Finding Aid for Bruce Vermazen Papers, Research Files and Music Instruments on Tom Brown, 1890-2020 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Kelli McQueen, Maia Perez, Vinny Bartholomew, Marc Beans, Tom Hardy, Ani Karagianis, Haley White

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Collection Overview

Title: Bruce Vermazen Papers, Research Files and Music Instruments on Tom Brown, 1890-2020

ID: 12/9/168

Primary Creator: Vermazen, Bruce

Other Creators: Brown, Tom (1881-1950)

Extent: 17.5 cubic feet

Date Acquired: 06/22/2020

Subjects: Minstrel Show, Vaudeville

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of Bruce Vermazen's research on Tom Brown, which includes Tom Brown's performance papers, scrapbooks, recorded music, and musical instruments and Bruce Vermazen's research notes, personal correspondence, and publishing information for the book That Moaning Saxophone. The collection is organized into two series. Series one concerns Tom Brown's music and papers, and series two centers around Bruce Vermazen's papers. Series one is organized into six subseries and arranged by content type. Subseries one consists of performance photographs, papers, and materials. Subseries two consists of scrabooks. Subseries three consists of sheet music. Subseries four consists of the Metronome Orchestra Monthly. Subseries five consists of audio recordings. Subseries six consists of seven music instruments. Subseries one is arranged chronologically, subseries two is arranged chronologically by earliest date, subseries three is arranged alphabetically, subseries four is arranged chronologically by date and issue, subseries five is arranged alphabetically by recording company, and subseries six is arranged by type of instrument. Series two is organized into three subseries. Subseries one is labeled research files, subseries two is labeled book project files, and subseries three is labeled personal papers. Subseries one is arranged alphabetically by content or creator, and subseries two and three are arranged chronologically by date of creation.

Collection Historical Note

Tom Brown (1881-1950) was born on March 27, 1881 in Ottawa, Ontario. As the second oldest child of seven children, Tom grew up in a musical household. Tom first learned cornet at the age of four from his father Allan, who was a cornettist and band leader in both Ottawa and Toronto. In 1890, Tom began performing the clarinet in the 45th Battery Band of Bowmanville Ontario, a Canadian military band that was led by his father. Tom spent a large portion of his childhood attending musical events at the Opera House in Lindsay, Ontario, it was here that he witnessed his first minstrel show. In 1897, Tom received his first professional appointment as a musician performing as a parade clarinetest for the Guy Brother's Minstrels during their brief stay in Lindsay. Unlike other professional minstrel shows and circus bands that traveled up to 150 miles by train to each new performance location, the Guy Brother's minstrels was a"mud show" that traveled from town to town with a horse and carriage. After spending two years with the Guy Brother's show, Tom joined the Ringling Brother's Circus Band during its 1899 concert tour. By 1903, Tom and his brother Percy began to perform as featured soloists with the Walter L. Main Enormous Show Circus Band. It was during this year that Tom briefly met his future wife, an actress by the name of Theresa Valerio. Midway through the tour, Tom and Percy left the circus because Tom was offered the opportunity to become the leader of the Guy Brothers Minstrels.

Tom led the Guy Brother's Minstrels on a 1904 vaudeville tour of the American Midwest. Sometime during this tour, he renamed the ensemble the Brown Brother's Band. In 1906, the Brown Brothers were added to the Ringling Brother's circus tour. By 1906, the Brown Brothers began appearing as comedy trio with George "Doc" Healy, who was formerly a blackface circus clown with Ringling Brothers. In 1909, Tom renamed the ensemble the Five Brown Brothers. This ensemble included Tom as featured soloist and four of his five brothers, Percy, Alec, Vern, and Fred performing as a saxophone quintet. Their first major appearance occurred with the Broadway Gaiety Girls company of New York.

By 1911, Tom's eldest brother William had joined the group and the ensemble was renamed the Six Brown Brothers. During this time, the brothers performed in clown costumes with Tom in blackface. The group's stage costumes reflected Tom's time with both the Guy Brothers Minstrels and the Ringling Brothers Circus. At various points when the group performed as a sextet, the ensemble also featured some non-family members, including Billy Markwith, Harry Fink, and Matthew Amaturo. During this year, the Six Brown Brothers also recorded their first phonograph recordings for the United States and Columbia Phonography companies. From 1912-1914, the group traveled with Primrose and Dockstader's Minstrels. From 1914-1923, the ensemble was hired to play as the pit orchestra for several Broadway shows. These shows included Chin Chin (1914-1917), Jack o Lantern (1917-1920), Midnight Frolic (1918-1919), Tip Top (1920-1923), and The Bunch and Judy (1923). Many of these shows starred Theresa Valerio, who married Tom Brown after they appeared together in Chin Chin.

After performing for nearly a decade on Broadway, Tom led the ensemble on road-tour called Black and White Revue of 1924. Following this failed tour, the Six Brown Brothers took their vaudeville show to Canada and Australia. The Six Brown Brothers disbanded in 1933, but Tom Brown continued performing as a soloist until 1944. After WWII, Tom moved to Chicago, Illinois where he opperated the Tom Brown Music Company, a publishing company and music store that sold musical instruments. Tom Brown died on August 29, 1950 in Chicago, Illinois.

