MTGMss037.xml Guide to the Frank D. Brown Family Papers 1865-1950 Brown (Frank D.) Family Papers Finding aid prepared by Dale Johnson and Teresa Hamann Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula © 2009
Missoula, MT 59812 406-243-2053 https://www.umt.edu/library/asc/default library.archives@umontana.edu
Finding aid encoded by Teresa Hamann 2009 Finding aid written in English. University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
The University of Montana—Missoula Missoula, MT 59812 406-243-2053 https://www.umt.edu/library/asc/default library.archives@umontana.edu
Mss 037 Brown, Frank D. (Frank Dean), 1845-1931 Frank D. Brown family papers 1865-1950 3.5 linear feet The Frank D. Brown Family Papers include Frank D. Brown's business correspondence, financial records, insurance company records, Society of Montana Pioneers records and correspondence, writings, photos, and memorabilia. It also includes a small amount of his son, James M. Brown's, personal correspondence and letters related to the Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers as well as Rutledge and Albertina Brown Parker's correspondence with Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers, and a few insurance and legal issues. Materials are inEnglish Biographical Note

Known as Frank D. "Sandbar" Brown throughout his life in Montana, Brown was born John Francis Deane Brown in Nelson County, Virginia on November 24, 1845. In June 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate Army and served until his discharge in September 1862. He re-enlisted, this time in the marine service. Capture by the Union Army ended his military career in April 1863. Brown was paroled and transported to St. Louis where he booked passage on a steamer to Fort Union on the upper Missouri River and then on to Fort Benton in Montana Territory by December 1865. It was also about this time that Brown permanently dropped "John" from his name in response to an increasing distaste for the Union Army's marching song "John Brown's body lies a mouldering in the ground..."

In Montana Territory he worked as a fur trapper, scout and a placer miner. In 1873, A. J. Davis hired Brown, who then located the Lexington and other mines. In 1878, Brown moved to Philipsburg and worked for mining firms in the area. During the next forty years he managed and developed many of the well-known placer and quartz mines in the area. He was also owner and editor of the Philipsburg Mail and gained his nickname of "Sandbar" through the signing of many articles with that title.

Brown attended all Democratic party state conventions for over 40 years. He was also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and the major-general commanding the northwest division of the United Confederate Veterans for the states of Montana, the Dakotas, Idaho, Wyoming and Washington.

Brown was an active member of the Society of Montana Pioneers and in 1908 was elected as its historian, an office he held, except for one year, until his death in 1931. In 1923 he was also elected as secretary of the organization. Within the Society, he was instrumental in determining locations and erecting monuments marking significant historical events, including marking the path of the Mullan Road. A son, James M. Brown, and daughter, Albertina (Tina) Brown Parker, were active in the Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers.

Brown married Anna Elizabeth Lentz in Helena, Montana, on December 1873. They had eight children: Frances Dean, Anna, Edward Wilhelm, Amy Frances, Albertina Nettie, Minnie Madeline, Angus, and James A. Murray. Francis Dean, Anna, and Angus died before the age of three. Anna Lentz Brown died on October 6, 1914.

During his later years, Brown was a rancher and also worked in real estate and insurance. He died in Missoula, Montana, on January 16, 1931.

The Frank D. Brown Family Papers include Frank D. Brown's business correspondence, a few personal letters, financial records, insurance registers, Society of Montana Pioneers records and correspondence, his historical, fiction, and speech writings, photos, and memorabilia. Series II, James M. Brown, includes personal correspondence and letters related to the Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers. Series III, Rutledge and Albertina Brown Parker, includes correspondence with Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers, insurance and legal issues.

This collection has been divided into three series:

Series I: Frank D. Brown, 1865-1950, 3.3 linear feet

Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1892-1930, 1.2 linear feet

Subseries 2: Financial Records, Mining Reports, and Legal Documents, 1887-1924, 1.2 linear feet

Subseries 3: Society of Montana Pioneers, 0.2 linear feet, 1865-1931

Subseries 4: Speeches and Writings, 1898-1920, 0.2 linear feet

Subseries 5: Photographs, 1875-1932, 0.4 linear feet

Subseries 6: Miscellaneous, 1917-1950, 0.1 linear feet

Series II: James M. Brown, 1910-1935, 0.2 linear feet

Series III: Rutledge and Albertina Brown Parker, 1924-1948, 1 folder

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana-Missoula.

