Smithsonian Scrapbook: Letters, Diaries & Photographs from the Smithsonian Archives

Home

Solomon Brown, First African American
Employee at the Smithsonian

Mary Henry
Diaries,
Eyewitness to the Civil War

William H. Dall, Alaskan Explorer

The Wright Brothers,
Pioneers in Aviation

James Smithson, Founder of the Smithsonian

Robert H.
Goddard,
American Rocket Pioneer

James Renwick, Jr., Architect of
the Smithsonian
Building

William Temple Hornaday
Saving America's Bison

Wilson A. Bentley
Photographer of Snowflakes

Primary Source Document
Exercise

Institutional
History Division

Exhibits on Smithsonian
History

Smithsonian Institution Home

Solomon G. Brown
First African American Employee at the Smithsonian Institution
Documents On-Line ~ Other Resources ~ Home
Solomon G. Brown
Solomon G. Brown,
1891

Solomon G. Brown (c. 1829-1906) was the first African American employee at the Smithsonian Institution. He joined the staff of the Smithsonian in 1852 and remained in continuous service to the Institution until he retired in 1906, after 54 years. Brown had many positions while at the Smithsonian, including working as a general laborer building exhibit cases and moving and cleaning furniture, assisting in preparing maps and drawings for Smithsonian lectures, and working in the International Exchange Service. Brown was also listed in Smithsonian Annual Reports with the title, "Clerk, In charge of Transportation."

Brown served under the first three Secretaries of the Institution, Joseph Henry, Spencer Fullerton Baird, and Samuel P. Langley. Brown was by far the closest with Spencer Baird, who was Assistant Secretary 1850-1878 and Secretary 1878-1887. Much is known about their close relationship because of the many letters that we have that Brown sent to Baird while he and his family were away from Washington for the summers. Brown would report to Baird on not just the goings-on at the Smithsonian, but also of events happening in the city itself.

There was much more to Solomon Brown's life than the Smithsonian. He was born around 1829 as a free man in Washington City to Isaac and Rachel Brown, and was one of six children. Because his father died at an early age in 1833, Solomon was not able to attend school, but instead went to work for Lambert Tree, assistant postmaster in the city post office. In 1844 Brown, with the help of Tree, secured a position in the city post office. He was then detailed to assist Joseph Henry, Samuel F. B. Morse, and Alfred Vail with the first magnetic telegraph system between Washington and Baltimore, Maryland.

Brown was a self-educated man and while at the Smithsonian obtained a considerable knowledge in the field of natural history. He became well known for his illustrated lectures on natural history. He lectured frequently at scientific societies in Washington; Alexandria, Virginia; and Baltimore, Maryland. Brown was also an avid poet. He had poetry readings and his poetry was published in one of the leading African American newspapers of the day, the Washington Bee.

Solomon Brown was also an activist committed to advancing his race, and in the African American community he was a man of prominence. He lived with his wife, Lucinda, on Elvans Road in a section of Anacostia later called East Hillsdale. He founded the Pioneer Sabbath School, was superintendent of the North Washington Mission Sunday School, a member of the Freedman's Relief Association, and a trustee of Wilberforce University and the 15th Street Presbyterian Church. Brown was also elected to three consecutive one-year terms, 1871-1874, as a member of the House of Delegates under the Territorial Government of the District of Columbia.

Solomon Brown retired from working at the Smithsonian on February 14, 1906 at the age of 77. He died in his home just a few months later on June 24, 1906.



Documents On-Line


Other Resources