Biographical Note

Bruce Vermazen was born in 1940. Vermazen earned his bachelors and masters degrees in Philosophy at the University of Chicago in 1961 and 1962, respectively. In 1967, he received a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Stanford University. Soon after, Vermazen became a Professor of Philosophy at the University of California Berkeley. In 1978, he became interested in ragtime and began performing cornet with the Chrysanthemum Ragtime Band. He later served as the band's music director and announcer. In the 1980s, Vermazen began publishing articles on historic ragtime musicians in the San Francisco area including: Jay Roberts, Art Hickman, and the Brown Brothers. In the 1990s, Vermazen began playing cornet with the San Francisco Starlight Orchestra. After retiring in 2000, he published That Moaning Saxophone: The Six Brown Brothers and the Dawning of a Musical Craze. During the early 2000s, Vermazen also became a member of the Hillcrest Wind Ensemble. In 2005, he and Bob Pinsker founded the Heliotrope Ragtime Orchestra, an esemble he still co-leads and performs with to this day. Vermazen currently lives in San Diego with his spouse Juan Miguel Godoy.

Subject/Index Terms

Minstrel Show
Vaudeville

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Tom Brown Music and Papers, ca. 1900-1954],
[Series 2: Bruce Vermazen Personal Papers and Research Files on Tom Brown],
[All]

Series 1: Tom Brown Music and Papers, ca. 1900-1954

Consists of Tom Brown's Music, Personal and Professional Papers, Music, Records, and Instruments. It is organized into six subseries. The first subseries is labeled performance papers, photographs, and materials, and consists of photographs, advertisements, records, correspondence, and performance materials.They are grouped together by performance, collaboration, or business activity, reflecting the donor's original order, and are then arranged chronologically. The second subseries is labeled Tom Brown scrapbooks and consists of scrapbooks, photographs and clippings; it is arranged chronologically by starting date. The third subseries is labeled sheet music and contains sheet music and albums of sheet music; it is arranged alphabetically by album or song title. The fourth subseries is named Metronome Orchestra Monthly and contains copies of the magazine of that title; it is arranged chronologically by issue date. The fifth subseries is labeled audio recordings and consists of records, tapes, cylinders, and CDs; it is arranged alphabetically by recording company. The sixth subseries is labeled music instruments and consists of saxophones, a cornet, a trombone, a mellophone, mouthpieces, and reed cases; it is arranged by type of instrument.

Sub-Series 1: Performance papers, photographs, and materials, 1896-1958

Consists of twenty six folders and seven items relating to Tom Brown's performance and business activities, including Advertisements, Bank and Business Records (Business Cards, Checks, Deposit Receipts, Employment Records, Payment Invoice, Performance Contracts), Booklets, Correspondences (Handwritten and Typed Letters, Letterhead, Memos and Notes), Cruise Information (Itinerary, Passenger Lists), Legal Documents (Birth Records, Certificate of Marriage, Passport, US Reentry Application), Magazines, Music Instrument Catalogs, Performance Materials (Hairpiece, Set Lists, Theater Programs), Photographs (Black and White, Negatives, Sepia, Plaques), Postcards, and Research Article; Of special note are signed photographs by Wallace Berry and others, the certificate of marriage between Tom Brown and Theresa Valerio, and a silk program. These materials are grouped together by performance, collaboration, or business activity, reflecting the donor's original order, and are then arranged chronologically. Box seventeen contains oversized materials.

Box 1

Folder 1: Primrose & Dockstader, 1896-1915: Consists of theater programs, black and white photographs of the Brown Brothers and the Primrose & Dockstader's Minstrel Band, postcards, correspondences, and newspaper clippings.
Folder 2: Warner Brothers Pictures, Magazines and Photographs, 1898-1939: Consists of black and white photographs, colored postcards, a booklet, employment records and correspondences for Fred Stone at Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc., and music related magazines. Of special note are two photographs to Tom Brown signed by Wallace Berry and others.
Folder 3: Ringling Brothers Circus, 1905 -1999: Consists of black and white photographs of the Circus and Al Sweet's Concert Band, correspondences, and item descriptions.
Folder 4: Jack O'Lantern, 1909-1920: Consists of theater programs, and a performance contract.
Folder 5: Other Musical Groups Before 1914, Fred Stone Show, 1910-1914: Consists of black and white photographs of Tom Brown, the Brown Brothers, and Bands, postcards, deposit reciepts, and theater programs.
Folder 6: Black & White Revue and Thirty-Piece Saxophone Band, 1911-2003: Contains article "JULIAN ELTINGE: A Most Remarkable Man;" period articles and advertisements regarding Eltinge and Tom Brown et al; period photographs of venues and exhibits and of Tom Brown and performers (sepia and black and white).
Folder 7: Guy Brothers Minstrels, c. 1912: Consists of advertisements, post cards, and black and white photographs.
Folder 8: Tom Brown & Theresa Valerio Records, 1912-1939: Consists of birth and baptismal records for Theresa Valerio, birth records for Tom Brown, and of special note, a certificate of marriage between Tom Brown and Theresa Valerio.
Folder 9: Doctor Waggener, 1912-1957: Consists of handwritten and typed correspondences to and from Doctor Waggener, photocopied telegrams, photocopied newspaper articles, and black and white photographs depicting Doctor Waggener and Tom Brown in professional staged photographs and band photographs.

Box 2

Folder 1: Brown Family Photographs, ca. 1913: Contains black and white and sepia photographs of Brown family members, originally received divided into envelopes with the individual's name.
Folder 2: Theresa Valerio, 1914-1917: Six large sepia photographs of Theresa Valerio; most are portraits, but one is a staged theater photograph, possibly an advertisement for the show Jack O'Lantern.
Folder 3: Chin-Chin, 1915-1917: Consists of theater programs, black and white Photo clippings of Tom Brown, postcards, and black and white photographs of the Brown Brothers on tour.
Folder 4: Will Rossiter, The Chicago Publisher, 1915-1944: Consists of check and contract documentation for recordings by Tom Brown and others.
Folder 5: Billy (Wilbur) Marhwith, 1918-1992: Consists of envelope, negatives, and black and white and sepia photographs of Tom Brown and his ensemble.
Folder 6: Tip Top, 1921-1922: Consists of theater programs, correspondence, payment einvoice, black and white photographs depicting Tom Brown and the Brown Brothers on tour, and contracts.
Folder 7: Tom Brown Music Company, 1922: Contains business cards, sepia photos, advertisements, music and instrument catalogs, letterhead, and several issues of Tom Brown Topics: a Musical Digest.
Folder 8: S.S. Buford Voyage, July-August 1923: Consists of cruise itinerary, passenger lists, black and white photographs depicting the cruise. Of special note are photographs with handwritten annotations on the back.
Folder 9: Australia Tour 1924-25, 1924-1925: Contains Tom Brown's passport; handwritten and typed memos and notes; photographs of people and methods of transportation (black and white); large photo portrait of Tom Brown (black and white); US reentry applications; advertising materials from the Australian tour; articles; postcard program; and a performance contract.
Folder 10: Merry Minstrel Orch. Lucky 'Leven Orch. Augmented Orch., 1927-2016: Two letters from Annette Parenteau, including printed text and photographs; advertisements; engagement schedule for "Tom Brown and Band."
Folder 11: Tom Brown after the Augmented Orch., 1929-1947: Contains programs, newspaper articles, black and white and color photographs, set lists, advertisements, contracts, bank documents, and postcards.

Box 11

Item 1: Tom Brown Hairpiece: A brown hairpiece.
Item 2: Treasurers Club of America Silk Program, 1920: An extremely tattered and fragile silk program for the Treasurers Club of America.

Box 18

Folder 1: Guy Brothers Minstrels, c. 1900
Folder 2: Tip Top, 1922: Consists of fragile programs for Tip Top performances.
Folder 3: Harry Fink, 1924
Folder 4: Merry Minstrel Orchestra, 1938

Box 19

Item 1: Jack O'Lantern, 1918-1919: Consists of a photograph plaque of the Brown Brothers at Colonial Boston during their performance season for Jack O'Lantern.
Item 2: Tip Top, 1921-1922: Consists of a photograph plaque of the Brown Brothers during their performance season for Tip Top.

Box 20

Item 5: Tom Brown Music Company Band and Orchestra Pin: A small metal pin with a painted performer playing the Saxophone with the words "Tom Brown Band and Orchestra School" around it. Accession Number 2020.1209168.12
Item 6: B.A.A Colonial Theatre Invitation Medal (Mr. Charles H. Jennings), 1922: A medal with a lightly faded paper inlay inviting Mr. Charles H. Jennings to come see Fred Stone and the Company of Tip Top playing at the Colonial Theatre, also has American flag bow. Accession Number 2020.1209168.13
Item 7: B.A.A Colonial Theatre Invitation Medal (Mrs. Charles H. Jennings), 1922: A medal with a lightly faded paper inlay inviting Mrs. Charles H. Jennings to come see Fred Stone and the Company of Tip Top playing at the Colonial Theatre, also has faded American flag bow. Accession Number 2020.1209168.14

Sub-Series 2: Tom Brown Scrapbooks and Clippings, 1900-1945

Consists of two scrapbooks, a set of black and white photographs and clippings attached to paper documenting the history of the Six Brown Brothers ensemble and Tom Brown, and other newspaper clippings. They are ordered chronologically based on the earliest documented date of each folder. These focus on work and performances with Theresa Valerio as well as Fred Stone and his ensemble, professional and pre-professional performances in the lives of the Brown Brothers, and captured personal moments from childhood to adulthood.

Box 1

Folder 10: Comic Strips & Advertisements, c. 1951-1958: Consists of newspaper clippings of comic strips that mention the Brown Brothers, their music, the Brown family, or Tom Brown's products.

Box 3

Folder 1: Photographs and Clippings, ca. 1900: Consists of black and white photographs and newspaper clippings documenting the personal and professional life of Tom Brown, as well as the music performances of Tom Brown and the Six Brown Brothers ensemble.
Folder 2: Scrapbook, 1914-1924: Consist of black and white photographs and newspaper clippings documenting the performances of the Brown Brothers music ensemble and the personal and professional career of Tom Brown and his wife, Theresa Valerio, who serves as both assistant and performer. Of particular note are photographs of Fred Stone and his music ensemble.

Box 4

Folder 1: Scrapbook, 1919-1945: Consists of black and white photographs, newspapper clippings, and comic strips documenting the performance history of Tom Brown and the Six Brown Brothers ensemble. Of particular note are clippings documenting performance history prior to becoming professionals.

Box 18

Folder 5: Comic Strips and Advertisments, 1918-1924
Folder 6: Photographs and Comic Strip, 1924: Consists of black and white photographs and comic strips documenting the playing of music instruments by the Brown Brothers since childhood.
Folder 7: Newspaper Clippings and Photographs, 1924: Consists of newspaper clippings and photographs documenting the performance known as the Black and White Review of 1924 by the Brown Brothers ensemble. Of particular note are two large photographs of Tom Brown and the ensemble respectively.