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes.

[Name of document or photograph number], Frank D. Brown Family Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

The papers were held by the family until the time of the donation.

Donated by Virginia (Ginger) Brown, daughter of James M. Brown, 1969.

The existing processed order was generally maintained. Photos and miscellaneous materials were foldered separately and described, where possible, as individual items.

The Montana Historical Society holds the Society of Montana Pioneers and the Society of Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers Records. Other family members, Francis C. Brown and Margaret Cabell Brown Loughborough donated family papers to Georgetown University Library where they are held as the Loughborough Family Papers.

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Parker, Rutledge, 1877-1969 Frontier and pioneer life--Montana--Philipsburg Mines and mineral resources--Montana--Philipsburg Businessme--Montan--Philipsburg Business records--Montana--Philipsburg Montana Pioneers Mines and Mineral Resources Series I Frank D. Brown 1865-1950 3.3 linear feet

Series I, Frank D. Brown, is divided into six subseries reflecting the type or theme of the materials included. Subseries 1 includes correspondence about his mining work and partnerships, a small amount of personal correspondence mostly with his daughter, Albertina (Tina) Brown, and letters related to his activities and interest in the Society of Montana Pioneers. Brown corresponded frequently with James A. Murray, Butte banker, investor and uncle of James E. Murray; Paul A. Fusz, mine owner; C.D. McClure, one of the owners of the Granite Mountain and Bi-Metallic Mines; and W.A. Clark, Montana copper baron. Subseries 2 includes financial records relevant to Brown's mining businesses, reports on various mines, insurance registers for his Philipsburg, Montana, based insurance company, and a few legal documents. Subseries 3 reflects his long time membership in the Society of Montana Pioneers and his efforts to establish historical monuments and records of significant events in Montana history. It also includes a copy of the 1865 receipt that served as proof of Brown's arrival in Montana. Subseries 4 holds Brown's historical writings about Montana, his fiction about forest animals and also stories set in foreign locales, and speeches about Montana history. Subseries 5 includes photos of the Brown Family, the Society of Montana Pioneers, friends and dignatories as well as Philipsburg and Helena locations. Subseries 6 includes biographical information, news clippings about Brown, Montana pioneers, and Montana history, a few pieces about the United Confederate Veterans, and memorabilia.

