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Guide to the San Diego Browning Society Records MS 265
MS 265  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • 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.)