Sub-Series 3: Sheet Music, 1896-1937

Consists of five folders of sheet music and albums of sheet music. Of special note is Tom Brown's Saxophone Waltz and the copy of "Dear Heart," which is autographed by Theresa Valerio. Arranged alphabetically by album or song title.

Box 5

Folder 1: Album of Celebrated Folk Songs and Patriotic Airs - Dear Heart of You I'm Dreaming, 1900-1919: Consists of Album of Celebrated Folk Songs and Patriotic Airs; Album of the Latest Popular Songs; Call of a Nation; Chicken Walk; Chin-Chin; Clownland; and Dear Heart of You I'm Dreaming. Of special note is the music for "Dear Heart," which is autographed by Theresa Valerio.
Folder 2: Do You Care - Haverly's Mastodon Minstrels' Song Album, 1898-1916: Consists of Do You Care; Gorton's Minstrels' Musical Album; Gus Hill's and George Evans Honey Boy Minstrels; Guy Brothers Minstrels' Song Book of Song "Hits;" and Haverly's Mastodon Minstrels' Song Album.
Folder 3: I'm Going Back to Dixie Land - Primrose & West's Musical Album, 1894-1937: Consists of I'm Going Back to Dixie Land; Liebestraum; Like a Dream; Madeline (Be Mine); Mahara's Minstrels Songster; Mathews & Bulger at Gay Coney Island; My Lad; and Primrose & West's Musical Album.
Folder 4: Some of These Days - Tom Brown's Saxophone Waltz, 1910-1918: Consists of Some of These Days; Son Set Rag; "Tick Tock;" That Moaning Saxophone Rag; The Bull-Frog Blues; and Tom Brown's Saxophone Waltz.
Folder 5: "Up-to-Date" Songster - William H. West's Big Minstrel Jubilee, 1896-1923: Consists of "Up-to-Date" Songster; Walkin' the Dog; Ward and Vokes Song Book; "We Two"; When You Went Away; Who Do You Love; and William H. West's Big Minstrel Jubilee.

Sub-Series 4: Metronome Orchestra Monthly, 1914-1920

Consists of nine folders containing ten copies of the Metronome Orchestra Monthly ranging from August 1914 to May 1920. Special Note for the second copy of April 1915 that has pencil marking on it. Arranged chronologically by issue.

Box 5

Folder 6: The Metronome Orchestra Monthly Volume 30 Number 8, August 1914
Folder 7: The Metronome Orchestra Monthly Volume 30 Number 10, October 1914
Folder 8: The Metronome Orchestra Monthly Volume 31 Number 4, April 1915
Folder 9: The Metronome Orchestra Monthly Volume 34 Number 6, June 1918
Folder 10: The Metronome Orchestra Monthly Volume 34 Number 7, July 1918
Folder 11: The Metronome Orchestra Monthly Volume 34 Number 10, October 1918
Folder 12: The Metronome Orchestra Monthly Volume 34 Number 12, December 1918
Folder 13: The Metronome Orchestra Monthly Volume 35 Number Number 1, January 1919
Folder 14: The Metronome Orchestra Monthly Volume 36 Number 5, May 1920

Sub-Series 5: Audio Recordings, undated

Consists of eighty-four ten inch records from Columbia Phonograph Company, Emerson Phonograph Company, Okeh Phonograph Corporation, United Talking Machine Company, and Victor Talking Machine Company. Most notable is a custom pressing of That Moaning Saxophone Rag, from Victor Talking Machine Company, and a test pressing of Forever, from Okeh Phonograph Corporation. When there are duplicates the records are in varying conditions. Also consists of eight tapes, eight cylinders, and four CDs. Most tapes are of interviews, and the cylinders are from Lakeside Record Company and U.S. Everlasting Record Company.

