Ben W. Brown papers (MS.1UF.B5)

Biographical Note

Benjamin Williams Brown (1897-1955) was born in Danielson, Connecticut to George Smith and Evelyn Lunette Williams Brown on December 1, 1897. His family members were direct descendants of Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island. By the time he graduated from Brown University in 1919, he had already begun his dramatic career, spending a summer with the Albee stock company and six weeks playing with the Keith circuit. Between 1920 and 1921, Brown taught at Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Massachusetts. After earning his master's of arts degree from Brown University in 1921, he was appointed to teach drama, public speaking and playwriting. He also became the director of the Sock and Buskin, introducing a new year-round production schedule. In 1926, Brown was promoted to assistant professor of English and public speaking, then associate professor in 1936, and finally, full professor in 1951.

As a theatre critic, scholar and practitioner, Brown enjoyed theatre from many eras, cultures and genres. He studied theatre in Europe while on sabbaticals throughout his tenure. In 1937 and 1938, Brown spent some time in the Soviet Union studying the robust and innovative Russian theatre movement. Upon his return in 1938, Brown penned Theatre at the Left, a book about contemporary Russian theatre.

During World War II, Brown took a leave of absence from Brown University to serve as the first assistant manager in the North Atlantic Region of the Red Cross. He worked to recruit new members to the Red Cross organization and to raise funds to support their work. Immediately following his return to Brown University in 1947, Brown wrote an instructional volume on play production titled, Upstage-Downstage.

While performing all of his duties at Brown University, Brown also traveled around the state of Rhode Island giving lectures and speeches about the theatre - both contemporary and historical. He frequented many of the theatres around Rhode Island as a spectator - some thoughts on which are contained in a notebook and in some letters within the collection. In 1955, Brown suffered a stroke while alone in his home, and died a few days later in the hospital on January 3rd. He is a fondly remembered institution at Brown University, and is included in the book, Gentlemen Under the Elms, by Jay Barry.

(Information from Encyclopedia Brunonia was included in this biographical note)