Al Browne Papers
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of two scrapbooks (and the loose materials found in the scrapbooks) compiled by Al Browne to document his career as a circus musician. The scrapbooks contain official route cards, business cards, photographs, postcards, payroll receipts, artist contracts and programs.
Dates
- 1928-1939, undated
Creator
- Browne, Al, -1986 (compiler., Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restriction
Conditions Governing Use
Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection
Biographical / Historical
Allan Browne was born September 18, 1903. He lived in Shelbyville, Tennessee before moving to Chicago in 1939. He lived at 4715 S. Michigan Avenue in a kitchenette apartment. In 1929 he joined the Al G. Barnes Side Show Band as a traveling trombone performer for the Al G. Barnes-Sells-Flotto and John Robinson Combined Circus. He went on to work for the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus and the Cole Brothers Circus. After retiring from the circus, Browne returned to Chicago to work as a mechanic. He died on December 21, 1986.
Extent
1 Linear Feet : in 2 boxes, includes 10 photographs and 2 scrapbooks
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Collection consists of two scrapbooks from 1934 to 1938 from Al Browne’s tours around the United States as a circus clown and circus owner/manager.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Frances Browne in September 2004
- African American musicians Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Albums (Books) Subject Source: Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms
- Browne, Al, -1986 -- : Archives.
- Business cards. Subject Source: TGM II, Genre and physical characteristic terms
- Circus performers -- Photographs. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Cole Bros. Circus
- Contracts. Subject Source: Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms
- Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus -- : Photographs.
- Photographs. Subject Source: Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms
Creator
- Browne, Al, -1986 (compiler., Person)
- Browne, Frances (donor., Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Al Browne Papers
- Author
- Elizabeth Loch, Archival Specialist, July 2021
- Date
- July 2021
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
Repository Details
Part of the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection Repository
Woodson Regional Library
Chicago Public Library
9525 S. Halsted Street
Chicago IL 60628 United States
(312) 745-2080
harshcollection@chipublib.org