Box 6

Disc 1: Columbia Phonograph Company: American Patrol, 19434, and The Bull Frog and The Coon, 19436, undated
Disc 2: Columbia Phonograph Company: American Patrol, 19434, and The Bull Frog and The Coon, 19436, undated
Disc 3: Columbia Phonograph Company: The Bull Frog and The Coon, 19789, and American Patrol, 19790, American Saxophone Band, undated
Disc 4: Columbia Phonograph Company: The Bull Frog and The Coon, 19789, and American Patrol, 19790, American Saxophone Band, undated
Disc 5: Columbia Phonograph Company: The Sunshine of Your Smile, 46985, and Somewhere a Voice is Calling, 46985, undated
Disc 6: Columbia Phonograph Company: Kiss Me Again, 46992, and Love Here is my Heart, 46996, undated
Disc 7: Columbia Phonograph Company: Kiss Me Again, 46992, and Love Here is my Heart, 46996, undated
Disc 8: Emerson Phonograph Company: The Concourse March, 44392D, and Let Me Dream, 457913, undated
Disc 9: Emerson Phonograph Company: The Concourse March, 44393M, and Let Me Dream, 457913, undated
Disc 10: Emerson Phonograph Company: Lazy Jazz Waltz, 41107-1, and Alexandria, 41109-1, undated
Disc 11: Emerson Phonograph Company: Lazy Jazz Waltz, 41107-1, and Alexandria, 41109-1, undated
Disc 12: Emerson Phonograph Company: Lazy Jazz Waltz, 41107-1, and Alexandria, 41109-1, undated
Disc 13: Emerson Phonograph Company: Jazz Band Blues, 41106-2, and Rainbow of My Dreams, 41108-2, undated
Disc 14: Emerson Phonograph Company: 12th Street Rag, 4688-4, and Fatima, 41105-3, undated
Disc 15: Emerson Phonograph Company: 12th Street Rag, 4688-4, and Fatima, 41105-3, undated
Disc 16: Emerson Phonograph Company: Carolina Sunshine, 4438-2, and Peter Gink, 4440-1, undated
Disc 17: Emerson Phonograph Company: Carolina Sunshine, 4438-1, and Peter Gink, 4440-2, undated
Disc 18: Emerson Phonograph Company: Carolina Sunshine, 4438-2, and Peter Gink, 4440-1, undated
Disc 19: Emerson Phonograph Company: Carolina Sunshine, 4438-2, and Peter Gink, 4440-2, undated
Disc 20: Emerson Phonograph Company: I'll Say She Does, 4437-1, and Missouri Blues, 4441-1, undated
Disc 21: Emerson Phonograph Company: I'll Say She Does, 4437-1, and Missouri Blues, 4441-1, undated
Disc 22: Emerson Phonograph Company: I'll Say She Does, 4437-2, and Missouri Blues, 4441-1, undated
Disc 23: Emerson Phonograph Company: I'll Say She Does, 4437-1, and Missouri Blues, 4441-2, undated
Disc 24: Okeh Phonograph Corporation: Forever, S-73-771-B, Test Pressing, undated
Disc 25: Okeh Phonograph Corporation: Its The Blues and Forever and Ever With You, 40514, undated
Disc 26: United Talking Machince Company: American Patrol, 19434, and The Bull Frog and The Coon, 19436, undated
Disc 27: United Talking Machince Company: American Patrol, 19434, and The Bull Frog and The Coon, 19436, undated
Disc 28: Victor Talking Machine Company: The Original Foxtrot and That Moaning Saxophone Rag, 17677, undated
Disc 29: Victor Talking Machine Company: The Original Foxtrot and That Moaning Saxophone Rag, 17677, undated
Disc 30: Victor Talking Machine Company: Chicken Reel Comedy Medley and I Wonder What Willia Tell One-Step, 17799, undated
Disc 31: Victor Talking Machine Company: Chicken Reel Comedy Medley and I Wonder What William Tell One-Step, 17799, undated
Disc 32: Victor Talking Machine Company: La Paloma and Independents - Medley March, 17822, undated
Disc 33: Victor Talking Machine Company: La Paloma and Independents - Medley March, 17822, undated
Disc 34: Victor Talking Machine Company: La Paloma and Independents - Medley March, 17822, undated
Disc 35: Victor Talking Machine Company: La Paloma and Independents - Medley March, 17822, undated
Disc 36: Victor Talking Machine Company: Down Home Rag and Dance of the Bugs - March, 17834, undated
Disc 37: Victor Talking Machine Company: Down Home Rag and Dance of the Bugs - March, 17834, undated
Disc 38: Victor Talking Machine Company: Pussyfoot March and Bull Frog Blues, 18097, undated
Disc 39: Victor Talking Machine Company: Pussyfoot March and Bull Frog Blues, 18097, undated
Disc 40: Victor Talking Machine Company: Pussyfoot March and Bull Frog Blues, 18097, undated
Disc 41: Victor Talking Machine Company: Pussyfoot March and Bull Frog Blues, 18097, undated

Box 7

Disc 42: Victor Talking Machine Company: Pussyfoot March and Bull Frog Blues, 18097, undated
Disc 43: Victor Talking Machine Company: Saxophone Sobs - Fox trot and Walkin' the Dog - Fox trot, 18140, undated
Disc 44: Victor Talking Machine Company: Saxophone Sobs - Fox trot and Walkin' the Dog - Fox trot, 18140, undated
Disc 45: Victor Talking Machine Company: Chin Chin - Medley fox trot and Laverne - Waltz Caprice, 18149, undated
Disc 46: Victor Talking Machine Company: Chin Chin - Medley fox trot and Laverne - Waltz Caprice, 18149, undated
Disc 47: Victor Talking Machine Company: Chin Chin - Medley fox trot and Laverne - Waltz Caprice, 18149, undated
Disc 48: Victor Talking Machine Company: Chicken Walk - Eccentric Fox trot and San Francisco Souvenir March, 18189, undated
Disc 49: Victor Talking Machine Company: Chicken Walk - Eccentric Fox trot and San Francisco Souvenir March, 18189, undated
Disc 50: Victor Talking Machine Company: Chicken Walk - Eccentric Fox trot and San Francisco Souvenir March, 18189, undated
Disc 51: Victor Talking Machine Company: Chicken Walk - Eccentric Fox trot and San Francisco Souvenir March, 18189, undated
Disc 52: Victor Talking Machine Company: Chicken Walk - Eccentric Fox trot and San Francisco Souvenir March, 18189, undated
Disc 53: Victor Talking Machine Company: Chicken Walk - Eccentric Fox trot and San Francisco Souvenir March, 18189, undated
Disc 54: Victor Talking Machine Company: Rigoletto Quartet and Passion Dance, 18217, undated
Disc 55: Victor Talking Machine Company: Rigoletto Quartet and Passion Dance, 18217, undated
Disc 56: Victor Talking Machine Company: Rigoletto Quartet and Passion Dance, 18217, undated
Disc 57: Victor Talking Machine Company: Rigoletto Quartet and Passion Dance, 18217, undated
Disc 58: Victor Talking Machine Company: Rigoletto Quartet and Passion Dance, 18217, undated