 Subseries 1 Correspondence 1892-1930 1.2 linear feet OS 1/Volume 1 General outgoing correspondence and reports 1898-1909 OS 1/Volume 2 Outgoing correspondence mostly to C.D. McLure 1899-1903 OS 2/Volume 3 Outgoing correspondence to C.D. McLure March-July, 1903 OS 2/Volume 4 Outgoing correspondence to Paul A. Fusz 1903-1904 3/1 General outgoing correspondence 1898-1919 3/2 General outgoing correspondence 1920-1930 3/3 Incoming correspondence 1892 3/4 Incoming correspondence 1898-1914 3/5 Incoming correspondence 1915 3/6 Incoming correspondence 1916 3/7 Incoming correspondence 1917 3/8 Incoming correspondence 1918 3/9 Incoming correspondence 1919-1930 Subseries 2 Financial Records, Mining Reports, and Legal Documents 1887-1924 1.2 linear feet 5 Ledger 1887-1905 6 Ledger 1894-1904 7 Ledger 1894-1899 8 Day Book 1887-1890 9 Insurance register 1886-1899 10 Insurance register 1895-1897 3/10 Miscellaneous invoices and receipts 1890-1924 3/11 Report of Brickley Group mining claims undated 3/12 Report of Hawkeye Group mining claims 1907-1917 3/13 Henderson Gulch mineral and mining conditions report undated 3/14 Sapphire deposits, Yogo, McLure and Fusz reports 1904 3/15 Shields River Timber report undated 3/16 Smith Creek Timber reports undated 3/17 Tuscumbia Mining Company 1911 3/18 Northwest Mining Association, Proceedings of the First Annual Convention 1895 3/19 Maps undated 3/20 Legal documents 1897-1923 Subseries 3 Society of Montana Pioneers 1865-1931 0.2 linear feet 3/21 Fort Union receipt for purchase of grubstake 1865 3/22 Society of Montana Pioneers membership certificate 1901 3/23 Society of Montana Pioneers applications and membership list 1924-1931 4/1 Minutes of the Society of Montana Pioneers 1923 4/2 Report of the historian of the Society of Montana Pioneers 1921-1925 4/3 Society of Montana Pioneers officers and report of historian 1916-1927 4/4 Soeity of Montana Pioneers meeting programs 1923-1930 4/5 Society of Montana Pioneers stationery undated Subseries 4 Speeches and writings 1898-1920 0.2 linear feet 4/6 Essays and stories about Montana undated 4/7 Essays and stories undated 4/8 Incomplete stories and writings undated 4/9 Speeches 1898-1920 Subseries 4 Photographs 1875-1932 0.4 line 4/10 Frank D. Brown circa 1875 4/11 Frank D. Brown circa 1880 4/12 Frank D. Brown 1902 4/13 Frank D. Brown with horses circa 1900 4/14 Frank D. Brown and A. L. Stone circa 1915 4/15 Frank D. Brown's mother undated 4/16 Albertina (Tina) Brown with two other women circa 1900 4/17 Albertina (Tina) Brown circa 1900 4/18 Albertina (Tina) Brown circa 1905 4/19 James M. Brown circa 1895 4/20 Brown family 1899 4/21 Women's basketball team in Philipsburg, Montana 1903 4/22 John G. McClain, blacksmith, and his partner 1914 4/23 D.M. Durfee undated 4/24 Mr. Kinney, high school instructor undated 4/25 Judge Forrest Titus undated 4/26 Connolly family 1910 4/27 Mr. and Mrs. Botscheider undated 4/28 Miss Wolf 1892 4/29 A.N. Whitlock circa 1895 OS 8 Panorama style group photos of Society of Montana Pioneers 1919-1932 5/1 Group photos of Society of Montana Pioneers 1928 5/2 Group photo of Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers 1928 5/3 Men on porch of building with advertisement for Democratic Party rally in Anaconda, Montana 1894 5/4 Watch tower in Helena, Montana circa 1900 5/5 Atlas Block building, Helena, Montana circa 1900 5/6 Caterpillar tractor at the Philipsburg Mining Company circa 1925 5/7 Hauling ore in horse drawn wagon from Iron Mine, Philipsburg, Montana 1907-1917 5/8 Buildiing Forest Service fire lookout circa 1900 5/9 Photo scrapbook style Christmas card 1912 5/10 Reeder's Alley, Helena, Montana circa 1900 5/11 Unidentified outdoor photos undated 5/12 Unidentified football team 1900 5/13 Unidentified photos of men undated 5/14 Unidentified photos of women undated 5/15 Unidentified photos of children undated 5/16 Unidentified group photos undated Subseries 6 Miscellaneous 1916-1950 0.1 linear feet 5/17 Biographical information undated 5/18 "The Old Green House" about the life of Frank Dean (Sandbar) Brown by his daughter, Amy Brown Spencer circa 1950 5/19 Reunion of the United Confederate Veterans, Convention Proceedings 1917 5/20 U.S. government publications regarding the Bureau of War Risk Insurance in the Treasury Department 1917 5/21 Report of the canvas of the presidential primary in the State of Montana 1924 OS 6 Newsclipping scrapbook circa 1890 OS 7 Newsclipping file 1916-1931 5/22 Memorabilia undated Series II James M. Brown 1910-1935 0.2 linear feet

Series II, James M. Brown, includes personal correspondence and correspondence related to the Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers.

5/23 Incoming correspondence 1910 5/24 Incoming correspondence from father, Frank D. Brown 1917-1918 5/25 General correspondence regarding the Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers 1928-1931 5/25 Miscellaneous correspondence 1934-1935 5/26 High school and college memorabilia 1910-1911 Series III Rutledge and Albertina Brown Parker 1924-1948 1 folder

Series III, Rutledge and Albertina Brown Parker, includes correspondence related to Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers, insurance and legal issues.

 5/28 Correspondence 1924-1948