J. Arthur and MaeDe Brown papers

Statement on Harmful Materials and Language: Users will find harmful language describing people with developmental and intellectual disabilities in this collection. This language is intentionally retained to honestly and accurately reflect prejudice found in this collection and how movements have evolved, even as we recognize that encountering harmful or offensive language can be difficult or painful.

The J. Arthur and MaeDe Brown Papers are divided into seven series:

Series I: Correspondence (1937-1988, undated) is the largest; it details Brown’s work within the Civil Rights movement. The correspondence includes a letter (1937) from Governor Olin T. Johnston; letter regarding segregation of St. Mark’s Church within the Diocese of SC; integration of Edisto State Park; assisting black students dismissed from SC State University, from a letter (1956) of Septima Clark; demanding an African-American correspondent on the News & Courier staff and a reply from editor Tom Waring; letter (1960) regarding unspecified incidents involving African American players during a Baltimore Colts visit to Charleston; the visit (1960) of baseball player Jackie Robinson to Charleston; hate mail calling Brown a trouble maker and an agitator; a death threat from the National Association for the Advancement of White People; photocopy of a letter (1962) regarding College of Charleston not admitting Gretta Middleton because of her race; letter of support for O.T. Wallace as SC Federal Judge; police brutality exposed in Darlington, SC; comment of Levi G. Byrd regarding Cheraw NAACP; integration of Charleston YMCA; letters (1965) regarding discrimination at Charleston hospitals; threats from the James Island White Citizens Council; letter (1968) regarding Ernest Hollings’ work helping the African American community with a mention of James Clyburn. Other correspondence covers Brown’s involvement with COBRA and other related subjects. Other letters either original or photocopy includes correspondants such as Walter White of the NAACP, Judge J. Waties Waring, Thurgood Marshall, I. DeQuincey Newman, Matthew Perry, his daughter Millicent, Governor John C. West, Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Charleston Police Chiefs William F. Kelley, John Conroy, and others. Non-civil rights correspondence detail work with the Petersfield Human Services Corporation a social services organization on Yonges Island to improve the conditions of the inhabitants, Voorhees College, Charleston School District, Humane Friendly Society (burial society), Charleston urban development, as well as different work with programs dealing with intellectual disabilties, physical disabilties, and other community-minded groups.

Series II: Biographical Materials and Affiliations (1930-1987) include newspaper clippings of articles regarding Brown’s work within the NAACP and around Charleston, a speech he delivered on civil rights, photocopies of court documents (1960-1963) regarding integration of Charleston schools and parks, awards received from miscellaneous organizations; other materials relate to Brown’s family including his wife MaeDe. and his daughter Millicent. Contains Brown’s diploma (1937) from SC State College as well as his sister Arthurlee Brown McFarlin’s diploma (1949) from SC State College. Also included are documents and newspaper clippings regarding NAACP throughout SC and Charleston; COBRA regarding witness statements of an incident of an African American being shot by police and police harassing and arresting African-American adolescents (1973,1978) and programs for events held, minutes and agendas from Voorhees College Board of Trustees; Petersfield Human Services Corporation documents including minutes, agendas, programs, and petitions, as well as official paperwork on establishment of PHSC; Avery class (1930-1933) reunion rosters and donation lists (1978); Humane Friendly Society financial records (1966-1979).

Series III: Real Estate and Business Finance Records (1964-1987) cover deeds, terms of sale, as well as rent and expenses for property owned by Brown and his family.

Series IV: Business and Personal Date Books/Planners (1972-1987) detail daily events and affairs of Brown (1972, 1984-1987).

Series V: Photographs and General Materials (1950-1988) show Brown and his family including daughter Millicent’s high school graduation, family gatherings; and colleagues such as Rev. I. De Quincey Newman, Judge J. Waties Waring, Sen. Strom Thurmond, and others.

Series VI: General Materials (1940-1989) include programs from events attended; photocopies of witness statements given to Charleston police regarding police physically assaulting and harassing African Americans; newspaper clippings of events both local and national including 1960 presidential election, sit-downs, boycotts, local politics and happenings in Charleston and James Island, (1940’s-1980’s).

Series VII: AMN 1074-01 is made up of multiple accruals to the J. Arthur Brown papers collection donated at different times between 2013 and 2019 by Dr. Millicent Brown and is arranged in ten subseries. The first subseries covers biographical information about J. Arthur Brown and the Brown family including J. Arthur's mom, Millie J. Brown, his wife, MaeDe E. Brown, and his three daughters, Joenelle, Minerva, and Millicent. Materials include family histories, newspaper clippings, yearbooks, commencement programs, and other papers. The second subseries includes correspondence from J. Arthur, MaeDe, and Joenelle. The third subseries documents the professional and personal affilations of J. Arthur and MaeDe as well as those shared by the family as a whole. Mr. Brown's work with the NAACP constitute the largest extent of material in this subseries. The fourth subseries includes J. Arthur's contact books, date books, planners and business cards. The majority of this material does not have known dates. The fifth subseries documents J. Arthur's real estate and business records including a list of tenants living at his Ashton Street apartment complex, blueprints and survey maps of properties owned by J. Arthur, ledgers and financial records, legal documents including titles to real estate for a number of properties, and reference material used by J. Arthur while attempting to build affordable housing on James Island. The sixth sub series includes photographs of J. Arthur and MaeDe as well as of their children and a woodblock print of L. Howard Bennett. The seventh subseries consists of general materials including event programs, newspaper issues and clippings, and annual reports from the Highlander School. The eighth subseries includes cassette tapes two of which contain oral histories for which there are no completed consent forms. The ninth subseries includes periodicals like Black World, The Crisis, Golden Legacy, Life, Look, New South, Saturday Evening Post, and Sepia. The tenth subseries is artifacts and cultural materials which includes an American Flag flown over the United States Capital building by Mendel J. Davis for J. Arthur Brown, Dr. Millicent Brown's Girl Scout beret, Mr. Brown's briefcase, Mrs. Brown's notary seal embosser, and a Martin Luther King, Jr., Wall Plaque.

Series VIII: AMN 1074-02 covers biographical information as well as J. Arthur Brown's affiliation with COBRA and MaeDe Brown's affiliation with Jack and Jill Charleston Chapter. The bulk of the materials are contained within two scrapbooks. The first scrapbook primarly contains sympathy cards sent to the Brown family following the death of Arthur Brown, J. Arthur's father. The second scrapbook documents the first decade of the Jack and Jill Charleston Chapter from the group's inception in 1954 through end of year in 1964. It includes correspondence, chapter reports, newspaper clippings, photographs, event programs and schedules for the chapter, and other materials. There are other Jack and Jill materials not included in the scrapbook which include issues of Scope National Bulletin, photographs of chapter events, and events and activities held by the chapter. Also included in this accrual is Millie Brown's (J. Arthur's mother) teaching certificate.