jones Wilson (1818-1899) was married to Sedelia A. Follett and had two daughters, Abbie Ellen Wilson Brown (married to Rev. Henry Wheaton Brown) and Lanta Wilson Smith (married to Rev. C. Harley Smith). Rev. Wilson built up a church in Belfast, Maine, during his first years as a pastor. He later served in Nebraska, Wisconsin, and the Dakota Territory. His last pastorate was at Hingham, Massachusetts.

Lanta Wilson Smith wrote poems, songs, and hymns, notably "Scatter Sunshine" and "This Too, Will Pass Away". Mrs. Smith accompanied her husband to parishes throughout the Mid West and New England.

See Charles Wilson Brown, Encyclopedia Brunoniana for additional information on Professor Brown.

Correspondence Series 1 1846-1938 1 1-2 A. Letters from Lanta Wilson Smith Fernald, O.H. undated 1 1 Scope and Contents note

Note. Attached is typed genealogical information by Fernald about Rev. William J. Wilson and Rev. O. H. Fernald.

Thomas, Flora Bowles 1899 Apr 6 1 1 Scope and Contents note

Autograph letter signed on the death of Rev. Wm. J. Wilson.

B. Letters to Lanta Wilson Smith Gordon 1938? Mar 19 1 1 Scope and Contents note

Autograph letter signed. Letter: Attleboro Springs, Attleboro, MA, J.I. Bartholomew, Superintendent.

Thomas, Flora Bowles 1898 Dec 26 1 1 Scope and Contents note

Autograph letter signed.

C. Letters to and from others Brown, Abbie Ellen Wilson (Mrs. H. W. Brown) to Flora Bowles Thomas 1901 Aug 11 1 2 Scope and Contents note

Autograph letter signed. Includes envelope addressed to Master John Wesley Thomas, August 12, 1901, annotated.

Hedding, Elijah, Bishop. 1850 Jun 30 1 2 Scope and Contents note

Certificate of recommendation for William J. Wilson, Frankfort, ME.

Tibou?, David Howards? to Mrs. C. H. Smith. 1909 Mar 26 1 2 Scope and Contents note

Typed letter signed. Letterhead: United States Naval Home, Philadelphia, PA.

Waugh, Beverly, Bishop. 1846 Jul 5 1 2 Scope and Contents note

Certificate of recommendation for William J. Wilson, Hallowell, ME.

Wilson, William Jones to Sister Packard undated 1 2 Scope and Contents note

Autograph letter signed

Manuscripts Series 2 1896-1907 1 3-4 A. Poems by Lanta Wilson Smith Bar Harbor, ME; Harmony, ME; Bucksport, ME 1896? Apr 17 and May 17 and Mar 9 1 3 Scope and Contents note

Includes annotation: "To sister Abbie Ellen Wilson."

Eastine, ME Jul 19 1 3 Scope and Contents note

Includes "Flora First Grandchild." Annotated.

B. Autobiography William Jones (1818-1899). Autobiography undated 1 1 Scope and Contents note

Autograph manuscript. The original of this autobiography was partly burned. The manuscript was later recopied, and edited by his daughter Lanta Wilson Smith (Mrs. Charles Harley Smith), who also made additions to this copy. The manuscript includes mounted clippings and photographs. Dates noted in the manuscript are from 1896 to 1907.

Brown, Henry Wheaton (b. 1846). Autobiography 162 pages undated 1 4 Scope and Contents note

Typed manuscript. Chapter headings include: Army Experience, Business Career, Literary Efforts (which contains many poems), and Ministerial Labors, among others.

Johnson, Henry W. to Brown, Henry Wheaton, letter 1916 Feb 18 1 4 Printed items Series 3 1849-1895 1 5 Exhibition broadside Dec 10 1 5 Scope and Contents note

Poster for Sunday School exhibition at Lord's Hall. Annotated: "probably Ellsworth, ME, 1849."

First Parish (Unitarian) in Hingham, MA undated 1 5 Scope and Contents note

Small placard with information and photographs of the church.

Hingham Shipwrights (Ship Church) drawing undated 1 5 Scope and Contents note

Tear sheet from magazine. Annotation explains that Rev. and Mrs. Wm. J. Wilson, their daughter Abbie and husband Rev. Henry W. Brown were buried in this cemetery.

Methodist Episcopal Church, Stoughton, MA undated 1 5 Scope and Contents note

Clipping

Smith, Lanta Wilson, "Our Broken Walls" undated 1 5 Scope and Contents note

Poem. Tear-sheet from a church pamphlet

Wilson, Rev. and Mrs. Golden Anniversary announcement card and invitation to reception. 1877 Jul 10 1 5 Scope and Contents note

Two cards and envelope (annotated)

Wilson, Mrs. Sedelia Follett, "Temperance Song" Oct 29 1 5 Scope and Contents note

Poem. Newspaper clipping, Springfield.

