Joseph E. Brown papers

Descriptive Summary
Title: Joseph E. Brown papers
Creator: Brown, Joseph E., (Joseph Emerson), 1821-1894
Creator: Brown, Elijah A. (Elijah Alexander), 1857-
Creator: Brown, Franklin P.
Inclusive Dates: 1823-1895
Language(s): English
Extent: 5 Linear Feet (10 document boxes)
Collection Number: ms95
Repository: Hargrett Library

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Collection Description

Historical Note

Joseph Emerson Brown (1821-1894), lawyer, Georgia Governor (1857-1865), son of Mackey and Sally Rice Brown, married Elizabeth Grisham, daughter of Joseph and Mary L. Grisham. Parents of Julius L. Brown, Mary Virginia Brown, Joseph M. Brown, Franklin P. Brown, Elijah A. Brown, Charles M. Brown, Sally Eugenia Brown, and George M. Brown.

For more information, see the article Joseph E. Brown (1821-1894) in the New Georgia Encyclopedia and his congressional biography.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of papers of Joseph E. Brown from 1823-1895 and includes correspondence, letter books, tax returns, speeches, and diaries. It contains official correspondence and letterbooks (1858-1863) as Governor of Georgia which are particularly strong in information regarding Georgia's secession and involvement in the Civil War and includes such correspondents as Howell Cobb, Alexander H. Stephens, and other Confederate government officials. Also included are an 1864 speech of Howell Cobb, a speech (1868) made by Brown regarding Reconstruction politics, and a manuscript copy (1864) of Brown's pamphlet concerning Benjamin H. Hill's notes on Reconstruction. The collection also contains diaries of Franklin P. Brown (1868), Joseph Mackey Brown (1867, 1874, 1876), and Elijah A. Brown (1882, Jan. only).

Much of this collection is transcribed with full transcripts in boxes 7-10.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Joseph E. Brown papers, ms95, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Felix Hargrett in 1965

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

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1

1-2

Brown Family Genealogy and History

 

1	3	1823, 1825, 1828, 1834, 1840, 1843, 1846
		Letter regarding Christopher Decker's War pension; letters from and to Stephen A. Burt; deed for town lot in Canton to Jabez Galt; deed of conveyance for lots in Canton to Robert Hawkins; poem on viewing the cascade on Cane Creek

 

1	4	1847, 1848, 1859, 1852, 1853
		Includes deeds for land lots in Canton

 

1	5	1854, 1855, and 1856
		Includes deeds and agreements for mineral interests and mining rights in Cherokee County and other land records; deed for town lots in Canton

 

1

6

1857, 1858, 1859, and 1860

Includes political letters from Howell Cobb, Alexander Stephens, Thomas W. Thomas, including from Brown's election as governor. Photocopies of various letters from Brown. Note by Elizabeth Brown concerning her possible death during childbirth and outlining what should happen if she dies. Fifa on the George McCollum Blacksmith and Wood Shop of Canton. Estate of Joseph Grisham.

Bill of sale -- W. S. Grisham to Joseph E. Brown -- enslaved persons, 1860 October 3

Bill of sale names enslaved persons: John (24), Ellen (19), Bunyan (2), and Lewis (2)

Receipt of transfer -- enslaved persons to W. S. Grisham, 1860 October 1

Receipt names enslaved persons as Ben and his three children (to be transferred): Tom (17), Mary (14), and Kate (12

Appraisement of personal property (enslaved persons) -- Mrs. Mary L. Grisham

Document names enslaved persons: Ben; Ellen and her child Bunyan; John (boy); Andy (boy); Emily (girl); Margaret (girl); Susan (girl); Lewis (boy); Alfred (boy); York (old man); Tom (boy); Mary (girl); Kate (girl). Document also features list titled "sale of negroes 20 Oct 1860" that names some of the persons above and (additionally) Jane and three children (unnamed); and Hanah. Some names indecipherable

 

1	7	Tax documents, 1860-1866
		Includes number and perceived values of enslaved persons (unnamed)

 

1	8	1862, 1864
		Includes correspondence with Governor Brown mostly related to the war; receipts; copies of acts for local defense; family letters

 

1	9	Brown Correspondence , 1864
		Includes correspondence with Jefferson Davis, William M. Browne, James Seddon

 

1

10

Howell Cobb and Joseph Brown Correspondence, 1864

 

1

11

Cotton Export, 1864

 

1

13

Correspondence, 1864

 

1

14

General Correspondence , 1865

 

1

15

Brown's Arrest

 

1

16

Alexander Stephens correspondence, 1865

 

1

17

1865

 

1	18	1866
		Miscellaneous letters. Includes a Freedman's agreement.

 

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2

1

January-May 1867

 

2

2

June-December 1867

 

2

3

Ms. of Pam. Reply, 1867

 

2

4

Newspapers, 1867

 

2

5

Tax Return, 1867, 1868, 1869, 1870, 1871, 1872, and 1873

 

2

6

Brown's Speech, 1868

 

2

7

1868

 

2

8

1869

 

2

9

1870

 

2

10

1871

 

2

11

1872

 

2

12

1873

 

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3	1	1874

 

3

2

1875

 

3

3

B&A R. R., 1875

 

3	4	Correspondence, 1876 Access Online
		Topics include convict lease system, Dade Coal Company, presidential election, Western and Atlantic Railroad.

 

3

5

1877

 

3

6

1878

 

3

7

1879

 

3

8

1880

 

3

9

1881

 

3

10

1882

 

3

11

1883

 

3

12

1884

 

3

13

1885

 

3

14

1886

 

3

15

1888

 

3

16

1889

 

3

17

1890

 

3

18

1893

 

3

19

1895

 

3

20

1898

 

3

21

Undated

 

3

22

1913

 

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4

1

Blodget-Foster Case, 1867-1875

 

4

2

Diaries- Franklin P. Brown and Joseph M. Brown , 1868; 1867

 

4

3

Diaries- Joseph M. Brown, 1874 and 1876

 

4

4

Diary- Elijah A. Brown, 1883

 

4

5

Cobb-Howell Speech, 1864

 

4

6

Fielder-Brown Correspondence, 1879-1880

 

4

7

Fielder-Brown Correspondence, 1881

 

4

8

Fielder-Brown Correspondence, Apr- Aug. 1882

 

4

9

Fielder-Brown Correspondence, Sept.-Nov. 1882

 

4

10

1883-1884

 

4

11

Johnston, R.M. Correspondence and Notes

 

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5

1

Land Papers, etc.

 

5

2-3

Mitchell-Heirs Case, Case Papers

 

5

4-5

Mitchell-Heirs Case, Correspondence & Records

 

5

6

Pictures

 

5

7

R. R. Papers

 

5

8

Texas Land Maps

 

5

9

W&A R. R. [Western and Atlantic Railroad] Investigation, 1876

 

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6

1

Letter Book, Aug. 8, 1861- 1862

 

6

2

Ms. Letter Copy Book, 1860-1863

 

6

3

Letterbook , 1858-1859

 

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7

1

Bound Typescripts Page 1-639, May 20, 1847 - December 1860

 

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8

1

Bound Typescripts Page 640 - 1354, 1861 - 1863

 

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9

1

Bound Typescripts Page 1355 - 2179, 1864 - 1871

 

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10

1

Bound Typescripts Page 2180 - 3019, 1872 - June 30, 1893

 

10

2

Miscellaneous