oip_mss169.xml Guide to the George E. Brown, Jr. Correspondence with Vardis Fisher Brown (George E.) Correspondence with Vardis Fisher Collection processed by Ralph W. Hansen and Alan Virta Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided, in part, by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities Boise State University Special Collections and Archives 1986; updated 2023
Albertsons Library, Boise State University 1910 University Drive Boise, ID 83725 archives@boisestate.edu https://www.boisestate.edu/archives/
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-10-16. Description is written in: English, Latin script. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. Boise State University Special Collections and Archives George E. Brown, Jr. Correspondence with Vardis Fisher MSS 169 0.1 linear feet 1 folder 1954-1968 Chiefly letters and postcards to Brown, of Twin Falls, Idaho, from novelist Vardis Fisher discussing his medical problems and literary work; together with a few postcards from Brown to Fisher and others. English .

Dr. George E. Brown, Jr., of Twin Falls, Idaho, was both friend and physician to Vardis Fisher. Born in Miles City, Montana, on March 24, 1913, he received both his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Michigan. Brown was Vardis Fisher's physician in the early 1950s, until he left Idaho to accept an appointment as assistant professor of medicine at the University of Cincinnati, a position he held from 1957 until 1960. When he returned to Idaho, he and Vardis Fisher resumed their medical and social relationship, which lasted until Fisher's death in 1968.

Dr. Brown died in Boise, Idaho, on March 23, 2004.

Source: Biographical information on George E. Brown, Jr., was derived from Biographical Directory of the American College of Physicians (Bowker, 1979).

Most of the letters were written by Vardis Fisher. Because Twin Falls was a long distance call from Fisher's home in Hagerman, Fisher communicated with Dr. Brown via the U.S. mail. While the subject matter of the letters is mainly medical, Fisher includes references to his literary work. It is apparent from the letters that Brown read Fisher's books and discussed them with him, though Fisher chided him, "As a literary critic, you are as big a bum as I am a doctor..." (November 5, 1965). The letters also reveal that Brown and his wife Martha occasionally exchanged visits with Vardis and Opal Fisher.

A notable document in the collection is a personal medical history Fisher compiled for Brown in 1961. In more than one letter Fisher freely discussed his drinking habits, reporting both his periods of abstinence and his binges. In 1967 he wrote: "Alcohol is one of my best friends: it is the only thing I have that enables me to discharge for a few hours my bottled up hostilities and frustrations....In younger years I was able to release these pressures by rapidly climbing a tall mountain, or by putting on boxing gloves....One of my favorite books is by a medical man called Alcohol: the Friend of Man. He means, of course, in all the civilized ways it serves us." (April 9, 1967)

All of the letters and postcards from Vardis Fisher to George E. Brown, Jr., were typed; most were signed in a longhand signature, "Vardis." Dates of many of the postcards were derived from the postmarks; some dates (in square brackets [ ]) were inferred from context. All items are one page in length unless otherwise noted.

Forms part of the Idaho Writers Archive.

Photocopies of the letters and postcards are assembled in a binder in chronological order.

Collection is available for research.

Gift of Dr. George E. Brown, 1986.

Letters and postcards have been photocopied. Originals are available for consultation if necessary.

See also: Vardis and Opal Fisher Papers

Fisher Family Papers

Mabel Clore Collection on Vardis Fisher

Lloyd Jensen Collection on Vardis Fisher

Joseph M. Flora Papers and Collection on Vardis Fisher

Dorys Crow Grover Papers and Collections on Vardis Fisher and Ernest Hemingway

[item description], George E. Brown, Jr. Correspondence with Vardis Fisher, Box [number] Folder [number], Boise State University Special Collections and Archives.

 Fisher, Vardis, 1895-1968 American literature--20th century Authors, American Literature Literature Idaho Vardis Fisher to Brown 1954 October 10 Brown to Vardis Fisher 1954 October 12 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1955 February 26 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1957 April 15 Vardis Fisher to Dr. Bernard L. Kreilkamp; medical history (one page) 1960 February 22 Vardis Fisher to Brown; medical history (2 pages) 1961 March 1 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1961 March 15 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1961 April 3 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1961 April 10 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1961 May 15 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1961 August 1 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1961 August 18 Felix Marti-Ibanez (MD Publications) to Brown 1961 December 6 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1962 March 20 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1963 April 25 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1963 April 28 Vardis Fisher to Brown [1963 October] Vardis Fisher to Brown 1964 February 7 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1964 April 11 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1964 May 5 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1964 May 9 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1964 June 6 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1964 November 12 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1965 November 1 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1965 November 5 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1965 November 15 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1965 November 16 Vardis Fisher to Brown and his wife Martha ("Marty") 1965 December 19 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1966 March 28 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1966 May 12 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1966 June 15 Vardis Fisher to Brown ("Dear doctor and friend George") 1966 June 18 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1966 August 8 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1966 December 28 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1967 February 27 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1967 March 3 Brown to Opal and Vardis Fisher [1967 April] Vardis Fisher to Brown 1967 April 9 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1967 April 12 Vardis Fisher to Brown [1967 April] Vardis Fisher to Brown 1968 April 16 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1968 May 29 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1968 June 2 Vardis Fisher to Brown 1968 June 21 Vardis Fisher to Brown undated Vardis Fisher to Brown, enclosing copy of "Orphan With a Gun," a mimeographed review of Fisher's books by Andrew Offutt undated