Overview of the Collection
Biographical NoteWilliam L. Brown was born on April 5, 1910, in Myrtle Point, Oregon. He was the son of Louis E. Brown, a life insurance representative, and Viola May (Davis) Brown. He married Gertrude E. (Rosalie) Moore, an author, on June 30, 1942. They had three children, Deborah Ann, Celia Jeanne, and Camas Eve. Brown was educated at the University of Oregon from 1930-1931, and Mexico City College in 1950. Brown first worked as a reporter for the Coos Bay World in Coos Bay, Oregon, from 1934-1938. During this time, from 1936-1937, he participated in a small boat voyage to the South Seas. He then worked as an editor of the 300 Magazine in San Francisco, California, from 1940-1942. In 1942 he joined the U.S. Army Air Forces, 301st Service Group, 319th Service Squadron, where he served until 1944, becoming a sergeant. During his years of service he was stationed in India and Burma. In 1953 he joined the California Division of Beaches and Parks in Lagunitas as a ranger, remaining there until 1964. From 1960-1962, he was a member of the Fairfax City Park Commission. He also spent some time teaching creative writing in an adult education program in Marin County and Sonoma County, California. Brown used his experiences in the South Seas, India, and Burma to furnish ideas for adventure stories. Under the name Bill Brown, he wrote four books: Roaring River (1953), which won the Commonwealth Club of California's silver medal for Best Juvenile Book; Uncharted Voyage (1955); People of the Many Islands (1958); and The Rain Forest (1962). With his wife Rosalie Brown, under the name William L. Brown, he wrote seven lighter, more humorous books: Forest Firemen (1954); Whistle Punk (1956); The Boy Who Got Mailed (1957); Big Rig (1959); The Department Store Ghost (1961); Tickly and the Fox (1962); and The Hippopotamus That Wanted to be a Baby (1963). William L. Brown died on September 28, 1964. Content DescriptionThe William Louis Brown Papers consist of the manuscripts of two books and fifteen short stories or articles. The correspondence includes letters from Brown in 1936-1937 on his South Seas voyage; wartime letters during the years 1942-1945 from Fort Dix, New Jersey; India; and Burma; and correspondence with literary agents and publishers. There is a file of the publication The Gremlin, of which Brown served as editor. Copies of his published works are also included. Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access :
Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections & University Archives Reading Room. Restrictions on Use :Property rights reside with Special Collections & University Archives. Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to the Manuscripts Librarian of the Division of Special Collections & University Archives. The reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder. Preferred Citation :[Identification of item], Bill Brown Papers, Ax 424, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, Eugene, Oregon. Administrative Information
Arrangement :
Collection is organized into the following series: Manuscripts; Correspondence; Books and Periodicals; Mementos; January 1970 Addenda; May 1970 Addenda; May 1974 Addenda. Detailed Description of the Collection
SubjectsThis collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
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