John Brown papers
Scope and Contents
The John Brown papers, 1952-1980, and undated, includes two items, a scrapbook from John Brown’s retirement concert in May of 1975 with various newspapers, letters, and photographs, some of which are loose. These materials span a period from 1952 to 1980, and showcase John Brown’s long tenure as the Augustana Choir’s tour bus driver. The second item is a photograph album from a tour the choir made to the East Coast sometime between 1971 and 1975.
Dates
- Creation: 1952-1980 and undated
Creator
- Brown, John (Person)
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.
Conditions Governing Use
Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from Augustana College Special Collections and the copyright holder.
Historical Note
John Walter Brown was born on June 11, 1910, in Rockford, Illinois. He was educated in Rockford schools. He married Ruth A. Teach in 1919 in Clinton, Iowa. He worked for Greyhound Lines as a bus driver starting in 1941, having worked for another bus service for three years prior. During his time at Greyhound, he drove the men's choir tour bus every year starting from 1941 until 1975, with breaks only during World War II, and the year the choir traveled to Europe. He retired in 1975 and died in Morrison, Whiteside County, Illinois, on June 27th, 1997. He is buried in Lyndon Cemetery in Whiteside County.
Full Extent
0.4 Cubic Feet (/ 1 box)
Abstract
John Walter Brown drove the Augustana men's choir tour bus every year starting from 1941 until 1975, with breaks only during World War II, and the year the choir traveled to Europe. The John Brown papers, 1952-1980, and undated, includes two items, a scrapbook from John Brown’s retirement concert in May of 1975, and a photograph album from a tour the choir made to the East Coast sometime between 1971 and 1975.
Arrangement
Chronological
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Immediate source of acquisition unknown.
Processing Information
Processed by Michael Njus, 2026.
Subject
- Augustana College (Rock Island, Ill.). Choir (Organization)
- Title
- John Brown papers, 1952-1980.
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Michael Njus
- Date
- April 2026
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Augustana College Special Collections Repository
639 38th Street
Thomas Tredway Library
Rock Island Illinois 61201 United States
specialcollections@augustana.edu