Finding Aid for the Clarence Brown Papers, circa 1900s-1980s


MS-2010

University of Tennessee Special Collections Library, Knoxville, TN


Encoded by: Erin Lawrimore, April 3, 2006

Summary Information
Title: Clarence Brown Papers

Date/Date Range :   circa 1900s-1980s
Brown, Clarence, 1890-1987.
Extent: 18.0 linear feet

Abstract:
This collection is made up of newspaper clippings, photographs and memorabilia which span the life of Clarence Brown. The material in this collection is from his home in California, therefore the material is more personal in nature. Included are family photographs, family scrapbooks, awards and certificates, diplomas, and memorabilia from the youth of Clarence and his wife Marian.

Call number: MS-2010

Repository: University of Tennessee Special Collections Library, Knoxville, TN

Access and Use
Aquisition Information:
This collection was acquired by Special Collections in 1996.
Access Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Copyright:
The copyright interests in this collection remain with the creator. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library.
Preferred Citation:
[Identification of Item], Clarence Brown Papers, MS-2010. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Special Collections Library.

Arrangement

Collection consists of 18 boxes plus oversized material. It is divided into four series: Paper Documents, Newspapers, Photographs, and Other Material.


Biography / History

Having graduated from the University of Tennessee with two degrees in electrical and mechanical engineering, Clarence Brown went on to start his career in the automobile industry. This career choice, however, did not prove to be his destiny. Clarence Brown had developed a fascination with the art of cinema and made the decision to leave the prosperous automobile industry in order to embark on a new career in film. He started out with only his drive and determination as qualifications and managed to apprenticed himself to famed director Maurice Tourneur. This apprenticeship eventually led Brown toward his independent work in film directing. In the end, Clarence Brown became one of Hollywood's most renowned directors with a career that spanned from 1920 through 1952. He directed or produced more than fifty widely acclaimed full-length motion pictures, and worked with many of the most illustrious performers in the film industry.


Collection Scope and Content Note

This collection is made up of newspaper clippings, photographs and memorabilia which span the life of Clarence Brown. The material in this collection is from his home in California, therefore the material is more personal in nature. Included are family photographs, family scrapbooks, awards and certificates, diplomas, and memorabilia from the youth of Clarence and his wife Marian Brown.

Subject Terms

  • Brown, Clarence, 1890-1987.
  • Motion picture producers and directors -- United States.
Contents List
   

Series I: Paper Documents

Box   1     Folder   1    
Articles sent to Clarence Brown from Mr. and Mrs. DeForest Kelley

Box   1     Folder   2    
Artist advertisements

Box   1     Folder   3    
Autographed promotional article

Box   1     Folder   4    
Biographies of Clarence Brown

Box   1     Folder   5    
Birth certificate of Clarence Brown

Box   1     Folder   6    
Birthday - Clarence Brown - 88th

Box   1     Folder   7    
Birthday - Clarence Brown - 90th

Box   1     Folder   8    
Book covers

Box   1     Folder   9    
Brown book inventory

Box   1     Folder   10    
Certificates and awards

Box   1     Folder   11    
Clarence Brown Theater - 1984

Box   1     Folder   12    
Correspondence with Ralph G. Allen

Box   1     Folder   13    
Correspondence with Kevin Brownlow

Box   1     Folder   14    
Corresponence - miscellaneous

Box   1     Folder   15    
Diamond ring - appraisal

Box   1     Folder   16    
Interview - script

Box   1     Folder   17    
Invitations

Box   1     Folder   18    
Membership cards - Clarence Brown

Box   1     Folder   19    
Motion picture - list

Box   1     Folder   20    
Obituaries

Box   1     Folder   21    
Pamphlets - John Faulkner

Box   1     Folder   22    
Passports

Box   1     Folder   23    
Publicities

Box   1     Folder   24    
Postcards

Box   1     Folder   25    
Programs

Box   1     Folder   26    
Quayle, Anthony

Box   1     Folder   27    
Rip Van Winkle - Kennedy Center

Box   1     Folder   28    
Rubel, Bob - Contemplations

Box   1     Folder   29    
Scholar's Troupe

Box   1     Folder   30    
Scripts - Angels in the Backfield

Box   1     Folder   31    
Scripts - The Best Things in Life

Box   1     Folder   32    
Scripts - Fifty Million Feet of Hollywood

Box   1     Folder   33    
Scripts - Promenade All!

Box   1     Folder   34    
Spies, Marian

Box   1     Folder   35    
Spies, Marian - school memorabilia

Box   1     Folder   36    
Tribute to Clarence Brown

Box   1     Folder   37    
UT Film Festival

Box   1     Folder   38    
Yearbook - Knoxville High School - 1906

Box   1     Folder   39    
Miscellaneous

   

Series II: Newspapers

Box   2     Folder   1    
Newspaper - Allen, Ralph

Box   2     Folder   2    
Newspaper - Birthdays

Box   2     Folder   3    
Newspaper - Clarence Brown Theater

Box   2     Folder   4    
Newspaper - Film

Box   2     Folder   5    
Newspaper - Gable, Clark

Box   2     Folder   6    
Newspaper - Garbo, Greta

Box   2     Folder   7    
Newspaper - Germany - Clarence Brown

Box   2     Folder   8    
Newspaper - LeGallienne, Eva

Box   2     Folder   9    
Newspaper - National Velvet

Box   2     Folder   10    
Newspaper - Obituaries

Box   2     Folder   11    
Newspaper - Personal life

Box   2     Folder   12    
Newspaper - Photographs

Box   2     Folder   13    
Newspaper - Plymouth Adventure

Box   2     Folder   14    
Newspaper - Quayle, Anthony

Box   2     Folder   15    
Newspaper - Scholar's Troupe

Box   2     Folder   16    
Newspaper - Spanish Articles

Box   2     Folder   17    
Newspaper - Spies, Marian

Box   2     Folder   18    
Newspaper - Theater

Box   2     Folder   19    
Newspaper - UT Film Festival

Box   2     Folder   20    
Newspaper - UT Football

Box   2     Folder   21    
Newspaper - Youthquake - McCallum Theater

Box   2     Folder   22    
Newspaper - Miscellaneous

   

Series III: Photographs

Box   2     Folder   23    
Photographs - Abroad

Box   2     Folder   24    
Photographs - Abroad

Box   2     Folder   25    
Photographs - Abroad

Box   2     Folder   26    
Photographs - Airplane - Clarence Brown

Box   2     Folder   27    
Photographs - Awards and Banquets

Box   2     Folder   28    
Photographs - Birthdays

Box   2     Folder   29    
Photographs - Bust - Clarence Brown

Box   2     Folder   30    
Photographs - Childhood

Box   2     Folder   31    
Photographs - Cornerstone Ceremony

Box   3     Folder   1    
Photographs - Clarence Brown Theater (dedication of)

Box   3     Folder   2    
Photographs - Family

Box   3     Folder   3    
Photographs - Films

Box   3     Folder   4    
Photographs - Film Festival - May 1973

Box   3     Folder   5    
Photographs - Film posters

Box   3     Folder   6    
Photographs - Hollywood - July 1977

Box   3     Folder   7    
Photographs - Home

Box   3     Folder   8    
Photographs - Homecoming - 1968

Box   3     Folder   9    
Photographs - The Human Comedy

Box   3     Folder   10    
Photographs - Negatives and Slides

Box   3     Folder   11    
Photographs - Portraits

Box   3     Folder   12    
Photographs - Personal - Marian Spies

Box   3     Folder   13    
Photographs - Ranch - Clarence Brown

Box   3     Folder   14    
Photographs - Marian Spies - Birthday Party - 1955

Box   3     Folder   15    
Photographs - Marian Spies - Dedication of Portrait

Box   3     Folder   16    
Photographs - Marian Spies - Dedication of Portrait

Box   3     Folder   17    
Photographs - Miscellaneous

   

Series IV: Other Material

Box   4      
Audio-Visual

Box   5      
Awards - framed

Box   6      
Awards - trophies and plaques

Box   7      
Photographs - framed - Brown, Clarence

Box   8      
Photographs - framed - Brown, Clarence and Marian

Box   9      
Scrapbooks I

Box   10      
Scrapbooks II

Box   11      
Photographs - framed - Spies, Marian - younger

Box   12      
Photographs - framed - Spies, Marian - older

Box   13      
Photographs - framed - Spies, Marian - mother

Box   14      
Travel brochures - Europe

Box   15      
Miscellaneous - artwork

Box   16      
Miscellaneous - memorabilia

Box   17      
Miscellaneous - Photographs - Theater

Box   18      
Miscellaneous - Photographs - Unknown

   
Oversized Materials

Folder   1      
Clarence Brown - Diplomas

Folder   2      
Clarence Brown - Posters

Folder   3      
Clarence Brown - Miscellaneous

Folder   4      
Clarence Brown - Miscellaneous - Photographs
Gillette Ranch Dining Room, circa 1935-circa 1952
Gillette Ranch Hallway, circa 1935-circa 1952
Gillette Ranch Sitting Room, circa 1935-circa 1952
Gillette Ranch Sitting Room, circa 1935-circa 1952
Gillette Ranch Sitting Room, circa 1935-circa 1952
Gillette Ranch Sitting Room, circa 1935-circa 1952
Gillette Ranch Sitting Room (with Balcony), circa 1935-circa 1952
Gillette Ranch Sitting Room, circa 1935-circa 1952
Gillette Ranch Billiard Room, circa 1935-circa 1952
Gillette Ranch Dining Room, circa 1935-circa 1952