Frances Brown Botanicals Collection
Content Description
The collections consists of one box of hand-painted California botanicals in hand-bound books. Each book is based off of the b=flower family, and the cover is labeled in Latin. The first page provides information on the flower families and many of the images have notes about where you can find each plant and the months they are in season. Inside one folder is a 1938 California wildflower survey, detailing what flowers bloom in what cities, and a 1938 forestry survey about California wildfires. Another folder contains hand written notes and copies of newspaper clippings about local botanists and wildlife. Gardening brocures are included.
Dates
- Majority of material found within 1938 - 1955
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research without restriction.
Conditions Governing Use
No restrictions.
Biographical / Historical
Frances Brown was born in Oroville, California in 1874. She remained local and resided in Durham, California with her husband, Enos Brown, and their three children. Brown was an involved community member. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Chico, the Paradise Art Club, and the Womens Club of Durham. She spent much of her time creating the botanical art collection of the Butte County wildflowers. Brown held exhibts at the First Christian Church of Chico and at the Silver Dollar Fair Grounds in Chico, California. Her husband Eno drove Frances around Northern Califonia to paint the botanicals on site. In 1956, at 81, Frances Brown passed from a heart condition she suffered with for years. She was survived by her husband, three children, four grandchildren, five gread-grandchildren, and two brothers.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8477561/frances-isabell-brown
Extent
1.08 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The collections contains thrity-one hand-bound botanical watercolors, newspaper clippings, forestry survey, California wildflower survey, lose paper of painted botanicals, brochures, and hand written notes.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated by Janet L. Brinson in 2020. Accession number 2020-002.
Separated Materials
Four refrences books were included in collection that provide information on the California botanicals. These books were seperated from the collection.
Jepson, W. L. (1923). A Manual of the Flowering Plants of California.
The Garden Encyclopedia. (1936). WM. H. Wise & Co. Written by a group of horticultural experts and edited by E.L.D Seymour, B.S.A.
The New Garden Encyclopedia. (1946) WM. H. Wise & Co. Written by a group of horticultural experts and edited by E.L.D Seymour, B.S.A.
Gray, A. (1887). Gray’s School and Field Book of Botany (2nd ed.). Ivison, Blackman, and Company.
Condition Description
Good
- Title
- Guide to the Frances Brown Botanical Collection
- Author
- Devan Garofalo
- Date
- 2024
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the California State University, Chico, Special Collections, Meriam Library Repository
California State University Chico
400 West First Street
Chico CA 95929-0295 USA US
SpecialCollections@csuchico.edu