By Zachary R. Jones, Archivist
Title: Judson Brown Papers, 1920-1996
ID: MS/017
Primary Creator: Brown, Judson
Extent: 3.0 Boxes
Date Acquired: 04/10/1999
Subjects: Alaska Native Brotherhood--History., Tlingit Indians--History.
Languages: English
This collection consists of the papers of Judson Brown and historic papers kept by Brown. The collection contains Browns correspondence, meeting minutes from various organizations that Brown was involved with (such as Klukwan Inc., Champagne Aishihik Indian Band, Alaska Native Arts, Inc., and other), clippings, certificates, and papers concerning his Hawaiian heritage. The collection also contains a box of historic records held by Brown, which includes copied Alaska Native Brotherhood and Sisterhood records (spanning 1920 to 1951) and the financial records of Frank Peratrovich for business ventures at Salem, Oregon (circa 1920s). These materials have been arranged topically.
Note: Researchers further interested in Judson Brown should consult SHI’s MC 3: The Judson Brown Recording Collection which contains a number of oral history recordings of Brown discussing Tlingit life, culture, and history.
Judson Brown (1912-1998) was born in Haines, Alaska, the son of James Wheeler Brown (K’ikaa, of the Kaagwaantaan) and Mary Spurgeon Brown (Kaasanak, of the Dakl’aweidi). He was a Tlingit Indian, an Eagle: Dakl’aweidi’; Kaagwaantaan yadi, Keet Gooshi Hit. His Tlingit names were Shaakakooni (Mountain Flicker) and Hinleiych (Yelling Sea Water), referring to the ‘woosh’ sound of the fast flip as the killer whale dives again after surfacing. Brown was also part Native Hawaiian and part Champagne Aishihik Native. After graduating from the Haines High School, Brown began a path that allowed him to work in many capacities, including as a law clerk, deputy marshal, two-term mayor of Haines, career fisherman, supervisor at the Pacific Maritime Association, Board of Director of the Sealaska Corporation, Board of Trustee of the Sealaska Heritage Institute, and board member of the Institute of Alaska Native Arts. He also participated in organizations and was a member of the Alaska Native Brotherhood and the Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indians Tribes of Alaska. He was a self-taught ethnographer and traveled extensively to Hawaii, Polynesia, and New Zealand for cultural exchange programs. He was active in Native Hawaiian and Champagne Aishihik affairs. Brown passed away in 1998.
Source: Nora and Richard Dauenhauer, Haa Kusteeyi, Our Culture (Juneau, Sealaska Heritage Foundation, 1994).
Repository: Sealaska Heritage Institute Archives
Acquisition Source: Chris McNeil
Acquisition Method: The materials in the collection were donated to SHI by Chris McNeil on April 10, 1999.
