Brown, William J. (William Joseph), b. 1923 d. 1992

William J. and Jane Brown papers, 1948-1991

5.2 linear feet
3 microfilm reels + 4 videocasettes.
Reel(s): 4516-4518

Biographical material, letters, legal documents, financial records, notes, writings, interviews, subject files, printed material, photographs and videocassettes, mostly concerning Brown's tenure as director of the Penland School of Crafts.

Included are: letters written by Jane Brown and received by the Browns from students and staff members, 1949-1991, including a letter from Joan Mondale, 1983, and letters in support of Brown after he resigned in 1983; a certificate of incorporation for Penland School; a contract with Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, 1977; financial reports, 1973-1982; grant proposals, 1979-1980; a feasibility report on a development program, 1982, and other financial material, 1954-1983; maps of Penland; notes from board meetings, 1978, 1982, and 1983; a notebook concerning Penland's resident program, ca. 1979; a notebook concerning Penland's 50th birthday, 1979;

interviews of Brown conducted by Marvin Lipofsky, 1979, concerning Brown's designs for Steuben Glass and glassblowing; typescripts "Industrial Design" by Brown and "The Craftsman: His Expanding Educational Needs" by Harold Brennan, 1959; project outline "The Crafted Object and the Spoken Word," 1981; files on the resident program, 1981-1983, questionnaires on a 2-week session, 1971, "Miscellaneous Ideas from John Elhe", 1977-1981, "Jane's Board Data", 1979-1983, and "Fritz Comm.--Board Data", 1979-1983; clippings, 1949-1984; exhibition announcements and catalogs, 1954-1984;

photographs of the Browns, 1954-1969, including views from Haystack Mountain School, of Penland students and staff, 1954-1982, including Wendell Castle; photographs of children, the Penland buildings and studios, works of art, and an album "Events '77" containing several photographs of Joan Mondale.

Also included are 4 videotapes (VHS) copied from 16mm film, including 2 by Allen Eaton, "Old Crafts and New Horizons" (20 min.) and "Patterns of Rural Art (12 min.); "Penland School of Handicraft" by Thor Behrens (31 min, silent) and "A Penland Summer" (c1991, ca.30 min.).

Location of Originals: Originals returned to the lender, Jane Brown, after microfilming.

Lent for microfilming 1991 by Jane Brown, wife of William J. Brown. Videos copied from 16mm film lent by Brown.

How to Use this Collection

• Microfilmed portion must be used on microfilm. Use of videotapes requires an appointment.
• Microfilm reels 4516-4518 available for use at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
• Selected images of documents in this collection are online.
• For more information on using resources at the Archives of American Art, please visit our Ask Us page

Also in the Archives:

• William J. Brown interview, 1991 Jan. 19 and 1991 March 2