Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1913-1987, 2001 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
0.86m of textual records and photographic material
Context area
Name of creator
Name of creator
Name of creator
Name of creator
Name of creator
Name of creator
Name of creator
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This series contains documents covering Harcourt Brown’s writing in a variety of publications and across subject matter, correspondence with family members and colleagues, genealogical research, financial documentation, and course notes from his
time in university.
His research and writing from his university years focused on philosophy (with a sub-series focusing on George Sidney Brett, a professor of Philosophy), plays/poetry (with sub-series for the Hart House Theatre and Louis Alexander McKay), and French. Many of these articles were published in Patches (University of Toronto’s short-lived undergrad magazine, The Varsity (he had a column on plays), and as individual reviews. In the Hart House sub-series, some playbills credit Harcourt Brown and his wife Dorothy Stacey as actors, with his autograph on some playbills.
Harcourt Brown later wrote articles focused on Canadian and French history topics (most in English, some in French), philosophy, research trips in Europe, and various historical figures. Harcourt Brown, with his sister, Elizabeth Brown, and brothers, Quentin Brown and Robert Brown, authored a book titled, The Army’s Mister Brown. The volume details the WWII wartime experiences of Robert and Quentin Brown and Elizabeth Brown’s post-war UNHRR missions to Jerusalem and the surrounding areas. Harcourt conducted genealogical research into the Brown family history, for example he helped edit the pamphlet, Beating the Bounds.
The Correspondence sub-series includes material sent to and received from Elizabeth Brown, Newton Harcourt Brown, John Price Brown, and other family members and colleagues. It also contains financial records and two books.
Earlier accessions consist of photographs of Harcourt Brown in the Modern Language Club 1920-1921, Varsity Staff 1921-1922, and the participant list from the Corning Conference 1951. Other photographs are in the Photograph series. His financial and travel documents are included in the Personal and Biographical sub-series
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Files are arranged within chronological order within each sub-series.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open.
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Uploaded finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Included in many of the files of original documents are associated scans reflecting Brown’s research process. Similarly, HB’s notes are also scattered through files in other series as he was one of the primary family historians. These have been noted
when identified or especially prevalent in the file headings of the other series.