Watson E. Brown Papers

Collection Summary

Title: Watson E. Brown Papers
Call Number: MS 87-17
Size: 0.75 linear feet
Acquisition: Donated by Harry Fuller
Processed By: LTM, 4-22-1987; Reprocessed by JEF, 1-21-1998; Additional materials added by JLY, 8-1-2001; Reprocessed by MN, 12-2008
Note: None
Restrictions: None

Literary Rights

Literary rights were not granted to Wichita State University. When permission is granted to examine the manuscripts, it is not an authorization to publish them. Manuscripts cannot be used for publication without regard for common law literary rights, copyright laws and the laws of libel. It is the responsibility of the researcher and his/her publisher to obtain permission to publish. Scholars and students who eventually plan to have their work published are urged to make inquiry regarding overall restrictions on publication before initial research.

Restrictions

None

Content Note

Watson E. Brown was a member of the Ninth Indiana Regimental Band and served from 1861 until he was killed in battle in 1864. The collection contains items which detail Brown’s personal history as well as his genealogy. It includes Brown’s personal diary, a collection of original photographs, photocopied letters written to and from Brown between 1861 and 1864, photocopies of military information, color copies of photographs (including Brown, his family, and friends), and photocopied letters discussing his family’s history.

Detailed Description: Series Listing

Series 1 Box 1 FF 1-Box 2 FF 26 Personal History
Series 1.1 Box 1 FF 1-2 Diary and Photobook. This series contains Watson Brown's diary from September 14 - December 31, 1861, while he was a member of the Ninth Indiana Regimental Band. The series also contains a photobook which includes photographs of Brown, his family and friends.
Series 1.2 Box 1 FF 3-Box 2 FF 25 Letters. This series contains photocopied letters written to Watson Brown between 1861 and 1864. Also included are letters written by Brown and letters which have an unknown sender or receiver and/or date.
Series 1.3 Box 2 FF 26 Military Information. This series contains photocopied information about Watson E. Brown's military career.
Series 2 Box 2 FF 27-29 Genealogy
Series 2.1 Box 2 FF 27 Photographs. This series contains color copy photographs of Watson Brown, his personal belongings during the war, his family, and friends.
Series 2.2 Box 2 FF 29 Papers. This series contains a family tree, letters written among family members and clippings which help detail a family history.

Detailed Description: Box and Folder Listing

Series 1 ‒ Personal History

Series 1.1 ‒ Diary and Photobook

Box 1 FF 1 Contains the diary of W. E. Brown, member of the Ninth Indiana Regimental Band, during September 14 to December 31, 1861 which describes his life on campaign and in camp around Cheat Mountain, Virginia (West Virginia). Robert E. Lee fought his first major engagement here on September 10-15, 1861 where he lost to General J. J. Reynolds and was before Brown saw action. After Lee's defeat, there was still Rebel activity in the area according to Brown's account.
Box 1 FF 2 Contains a photograph book belonging to Watson Brown dated 1864 from Nashville, Tennessee. This book has photographs of Brown himself, his fiancee and his friends and relatives. This book informs us that Watson was killed in action in 1864. Some of the writing must have been done by a relative of Brown.

Series 1.2 ‒ Letters

Box 1 FF 3 December 21, 1859. To Watson from L. G. Traugh.
Box 1 FF 4 August 20, 1860. To Watson from L. G. Traugh.
Box 1 FF 5 December 17, 1860. Receipt of goods for Richard Brown.
Box 1 FF 6 February 8, 1861. To Watson from Myra Traugh.
Box 1 FF 7 October 16, 1861. To Watson from Kelsey Brown & Myra. Letter also includes photocopied photographs of Elizabeth Traugh Brown (Watson's mother) and Myra Traugh (Watson's aunt).
Box 1 FF 8 November 4, 1861. To Watson from Addie H.
Box 1 FF 9 November 23, 1861. To Watson from Sallie.
Box 1 FF 10 December 2, 1861. To Watson from O. P. Hamilton and Hattie.
Box 1 FF 11 December 6, 1861. To Watson from Mollie Meeker.
Box 1 FF 12 December 15, 1861. To Watson from Myra Traugh.
Box 1 FF 13 December 19, 1861. To Watson from Samuel Traugh. Letter also has photocopied photograph of Samuel Traugh (Watson's grandfather).
Box 1 FF 14 December 24, 1861. To Watson from Sallie.
Box 1 FF 15 December 26, 1861. To Watson from R. Brown.
Box 1 FF 16 December 1861. To Watson from Mary Kenyon.
Box 1 FF 17 January 6, 1862. To Watson from Myra Traugh.
Box 1 FF 18 January 27, 1862. To Watson from Richard Brown.
Box 1 FF 19 February 20, 1862. To Watson from Richard Brown.
Box 1 FF 20 March 18, 1862. To Watson from Richard Brown.
Box 1 FF 21 June 24, 1862. To Watson from Richard Brown.
Box 1 FF 22 July 1862. To Watson from Sister Emma (?).
Box 1 FF 23 August 2, 1862. To Watson from Asael (Watson's brother).
Box 1 FF 24 August 23, 1862. To Watson from Albert Brown (Watson's bother).
Box 1 FF 25 November 21, 1862. To Watson from Hattie Brown.
Box 1 FF 26 November 23, 1862. To Watson from A. M. Traugh (Watson's uncle).
Box 1 FF 27 November 28, 1862. To Watson from Well (Watson's cousin).
Box 1 FF 28 Typed transcripts of letters: May 14, 1862. To Watson from Asael (Watson's brother). December 8, 1862. To Father from Watson. January 1. To Father from Watson. October 21, 1862. To Watson from O. P. Hamilton (Watson's uncle). November 16, 1862. To Watson from O. P. Hamilton (Watson's uncle). November 24, 1862. To Watson from O. P. Hamilton (Watson's uncle).
Box 1 FF 29 January 11, 1863. To Watson from Mary E. Brown (Watson's aunt).
Box 1 FF 30 January 11, 1863. To Watson from Hattie Brown.
Box 1 FF 31 February 17, 1863. To Watson from O. P. Hamilton (Watson's uncle).
Box 1 FF 32 March 6, 1863. To Watson from Fannie (Irwin?).
Box 1 FF 33 March 11, 1863. To Watson from O. P. Hamilton (Watson's uncle) and Albert Brown (Watson's brother). Also included is a photocopied photograph of O. P. Hamilton and his son Charles T.
Box 1 FF 34 March 22, 1863. To Watson from J. G. Staley (Watson's friend).
Box 1 FF 35 March 25, 1863. To Watson from O. McConnahay (Watson's friend).
Box 1 FF 36 March 29, 1863. To Watson from Kelsey Brown (Watson's father).
Box 1 FF 37 April 19, 1863. To Watson from J. S. Staley.
Box 1 FF 38 April 21, 1863. To Watson from O. McCannahay.
Box 1 FF 39 April 8, 1863. To Watson from R. Brown.
Box 1 FF 40 May 3, 1863. To Watson from Bert (?).
Box 1 FF 41 May 6, 1863. To Watson from Albert Brown.
Box 1 FF 42 May 9, 1863. To Watson from Richard Brown.
Box 1 FF 43 May 24, 1863. To Watson from J. G. S. (Jim Staley).
Box 1 FF 44 May 31, 1863. To Watson from O. McConnahay.
Box 1 FF 45 June 6, 1863. To Watson from Bert (?).
Box 1 FF 46 June 10, 1863. To Watson from Richard Brown.
Box 1 FF 47 June 14, 1863. To Watson from Eunice Stewart (Watson's aunt), Sarah Cassidy (Watson's cousin) and Melvina Hubbert (Watson's cousin).
Box 1 FF 48 June 20, 1863. To Watson from Richard Brown.
Box 1 FF 49 June 28, 1863. To Watson from M. H. (Melvina Hubbert ?).
Box 1 FF 50 July 4, 1863. To Mr. Brown from Watson. Also includes photocopied drawing of Civil War battle with Lee and Grant photos. Photocopied drawing of Lincoln on death bed with a Lincoln photo. Photocopied lyrics for the song "To the Cambria Boys of Co. M, 20th Kansas."
Box 1 FF 51 July 5, 1863. To Watson from unknown (page(s) missing).
Box 1 FF 52 July 8, 1863. To Watson from "Sate" Cassidy.
Box 1 FF 53 July 8, 1863. To Watson from "Hatch" (Charles H. Brown).
Box 1 FF 54 July 12, 1863. To Watson from "Meal" (Imelia Ellis ?).
Box 1 FF 55 July 17, 1863. To Watson from unknown cousin.
Box 1 FF 56 July 18, 1863. To Watson from Albert Brown.
Box 1 FF 57 July 21, 1863. To Watson from Sarah Cassidy (Watson's cousin). May have page(s) missing.
Box 1 FF 58 July 21, 1863. To Watson from Well (Watson's cousin).
Box 1 FF 59 July 24, 1863. To Watson from "Hatch" (Watson's cousin, Charles H. Brown).
Box 1 FF 60 July 25, 1863. To Watson from T. E. Wood. Also includes a photocopied photograph of Charles Traugh Brown.
Box 1 FF 61 July 1863. To Watson from unknown cousin. May have page(s) missing.
Box 1 FF 62 August 2, 1863. To Watson from N ("Nerva" Minerva Owen ?).
Box 1 FF 63 August 3, 1863. To Watson from Imelia Ellis.
Box 1 FF 64 August 9, 1863. To Watson from "Sate" (Sarah Cassidy ?).
Box 1 FF 65 August 9, 1863. To Watson from Hattie Brown.
Box 1 FF 66 August 29, 1863. To Watson from Fan.
Box 1 FF 67 September 6, 1863. To Watson from Hattie.
Box 1 FF 68 September 13, 1864. To Watson from "Vine" (Melvina Hubbert ?).
Box 1 FF 69 September 14, 1863. To Watson from "Hatch" (Charles E. Brown, Watson's cousin).
Box 1 FF 70 September 18, 1863. To Watson from Sate Cassidy.
Box 1 FF 71 September 24, 1863. To Watson from W. L. Gregory.
Box 1 FF 72 October 4, 1863. To Watson from "Sate" (Watson's cousin).
Box 1 FF 73 October 4, 1863. To Watson from Addie (Watson's cousin).
Box 1 FF 74 October 5, 1863. To Watson from Albert Brown.
Box 1 FF 75 November 15, 1863. To Watson from "Vine" (Watson's cousin).
Box 1 FF 76 November 25, 1863. To Watson from Will (Watson's cousin).
Box 1 FF 77 November 27, 1863. To Watson from "Sate" (Watson's cousin).
Box 1 FF 78 November 29, 1863. To an unnamed brother from Watson.
Box 1 FF 79 December 6, 1863. To Watson from Hattie.
Box 1 FF 80 December 17, 1863. To Watson from Thomas W. Cawood. Also includes letter dated December 3, 1863. To Watson from S. E. Cawood.
Box 1 FF 81 December 28, 1863. To Watson from L. Firth (?).
Box 2 FF 1 May 22, 1864. To Albert Brown from Watson.
Box 2 FF 2 October 9, 1864. To Watson from Emma Field.
Box 2 FF 3 1864. To Watson from Emma Field.
Box 2 FF 4 Typed transcripts of letters: May 1, 1864. May 21, 1864. June 21, 1864. June 14, 1864. August 10, 1864. August 17, 1864. November 28, 1864. December 1864. December 22, 1864. January 14, 1865. February 26, 1865. All letters to Kelsey Brown (Watson's father) from Watson. July 17, 1864. To Kelsey Brown from Asael Brown (Watson's brother).
Box 2 FF 5 October 21, 1879. To Kelsey Brown from John (?).
Box 2 FF 6 February 4. From L. Peirse. Also includes photocopied photographs of O. McConnahay, Captain Jim Staley and Watson Brown.
Box 2 FF 7 February 5. To Watson from Albert Brown. Also includes photocopied photograph of Albert Brown.
Box 2 FF 8 February 11. To Watson from Well (Watson's cousin).
Box 2 FF 9 March. To Watson from Sallie.
Box 2 FF 10 April 8. To Watson from Well.
Box 2 FF 11 June 23. To Watson from Hattie Hamilton (Watson's aunt).
Box 2 FF 12 July 27. To Watson from Well.
Box 2 FF 13 July. To Watson from "Vine".
Box 2 FF 14 October 11. To Watson from unknown (page(s) missing).
Box 2 FF 15 December 29. To Watson from L. B. Gasheat (?).
Box 2 FF 16 December. To Watson from Albert.
Box 2 FF 17 Monday. To Watson from Cole (Cole Reynolds, Watson's girlfriend).
Box 2 FF 18 Monday. To Watson from unknown.
Box 2 FF 19 Unknown date. To/from unknown.
Box 2 FF 20 Unknown date. To Mr. Brown from Della S. (?).
Box 2 FF 21 Unknown date. To Watson from A. H. (Addie Hubbert ? ).
Box 2 FF 22 Unknown date. To Watson from Minnie (?).
Box 2 FF 23 Unknown date. To unknown from Addie (page(s) missing).
Box 2 FF 24 Unknown date. To/from unknown (page(s) missing).
Box 2 FF 25 Unknown date. To Watson from unknown.

