Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Hugh M. Brown Collection of Musicians and Actors Photographs

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.1506
Creators:
Brown, Charles H.
Dates:
1947, undated
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.15 Cubic feet
2 boxes
Repository:
A small collection of publicity photographs of musicians and actors, many taken by Bernard of Hollywood, NYC of Hollywood, California, and New York City, New York.

Content Description

Content Description
Small collection of photographs of American musicians and actors. Many are studio portraits by Bernard of Hollywood and Bruno of Hollywood, NYC.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is divided into one series.
Series 1: Photographs, 1947, undated

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Hugh Merryman Brown was born July 12, 1927, in Los Angeles, California, the son of Hugh Cowen Brown and Marie Merryman. Marie worked for Hollywood portrait photographer, Bruno Bernard, known simply as Bruno of Hollywood. The family moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where Hugh began his violin studies at the age of five under the mentorship of Wort S. Morse. He became a regular radio artist before the age of ten on WDAF Radio, Kansas City playing classical violin.
Hugh and his mother moved to New York City, New York, where Marie resumed working for Bruno. Hugh attended the De La Salle Institute and continued his musical training under Sherman Pitluck and Joseph Gingold. He attended Julliard where he studied violin under Frank Kneisel. Hugh played with the New York City Symphony and was a finalist in the Naumburg Foundation competition. The pressures of schooling became burdensome, and he dropped out of Julliard.
Hugh went to work in the decorative fabrics trade but returned to music playing with the dance bands of Tex Beneke (formerly the Glenn Miller Orchestra), Ted Straeter, and Raymond Scott. In 1951 Hugh was hired as concertmaster for the Robert Shaw Chorale. While working with Shaw he met and married Dorothy McConnell, also a Shaw performer. They were married at the Riverside Church in New York City on April 14, 1951.
In late 1951 the Browns moved to Kansas City, Missouri and joined the Kansas City Philharmonic and later the Kansas City Symphony when the Philharmonic reorganized. He also played with many other organizations in the Kansas City area. In the mid-1960s he was named to the faculty of the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri, Kansas City teaching viola, violin, and string techniques.
Hugh died on April 18, 2021, in Westwood Hills, Kansas; he was survived by his two children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Administration

Author
Franklin A. Robinson, Jr.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Collection donated to the Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution in June 2021 by Carole M. Brown and Charles H. Brown in memory of Hugh Merryman Brown.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Vanessa Broussard Simmons, archivist, 2021.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
Hugh M. Brown Collection of Musicians and Actors Photographs, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Actors and actresses Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Musicians, 1930-1960 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Portraits Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bernard, Bruno Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Brown, Carole M. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ford, Glenn, 1916-2006 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hour of Charm All-Girl Orchestra Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
archivescenter@si.edu