Austin H. Brown

Austin H. Brown Papers
L19, V443
1830-1901
2 mss. boxes, 1 vol.

Manuscripts & Rare Books Division
Indiana State Library

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                      Processed by: Barbara Hilderbrand, March 2007                       

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.  He 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.  He 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 State Sentinel.  In 1855, he was elected auditor of Marion County.  He was assistant adjutant general of Indiana during the Civil War.  He 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.  He was a Member of the National Democratic Committee.  Austin H. Brown died January 1, 1903. 

Source:

Dunn, Jacob Piatt.  Indiana and Indianans. Chicago: The America Historical Society, 1919.

Scope and Content Note:

This collection contains Brown’s personal and business correspondence.  It includes letters from his father, William J. Brown, his brother, George, and cousin, John Ferguson.  Also included are letters to President Grover Cleveland recommending Brown for a federal appointment, a report on fraudulent claims in the Horse Claims division, a scrapbook of theatrical programs and announcements for the Metropolitan Theater, and Masonic and Democratic Party programs.

Correspondents include Thomas A. Hendricks, James Whitcomb, Richard Wigginton Thompson, and Jesse Bright.

Photocopying Policy:

Manuscript materials CANNOT be photocopied or digitized in their entirety. Photocopies and/or digital images cannot exceed 25% of a collection or a folder within a collection. In some cases, photocopying may not be permitted due to the condition of the item. Check with a Manuscript Librarian for other options.

Box and Folder Listing:

Box 1.

Folder 
1. Correspondence, 1844
2. Correspondence, 1845
3. Papers, 1846
4. Correspondence, 1847
5. Papers, January-August, 1848
6. Papers, September-December, 1848
7. Correspondence, January-May, 1849
8. Correspondence, June-August, 1849
9. Correspondence, September-December, 1849
10. Correspondence, January-August, 1850
11. Correspondence, May-December, 1850
12. Correspondence, 1851-1852
13. Papers, 1853-1860
14. Papers, 1861-1866
15. Papers, 1867-1866
16. Ledger books, 1833-1844, 1868

Box 2.

Folder 
1. Papers, 1874-1875
2. Papers, 1876
3. Papers, 1877
4. Papers, 1878-1881
5. Papers, 1882
6. Papers, 1883-1884
7. Papers, 1885
8. Papers, 1886-1887
9. Papers, 1888-1890
10. Papers, 1891-1901
11. Deeds and Indentures, 1830-1842
12. Papers, Undated
13. Social and Political Papers, 1872-1879
14. Social and Political Papers, 1880-1901
15. Social and Political Papers, Undated

Volume.

443 Programs and announcements for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Theater, the Masons, and the Democratic Party

Collection Information:

Size of Collection: 2 manuscript boxes (639 items), 1 volume
Collection Dates: 1830-1901
Provenance: Gavin Brown, 2 May 1931; Austin H. Brown c/o Eli Lilly Corporation, 22 July 1931; Austin Brown, 30 March 1944
Access : The collection is open for research use
Restrictions: None.
Reproduction Rights: Permission to reproduce, exhibit, or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Manuscript Section, Indiana State Library.
Language: Materials are entirely in English
Alternate Formats: None
Related Holdings: 
Notes: