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Brown book research files, 1898-1989 (MS 464)

Correspondence, oral histories, notes, newsclippings, reports, published materials, photographs and ephemera document the family and business lives of Houston entrepreneurs Herman and George R. Brown, providing the basis for author Christopher Castaneda and Joseph Pratt's book, "Builders : Herman and George R. Brown." (38 boxes)

TABLE OF CONTENTS


Descriptive Summary

Organizational History

Scope and Contents

Arrangement

Restrictions

Index Terms

Administrative Information

Bibiography: Other Works by Chris Castaneda

Detailed Description of the Collection

SERIES I: Biographical Materials: Brown and General, Related Families, 1898-1991,

SERIES II: Brown & Root, 1920-1996,

SERIES III: Brown Shipbuilding, 1940-1990, bulk 1940s,

SERIES IV: Correspondence, 1925-1983,

SERIES V: Historical, 1937-1995,

SERIES VI: Texas Eastern Transmission Company, 1946-1989,

SERIES VII: Minot Tully Pratt Papers, 1893-1908,

SERIES VIII : Oral Histories, 1990-1995,

Guide to Builders: Herman & George R. Brown
Book Research Files, 1898-1989

Descriptive Summary
Repository: Woodson Research Center Rice University Fondren Library
Title: Builders: Herman & George R. Brown Book Research Files
Dates: 1898-1989
Extent: 19.5 linear feet (38 boxes)
Abstract: Correspondence, oral histories, notes, newsclippings, reports, published materials, photographs and ephemera in this collection document the family and business lives of Houston entrepreneurs Herman and George R. Brown, providing the basis for author Christopher Castaneda and Joseph Pratt's book, Builders : Herman and George R. Brown
Identification: MS464

Organizational History

This collection of material was gathered as the body of research supporting the publication of the book, Builders: Herman and George R. Brown, by Joseph A. Pratt and Christopher J. Castaneda, published 1999 by Texas A & M Press. Herman and George R. Brown were very successful Houston philanthropists and entrepreneurs in the fields of oil and gas, and building and construction, during the 1950-1980s. The Brown family has also been a significant and generous donor to Rice University. Christopher Castaneda received his bachelor's degree from Rice, and his masters and doctorate degrees from the University of Houston. He teaches history at California State University, Sacramento, and has authored several other books related to oil and gas.

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Scope and Contents

Correspondence, oral histories, notes, newsclippings, reports, published materials, photographs and ephemera in this collection document the family and business lives of Houston entrepreneurs Herman and George R. Brown, providing the basis for author Christopher Castaneda and Joseph Pratt's book, Builders : Herman and George R. Brown. Subjects include Texas roadbuilding, shipbuilding, dam building, coal transportation and pipelines, construction labor issues, politics, philanthropy and the Brown family's development of Houston medical, art, and educational institutions (including Rice University), and Brown family matters. Of particular value are the oral history interviews of important Texas businessmen and women, lawyers, and politicians regarding the Brown brothers and their legacy, as well as original correspondence, particularly with Lyndon Baines Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson. One set of chapter drafts for the Builders book is located in Series I. Dates range from 1898-1996.

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Arrangement

See individual series descriptions for detailed information on arrangement and contents.

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Restrictions

Acees and Use Restrictions

No access restrictions, but permission to publish material from the Builders: Herman and George R. Brown Book Project Files, must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University.

Permission to publish from Series VII : Minot Tully Pratt papers must be obtained from the Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin, where the originals of this materials reside.

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Related Material

Brown & Root archives, MS466, Woodson Research Center

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Index Terms

Personal subject:

Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973 - Interviews.
Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines),1908-1973 - Correspondence.
Bentsen, Lloyd - Interviews.
Brown, Alice Pratt - Correspondence.
Brown, George R., 1898-1983 - Correspondence.
Brown, Herman, 1892-1962 - Correspondence.
Castaneda, Christopher James,1959-
Connally, John Bowden,1917- - Interviews.
Hackerman, Norman - Interviews.
Hobby, Oveta Culp,1905- - Interviews.
Hobby, William Pettus, 1878-1964 - Interviews.
Johnson, Lady Bird,1912- - Correspondence
Pitzer, Kenneth S. (Kenneth Sanborn), 1914- -Interviews.
Pratt, Joseph A.
Stude, Mike - Interviews.

Corporate subject:

Rice University - Buildings - History.
Brown & Root, Inc. - History.
Brown Foundation - History.
Brown Shipbuilding Company, Inc. - History.
Rice University - Trustees.
Texas Eastern Corporation - History.

Subject:

Coal slurry pipelines|xdesign and cinstruction - Texas - History.
Concrete construction - Texas - History.
Offshore oil field equipment industry - Texas - History..
Businessmen - Texas - Biography
Constructon industry--Texas-History.
Dams - Texas - Design and construction - History.
Offshore gas field equipment industry - Texas - History
Philanthropists - Texas - Biography.
Road construction - Texas - History.

Formats

Calendars.
Correspondence.
Diaries.
Newsclippings.
Notes.
Oral histories.
Photographs.
Reports.
Sketches.
Typescripts.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Builders: Herman and George R. Brown Book Project Files, MS480, Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University.

Acquisition Information

This material was collected by authors by Joseph A. Pratt and Christopher J. Castaneda in cooperation with Isabel Brown Wilson, daughter of George R. Brown, and given to the Woodson Research Center by Ms. Wilson on behalf of the Brown Foundation, 1998.

George R. Brown served a Trustee for Rice University and the Brown family has been a generous donor to the university, with many buildings named for family members.

Inventory prepared August 1999 by Lee Pecht, and updated by Mandy York, 2002.

Series VII Minot Tully Pratt papers, are comprised of photocopies made from the originals, located at the University of Texas at Austin's Center for American History.

MS464 also includes materials originally accessioned as MS480.

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Bibiography: Other Works by Chris Castaneda

Invisible Fuel: Natural and Manufactured Gas in American History, 1800-2000. New York : Twayne, 1999.Gas Pipelines and the Emergence of America's Regulatory State: A History of the Panhandle Eastern Corporation, 1928-1993.Co-author, Clarence M. Smith. New York, NY : Cambridge University Press, 1996.Offshore Pioneers: Brown & Root and the History of Offshore Oil & Gas. Co-authors, Joseph A. Pratt and Tyler Priest. Houston, Tex. : Gulf Pub. Co., c1997.From Texas to the East : a strategic history of Texas Eastern Corporation. Co-author, Joseph A. Pratt. College Station, Tex. : Texas A&M University Press, c1993.Regulated enterprise : natural gas pipelines and northeastern markets, 1938-1954. Columbus : Ohio State University Press, c1993

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Series description:
Box
1-8 SERIES I: Biographical Materials: Brown and General, Related Families, 1898-1991, 4 linear ft.
Newsclippings, notes, minimal correspondence, ephemera (photocopies, and some original documents), arranged by family member or person and then alphabetically by subject. Notes written by authors Pratt and Castaneda also located throughout this series. Subjects include travel, politics and relationships with U.S. Presidents Eisenhower and Johnson, philanthropy, art, and family domestic matters.
Subseries A: Brown Family also includes one set of chapter drafts of Castaneda and Pratt's Brown biography, Builders.
Box
1-6 Subseries A: Brown Family
Box Folder
1 1 Brown, Alice Pratt: [ appointment] Calendar 1977
2 Brown, Alice Pratt: Financial - marketable securities 1967
3 Brown, Alice Pratt: Newsclippings, 1960s
4 Brown, Alice Pratt: Swimming pool correspondence, 1953
5 Brown, Alice Pratt: Travel-Iran, 1970
6 Brown, Alice Pratt: Travel-Moscow, India, Teheran, 1970
7 Brown, Alice & George R.: Travel-Antarctica, 1976
8 Brown, Alice & George R.: Travel-Eastern Europe, 1976
9 Brown, Alice & George R.: Travel-Misc., 1975-79
10 Brown, Alice P. & Isabel: Travel-Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, London, 1961
11 Brown, George R.: Advisory Committee on International Business Problems, 1967
12 Brown, George/Herman: Allred Papers (originals from Univ. of Houston), 1937
13 Brown, George R.: American Society of Civil Engineers, 1970
14 Brown, George R.: Awards, honors, citations (1/2), 1950s-1970s
15 Brown, George R.: Awards, honors, citations (2/2), 1950s-1970s
16 Brown, George R.: Biographical data and clippings
17 Brown, George R.: Birth certificate photocopy, 1898
Box Folder
2 1 Brown, George R.: [Desk] Calendars, 1965-69
2 Brown, George R.: [Desk] Calendars, 1970-73
3 Brown, George R.: [Desk] Calendars, 1974-81
4 Brown, George R.: [Secretary Doris Johnson's desk] Calendars, 1965-69
Box Folder
3 1 Brown, George R.: [Secretary Doris Johnson's desk] Calendars, 1970-75
2 Brown, George R.: [Secretary Doris Johnson's desk] Calendars, 1976-81
3 Brown, George R.: Colorado School of Mines, 1922-81
4 Brown, George R.: Death (clippings)
5 Brown, George R.: Defense Industry Advisory Council, correspondence, 1967
6 Brown, George R.: Donations and memorials (correspondence and receipts), 1978
7 Brown, George R.: Eisenhower Commissions, clipping 1959
8 Brown, George R.: First City Bank, clippings, 1962
9 Brown, George R.: House-3363 Inwood Dr. remodeling, contract, 1978
10 Brown, George R.: Household inventory, 1932-33
11 Brown, George R.: Interviews, from LBJ Library, Austin, TX, transcripts, 1960s-1980s
12 Brown, George R.: [Medical] Invoices, 1978
13 Brown, George R.: [Texas] Medical Center, Houston, TX, dedication newsletter and photographs, 1969
14 Brown, George R.: Military service, WWI anecdote
Box Folder
4 1 Brown, George R.: Miscellaneous clippings, notes
2 Brown, George R.: News articles, 1946-88
3 Brown, George R.: Our Song Book
4 Brown, George R.: Paley Commission, newsclippings 1951-75
5 Brown, George R.: Panel on the Impact of the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, reports, newsclippings, 1956-58
6 Brown, George R.: Panel to Study Trade with Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, clippings, 1965
7 Brown, George R.: Philanthropy, clippings, 1976
8 Brown, George R.: Politics, clippings, and 19531982
9 Brown, George R.: Registered Professional Engineers July 1940 Roster
9a Brown, George R.: Rice University student, overview
10 Brown, George R.: Road building, 1920
11 Brown, George R.: Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX, 1950s-1970s
12 Brown, George R.: Speeches, 1952
13 Brown, George R.: Telephone directory, A-H, n.d.
14 Brown, George R.: Telephone directory, I-Q, n.d.
15 Brown, George R.: Telephone directory, R-Z, n.d.
16 Brown, George R.: [Early] Texas history pamphlets, 1920s
17 Brown, George R.: Travel, passports, 1950s, 1980s
18 Brown, George R.: TWA Board, clipping, 1960
Box Folder
5 1 Brown, George R.: Two Houston Center, Brown & Root office space lease receipts and correspondence, 1970-80
2 Brown, George R.: Visuals - original photographs, 1940s-1960s
3 Brown, George R.: Wedding, invitation and clippings, 1925
4 Brown, George R.: Will, 1982
5 Brown, George R.: Work ethic, notes and speech drafts, 1978
6 Brown, Herman: Awards, honors, citations, 1960s-1980s
7 Brown, Herman: Biographical data, clippings, birth certificate
8 Brown, Herman: Business partnership, 1940s
9 Brown, Herman: Death, clippings, 1962-63
10 Brown, Herman: Herman Brown, 1890-1961 by Delbert Ward
11 Brown, Herman: Herman Brown Teaching Professorship of Medicine, brochure, 1991
12 Brown, Herman: Legal-Herman Brown vs. O.L. Neyland, opinion and brief, 1920s-1930s
13 Brown, Herman: Travel, passport, 1930s-1950s
14 Brown, Louis K.: Obituary, clippings, 1971
15 Brown, Riney: Diary (photocopy of published version)
16 Brown, Riney: Receipts, deed, 1910-11
17 Brown Family: Gifts, correspondence, 1970s
18 Brown Family: History, clippings
19 Brown Family: History (from Harry K. Austin), clippings, genealogy
20 Brown Family: Itineraries, 1951
21 Brown Family: Museum clippings
22 Brown Family: Social, clippings, 1950s
21 Brown Biography by Castaneda/Pratt : Chapter outlines
24 Brown Biography by Castaneda/Pratt : Chapter 1
25 Brown Biography by Castaneda/Pratt : Chapter 3
Box Folder
6 1 Brown Biography by Castaneda/Pratt : Chapter 5
2 Brown Biography by Castaneda/Pratt : Chapter 6
3 Brown Biography by Castaneda/Pratt :: Chapter 8
4 Brown Biography by Castaneda/Pratt : Chapter 9
5 Brown Biography by Castaneda/Pratt : Chapter 10
6 Brown Biography by Castaneda/Pratt : Misc.
7 Head, Mrs. J.L. Scrapbook: Herman Brown-Awards, honors, medals
8 Head, Mrs. J.L. Scrapbook: Herman Brown-Biographical
9 Head, Mrs. J.L. Scrapbook: Herman Brown-Death
10 Head, Mrs. J.L. Scrapbook: Margaret Root Brown-Death
11 Head, Mrs. J.L. Scrapbook-Medical Center
12 Head, Mrs. J.L. Scrapbook-Misc.
13 Head, Mrs. J.L. Scrapbook-Project Mohole
14 Head, Mrs. J.L. Scrapbook-Rice University, Southwestern Univ.
15 Head, Mrs. J.L. Scrapbook-Stude, Mike & Louisa
16 Head, Mrs. J.L. Scrapbook-Texas Eastern
17 Negley, Nancy Brown: Newsclippings
18 Nelson Family: Genealogy
19 O'Connor, Maconda Brown: Misc.
20 Pratt Family: Misc.
21 Pratt, Minot Tully: Genealogy
22 Sarofim, Louisa Stude: Newsclippings
23 Stude Family: Misc.
24 Whittlesey Family: Genealogy
25 Wilson, Isabel Brown: Misc.
26 Wilson, Isabel Brown: Newsclippings
Box
7-8 Subseries B: BIOGRAPHICAL, GENERAL RELATED FAMILIES
Box Folder
7 1 Abercrombie, Milo, clipping and brochure, 1990
2 Briscoe, Dolph, correspondence, 1974-76
3 Brown, William Henry, clippings
4 Brownell, Herbert, correspondence, 1974
5 Butler, George, clippings
6 Clark, Ed, clipping, 1984
7 Connally, John B., correspondence, clippings, published materials, 1975
8 Connally, Nellie, correspondence and clippings, 1960s
9 Croneis, Carey E., Colorado School of Mines program, 1949
10 Davis, E.I.
11 deMenil, John & Dominique, clippings, 1970s
12 Eisenhower, Dwight, clipping, 1960
13 Elkins, James A., clipping, 1984
14 Frensley, Herbert, clipping, 1963
15 Hobby, Bill, Lt. Gov., clipping
16 Hobby, Oveta Culp, clippings, 1947
17 Hogg, Ima, clipping, 1966
18 Houston, William V., clippings, 1940s
19 Jester, Beauford, Gov., inaugural program, 1947
20 Johnson, Doris, note, n.d.
21 Johnson, Lady Bird, clippings, 1960-1980s
22 Johnson, Luci Baines, clippings, wedding program, 1960s
23 Johnson, Lynda Bird, clippings, 1960s
24 Johnson, Lyndon B.: General clippings
25 Johnson, Lyndon B.: Inauguration, invitations, clippings, 1965
Box Folder
8 1 Johnson, Lyndon B.: Memorabilia, buttons, bumperstickers
2 Johnson, Lyndon B.: National Historic Site
3 Johnson, Lyndon B.: Restoration of birthplace
4 Johnson, Lyndon B.: Texas Welcome, 1963
5 Johnston, Mary Elizabeth
6 Jones, Jesse H., clippings
7 Kennedy, J.F. & Jackie
8 Kennedy, J.F.: Inauguration, 1961
9 King, Rufus (Isabel Brown Wilson's great-grandfather) clipping
10 King, William Rufus family
11 Leiserson family, clipping, 1977
12 Lovett, Edgar Odell, clipping, memorial program, and 19571985
13 Ludwig, Daniel K., clipping, 1977
14 Mathis, Jim (article on J. Evetts Haley)
15 McCloy, John J., address text, 1954
16 McCollum, L.F., clippings, 1983
17 Meaders, L.B., party list, 1972
18 Meyer, Leopold, horse show report, 1949
19 Nixon, Richard, letter, 1964
20 Noland, Charlotte, clipping, n.d.
21 O'Connor, Ralph S., correspondence, 1983
22 O'Keefe, Georgia, clipping
23 Pitzer, Kenneth, clippings, 1960
24 Rayburn, Sam, clippings, 1950s
25 Roosevelt, F.D.: Inauguration invitation, 1945
26 Smith, Preston, correspondence, clippings, 1966
27 Swearingen, John E., clippings
28 Thomas, Albert, clippings, 1930-1960s
29 Westervelt, Sally, clippings, 1950s
30 Wiley, Jim, clipping, 1968
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Box
9-10, 38 SERIES II: Brown & Root, 1920-1996, 1.5 linear ft.
Subject files arranged in alphabetical order, containing newsclippings, notes, reports, and minimal correspondence, describing the business history of Brown & Root. Subjects include roadbuilding, dams, labor issues, and various specific firm projects such as the Bull Shoals Dam and Marshall Ford Dam. Dates range from 1920-1996, bulk 1940s-1960s.
Note: See the Brown & Root archives at the Woodson Research Center for additional Brown & Root records.
Much of the original Brown & Root records were destroyed by George R. Brown during an office move circa 17 years before his death.
Box Folder
9 1 Advertising, clippings, 1950s
2 Anti-Trust, clippings, 1974
3 Anti-Union, clippings, 1983
4 Aviation Department, Brownbuilder article 1979
5 Awards, honors, citations
6 Bull Shoals Dam, clippings, 1940s
7 Correspondence, 1961
8 Financial statement, 7-1-25; Employment, 1946-79
9 France, clipping, 1964
10 Guam, clipping, 1948
11 History (by company)
12 History (not by company / newsclippings)
Box Folder
38 1 History by Moorehead, draft 1, 1968
2 History by Moorehead, draft 2, 1968
3 History by Dan Dyess, n.d.
4 History: LBJ Library notes, n.d.
Box Folder
9 13 Labor: 1940-1950s
14 Labor: Taft-Hartley Act, memo, 1953
15 Lake Pontchartrain, clipping regarding bid
16 Legal, clipping, 1956
17 Letterhead samples, n.d.
18 Levingston Shipyards, clipping, 1991
19 Logo history, n.d.
20 Lower Colorado River Authority, clipping
21 Marshall Ford Dam, 1944
22 Naval Air Training Station, Corpus Christi, TX, clippings, 1940-1950s
23 North Sea I, clippings, 1980-90s
24 North Sea II, clippings, 1980-90s
25 North Star Project-Soviet Gas, 1970s
26 Personalities, Brown & Root staff, 1960s
27 Projects, clippings, 1940-70s
Box Folder
10 1 Published materials (brochures, booklets), 1940-1996
2 Rice Stadium, clipping, 1949
3 Road building, reports, clippings, 1920s
4 Road building (TX A&M records), reports, clippings, 1920s
5 Road building (HMRC records), reports, clippings, 1920-30s
6 Ships, clippings, 1969
7 Spain, clipping, 1955
8 Texas Highway Department, 1930s
9 Water supply report, 1960s-70s?
10 World War II, chapter draft / notes
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Box
10-11 SERIES III: Brown Shipbuilding, 1940-1990, bulk 1940s, 0.5 linear ft.
Subject files arranged in alphabetical order, dating mainly from the 1940s, and consisting primarily of newsclippings related to company construction, history, labor issues, ship launchings, shipyard layout. Some original b/w photographs depict ship launchings, and one architectural drawing outlines the shipyard, March 1943.
Box Folder
10 11 Awards, clippings, 1940s
12 Bonds, clippings, 1940s
13 Brown & Root records, notes only
Box Folder
11 1 Brown Victory Dispatch, 1943-44
2 Brown Victory Dispatch, 1945
3 Brown Victory Dispatch, 1946
4 Chemical, clippings, 1940s
5 Construction/technical, clippings, 1940s
6 History, clippings, 1940s
7 Labor, clippings, 1940s
8 Launching Program, USS Melvin R.Nawman, 1944
9 Layout (architectural drawing of plant, ) March 1943
10 Photographs, 1940s
11 Photographs-Launching Program, 1942
12 Post-War, clippings, 1940s
13 Ships, clippings, 1940-1990s
14 Shipyard, clippings, 1940s
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Box
12-16 SERIES IV: Correspondence, 1925-1983, 2.5 linear ft.
Original and carbon copies of correspondence to and from members of the Brown family, Lady Bird Johnson, Lyndon Baines Johnson, Gov. John Connally, and many others. Subjects include events at the White House, Committee for the Preservation of the White House, politics, art, and social matters.
Box Folder
12 1 Brown, Alice Pratt: Art related, 1950-1970s
2 Brown, Alice Pratt: Misc. (1/2), 1960-1980s
3 Brown, Alice Pratt: Misc. (2/2), 1960-1980s
4 Brown, Alice Pratt: Comm. for the Preservation of the White House, correspondence with Lady Bird Johnson 1960s
5 Brown, Alice Pratt to Isabel Brown, 1950s
6 Brown, Alice Pratt: White House, 1960s
7 Brown, George R.: Misc., 1925-1970s
Box Folder
13 1 Brown, George R.: Condolences on death, 1983
2 Brown, George R.: Condolences on death, 1983
3 Brown, George R.: Condolences on death, 1983
4 Brown, George R.: Condolences on death, 1983
5 Brown, George R.: Condolence letter lists, 1983
6 Brown, George R.: Condolence letter index card file
Box Folder
14 1 Brown, George & Alice: Misc., 1960-70s
2 Brown, George & Alice: Christmas cards
3 Brown, George & Alice: [U.S.] Presidential Inauguration invitation, 1965
4 Brown, Herman: Misc., from H.B., 1959-60
5 Brown, Isabel: Misc., to I.B., 1950-1980s
6 Brown, Isabel to parents George & Alice Brown, 1950-60s
7 Brown, Margaret, to "A", 1936
8 Brown, Margaret to Mrs. J.L. Head, 19