ohy_mss575.xml Guide to the James M. Brown papers Brown (James M.) papers Todd Sulloway Oregon Historical Society Research Library 2006; revised 2024
1200 SW Park Ave. Portland, OR 97205 Business Number: 5033065204 Business Number: 5033065240 libreference@ohs.org https://www.ohs.org/research-and-library/
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-08-30. Finding aid is written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. 2024-08-30 Revised to clarify date ranges and conform to current standard. Oregon Historical Society Research Library James M. Brown papers Brown, James M., 1844-1922 Mss 575 1.5 cubic feet 3 document cases 1851-1925 Materials relating to James M. Brown (1844-1922), who emigrated to Silverton, Oregon, as a child in 1846, and to other members of Brown's family, particularly his son Percy L. Brown (1876-1934). Papers include correspondence, financial records, and ephemera, and much of the material deals with Percy L. Brown's educational, business, and social activities. English

Collection is open for research.

The collection is arranged in two series:

Series 1: Family papers, 1851-1925 Series 2: Ledgers, circa 1858-1914

James M. Brown (1844-1922) was born in Lincoln County, Missouri, on January 6, 1844, to James Brown (1814-1887) and Lucinda Davis (died 1872). In 1846, the Brown family traveled overland with members of the Donner Party, then continued along the Oregon Trail. After arriving in Oregon, the Brown family received 640 acres near Silverton under a donation land claim. James M. Brown married Edna Eastham (1850-1936), and they had four children. Brown served as a notary public and justice of the peace, and later as president of the Interurban Telephone Company, which was incorporated in 1908. His son Percy L. Brown (1876-1934), who had attended Willamette University and graduated from the Oregon Institute in 1896, served as secretary and manager of the company. Percy L. Brown also served as mayor of Silverton from 1911-1912, was active in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was a partner with his brother Carl M. Brown in an electric light plant and waterworks in Silverton.

James M. Brown papers, Mss 575, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Collection was processed by Todd Sulloway in November 2005, and a collection guide created in 2006. The guide was revised in August 2024 to clarify some date ranges and conform to current standard.

Papers of James M. Brown of Silverton, Oregon, and other members of his family, particularly his son Percy L. Brown. These materials consist of manuscripts, financial records, and ephemera. Most of the materials deal with the education, business, and social activities of Percy L. Brown. There are also ledgers relating to the family's involvement in many organizations around Silverton, including the Silverton Trombone Band and the Silverton Marine Band. Several of the ledgers contain membership and dues lists of the Silver Lodge No. 36, Independent Order of Good Templars. Other ledgers probably belonged to James M. Brown and contain detailed financial accounts. Business papers and family letters are also included in the collection.

The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.

"Portrait and Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley Oregon" (Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company), 1903; "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon Volume II" (Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing), 1927; genealogy file: "Brown, James Family (Silverton, Ore.)," Oregon Historical Society Research Library; genealogy file: "Brown Family-Silverton," Oregon Historical Society Research Library; Scrapbook 132, page 68, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

 Brown, James M., 1844-1922 Brown, Percy L., 1876-1934 Brown, Carl M., 1879-1903 Brown, Percy L., 1876-1934 Independent Order of Good Templars. Silver Lodge No. 36 (Silverton, Or.)--Records and correspondence Brown family Families--Oregon--Silverton Fraternal organizations--Oregon--Silverton Oregon Home and Family Clubs and Societies correspondence ledgers (account books) Family papers Series 1 1851-1925 Brown Electric Company 1852-1903 undated 1 1

Account ledger, correspondence, school certificates, and documents related to the company.

 School, business, and tax receipts 1851-1925 1 2 Family correspondence circa 1853-1925 1 3

Includes genealogical information.

 Ephemera circa 1862-1923 1 4

Includes teaching certificates, report cards, legal documents, and wedding invitations.

 Percy L. Brown personal and business correspondence circa 1889-1924 1 5 Order of Good Templars 1870-1913 1 6

Roll of members of Silver Lodge No. 36, Independent Order of Good Templars, and related documents.

 Abstracts of title and warranty deeds, Marion County circa 1893-1909 1 7 Philodosian Society of Willamette University, Salem, Oregon circa 1898 1 8 Ledgers Series 2 circa 1858-1914 Dues ledger circa 1877-1888 1 9 Account ledger 1885-1892 1 10 Account ledger 1885-1892 1 11 Ledger, Silver Lodge No. 36, Independent Order of Good Templars 1883-1900 2 1 Ledger, Fair Mount Park Company, Salem, Oregon 1889-1891 2 2

Articles of incorporation and minutes.

 Silver Lodge ledger, minutes 1900-1914 2 3 Silver Lodge ledger circa 1872-1886 2 4 Silverton Trombone Band Treasurer's ledger 1877-1911 2 5 Ledger, drawings of Davidson's Steam Pump Boiler circa 1900 2 6 Silver Lodge ledger 1883-1896 2 7 Ledger, Butte Creek Library Association, Silverton, Oregon 1858-1870 1892 2 8 Silver Lodge ledger 1866-1874 3 1 Account ledger 1892-1905 3 2 Silver Lodge ledger and legal document 1880-1900 1910 3 3 Carl Brown notebook circa 1895 3 4 Autograph book of Florence Brown 1892-1894 3 5 Autograph book of Florence Brown 1888-1891 3 6 Autograph book of Percy L. Brown 1887-1891 3 7 Account ledger 1885-1903 3 8 Silverton Board of Trade meeting minutes 1901-1906 3 9 Percy L. Brown account book circa 1894-1910 3 10