George F. Brown Second World War correspondence and photographs 2022.182.w.r

Frank J. López-Huerta

Center for American War Letters Archives

06/07/2022

Leatherby Libraries

Chapman University

Orange, CA 92866

speccoll@chapman.edu

URL: http://www1.chapman.edu/library/archives/

Contributing Institution: Center for American War Letters Archives

Title: George F. Brown Second World War correspondence and photographs

source: Brown, Lucinda W.

Creator: Brown, George Fulton, Lieutenant Commander, 1914-1998

Identifier/Call Number: 2022.182.w.r

Physical Description: .05 Linear Feet (6 folders)

Date (inclusive): 1942 - 1945

Abstract: This collection contains 70 letters written by LCDR George F. Brown, US Navy to his family during the Second World War. This collection also contains two memos sent to Brown, 26 photographs, three postcards, and six ephemera items.

Language of Material: English , French .

Container: WWII 33

Container: 1 - 6

Container: 10 - 15

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Lucinda W. Brown.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged by material type, and chronological order.

Series 1, Correspondence
Series 2, Photographs
Series 3, Ephemera and other materials

Biographical / Historical

Lieutenant Commander George Fulton Brown, United States Navy (1914 - 1998) was born in Hague, Virginia to James Dall Brown, and Lucy Wilmina Kellam Brown. His siblings include James Dall Brown, Jr., David Kellam Brown, Willoughby Randolph Brown, and Richard Henry Lee Brown. Lt. Cdr. Brown married Janet H. [maiden name unknown] in August 31, 1941 and together they had two children, Lucinda W. and Sarah Brown.

In 1941, Brown became Princeton University's Assistant Director of Athletics before serving in the US Navy during the Second World War. First he was assigned as an Assistant Director of Athletics at the Pre-Flight School in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and was later assigned to Casablanca, Morocco where he was responsible for accommodating all Navy personnel. He retired from military service October 1945 with the rank Lieutenant Commander.

After the Second World War, Brown returned to Princeton University where he worked on student housing before joining Street and Smith Publications, Inc. in 1947 as Director of Personnel and Assistant to the President. After a long career in leadership and management he retired in 1972.

Statement on Potentially Harmful Content

This collection may contain materials that are difficult to view, are potentially harmful, or use outdated and culturally insensitive language. Chapman University preserves and makes these materials accessible to researchers to ensure long-term accuracy of these historical records. This repository aims to not promote or otherwise celebrate this content, but to use it for educational and research purposes.

Please see the National Archives and Records Administration's (NARA) "Statement on Potentially Harmful Content" for more information: https://www.archives.gov/research/reparative-description/harmful-content

Preferred Citation

[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], George F. Brown Second World War correspondence and photographs (2022.182.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Content Description

This collection contains 70 letters written by Lt. George F. Brown to his wife and parents as well as two memorandum sent to himn during the Second World War. This collection also contains 28 photographs, and other ephemeral materials.

Conditions Governing Use

There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

World War (1939-1945) -- North Africa

United States. -- Navy

Photographs

Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945

World War (1939-1945)

Postcards.

Brown, Lucinda W.

Series 1, Correspondence 1942 March 24 - 1945 March 12 1943 June 6 - 1943 December 26

Physical Description: .4 Linear feet(3 folders)

Statement of Potentially Harmful Content

Scope and Contents

This series contains 70 letters written by LCDR George Fulton Brown, USN to his wife, Janet H. Brown [maiden name unknown] and parents during the Second World War.

Letters from the first half of 1942 are predominantly addressed Jean and focused on themes of love and longing. The last half of the 1942 letters are addressed to his parents and recorded local weather, daily duties,and his love of Janet. All of these letters were written from Chapel Hill, Maryland.

In a letter written August 31, 1942 Brown reminded his parents that it was his marriage's first anniversary. He wrote that "not a day goes by that I don't thank my lucky stars for the good luck I had when I found Janet."

Letters written throughout 1943, cover Brown's time in Casablanca, Morocco as he adjusted to his new military duties and living arrangements. These letters include brief descriptions of his men, local people and architecture, and his daily life.

In a letter written July 19, 1943 to Janet, Brown wrote about an unnamed assistant, whose ability to complete assignments earned great respect from him. He proceeded to note that there were also 28 "colored mess attendant" who were responsible for waiting on tables and cleaning rooms. He described the majority of these men as the type that "spend their time getting into trouble or getting out of work."

In a memo dated December 23, 1943 sent by Captain J.J. Kaveney, USN to LCDR Brown, he was informed that his "daughter Lucinda arrived December 21st. Mother and baby fine." The memo has two inscriptions on verso.

Letters written throughout 1944 recorded Brown's feelings of budding fatherhood and longing to reunite with their family. In a letter dated January 5, 1944 he stated that he was "tempted to start [his] letters 'Dear Wife and Daughter.'"

In a letter dated November 6, 1944 Brown shared his political views and how it would inform his vote. By December 29, 1944 Brown wrote to Janet that he was trying to figure out how he could "shove off to see" her and their daughter.

This series also contains letters from the first quarter of 1945 written by Brown throughout which he consistently ecpressed his desire to complete his service in order to reunite with his family.

In a letter dated January 26, 1945 he wrote about his frustration concerning an unannounced visit to his apartment by his Captain and other men whose manners, eating, and drinking habits deeply offended him.

The final letter in this collection was written March 12, 1945 by Brown to his wife. He wrote that "each day . . . I have wanted to write to you; but the one purpose . . . I want to write about isn't settled and I won't wait any longer. Our big day is not far away!"

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945

World War (1939-1945)

Series 2, Photographs 1940 September - 1945 March 1944 January - 1944 December

Physical Description: .1 Linear feet(1 folder)

Scope and Contents

This series contains 28 photographs covering a variety of subjects including US Navy sailors; Casablanca locals; Casa Blanca architecture; and landscape photographs of the Morocco countryside. The majority of these photographs have inscriptions on verso. The photographer is unknown.

This series also contains a single printout containing four photographs arranged into quarters that recorded Brown with his wife and daughter.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Photographs

Series 3, Ephemera and other materials 1943 December 25 - 1944 November 23

Physical Description: .1 Linear feet(1 folder)

Scope and Contents

This series contains the following:

Ephemera:

1-1943/ 1944 "Merry Chirstmas"/ "Happy Newyear" leaflet
1-1944 Thanksgiving Day menu
1-"Anfa Hotel: Casa Blanca" paper slip
1-undated newspaper clipping with headline reading "La fête du Mouloud à Rabat."
3-postcards

Other materials:

1-printout of Lieutenant Commander George Fulton Brown's, US Navy biography released by Princeton University's Department of Public Information [no date]
1-US censor notice with two inscriptions on recto
1-US Army ration card

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Postcards.

Rationing

Newspaper clippings

World War (1939-1945) -- Newspapers

World War (1939-1945) -- North Africa