Frank D. Brown family papers, 1865-1950

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Brown, Frank D. (Frank Dean), 1845-1931
Title
Frank D. Brown family papers
Dates
1865-1950 (inclusive)
Quantity
3.5 linear feet
Collection Number
Mss 037
Summary
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.
Repository
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions

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.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

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.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

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.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

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

Preferred Citation

[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.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

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

Custodial History

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

Acquisition Information

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

Processing Note

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

Related Materials

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.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I:  Frank D. Brown, 1865-1950Return to Top

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.

Container(s) Description Dates
Subseries 1: Correspondence
1.2 linear feet
1892-1930
box-volume
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
Box/Folder
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
1.2 linear feet
1887-1924
Volume
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
Box/Folder
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
0.2 linear feet
1865-1931
Box/Folder
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
box-volume
4/1
Minutes of the Society of Montana Pioneers
1923
4/2
Report of the historian of the Society of Montana Pioneers
1921-1925
Box/Folder
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
0.2 linear feet
1898-1920
Box/Folder
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
0.4 line
1875-1932
Box/Folder
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
map-drawer
OS 8
Panorama style group photos of Society of Montana Pioneers
1919-1932
Box/Folder
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
0.1 linear feet
1916-1950
Box/Folder
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
Box
OS 6
Newsclipping scrapbook
circa 1890
map-drawer
OS 7
Newsclipping file
1916-1931
Box/Folder
5/22
Memorabilia
undated

Series II:  James M. Brown, 1910-1935Return to Top

0.2 linear feet

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

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
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, 1924-1948Return to Top

1 folder

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

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
5/28
Correspondence
1924-1948

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Businessme--Montan--Philipsburg
  • Frontier and pioneer life--Montana--Philipsburg
  • Mines and Mineral Resources
  • Mines and mineral resources--Montana--Philipsburg

Personal Names

  • Parker, Rutledge, 1877-1969

Form or Genre Terms

  • Business records--Montana--Philipsburg