Fonds F0292 - Robert Arthur Brown fonds

Original Digital object not accessible

Identity area

Reference code

CA ACU GBA F0292

Title

Robert Arthur Brown fonds

Date(s)

  • 1912-1946 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

1.43 m of textual records
503 photographs

Context area

Name of creator

(1886-1948)

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.

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

      Related descriptions

      Notes area

      Note

      Title based on contents of records.

      Note

      NA 2885 are copies of PD 124.

      Alternative identifier(s)

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      Description control area

      Description identifier

      Institution identifier

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      Status

      Level of detail

      Dates of creation revision deletion

      Wednesday, September 19, 2018

      Language(s)

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          Digital object (Thumbnail) rights area

          Accession area