Box 8

Disc 59: Victor Talking Machine Company: Ghost of the Saxophone- fox trot and Saxophone Sam- fox trot, 18309, undated
Disc 60: Victor Talking Machine Company: For Me and My Gal and My Fox Trot Girl, 18310, undated
Disc 61: Victor Talking Machine Company: Strutters' Ball- Fox trot and Razzberries- One step, 18376, undated
Disc 62: Victor Talking Machine Company: Strutters' Ball- Fox trot and Razzberries- One step, 18376, undated
Disc 63: Victor Talking Machine Company: Smiles and Chuckles and Comedy Tom, 18385, undated
Disc 64: Victor Talking Machine Company: Smiles and Chuckles and Comedy Tom, 18385, undated
Disc 65: Victor Talking Machine Company: Smiles and Chuckles and Comedy Tom, 18385, undated
Disc 66: Victor Talking Machine Company: Smiles and Chuckles and Comedy Tom, 18385, undated
Disc 67: Victor Talking Machine Company: Smiles and Chuckles and Comedy Tom, 18385, undated
Disc 68: Victor Talking Machine Company: Smiles and Chuckles and Comedy Tom, 18385, undated
Disc 69: Victor Talking Machine Company: Smiles and Chuckles and Comedy Tom, 18385, undated
Disc 70: Victor Talking Machine Company: When Aunt Dinah's Daughter Hannah Bangs on the Piano and Chasing the Chickens- fox trot, 18476, undated
Disc 71: Victor Talking Machine Company: When Aunt Dinah's Daughter Hannah Bangs on the Piano and Chasing the Chickens- fox trot, 18476, undated
Disc 72: Victor Talking Machine Company, Peter Gink and Egyptland, 18562, undated
Disc 73: Victor Talking Machine Company, Peter Gink and Egyptland, 18562, undated
Disc 74: Victor Talking Machine Company, Peter Gink and Egyptland, 18562, undated
Disc 75: Victor Talking Machine Company, Peter Gink and Egyptland, 18562, undated
Disc 76: Victor Talking Machine Company, Peter Gink and Egyptland, 18562, undated
Disc 77: Victor Talking Machine Company, Peter Gink and Egyptland, 18562, undated
Disc 78: Victor Talking Machine Company: Tip Top - Medley Fox Trot and If A Wish Could Make It So, 18714, undated
Disc 79: Victor Talking Machine Company: Tip Top - Medley Fox Trot and If A Wish Could Make It So, 18714, undated
Disc 80: Victor Talking Machine Company: Tip Top - Medley Fox Trot and If A Wish Could Make It So, 18714, undated
Disc 81: Victor Talking Machine Company: Tip Top - Medley Fox Trot and If A Wish Could Make It So, 18714, undated
Disc 82: Victor Talking Machine Company: Tip Top - Medley Fox Trot and If A Wish Could Make It So, 18714, undated
Disc 83: Victor Talking Machine Company: Balandis and Venecijos Karnavalas, 72326, undated
Disc 84: Victor Talking Machine Company: That Moaning Saxophone Rag, 17677-B, Custom Pressing, undated

Box 9

Disc 98: Lakeside Record Company: American Patrol, 4M 1321, undated
Disc 99: Lakeside Record Company: Bull Frog & Coon, 2M-408, undated
Disc 100: Lakeside Record Company: Independentia and Bill Board, 27-2M 409, undated
Disc 101: Lakeside Record Company: Independentia and Bill Board, 28-2M 409, undated
Disc 102: Lakeside Record Company: The Bull Frog & The Coon, 2M 408, undated
Disc 103: Lakeside Record Company, Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, 2M 407, undated
Disc 104: U.S. Everlasting Record Company: American Patrol, 18-4M 1321, undated
Disc 105: U.S. Everlasting Record Company: Independentia & Etc., 4M 1321

Box 10

Disc 85: Art Hickman's Orchestra: The San Francisco Sound , 2004
Disc 86: Cecil Leerson interviews with Sams and Waggener, undated
Disc 87: Excerpts from Leeson/Sams/Waggener interviews, undated
Disc 88: "Ghosts of the Saxophone": Dan Levinson's Trans-Atlantic Saxette Invokes The Six Brown Brothers, 2009
Disc 89: Interview: Tom Brown Jr. 8/26/99, August 26, 1999
Disc 90: Interview: Sept. 24, 1999, September 24, 1999
Disc 91: Interview with Allan Brown & Myrtle Hendrickson, undated
Disc 92: Interview with C.L. Brown, August 18, 1970: Contains interview (A) and recordings (B).
Disc 93: Six Brown Brothers: Broadway's Favorite Clowns, 2010
Disc 94: Six Brown Brothers: Those Moaning Saxophones, 2004
Disc 95: That Moaning Saxophone Launch Party 5/27/04, May 27, 2004
Disc 96: Opens with Forever, played by Merry Minstrel Orchestra, undated

Sub-Series 6: Music Instruments, ca. 1900-1930

Consists of seven music instruments: a cornet, a trombone, three alto saxophones, a tenor saxophone, and a mellophone. Also contains mouthpieces and reed cases. Conditions of each instrument varies from poor to good. Most notably are the three alto saxophones, especially the Couesnon from the Paris Universal Exposition. Restoration work has been done on the Couesnon alto saxophone, and the tenor saxophone, and one of the alto saxophones.

