Arthur N. Brown Papers

Collection

Identifier: RG 30-122

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From 1917 to 1960 a "Round Robin" of letters was carried on by the members of the Graduate School of Theology Class of 1916. These letters, written by seven of the twelve graduates, tell of activities in which the writers were engaged, of their wives and families, and often include comments upon national and international events or upon matters concerning the Graduate School of Theology. Shock and sorrow is periodically expressed as their number is reduced by death. A majority of the letters was written by Arthur N. Brown, who held pastorates in Hartford, Mukwonago and other locations in Wisconsin. From the tone of the letters it appears that Mr. Brown was a prime mover in keeping the round robin in operation. The other writers were Lyman V.L. Cady, Frank Cary (1938‑50, including information about Japan, where he was located), Philip Dutton (before World War II from China and after from the Philippine Islands), John H. Jones, Raymond A. McConnell and Robert C. Whitehead. Also included are letters written by the following members of the faculty of the GST: E.I. Bosworth (1‑20‑1925; 11‑26‑1926), G. Walter Fiske (5‑22‑1916; 6‑11‑1919), Kemper Fullerton (9‑9‑1929; 1‑22‑1938; 9‑19‑1939; 6‑25‑1940) and T.W. Graham (8‑4‑1927).

Note: Entry taken from William E. Bigglestone's unpublished "[preliminary] Guide to the Oberlin College Archives," which was prepared as individual entry sheets in a three-ring binder during the early 1980s.

Dates

Creation: 1916 - 1960
Other: Date acquired: 08/31/1978

Creator

Brown, Arthur N. (Brown, Arthur Norman) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted.

Biographical Sketch

Arthur Norman Brown, class of 1916, was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 25 June 1884 to Samuel John (1856-1910) and Amelia Kate Harper Brown (1862-1951). He had three younger brothers: Bryan Nicholson (1886-1980), Royal Harper (1890-1975), and Samuel Lester (1894-1981). After graduating high school, worked in the machine ship at the Milwaukee Railroad. Completed an apprenticeship there and became a certified machinist. One of his bosses was Mr. George W. Mills (-1900), the father of his future wife, Lillian Mills. During his time at Beloit College, he walked 6-7 miles to and from Beloit to serve as a paster of a church in Turtle, Wisconsin. Upon his graduation from Beloit (which was delayed after the death of his father in 1910 and typhoid fever), he was given a pocket watch as a parting gift from the congregation. In 1916, he graduated from Oberlin College Seminary School.

Prior to receiving his B.D. degree from Oberlin, he had earned an A.B. degree from Beloit College, Beloit, Wisconsin. Rev. Brown's pastoral career was spent in Wisconsin: Elroy, 1916-18; Broadhead, 1918-21; Hartford, 1921-29; Edgerton, 1929-36; Mukwonego and Genesee, 1936-48; Arkin and Vesper, 1948-53; Durand, 1953-57; and, Hancock, 1957-61.

Of his time in Edgerton, the church caught fire in January 1932; the building was gutted but the structure stayed sound. By September 1932, the congregation was offered space in a Knights of Columbus meeting hall in the basement of the Catholic Church. But the entire community came together to raise funds to refurbish the Church which sustained over $40,000 of damage, only a part of which was covered by insurance. The building was able to re-open in September.

In 1962, he retired from the Hancock Community Congregational Church and moved to Whitewater, Wisconsin. Brown died in Whitewater, Wisconsin on 30 November 1980. Because the College Archives does not hold an alumni records folder for him, little is known of his early life.