February 23, 1851

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ruth Brown

Relates news of friends and family from "the hill," their house in Ohio. Encloses a letter from "grandfather," most likely Owen Brown. Discusses construction projects, his health, family pastimes, a fire in Akron and Ruth's recent marriage. Asks that she and their brother Owen both reply to him, and that Owen send him as many animal skulls as possible. Plans to leave the house soon, and resume time on the speaking tour. Last page includes a note from Jason Brown.

GLC04463.05

19 April 1879

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander Milton Ross

One letter from John Brown Jr. to Alexander Milton Ross dated April 19, 1879. Discussing books on the population of the world, the emigration of African Americans and a paper he is writing.

GLC03007.56.05

27 January 1879

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander Milton Ross

One letter from John Brown Jr. to Alexander Milton Ross dated January 27 1879. Discussing a lecture on spiritualists and his brother's escape from Harper's Ferry.

GLC03007.56.06

24 April 1887

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Franklin B. Sanborn [Incomplete]

Shares some of his views on business and religion, details events relating to his family and discusses his future plans. Does not mind being poor, so long as he can get by. Hopes to take up new work soon. Sends Sanborn a number of letters from other family members. Because his eyesight is so bad, and he is so busy with other work, Brown writes this letter over the course of a number of days, always writing extremely early in the morning. Pages five through nine are missing. The last page is a postscript written in different ink, and also signed.

GLC05993

February 5, 1857

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to T. S. Whitney

Wishes to know if he will be put on trial in Kansas, since the time set for his treason trial is approaching, and he must return if a trial takes place. Conviction of another free state man, despite little evidence. Hears there is a warrant for him, and worries if he returns he may be unfairly convicted on new charges, so he may not come regardless. Promises that if there is a trial and he does not attend, he will send money to help Whitney.

GLC02228

February 26, 1891

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to F.B. Sanborn

Acknowledging that his father, John Brown, sometimes offered remarks from the audience at religious assemblies, but refuting accounts that his father ever preached. Also discusses his brothers Jason's attempt to sell Sanborn's biography of their father.

GLC08250

January 4, 1891

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to F.B. Sanborn

W.P. Garrison has defamed Brown family in "The Prelude of Harper's Ferry 11: John Brown, Guerrilla" by contradicting their claims: "Father early cherished a purpose to make war upon slavery by Force and arms...war as understood by us meant war."

GLC08295

5 April 1884

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to F. B. Sanborn

Transmittal letter returning proofs not included to John Brown's biographer, correcting events and names of participants at Pottawatomie Creek. He states that his brother, Frederick, "did not have a hand in the execution of those men, though thought it right and just they should be killed."

GLC08260

24 November 1856

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gerrit Smith

Written right after his release from arrest in Lindenbille, Ohio: "All of our Family have now returned from Kansas, except my brother Frederick who was shot in cold blood a few hours before the battle of Osawattomie. We have not however given over the contest with slavery. . ."

GLC08361

18 March 1878

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Thanks Ross for two photographs of his fathers last written words. Requests more copies of this photograph for other family members, and says many people request his father's autograph.

GLC03007.04

24 March 1878

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Encloses "one of the Commissions issued to my Father's men. I know of the existence of only two of them. These were brought back by my brother Owen," who wishes they be returned once Ross has made copies of them. One commission was signed by John Brown, the other "by Mr. Monroe as President of the Convention which was held in Chatham Canada, and is a Commission to Owen as 'Treasurer.'" GLC03007.55 is a photograph of the first of these commissions.

GLC03007.05

1878

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

States that he is enclosing a letter from John Brown, intended for the recipient's son. Recipient inferred from content.

GLC03007.06

1878

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross [Fragment]

Second page of a two page letter, first page missing. Thanks the recipient for sending him a copy of "The Lincoln Memorial Album." Says the recipient's contribution to the book "interested me greatly" and that "I had not before quite understood, and therefore had not duly appreciated Mr Lincoln." Has sent a photograph of himself and Owen, hopes the recipient plans to visit, and looks forward to conversations concerning "every department of scientific enquiry." Recipient inferred from content.

GLC03007.07

10 September 1882

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Wealthy C. Brown

Relates examination of a corpse believed to be one of his brothers, either Watson or Oliver, both of whom died at Harpers Ferry.

GLC06348.03

March 18, 1885

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Franklin B. Sanborn

Brown critiques Sanborn's book for having too many of John Brown's personal letters. He read part of Sanborn's manuscript for "The Life and Letters of John Brown" out loud to his brother Owen. They both worry readers may get bored of so many letters and personal details about John Brown, and also note these letters were intended only for his family.

GLC00929.02

16-19 August 1856

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jason Brown and others

Discusses the fighting between pro-slavey and anti-slavery activists in Kansas. Explains that "Events of the most stirring character are now passing within hearing distance...more than 200 shots have been fired within the past half hour, and within a mile of our Camp. Have just learned that some 80 of our free state men have 'pitched in' to a pro-slavery Camp this side of Lecompton." Provides a rich description of both current events and happenings over the past month, both their own actions and those of the pro-slavey men. Recounts the capture of "The notorious Col Titus who only a day…

GLC08906

19 June 1879

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander Milton Ross

Brown Jr. writes from Put-in-Bay Island located on South Bass Island (Lake Erie), Ohio. He mentions he will personally be traveling to Kansas and possibly Colorado to examine the land for the purpose of "settlement by Colored people of limited means; making the [inserted: results] of my observations known to the public through Newspapers friendly to their cause." Says he will be returning "by way of the Northern Pacific route from Bismark [sic] Dakota to St. Paul and Duluth," and plans on examining the land with the same purpose in mind. Sends a copy of his article "address before the…

GLC03007.56.11

1862/03/12

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Book signed

Title: Cavalry tactics: or Regulations for the instruction... of the cavalry

[Full title] "Cavalry Tactics: or regulations for the instruction, formations, and movements of the cavalry" by Philip St. George Cooke. Edition printed by Lippincott, 1862. Signed by Brown as member of Co. K., 1st Cavalry, 7th regiment Kansas Volunteers

GLC06724