Item 1: Tom Brown Music Company Midwest Special Cornet, undated

Made in Chicago. Nickel plated brass. Contains two third valve slides. Condition: good. Serial Number P49784. Accession Number 2020.1209168.01.

Item 2: Tom Brown Professional Tenor Trombone, undated

Made in Cleveland, OH. Nickel plated brass. Contains a mouth piece. Condition: Fair. Original case in poor condition. Serial Number 8574. Accession Number 2020.1209168.02.

Item 3: Couesnon & Cie, Paris Universal Exposition Alto Saxophone, 1900

Made in Paris. Nickel plated brass. New Leather pads and corks. Condition: Good. Case in poor condition. Serial Number 48878. Accession Number 2020.1209168.03.

Item 4: Tom Brown Professional Alto Saxophone, ca. 1930

Made in Cleveland, OH. Made of Nickel with a rose brass bell. Leather pads and corks are new. Restoration work is unidentified. Condition: Good. The case is not the original to the instrument, also has modern reeds and neck strap. Serial Number B521. Accession Number 2020.1209168.04

Item 5: Tom Brown Professional Alto Saxophone, undated

Made in Cleveland, Ohio. Lacquered yellow brass. Condition: Poor. Case not original to instrument. Serial Number B426. Accession Number 2020.1209168.05.

Item 6: Tom Brown Professional Tenor Saxophone, undated

Made in Cleveland, Ohio. Silver lacquer, gold bell. Leather pads and corks are new. Condition: good. Case in poor condition. Serial Number B766. Accession Number 2020.1209168.006.

Item 7: Tom Brown Music Company Midwest Special Mellophone, undated

Made in Chicago. Silver lacquer, gold inner bell. Piston valves. Condition: Fair. No case. Serial Number P57102. Accession Number 2020.1209168.07

Box 20

Item 1: Tom Brown Special Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece: Wooden Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece with Tom Brown Special engraved on it. Accession Number 2020.1209168.08
Item 2: Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece: Wooden Mouthpiece with brass ligature. Accession Number 2020.1209168.09
Item 3: Tom Brown Hand Made Tenor Reed Case: Fabric covered Tenor Saxophone reed case with Tom Brown Hand Made printing. Accession Number 2020.1209168.10
Item 4: Tom Brown Hand Made Alto Reed Case: Cloth covered Alto Saxophone reed case with Tom Brown Hand Made printing. Accession Number 2020.1209168.11

Series 2: Bruce Vermazen Personal Papers and Research Files on Tom Brown

Consists of Bruce Vermazen's research files, book project files, and personal papers. It is organized into three subseries. The first subseries is labeled research files and consists of notes, clippings, articles, and images used for researching That Moaning Saxophone. It is arranged alphabetically by content or creator. The second subseries is labeled book project files and consists of notes, correspondence, and publishing information for That Moaning Saxophone. It is arranged chronologically by date of creation. The third subseries is labeled personal papers and consists of articles and correspondence not related to the book. It is arranged chronologically by date of creation.

Sub-Series 1: Research Files

Consists of notes, articles, clippings, correspondence, and images used for research to write That Moaning Saxophone. It is arranged alphabetically by content or creator.

Box 12

Folder 1: Alaska Trip, 1923
Folder 2: All-American Vaudeville, 1914-1998
Folder 3: The American Circus, 1984
Folder 4: Articles, Correspondences, and Clippings about Instruments and Jazz, 1920-1998
Folder 5: Australia, 1925
Folder 6: Australia and 30 Piece Band, 1924-1929
Folder 7: Band Masters with Circus and Seasons, 1841-1958
Folder 8: Bean, Annemarie, James V. Hatch, and Brooks McNamara "Inside the Minstrel Mask," 1996
Folder 9: Billboard Notes, Summers of 1920-1921, 1920-1921
Folder 10: Billy Rose Theater Collection Visit, 1998
Folder 11: Black and White Revue of 1924, 1923-1924
Folder 12: Brown, Alec, 1882-1978
Folder 13: Brown, Allan, 1858-1947
Folder 14: Brown Family Documents, 1998-2007
Folder 15: Brown, Theresa, 1888-1964
Folder 16: Brown, Theresa Letters, 1918-1921
Folder 17: Brown, Tom Articles in "Stage Tales on and Off," 1923
Folder 18: Bunch and Judy, 1922
Folder 19: Burlesque, Four Cates, Spillers Article and Notes, 1906-1919
Folder 20: Caldwell Correspondence, 2004
Folder 21: CD Info "The Almost Complete Six Brown Brothers," Undated
Folder 22: Chapter 10 Notes, Undated
Folder 23: Chicago- Brown Addresses, 1998
Folder 24: Chin-Chin and Fred Stone Notes, 1915
Folder 25: Chin-Chin Performance Clippings and Notes, 1914-1918
Folder 26: Circus Notes and Articles, 1926-1999
Folder 27: Circus World Museum Research, 1891-1999
Folder 28: Collection of Correspondences and Clippings about Performances, 1993-2000
Folder 29: Correspondences about Brown Brothers Music, 2000-2004
Folder 30: Correspondences about Brown Brothers Music and Recordings, 1994-1997
Folder 31: Correspondences about Chin-Chin and Clippings, 1993
Folder 32: Correspondence with Stuart Lloyd, 1992

