Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1912-1946 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1.43 m of textual records
503 photographs
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Robert Arthur Brown, 1886-1948, was born in Point Levis, Quebec. He began his electrical career in 1901 with Westinghouse Electric Company in Pennsylvania, USA. He moved to Calgary in 1906 as superintendent of the North West Electric Company. In 1907 he married Christina McLaughlin, and they had four children, Ronald M., Neil, Lois (Mostyn-Brown), ?-1987, and Robert Arthur, Jr., 1914-1972. He spent from 1907 to 1911 in Nelson, British Columbia as the city's electrical superintendent. He returned to Calgary in 1911 and was appointed superintendent of the city's Electric Light Department. In 1921 he was also appointed manager of the Calgary Street Railway Department.
Brown retired from both positions in 1937. In 1936 he began his involvement in the oil industry. His company, Turner Valley Royalties, made the first crude oil strike at Turner Valley, Alberta on June 16, 1936. He became president of Brown, Moyer and Brown Ltd., Federal Petroleum Ltd., Coastal Oils Ltd., and associated companies. Under his leadership, 23 crude oil wells were drilled in the field. On his death his son, Robert Arthur Brown, Jr., took over the family oil interests. R. A. Brown Sr was inducted into the Canadian Petroleum Hall of Fame in 2014.
For further information see "Robert 'Streetcar' Brown Sr. and Robert 'Bobby' Brown Jr" in Scoundrels and Scallywags : Characters from Alberta's Past / Brian Brennan. -- Calgary : Fifth House, 2002, p. 94-100.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Gift of Mrs. W.A. Mostyn-Brown, 1974, and Brett Sine, 2003..
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The fonds consists of scrapbooks and reports about City of Calgary power, electricity and street railways, and Turner Valley oil; photographs Bowness Park; personal financial records of Mrs. Christina Brown; business records of United Oils and United Electric and Engineering Company.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
No restrictions on access.
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
The material is in English.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Digital content is available
Related units of description
See also the Robert Arthur Brown Jr. fonds held by the Glenbow
Notes area
Note
Title based on contents of records.
Note
NA 2885 are copies of PD 124.
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Description control area
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Dates of creation revision deletion
Wednesday, September 19, 2018