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Alexander Brown Papers (II)

 Collection
Identifier: Mss. 65 B86

  • Staff Only
  • No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

Papers of Alexander Brown relating to the writings of his books, including notes, transcripts, drafts and correspondence with publisher Houghton, Mifflin & Co. and with members of his family requesting genealogical information.

Collection includes letters of Benson J. Lossing concerning his "Pictorial Field Book of the Revolution"; and "Pictorial Field Book of the War of 1812"; and part of an agreement between the Mexican government and American capitalists drafted in the autumn of 1865 by Lew Wallace.

Alexander Brown made a "List of Early Settlers", that is often cited on the internet and in reports.  It is filed in Box 5, Folder 99.  The Alexander Brown list of early settlers appears to be a key that Alexander Brown made to some sources that he was using in the late 19th century. The current location of many of these sources is unknown. Some of the records were public, some may have been documents that he owned or to which he had access at that time. 

The document has value because it may provide a researcher with a clue to use in genealogy research but will need to do their own investigation into extant records.

Dates

  • Creation: 1748-1900

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Conditions Governing Use:

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Biographical Information:

Born at Glenwood, Nelson County, Virginia, Alexander Brown was deafened while serving in the Confederate Army in the explosion of a powder-boat near Fort Fisher, N.C. He married Caroline Augusta Cabell and after her death, Sarah Randolph Cabell. He was the author of The Genesis of the United States, The First Republic in America, The Cabells and Their Kin and other works.

Extent

4.00 Linear Feet

Acquisition Information:

1,434 items purchased from Alfred Mongin, Brooklyn, New York, 10/1962.

Related Materials:

See also Alexander Brown Papers (I) and Cabell-Brown Letters, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Physical Description

1434 items

Title
Guide to the Alexander Brown Papers (II)
Author
Finding Aid Authors: Special Collections Staff.
Date
2007-08-10
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
The collection description/finding aid is written in English

Revision Statements

  • May 24th, 2018: Box 5 divided into 5a (folders 88-95) and 5b (folders 96-102) in April 2012 by Anne Johnson.

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Research Center Repository

Contact: