Biographical / Historical Notes
Scope and Content
Arrangement
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Conditions Governing Use
Conditions Governing Access
Processing Information
Preferred Citation
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Title: San Diego Browning Society Records
Identifier/Call Number: MS 265
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.5 Linear feet
(3 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1946-1992
Abstract: This collection contains items pertaining to the San Diego Browning Society, whose members read and analyzed the writings
of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
creator:
San Diego Browning Society.
Biographical / Historical Notes
The San Diego Browning Society was founded in 1946 by Mrs. Oliver W. (Estelle Grace) Pierce, a retired speech coach from Minneapolis
who moved to San Diego in 1931. According to the society’s by-laws, its purpose was to “promote the study, understanding and
appreciation of the works of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and to relate them to the Victorian Age in which
they were a vital influence.” Its members consisted of college faculty, prominent local citizens of varied professions, and
any San Diegans who simply enjoyed poetry and were interested in its promotion. During the Society’s monthly meetings, members
delivered readings of Browning poems and original papers about aspects of the Brownings’ lives and the time and environment
in which they lived. Some meetings included lectures given by guest speakers. They also held events, such as annual holiday
dinners, birthday parties for the Brownings, and special programs such as a Browning-related movie screening and an interpretive
music concert based on a Robert Browning poem. Due to decline of membership and interest in this literary period, the society
disbanded in 1992.
Scope and Content
The collection contains items relating to the administration and activities of the San Diego Browning Society. Administrative
items include by-laws, membership listings, meeting minutes, financial reports, and correspondence. Many of the meeting minutes
records books have newspaper clippings and other miscellaneous items pasted into the books. Activity-related items include
program booklets, program notices and event programs.
Arrangement
Items in the collection are arranged by subject.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession number 920929.
Conditions Governing Use
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Jennifer Ho on November 16, 2011.
Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous
funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
Preferred Citation
San Diego Browning Society Records, MS 265, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Some notebooks have loose pages. All loose materials from meeting minutes record books have been removed, but are retained
in the same folder with the original book. (November 16, 2011)
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Armstrong Browning Library.
Browning, Elizabeth Barrett, 1806-1861
Browning, Robert, 1812-1889
Livingstone, William
Neill, Diana
Pierce, Oliver W. (Grace Estelle), Mrs.
San Diego Browning Society.
Shouse, Claude F., Sr.
Small, Carmen H.
Small, W. Emmett
Clubs
English literature -- 19th century
Poetry
San Diego (Calif.)