Part 1 (Mss 231, various photo call numbers): Original Collection, 1816-1938
Physical Description: 9.6 c.f. (24 archives boxes), 1168 photographs, 76 transparencies, 250 negatives, and 3 pieces of ephemera 
Scope and Content Note

The Charles Newton Brown Family Papers are divided into five series: correspondence; the papers of Charles Newton Brown, of Irving Henry Brown, and of Nellie Melvina Williams Brown; and photographs.

The CORRESPONDENCE, 1870-circa 1935, is arranged as it was received from the donor in five segments: Brown Family; Brown Family Genealogy; between Charles Brown and Nellie Williams, 1881-1883; Irving Brown; and between Irving and Mary Brown. Included in the Brown family correspondence, 1870-1933, are letters received, as well as an occasional letter sent by Charles, Nellie, and Irving Brown. Many of the earlier letters were written by Nellie's relatives before her marriage. Also included are condolences to Charles and Nellie after their son Charles William (1885-1899) died; letters from Irving to his parents while he was traveling and studying in Europe and teaching at various academies and universities; letters written to Charles and Nellie by Mary Sullivan before and after her marriage to Irving; and other family matters.

The Brown family genealogy correspondence, 1895-1917 (primarily 1904-1906), is arranged alphabetically, and chronologically thereunder. Included are letters to and from Cyrus Henry Brown, Westerly, Rhode Island, who compiled the genealogy; and from Brown relatives who supplied genealogical forms and notes filed here with the Charles Newton Brown papers (boxes 9-10). Correspondence, 1881-1883, between Charles Brown and Nellie Williams documents their courtship. The Irving Brown correspondence is from associates and others interested in his study of gypsies, from several European literary figures, and from George Woodberry, a retired University of Wisconsin professor, including typed selections of Woodberry's letters to Irving and Mary Brown. Letters between Irving and Mary Brown discuss Irving's travels and studies abroad, and later, their marital problems.

CHARLES NEWTON BROWN'S PAPERS, 1880-1926, include alphabetically arranged genealogical forms and notes collected during the compilation of the Brown genealogy. Included also are correspondence and financial records, 1913-1925, of the Dane County Bar Association documenting Brown's term as secretary; and annual reports, 1906-1925, and correspondence, 1920-1925, of the Madison Literary Club. There is also correspondence, 1905, of the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association; and correspondence, 1923-1925, and financial reports, 1923-1924, of the United Bond and Mortgage Company. Charles Brown's diaries, 1912-1916; personal financial records, 1885-1926; and writings and notes, 1880-1915, including law lecture notebooks, law degree thesis, and essays on World War I, the Boer War, and other topics are found here. The miscellany section, 1881-1920, includes contracts, legal agreements, and specification for his homes in Madison; certificates of public service; legal papers; namebooks (lists of names); and passports. The photographs include images of parks, roads, and lakes in the region of Madison, Wisconsin, circa 1890-1915, probably made by Charles N. Brown in conjunction with the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association. These images include views of Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, Lake Waubesa, the Yahara River area, Tenney Park, Henry Vilas Park, Brittingham Park, and scenic drives such as Lake Mendota Drive and Farwell Drive.

IRVING HENRY BROWN'S PAPERS, 1899-1938, include his diaries, 1903-1928; writings and notes, 1904-1938, consisting of draft copies and reviews of some of his published works on gypsies, as well as poetry, essays, themes, and lecture notes; and files of miscellaneous subjects. The miscellaneous subject file, 1899-1938, includes an account book, birth certificates for Brown and his two children, documents on Brown's marriage and subsequent divorce, notebooks, academic records from the University of Wisconsin and Columbia University, travel documents, and two autographed copies of Jean-Raoul Daruis' writings.

The papers, 1816-1924, of NELLIE MELVINA WILLIAMS BROWN include financial records, 1900-1924, consisting of a fire insurance policy and leases for apartments owned by Nellie Brown and her sister, Jennie M. Williams; and writings and notes, 1871-1878, consisting of academic assignments and notebooks. The miscellany section, 1816-1881, includes many financial records of the Williams family such as bills of sale; mortgage assignments and deeds; plot location surveys and certificates; wills; and programs for school activities in which Nellie Williams participated.

The PHOTOGRAPHS series consists of photographs attributed to Charles Newton Brown showing parks, roads, and lakes in the Madison area, circa 1895-1915, which was probably done as part of Brown's work with the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association. The Association was part of the nationwide City Beautiful Movement of the late 19th century that sought to improve the urban environment through scenic drives and public parks. One of the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association's first projects was Farwell Drive, a scenic drive around the eastern shore of Lake Mendota. Other projects included Tenney Park in 1900; the creation of a parkway along the Yahara River; the creation of Henry Vilas Park in 1905; and work on Brittingham Park. The collection includes images of these parks, along with other areas in Madison, and may have been used in documenting work undertaken by the Association. Images in the collection also show how the shoreline near downtown Madison and the University of Wisconsin had been developed by the turn of the century while shoreline away from downtown remained undeveloped.

The photographs were originally housed in five albums (labeled A through E) created by Historical Society staff. The photographs have been removed from these albums. The original album order and subheadings have been maintained and the folder numbers are the same as the original album page numbers.

Album A is divided into three areas. The first is general views of Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, and Lake Waubesa; activities on and near the lakes including boating, picnicking, and ice fishing; and Madison and the University as viewed across the lakes. The second documents the rustic bridge on Lake Mendota Drive. The third is images of Picnic Point on Lake Mendota.

Album B contains images of roads which were part of the Park and Pleasure Drive including University Drive, Lake Mendota Drive, University Bay Drive, and Farwell Drive as well as roads on the University grounds and in University Woods. The bulk of the images in this album are of Lake Mendota Drive and include views along the drive, the Raymer Farm, Triangle Park, Big Spring, and Bay Road. Images of the university grounds include Dean's Drive and Draer's Drive.

Album C has two sections: Farwell Drive and Tenney Park. The Farwell Drive photographs include views of Governor's Island, the State Hospital grounds, and Maple Bluff. The Tenney Park images include scenes of the Tenney Park Lagoon, Willow Walk, and people gathering hay in the park.

Album D has nine sections: Yahara River; Monona Bay; Brittingham Park; Henry Vilas Park, Henry Vilas Parkway, and Lake Wingra; Wingra Creek/Canal and Lake Wingra; Owen Park; Steven's Hill; Black Hawk Lane; and an old quarry on Lake Mendota Drive. The majority of the images in this album are of the Yahara River and the Yahara River Parkway and document bridges that cross the river, construction of the Steensland Bridge, the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Bridge, the malt house near the river, and Lapham School on Dayton Street. The Brittingham Park photographs include images of crops in the park, filling in Monona Bay to create the Brittingham Park, and boys swimming in Monona Bay.

Album E contains miscellaneous views of lakes, parkways, and parks presumably in the Madison, Wisconsin, area. The majority of the images are not identified. In addition to views of lakes, parkways, and parks, the album also includes images of buildings, residential streets, cattle in the Yahara River, construction of roadways, and what appears to be a rock quarry.

PH Mss 231: Additional photographs including images probably made by Charles N. Brown in conjunction with the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association, circa 1890-1915. There are also photographs related to books on gypsies written by Irving H. Brown, and family photography and ephemera.

PH 1270: Photographs related to gypsies in the Sacro Monte district near Granada, Spain, collected by Irving Brown, circa 1930-1935.

PH 1374: Portrait photographs related to the Brown family and their friends and associates, circa 1875-1925.

PH 1375: Album of photographs related to the childhood of William Brown, compiled by his father, Irving Brown, circa 1916-1925.

PH 1428: Photographs made from original Charles N. Brown negatives of the Sell Brothers and Adam Forepaugh Circus in Madison, Wisconsin, May 31, 1898. The photographs include images of elephants, camels, circus employees, a tent raising, and cooks at work.

PH 1429: Photographs created by Charles N. Brown of a parade, decorations, and encampment for the Wisconsin semi-centennial celebration in Madison, Wisconsin, 1898.

PH 1448: Transparencies, 1898, consisting of views in Savannah, Georgia, of monuments, cemeteries, avenues of live oak trees.

PH 1449: Transparencies, circa 1835-1886, consisting of views that are likely all from Nassau, the Bahama Islands, including buildings, churches, fortifications, street views, harbor, beaches, groups, and cabins.

WHi(B82), WHi(B83), and WHi(B84): Negatives made and collected by Charles N. Brown. Included are images of Madison, Wisconsin, Devils Lake, the Wisconsin River, as well as other states including New York and Florida.

Series: Correspondence

Brown Family

1870-1882

1883-1895

1897-1923

1924-1933

Incomplete dates

Brown Family Genealogy, 1895-1917 (primarily 1904-1906)

A-K

L-Y

Incomplete names

Between Charles Brown and Nellie Williams

1881

1882

1883 January-October

1883 November-December

Incomplete dates

Irving Brown

A-S

T-Z

Incomplete names

Between Irving and Mary Brown, 1909-1935, undated

Series: Charles Newton Brown Papers

Brown Family Genealogy Forms

Adams-Butler

Cardner-York

Brown Family Genealogy Notes

Bancroft Family - Brown, Jabish, Jr.

Brown, Mary - Todd, Paul

History of Chenango and Madison Counties, New York

Miscellany

Dane County Bar Association

Correspondence, 1913-1925, undated

Financial Records, 1914-1925, undated

Diaries

1912-1915
Physical Description: 4 volumes 

1916

Financial Records

Account Statements

1912-1920

1921-1926

Undated

Check Stubs

1895 December 16-1898 October 3

1899 June 1-1906 February 10

1909 April 28-August 14

Deposit Account in Bank of Wisconsin, 1912-1925

Deposit Account in Commercial National Bank, 1915-1923

Journal, 1902-1908

Journal: Frances Court, East Dayton, and Hamilton Apartments, 1904-1912

Leases for Frances Court Apartments, 1904-1907

Leases for Hamilton Apartments, A-I, 1906, 1924

Ledger

1886-1890

1909-1912

Miscellaneous financial records, 1885, 1887, 1904, 1911-1912

Warranty Deeds, 1890

Madison Literary Club

Annual Reports, 1906-1908, 1912-1925

Correspondence, 1920-1925

Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association

Correspondence, 1905

Photographs

Miscellany

“Black Hawk” Home Contracts and Legal Agreements, 1889-1892

Certificates of Public Service, 1881, 1897-1914, undated

Certificates of Public Service, 1881, 1889

Dane County Circuit Courts Bar Calendar, 1920 March

Deed Between Regents of University of Wisconsin and Thomas Bouke, 1856

Legal Papers, 1890-1925

Membership Certificate: Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters, undated

Namebooks (lists of names), undated

Passports, 1902, 1914

Specifications for the Brown Residence, 1894

Specifications and Blueprints for the Thomas Leavy Residence, undated

United Bond and Mortgage Company

Correspondence, 1923-1925

Financial Reports, 1923-1924

Writings and Notes

Account of a Trip to Northeastern United States and Canada, 1900

“Benvenuto Cellini,” undated

“The Briton and the Boer in South Africa,” undated

“The Common People of Germany and the War,” 1915 July 7

“The Democratic Party,” undated

“Emile Zola,” undated

“The End of the Earth,” undated

“The Fortune of the Rougous,” undated

Incomplete Writing, undated

Law Lecture Notebook, 1880

Part I

Part II

“An Ode to Dr. Allen-On-The-Job,” undated

“Our War Time Experiences,” undated

“The Sale of Land as Affected by The Statute of Frauds” (Thesis), 1881?

Series: Irving Henry Brown Papers

Diaries, 1903-1928, undated
Physical Description: 9 volumes 

Miscellaneous Subject File

Account Books

1899 October-1905 July

1909 March-1910? April

Address Book, undated

Affidavit of Stock Certificate Transfer, 1938

Bahoul; Comedie oriental en trois actes, par Jean-Raoul Daruis, undated

Biographical Information, undated

Birth Certificates: Elizabeth Maiya Brown, 1935; Irving Henry Brown, , 1909, 1920; and William Woodberry Brown, , 1935

Contracts and Royalty Statements for Publications, 1922-1923

Daybook, 1905 August 1-1909 February 28

Diary of Louise Codfield, 1936 August 20-September 10

Divorce Proceedings, 1935, 1938

Health Certificate, 1928

Marriage Certificates, 1916

Martinique!; Opera-Comique en trois actes, livrit de Jean-Raoul Daruis, undated

Membership Cards and Certificates, 1906-1912, 1927-1930

Notebooks, undated
Physical Description: 12 volumes 

Power of Attorney Statement, 1920

Registration Book, Columbia University, 1920

Scrapbook, 1900

Transcripts, University of Wisconsin, 1908-1909

Travel Documents, 1902-1928

Writings and Notes

“Adventures of a Gypsy Scholar” (Draft), undated

“Adventures of a Gypsy Scholar” (Typed), undated

“All's Well That Ends Well,” undated

“The Alpine Garden,” undated

“Altruism,” undated

“Andalusia,” undated

“The Angel of Reims,” undated

“An Arabian Knight of the Road,” undated

“Assunta Spina,” undated

“Authors and Compositions” (Sophomore Composition), circa 1904

“Aymeri de Narbonne,” undated

Bibliography for Study of Gassendi, undated

Biology Notebook, undated

“Brother Wine,” undated

“By Dream Light,” undated

Calisto and Melibea, 1924

“Catalonian Gypsies: Their Language and Appearance in Literature,” undated

“Chansonette Louis XV for a Girl of Today,” undated

“”Charles Morice: The Soul of Symbolism,” 1919

“Churi, the Knife,” undated

“The Control of Development,” undated

“The Death's Head Hussar,” undated

Deep Song Appendix, circa 1929

Deep Song (Incomplete), circa 1929

Deep Song Reviews, 1929

“Deserts in the Air,” 1909

“The Double Tragedy of the Schreckhorn,” undated

“The Dream Killer,” undated

“Eternal Light,” undated

“Edgar Allan Poe and His Disciples in France” (Draft), 1911

“Edgar Allen Poe and His Disciples in France” (Typewritten), 1911

“El Metal de los Muertos” / by Concho Espina, a report by Irving Brown, undated

“Emotion and Laughter,” undated

“Eternal Light,” 1911

“Feuilleton du Cardinal,” 1912

“The Fountain of Laughter,” undated

“French Drama,” undated

French II Notebook, undated

“Function and Value of Art” Notebook, undated

“Gassendi and Descartes in Their Relation to Certain Phases of French Literature,” undated

“Good Night,” 1911

“The Green Isle in the Sea,” undated

“The Gulf,” undated

“Gypsy Andalusia,” undated

“Gypsy Costume in 16th Century Portugal,” undated

Gypsy Dialect Vocabulary, undated

Gypsy Fires in America Reviews, 1924-1925

Gypsy Madness

Handwritten play, undated

Typewritten play, undated

Handwritten prose, undated

Typewritten prose, undated

Scenario, undated

“Helen,” 1915

Hindustani that resembles Romanes, undated

Ibanez, Blasco, undated

“Ideas versus Truths,” undated

“In the Garden of the Two Americas”

Handwritten, undated

Typewritten, undated

“In the Land of the Ouled Nail,” undated

Index to Irving Brown's Short Stories, undated

“An Indian Gypsy Camp,” undated

“Kuni, the Tale of a Mongoose,” 1936

“Kuni's Cubhood,” 1936

“La Buche de Noel,” undated

“La Dame de Chez Maxim,” undated

La Lola / a play in three acts by Manuel and Antonio Machado, adaptation by Irving Brown, undated

“La Moreneto: Our Lady of Montserrat,” undated

“Lawrence Hope,” undated

“Le Boheme Malgre Rui,” undated

Le Conte de Lisle: a Study on the Man and His Poetry Reviews, 1924-1926

Le Conte de Lisle: a Study on the Man and His Poetry Selections, circa 1924

“Across the Clear Sky”

“Cunacipa”

“The Evening of a Battle”

“The Gloom Of Satan”

“Malayan Pantouns”

“Noon”

“The Supreme Kiss”

“The Stylis”

“The Verandah”

“Leaving Cataluna,” undated

“Les Deux Voix,” undated

“Life is Short and Art is Song,” undated

“Literatura Arabe y Hebrea en La Edad Media,” undated

“Literatura Latina,” undated

“The Long Twilight,” undated

“The Macvaya in California,” undated

“Malaguenas,” undated

“The Mediaevals of Modern Paris,” undated

Modern French Drama Lecture Notes, undated

Modern Philosophy Notebook, undated

“Monotones,” 1911 (?)

“Montmartre,” undated

“More Lives Than One”

First Draft, undated

Second Draft, undated

“Music,” undated

“Musset and George Sand: Their Love and Letters”

Draft, undated

Final Copy, undated

“Night Immeasurable Night,” undated

Nights and Days on the Gypsy Trail Reviews, 1922-1923, 1932

“Out of the Jungle,” circa 1938

“Pan's Spring Song,” 1911

“G. Papini, Novelist, Critic, and Philosopher,” undated

La Parisienne / by Henry Becque, translated by Irving Brown, undated
Physical Description: 2 notebooks 

“Philosophical Heed,” 1909

“Pierre and Mt. Pelee,” undated

“Poe and Baudelaire; Why Poe Was Appreciated in France,” undated

The Poetry of the Romanticists and Parnassians Lecture Notes, undated

“Professional Poisoners,” undated

“Remy de Gourmont,” undated

“Riponse au M. Faguet sur son jugement de Gautier,” undated

“The Restless Wind,” 1911

“The Romany Trail,” undated

“Rondeau,” 1914, 1915

“Rostand,” undated

“Royce's Theory of Truth,” undated

“The Sacrifice,” undated

“The Senses,” undated

“Septentrional Twilight,” undated

“The Siren of the Ages: Constantinople,” undated

“The Solitary Songster,” undated

“The Solitary Warbler,” undated

“Some Indian Leaders and World Leadership,” undated

“Sonata in D minor after Brahms opus 18,” undated

“The Song of the Wandering Workers,” 1915

“Spanish American and Contemporary Spanish Literature,” undated

“Spanish Literature,” undated

Spanish Sentences Notebook

“The Spirit of Belgium,” undated

“Spring Moods,” undated

“Struggle Motive,” undated

“The Suicide,” undated

“A Summer in the Sahara” (Draft Copy), undated

“A Summer in the Sahara,” undated

“The Tears Fall in My Heart...,” undated

“A Thief to Catch a Thief,” undated

“The Tomb of Chateaubriand,” undated

“To Feel No More,” 1936

“To Helen,” 1911

“To Louise,” undated

“To Mary,” 1914

“To Pipee,” undated

“Too Happy,” undated

“The Tragic Talisman of the Curse of Allah” Scenario, undated

“Travels in Paris,” undated

“Tunisia and Its Oases,” undated

“Tunisia and Its Oases” (Typewritten Copy), undated

“Two Centuries,” undated

“The Ultimate,” 1910

“An Unpublished Letter of Flaubert,” undated

“Venise,” undated

“Vile Potabis,” undated

“The Viper,” undated

“The Vision of Universal Death,” undated

The Vow (Draft), undated

The Vow / by Salvatore di Giancomo and G. Cognetti, translated from the Neopolitan by Irving Brown, undated

“The Voyage,” 1911

“The Wandering Jew of the Cities,” undated

“Who Covereth His Sins,” undated

“Windows,” undated

“Winter Morning,” 1911

“Wordsworth and Coleridge and the French Revolution,” undated

Series: Nellie Williams Brown Papers

Financial Records

Fire Insurance Policy for Nellie W. Brown and Jennie M. Williams, 1901

Leases Between Nellie W. Brown and Jennie M. Williams and Leasees, 1900-1924

Miscellany

Bills of Sale, 1853, 1856

Bond Deeds, 1833, 1835, 1853-1854

Burial Lot Deed, 1878

Land Deed, lot 59 in town of Pompey (LaFayette), 1836

Deeds to Columbian Society, 1847

Itemized List of Chauncey Williams' Real and Personal Property, 1853

Memorial Service Booklet for Chauncey Lawrence Williams, 1878

Mortgage Assignment, 1844

Mortgage Deeds, 1821, 1833, 1835, 1853-1854, 1865-1866

Plot Location Certificates, 1879, 1881

Plot Survey, 1855

Programs, 1875-1877

Quit-Claim Deeds, 1853

Satisfaction Mortgages, 1853-1854

Statement of Pew Purchase, 1844

Testimony of Receipt of Payments, 1853

Warranty Deeds, 1835, 1853

Will and Testament of Joseph Smith, 1816

Will of Chauncey L. Williams and Release of Claim of Estate, 1852, 1853

Writings and Notes

Academic Assignments, 1871-1878, undated

Chemistry Notebook, undated

Political Economy Notebook, undated

Sketchbook, undated

Series: Photographs

Album A

Views of Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, and Lake Waubesa

Rustic Bridge, Lake Mendota Drive

Picnic Point, Lake Mendota

Album B

University Drive

Lake Mendota Drive

University Grounds

University Woods

University Bay Drive

Farwell Drive

Album C

Farwell Drive

Tenney Park

Album D

Yahara River

Monona Bay

Brittingham Park

Henry Vilas Park, Henry Vilas Parkway, and Lake Wingra

Wingra Creek/Canal and Lake Wingra Drive

Owen Park

Steven's Hill

Black Hawk Lane

Old Quarry, Lake Mendota Drive

Album E

Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association, circa 1890-1915
Physical Description: 386 photographs, 91 negatives, and 3 pieces of ephemera (in 4 archives boxes) 
Note: Also includes photographs related to books on “gypsies” written by Irving H. Brown, and family photography and ephemera.

“Gypsies” in the Sacro Monte district near Granada, Spain / collected by Irving Brown, circa 1930-1935

Portraits of Brown family, friends, and associates, circa 1875-1925

Album of William Brown childhood / compiled by his father Irving Brown, circa 1916-1925

Sell Brothers and Adam Forepaugh Circus, Madison, Wisconsin, 1898 May 31
Note: Made from original Charles N. Brown negative.

Wisconsin semi-centennial celebration, Madison, Wisconsin

Savannah, Georgia: lantern slides, 1898

Nassau, Bahama Islands: lantern slides, circa 1825-1886

Glass plate negatives / made and collected by Charles N. Brown
Note: Images of Wisconsin, including Madison, Devil's Lake, Wisconsin River; and other states, including New York and Florida. Some negatives have been printed for PH 1428, PH 1429, the classified file, place file, and subject albums.
Access Restrictions: Use of negatives requires permission of the Visual Materials Curator and three days prior notice.