Wilson, Rev. William Jones undated 1 5 Scope and Contents note

Tear-sheet of a list of names and the dates and places where the person held a parish. Annotated.

Yankon College Conservatory Choral Union. Program for "Daniel, or the Captivity and Restoration" 1895 Feb 26 1 5 Scope and Contents note

Broadside.

Newspaper clippings Series 4 1894-1967 1 6 Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Prescott G. Golden Wedding anniversary article undated 1 6 Bowles, Flora S. and Arthur R. Thomas. Wedding annoucnement undated 1 6 "Hinghams's Historic Meeting House." Article on Ship Church, New York Times 1967 May 5 1 6 "Milestone in the Bay State." Article on Ship Church, Hingham Meeting House, [New York Times?] 1956 Jul 15 1 6 Thomas, Mr. [?] Obituary Jun 25 1 6 Thompson, Rev. J.S. Obituary written by H.W. Brown 1894 Apr 12, Apr 18 1 6 Wilson, Sedelia Follett. Obituary written by H.W. Brown 1904 Dec 7 1 6 Wilson, Williams Jones. "A Ministerial Family." undated 1 6 Scope and Contents note

Article on Rev. Wilson and Sedelia Follett Wilson's Golden Wedding anniversary. Phenix, RI.

Wilson, William Jones. Two obituaries 1899 Mar 29 1 6 Miscellaneous clippings undated 1 6 Photographs Series 5 1868-1897 1 7 Church, Belfast, ME undated 1 7 Glimpse of Church, Belfast, ME undated 1 7 Northport Campground, ME 1897 1 7 Scope and Contents note

Four photographs.

Tibou?, David Howards? undated 1 7 Scope and Contents note

Signed

Wilson, Mrs. Sedelia Follett 1870? 1 7 Scope and Contents note

C.W. Lucas, photographer. Brodhead, Wis.

Wilson, William Jones 1868? 1 7 Scope and Contents note

Two photographs, one is an enlargement of the other. Burlington, Wis.

Wilson, Rev. and Mrs. William Jones? undated 1 7 Scope and Contents note

Two printed copies of a photograph.

Woman with child. Unidentified undated 1 7 Miscellaneous Series 6 1902, undated 1 8 Envelope. "C. H. Warren, General Passenger agent" printed on it. 1902 Nov 21 1 8 Scope and Contents note

Annotated: "Nov. 21. 1902, The 100th birthday of Jacob Sleeper."

Handwritten note undated 1 8 Collection information Scope and Contents note

This collection of approximately 62 items, dating from 1846 to 1967, consists of letters, clippings, cash books, and two autobiographies. These are mostly the papers of Lanta Wilson Smith (Charles Brown's aunt) as well as those of Rev. Henry Wheaton Brown (Charles Brown's father), and Rev. William Jones Wilson (Charles Brown's grandfather).

The correspondence (Series 1) letters from and to Lanta Wilson Smith and letters from others. Subsequent series contain manuscripts (including the autobiographies), printed items, newspaper clippings, and photographs.

Conditions Governing Use note

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.

Preferred Citation note

Charles Wilson Brown collection of Brown and Wilson family papers, Ms. 97.3, Brown University Library.

Arrangement note

The collection is arranged in six series: Series 1. Correspondence Series 2. Manuscripts Series 3. Printed items Series 4. Newspaper clippings Series 5. Photographs Series 6. Miscellaneous

The correspondence (Series 1) is broken up into three sections: A. Letters from Lanta Wilson Smith; B. Letters to Lanta Wilson Smith; and C. Letters to and from others; within those sections the letters are arranged alphabetically. Subsequent series contain manuscripts (including the autobiographies), printed items (arranged alphabetically), newspaper clippings (also arranged alphabetically), and photographs.

Conditions Governing Access 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.

Administrative information Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Gift of Professor Charles Wilson Brown in 1971.

Additional information General note

Repository catalog record for this collection: Charles Wilson Brown collection of Brown and Wilson family papers

Names Smith, Lanta Wilson Wilson, William Jones (1818-1899) Brown, Henry Wheaton, b. 1846 Brown, Charles W. (Charles Wilson), b. 1874 Brown University. Class of 1900. Brown University--Faculty Subjects Methodist Church -- Clergy Methodists -- Biography Types of Materials Obituaries Invitations Broadsides (notices) Clippings (information artifacts) Photographs Letters (Correspondence)