Museum of Anthropology
100 Swallow Hall
Columbia, MO 65211-1440

Monday - Friday
9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Browne Papers ca. 1950-1990

Summary Information

Records Title: Browne Papers
Dates: ca. 1950-1990
Volume: 1 box (1/6 cubic ft; 0.21 linear ft)
Location: Museum of Anthropology Archives

Historical/Biographical Information

William E. (Bill) and Florence T. (Pat) Browne were both native New Yorkers who became active, accomplished archers. Mr. Browne was a lawyer and later a civil engineer and Mrs. Browne worked for the Red Cross for several decades. They lived in Manhattan and later transferred to Pittsburgh when Mr. Browne was an engineer for U.S. Steel.

The Brownes took up archery as a recreational sport while still in New York and were involved in archery organizations and tournaments. Mr. Browne became an avid collector of archer's thumb rings and archery-related ivory carvings. After Mr. Browne's death, portions of his collection were acquired by Charles E. Grayson and incorporated into the Grayson Archery Collection. Mrs. Browne donated the remaining thumb rings (over 200) to the Museum of Anthropology in 1990. The Brownes' collection of ivory carvings was inherited by Mrs. Browne's friend Eva Bowser and donated by her to the Museum in 1999.

Scope and Content

The papers consist of manuscripts, articles, photographs, and drawings generated or accumulated by Bill Browne in relation to his research and collection of archer's thumb rings. Also included are ledgers documenting the Brownes' thumb ring and ivory carving collections.

Container List

Box 1

FF1 "Thumb Rings," by Bill Browne (manuscript)
FF2 "Thumb Rings," by Bill Browne (copy)
FF3 Thumb Rings - Manuscript Pages and Letters
FF4 Thumb Ring Cases - Manuscript Pages and Letters
FF5 "On Chinese Archers' Thumbrings," by Willard E. Bishop
FF6 Thumb Ring Rubbings
FF7 Thumb Ring Photos and Articles
FF8 Thumb Ring Ledger (photocopy)
FF9 Ivory Carvings Ledger (photocopy)
FF10 Miscellaneous Ledger (photocopy)

Florence T. (Pat) and William E. (Bill) Browne

Museum of Anthropology, 100 Swallow Hall, Columbia, MO 65211-1440

Hours: Monday - Friday: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm