Austin H. Brown papers
Collection
Identifier: L019
Scope and Contents
This collection contains Austin H. Brown’s personal and business correspondence, as well as documents of political appointments, indentures, checks, receipts, clippings, and compositions, programs and other ephemera from social and political activities such as membership to the Democratic Party and Masons organizations. The correspondence includes letters from his father, William J. Brown, his brother, George, and cousin, John Ferguson.
There are also a Independent Relief Fire Co., No. 1 honorary membership certificate, circa 1830-1901 (OBC217) and a scrapbook of theatrical programs and announcements for the Metropolitan Theater, and Masonic and Democratic Party programs, 1856-1905 (V443).
Other correspondents include Thomas A. Hendricks, James Whitcomb, Richard Wigginton Thompson, and Jesse Bright. There are also letters to President Grover Cleveland recommending Brown for a federal appointment, a report on fraudulent claims in the Horse Claims division, and a scrapbook of theatrical programs and announcements for the Metropolitan Theater.
There are also a Independent Relief Fire Co., No. 1 honorary membership certificate, circa 1830-1901 (OBC217) and a scrapbook of theatrical programs and announcements for the Metropolitan Theater, and Masonic and Democratic Party programs, 1856-1905 (V443).
Other correspondents include Thomas A. Hendricks, James Whitcomb, Richard Wigginton Thompson, and Jesse Bright. There are also letters to President Grover Cleveland recommending Brown for a federal appointment, a report on fraudulent claims in the Horse Claims division, and a scrapbook of theatrical programs and announcements for the Metropolitan Theater.
Dates
- 1830-1901
Creator
- Brown, Austin H. (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Biographical Note
Austin H. Brown was born at Milroy, Rush County, Indiana on March 19, 1828. He was the son of Susan Tompkins Brown and William J. Brown, who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Brown moved to Indianapolis in 1837 and worked for a printer and was a carrier for the Indiana Democrat. In 1844, he entered Asbury University but left the following year to go to Washington, D.C. and work as a clerk in the office of the sixth auditor. Brown rose to become the assistant chief clerk and distributing officer and was the United States post office inspector.
Brown married Margaret E. Russell in 1855 and together they had two children. He returned to Indianapolis and took over proprietorship of the Indianapolis Sentinel. In 1855, Brown was elected auditor of Marion County. He was assistant adjutant general of Indiana during the U.S. Civil War. Brown became collector of internal revenue for Indianapolis in 1866. In 1874, he became clerk of Marion County and served as city councilman and on the school commission. Brown was a member of the National Democratic Committee. Austin H. Brown died January 1, 1903.
Sources:
Items in the collection.
Dunn, Jacob Piatt. Indiana and Indianans. Chicago: The America Historical Society, 1919.
Brown married Margaret E. Russell in 1855 and together they had two children. He returned to Indianapolis and took over proprietorship of the Indianapolis Sentinel. In 1855, Brown was elected auditor of Marion County. He was assistant adjutant general of Indiana during the U.S. Civil War. Brown became collector of internal revenue for Indianapolis in 1866. In 1874, he became clerk of Marion County and served as city councilman and on the school commission. Brown was a member of the National Democratic Committee. Austin H. Brown died January 1, 1903.
Sources:
Items in the collection.
Dunn, Jacob Piatt. Indiana and Indianans. Chicago: The America Historical Society, 1919.
Extent
1 Cubic Feet (2 manuscript boxes, 1 oversize folder, 1 volume)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
Arranged in the following series:
Series 1: Correspondence, 1844-1901
Series 2: Legal and financial papers, 1830-1901
Series 3: Social and political papers, 1846-1901
Series 1: Correspondence, 1844-1901
Series 2: Legal and financial papers, 1830-1901
Series 3: Social and political papers, 1846-1901
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Gavin M. Brown on 1931/05/02; Austin H. Brown care of Eli Lilly Corporation on 1931/07/22, and Austin Brown on 1944/03/30.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2007/03 by Barbara Hilderbrand. EAD finding aid created 2007/03 by Barbara Hilderbrand. Collection reprocessed and EAD finding aid revised 2015/10/16 by Brittany Kropf. EAD finding aid revised 2021/11/19 by Lauren Patton.
- Amity (Ind.)
- Annapolis (Md.)
- Bright, Jesse D. (Jesse David)
- Businesspeople -- Indiana
- Cincinnati (Ohio)
- Claims
- Cleveland, Grover, 1837-1908
- College students
- Conner, William, 1777-1855
- Correspondence
- Cox, E. T. (Edward Travers)
- Davis, John Wesley, 1799-1859
- DePauw University
- Defrees, John D. (John Dougherty), 1810 or 1811-1882
- Democratic Party (Ind.)
- Education -- Indiana
- Elliott, Byron K. (Byron Kosciusko)
- Family life
- Ferguson, John
- Fraternal organizations
- Freemasons -- Indiana
- Freemasons. Grand Lodge of Indiana
- Gorman, Arthur P. (Arthur Pue)
- Gray, Isaac P. (Isaac Pusey)
- Hendricks, Thomas A. (Thomas Andrews), 1819-1885
- Horses -- United States
- Indiana -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
- Indianapolis (Ind.)
- Lafayette and Indianapolis Railroad
- Legislators -- United States
- Martinsville (Ind.)
- McDonald, Joseph E. (Joseph Ewing)
- Military education -- United States
- Milroy (Ind.)
- Mines and mineral resources
- Mining corporations -- Montana
- Parker, George F. (George Frederick)
- Politicians -- Indiana
- Railroads
- Russell, Alexander W. (Alexander Wilson)
- Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Academy (Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind.)
- Schools
- Secret societies -- Indiana
- Theaters -- Indiana
- United States -- Claims
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
- United States -- Officials and employees
- United States Naval Academy
- United States. Congress. House
- United States. Horse Claims Division
- United States. Navy
- Vilas, William F. (William Freeman)
- Walker, Robert J. (Robert John)
- Watson, William Stuart
- Whitcomb, James, 1795-1852
Creator
- Brown, Austin H. (Person)
- Brown, George (Person)
- Brown, William J. (William John) (Person)
- Brown family (Family)
- Title
- Austin H. Brown papers
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
