Michael Donald Brown papers, 1910-2019

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Brown, Michael D. (Michael Donald) and Michael Donald Brown Intervivos Revocable Trust
Abstract:
Michael Donald Brown was an art collector and art dealer from San Francisco who collected primarily Asian-American and Asian artists' work.
Extent:
13.5 Linear Feet (28 manuscript boxes, 1 half manuscript box, 1 records storage box, and 2 card boxes) and 2.04 gigabyte(s) Born-digital objects: 2 CD-Rs, 1 DVD-Video, 1 SD card.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[identification of item], Michael Donald Brown papers (M2675). Department of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The Michael Donald Brown papers contains correspondence with vario Asian American artists and their estates. The materials include photographs, exhibition flyers and catalogs, newspaper clippings, artists' biographical information, booklets, research notes, exhibition history, condition reports, acquisition statements, loan agreements, provenance informatio, and other materials.

Many of the photographs of artwork have provenance information on the back: title and date of the work, purchase or sale price, name of the artist, dimensions, medium, about the title of the work, the artist, dimensions, and other information.

The collection is in original order and is primarily ordered alphabetically by artist.

There is significant correspondence with Masatoyo Kishi, James Leong, Ruth Asawa (including an origami frog), Irene Poon, Hisako Hibi, Mine Okubo, Harry Wang, Tyrus Wong, Koho Yamamoto, Noriko Yamamoto and others.

From the deed of gift: All writings and correspondence of Michael Donald Brown with various Asian American artists, their families and estates, as well as materials related to Asian American art."

Biographical / historical:

Michael Donald Brown was born on April 21, 1947 in Liberty, New York. Brown moved to San Francisco and was an art collector and art dealer who dealt primarily with Asian American and Asian artists. He died on August 14, 2019 in San Francisco, California.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use. Audiovisual & born-digital materials are not available in original format, and must be reformatted to a digital use copy.

Terms of access:

While Special Collections is the owner of the physical items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.

Preferred citation:

[identification of item], Michael Donald Brown papers (M2675). Department of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, California.

Location of this collection:
Department of Special Collections, Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford, CA 94305-6004, US
Contact:
(650) 725-1022