Letter from Secretary Samuel P. Langley to Solomon Brown, 11/25/1892

Summary

Letter from Secretary Samuel P. Langley to Solomon G. Brown concerning employment and layoffs. Langley informed Brown that while there will be layoffs, Brown will not be a part of them. Brown had worked at the Smithsonian since 1850.3

Subject

• Brown, Solomon Galleon c. 1829-1906
• Smithsonian Institution Building (Washington, D.C.)

Category

Historic Images of the Smithsonian

Notes

Solomon G. Brown was hired as the Smithsonian Institution's first African American employee, spending most of his career as a clerk to Spencer Fullerton Baird. Brown worked for 54 years at the Smithsonian (1850-1904), fulfilling many duties under secretaries Joseph Henry, Spencer Fullerton Baird, and Samuel P. Langley. Brown formed a very close bond with Baird, becoming his "eyes and ears" when Baird was out of town. He was also a naturalist, poet, illustrator, and lecturer. Although he had no formal education, Brown was known by many as Professor Brown.

Contained within

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 34, Box 32, Vol. 11.1, p. 370

Contact information

Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu

Date

November 25, 1892

Restrictions & Rights

No restrictions

Topic

• Letters
• Smithsonian Institution
• Personnel management
• Employees
• African Americans
• Smithsonian Institution--Employees

Place

• District of Columbia
• United States
• Washington

Form/Genre

• Document
• Paper

ID Number

SIA2016-011467

Physical description

Number of Images: 1; Color: Color; Size: 8w x 10h; Type of Image: Document; Medium: Paper

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