Peggy Brown Papers

An Inventory of the Collection

Biographical Note

Peggy McNamara Brown actively participated in Austin's arts and culture from the 1970s to 1990s. Born in New York State, Peggy studied drama at Southern Methodist University where she met and married Paul Brown, Jr. They had three children and were married for 44 years until her death in 2002. Paul Brown was campaign manager for Texas Governor Buford Jester in 1946 and served on the governor's cabinet. Peggy would serve on various boards and committees in Austin, primarily those related to Austin's historical preservation, its young people, and the arts.

For more than 20 years, Peggy served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Austin Symphony Orchestra Society (ASOS) as a vice president over Symphony Square, vice president over Special Events, and in other roles (1971-1990s). Peggy served as president of the Women's Symphony League of Austin, 1973-1974. She served on various committees within ASOS, including youth programs and the opera. Her combined service coincided with ASOS President Jane Sibley.

Peggy and Jane Sibley, along with other members of ASOS, the City of Austin, and Austin Urban Renewal Agency, led plans to renovate four buildings at the intersection of Red River and 11th Streets. The project began in 1971 with the goal of creating an educational, cultural, and artistic center for the community. The four renovated stone buildings-Michael Doyle House, New Orleans Club Mercantile, Hardeman House, and Jeremiah Hamilton Building-served as the headquarters of ASOS and the Women's Symphony League of Austin, and houses restaurants and historical sites. A 350-seat Greek style amphitheater served as a venue for summer music festivals. Symphony Square held its grand opening April 7-9, 1978.

In the 1980s, Peggy served on the City of Austin Sesquicentennial Commission for the Texas Sesquicentennial; one committee among many across Texas designed to coordinate the planning of statewide sesquicentennial celebrations. Peggy served in other cultural functions, including the 22nd national president of the National Society of Arts and Letters (1986-1988), of which she was the founding member of the Austin chapter. She served on the Arts Council of Austin with Jane Sibley (1970), with the Austin Women's Club (1977-1978), as president of the Heritage Guild, as a Readers' Guild Honorary Member (1996), and with the Junior League of Austin.

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Scope and Contents

The Peggy Brown Papers (1946-1999; 2.0 linear feet) contain correspondence, minutes, committee lists, printed material, packets, legal and financial records, blueprints, clippings, and photographs that document her work with fine arts and culture in Austin. Six series illuminate Peggy and her service: Personal, Austin Symphony Orchestra Society, Symphony Square Committee, Women's Symphony League of Austin, City of Austin Sesquicentennial Commission, and Assorted Records. The collection contained little original order.

The Personal series (1946-1997; 0.1 linear feet) contains family documents, personal correspondence, handwritten notes, and posters. Two folders house 9 photographs, 6 slides, and 169 negatives of personal activities, work with Symphony Square, and other undocumented subjects (44 negatives of family, children, and fishing; 109 negatives in 6 sheets of Symphony Square and family; 16 negatives in sleeves of assorted parties). The Austin Symphony Orchestra Society series (1971-1994; 0.3 linear feet) illuminates the work of the ASOS and documents Peggy's many roles in membership lists, minutes, and correspondence. Most of the documentation refers to her membership on the ASOS Board of Directors and Executive Committee.

The Symphony Square Committee series (1973-1995; 0.8 linear feet) is the largest in the holding and documents the SSC's work renovating and maintaining the Symphony Square property, planning and hosting events, and promoting the Square. The papers demonstrate Peggy's prominent role in all these activities. The Hardeman House Restaurant sub-series correspondence contains a rare instance of original order. Brown grouped correspondence, handwritten notes, receipts, copies of stock shares, and other documentation concerning a legal dispute between ASOS/SSC and Kralj & Associates, Inc. The final sub-series, General Symphony Square material, contains maps, illustrations, and printed materials relating to Symphony Square but not necessarily created by the committee.

The Women's Symphony League of Austin series (1968-1999, 0.2 linear feet) documents Brown's activities with the Women's Symphony League of Austin, her earliest and longest-running involvement with ASO. However, this series has significantly less material than the ASOS and SSC series. The City of Austin Sesquicentennial Commission series (1982-1986; 0.4 linear feet) contains meeting packets, correspondence, and printed materials, documenting Peggy's activities on the commission, especially her role as Fund-raising Chairman. The final series, Assorted Records (1970-1997; 0.2 linear feet), documents Peggy's participation in various other councils and committees related to the arts, and it includes assorted correspondence neither received nor sent by Brown and assorted financial documents.

Note on arrangement: Three photos were originally with Symphony Square Committee records, but were physically stored with the other photos for preservation purposes.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use

None.

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Related Material

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Separated Material

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Peggy Brown Papers (AR.2009.051.) Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, Texas.

Acquisition Information

Donor #: DO/1999/052

Donation Date: 1999

Processing Information

Final Processing and Finding Aid By/Date: Gina Bastone, Karen Louma, and Adam Luke, 11/21/2009. Encoded by Molly Hults/2010.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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