Box 13

Folder 1: Darkest America Program, 1896
Folder 2: Death Certificates, 1915-1950
Folder 3: Dillingham Papers, 2003
Folder 4: Discography (Brown Brothers) 1914-1925
Folder 5: Don Bestor's Orchestra, 1925-1926
Folder 6: Dormon "Coon Song," 1988
Folder 7: Dumont, Frank (Witmark Minstrel Guide,) 1899
Folder 8: Early Vaudeville Career, 1904-1911
Folder 9: Eltinge, 2003
Folder 10: Finsbury Park Photos, 1914
Folder 11: Fink, Harry Correspondence, 2006
Folder 12: Four Bards, 1902-1911
Folder 13: Gelatt, Roland (Fabulous Phonograph,) 1977
Folder 14: Gilbert, Douglas (American Vaudeville,) 1940
Folder 15: Gravestone Information, 1949
Folder 16: Guy Brothers' Minstrels, 1895-1899
Folder 17: Haverly, Jace (Negro Minstrels,) 1902
Folder 18: Information about True-Tone and U.S. Census, 1914-1930
Folder 19: Information on Brown Brothers, Music, and Performances, 1921-2003
Folder 20: Interviews Used for Research, 1970-1999
Folder 21: Itineraries, 1927-1929
Folder 22: Jack o'Lantern, 1917-1920
Folder 23: LaBelle, Bob Correspondence, 2001
Folder 24: Lefebre, E.A., 2000
Folder 25: Lindsay, Ontario Information, 1923-1999
Folder 26: Lopez, Vincent Article, 1924
Folder 27: Markwith, Billy, 1884-1967
Folder 28: Merry Minstrel Orchestra and Aug. Orchestra, 1924-1926
Folder 29: Miller, Mark Correspondence, 1994-1998
Folder 30: Minstrel Notes, 1896-1998
Folder 31: Montgomery and Stone, 1898

Box 14

Folder 1: NBC Minstrels, 1937-1938
Folder 2: Newspaper Clippings and Notes about Tom and the Brown Brothers, 1924-1930
Folder 3: New York Clipper, 1890-1895
Folder 4: New York Clipper, 1890-1897
Folder 5: Notes, Correspondence, and Other Research on the Six Brown Brothers, 1904-2002
Folder 6: Notes on Tom Brown Scrapbooks, 1917-1949
Folder 7: Notes about Tom Jr., 1998
Folder 8: Paskman and Spaeth (Gentlemen, Be Seated), 1928
Folder 9: Photographs for That Moaning Saxophone, 2002
Folder 10: Primrose and Dockstader, 1910-1924
Folder 11: Quilt Key, 2002
Folder 12: Quilt (Photos and Book), 2001
Folder 13: Radio Call Letters, 1927
Folder 14: Research Correspondences, Photographs, and Other Materials, 1894-1999
Folder 15: Research Directions (Follow Up), Undated
Folder 16: Rice, Edw. Leroy (Monarchs of Minstrelsy), 1911
Folder 17: Ringling Bros Circus Information, 1901-1988
Folder 18: Rolling Stone (Notes on Fred Stone), 1945
Folder 19: Rossiter "Chicken Walk" Notes, 1915

Box 15

Folder 1: Sampson, Henry T (Blacks in Blackface), 1980
Folder 2: Sax Soprano (Notes and Transcripts), 1949-1970
Folder 3: Shrine to Music (Notes and Correspondence with Margaret Banks, Ernest Kalwa), 2000
Folder 4: Six Brown Brothers Volume 2 (Discography), 2008
Folder 5: State Lake Building and Theatre, 1919
Folder 6: Stein, Charles W. (American Vaudeville), 1984
Folder 7: Straytner, Barbara (Ned Wayburn and the Dance Routine), 1996
Folder 8: Tip Top, 1920-1921
Folder 9: Toll, Robert (Blacking Up), 1974
Folder 10: Tom Brown Music Company, 1927-2001
Folder 11: "Variety" Search, 1913-1931
Folder 12: Vermazen, Bruce (Articles about the Brown Brothers), 1992-1998
Folder 13: Victor Records Documents, 1914-1919
Folder 14: Vitaphone Project, 1929-1998
Folder 15: Walter L. Main Show Papers, 1903
Folder 16: Wehman's Minstrel Sketches, 1890

Sub-Series 2: Book Project Files

Consists of notes, correspondence, and publishing information concerning the writing of That Moaning Saxophone. It is arranged chronologically by date of creation.

Box 16

Folder 1: Chuck Sendock Correspondence, 2001
Folder 2: Library of Congress Correspondence and Photoduplication Request, 2001
Folder 3: Earlier Versions of Chapters from That Moaning Saxophone, 2001
Folder 4: Correspondence about That Moaning Saxophone, 2001-2002
Folder 6: Book Permissions, 2002-2003
Folder 7: Book CD, 2002-2003
Folder 8: Correspondence with Brian Rust, 2002-2004
Folder 9: That Moaning Saxophone (Master Copy), 2004
Folder 10: Paperback Edition Changes, 2007
Folder 11: That Moaning Saxophone Handwritten Notes, Undated

Sub-Series 3: Personal Papers

Consists of articles written by Bruce Vermazen and personal correspondennce not related to the research or publishing of That Moaning Saxophone. It is arranged chronologically by date of creation.

Box 17

Folder 1: Vermazen Articles, 1968-2020
Folder 2: Vermazen Articles, 1980-2013
Folder 3: Vermazen Correspondence and Notebooks, 1989-1993
Folder 4: Vermazen Correspondence, 1999-2008
Folder 5: That Moaning Saxophone Release Letter, 2001

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