Series 1.3 ‒ Military Information

Box 2 FF 26 Watson Brown's Discharge Certificate, August 1861 and August 1862. Pages from The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Notification of Watson's burial location from New Bern National Cemetery.

Series 2 ‒ Genealogy

Series 2.1 ‒ Photographs

Box 2 FF 27 (1) Watson E. Brown. (2) Watson's campaign medal. (3) Watson's sword.(4) Watson's army issued sewing kit. (5) 4 Generations- Kelsey Brown (Watson's father), Albert Brown (Watson's brother), Elizabeth (Albert's daughter), and Ralph (Elizabeth's son). (6) Albert Brown (Watson's brother). (7) Albert Brown circa 1862 when he arrived in Salina. (8) Shubael Cotton Brown (Watson's uncle). (9) O. McConnahay (Watson's friend). (10) Captain Jim Staley (Watson's friend). (11) Charles Traugh Brown (Watson's brother). (12) Samuel Traugh (Watson's grandfather). (13) Elizabeth Ann Traugh Brown (Watson's mother). (14) Myra Traugh (Watson's aunt). (15) Harriet Traugh Hamilton (Watson's aunt). (16) Oliver Perry Hamilton (Watson's uncle) and his son Charles Traugh Hamilton (Watson's cousin). (17) Clarence A. Brown (Watson's brother). (18) Clarence A. Brown circa 1862 when he arrived in Salina. ***All are color copies of photographs***

Series 2.2 ‒ Papers

Box 2 FF 28 Family Tree (revised July 2001).
Box 2 FF 29 Letter written to Albert Brown's daughter, discussing family history. Letter discussing family history of Watson's grandmother, Harriet Cotton Brown's brother. Letter written by Pastor about the death of Charles T. Brown along with a letter to Charles, 1858. Letters to Kelsey Brown (Watson's father) from his wife's relation, 1840s. Letter to Watson's grandfather Daniel W. Brown, 1845. Clipping written by A. L. Brown and clipping about A. L. Brown's death.